Arnaz M. Khairul
arnaz@nstp.com.my
arnaz@nstp.com.my
THE Pelapis programme has no choice but to make do with the dangerous timber track at Velodrom Rakyat in Ipoh but hopes safety at the facility is improved soon.
Currently, the Pelapis Academy has about 30 cyclists based in Ipoh and training at Velodrom Rakyat under constant fear for their safety, but this is something National Sports Council (NSC) Pelapis unit head Jeffri Ngadirin said that couldn't be helped.
"Of course the state of the timber track is bad. But we can't help it. All we can do is have the coaches advise their riders to be careful when using the track," said Jeffri, when contacted yesterday.
"Of course the state of the timber track is bad. But we can't help it. All we can do is have the coaches advise their riders to be careful when using the track," said Jeffri, when contacted yesterday.
A number of junior cyclists have had wood splinters embedded in their bodies following crashes at Velodrom Rakyat and Timesport's checks at the track on Monday found it to be in a dangerous state with splinters sticking out in many areas around the 250-metre track.
This issue surfaced following national rider Azizul Hasni Awang's horrific crash in the keirin final at the UCI World Cup in Manchester on Sunday where a nine-inch wood splinter pierced his left calf. While that was a freak accident, local coaches called for attention to Velodrom Rakyat, where having splinters in their bodies is a norm for cyclists who crash there.
"Coaches have voiced their fears over the dangers of the track and we are aware of it. On our part, together with the Perak Sports Council, we use whatever small budgets available to make our own repairs to the track, to touch it up here and there," said Jeffri.
"Coaches have voiced their fears over the dangers of the track and we are aware of it. On our part, together with the Perak Sports Council, we use whatever small budgets available to make our own repairs to the track, to touch it up here and there," said Jeffri.
"We've also been informed that the Perak Sports Council has been planning for repairs with the Ipoh City Hall (DBI), but we don't know when this will commence."
Asked whether the Pelapis unit will consider moving its trainees to the Kuala Lumpur Velodrome to ensure safety, Jeffri said that was out of the question.
"There are many factors to be considered, like the transfer of schools for the riders, and logistics. We have the facility there (in Ipoh), so it would be a waste not to use it. And the programme at Velodrom Rakyat has already come up with products, so it should be maintained. For the Kuala Lumpur Velodrome, we should have another such programme running there soon."
The last time the track was repaired in 2006, Perak Cycling Association president Tan Sri Darshan Singh Gill was officially quoted as estimating the cost to be at RM1.7 million.
Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) technical and competitions committee chairman Maniam Manikkam said on Monday that the federation will be making an inspection of the track prior to junior competitions planned this year, following previous complaints from technical officials about its safety.
He said the MNCF will not hesitate to suspend any activity at the track should it be found to be unsafe.
Maniam also said the MNCF will recommend to the DBI that Velodrom Rakyat's timber track be replaced with a cement one to make it more cost effective and sustainable under local weather conditions.
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