TAIPING, Feb 28 — National cyclist Abdul Rashid Ibrahim is beginning to show what he is capable of when he made an early breakaway after the neutral zone.

The 21-year-old rider from Negeri Sembilan kept his breakaway pace until the second sprint zone in Merbau Pulas before returning to the peloton.

“After 0 km, I did not hestitate to breakaway. I just wanted to try and did not expect to it last.

“In the first sprint, I could only keep up with the pace as I am not a sprinter and by the second sprint zone I would not sustain anymore,” he said when met here today.

However, Abdul Rashid was involved in a minor accident in the first stage in Langkawi yesterday and admitted it affected his cycling rhythm today.

“I needed to slow down as I could feel the pain of the injury yesterday. I will continue to cycle tomorrow and may try another breakaway,” he said and felt more confident after stage one.

Malaysia is currently at 20th spot at the end of the second stage from Sungai Petani to Taiping over 132.5km and seventh among Asian countries clocking 16 hours 2 minutes and 15 seconds. — Bernama