Azizulhasni Awang’s bicycle worth more than RM380,000, here’s why
It is undeniable that besides maintaining the physical and mental performance of athletes, the equipment used must also be in good condition.
The same goes for athletes Azizulhasni Awang and Muhammad Shah Firdaus who represent Malaysia at the 2024 Olympic Games for the Track Cycling event.
The bicycles used for this world-class event must be top-notch to ensure that athletes can maximize their performance. But don’t be surprised if you find out that the price of their bicycles equals that of a brand-new BMW or Mercedes-Benz.
Yes, you read correctly. The bicycles of Azizulhasni Awang and Muhammad Shah Firdaus exceed RM380,000 each!
The National Sports Institute (ISN) and the National Sports Council (MSN) collaborated to develop high-tech bicycles totaling RM7.5 million overall to ensure Malaysia can clinch gold at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Although that aspiration was not fulfilled, observing how our national cyclists, Azizulhasni Awang and Muhammad Shah Firdaus, consistently deliver maximum performance in every race, is truly a source of pride.
The price of the WX-R Vorteq bicycle
The branded WX-R Vorteq bicycles have been enhanced with the latest technology compared to their predecessors and have been used by national cyclists at the Paris Olympics.
It is understood that each of these bicycles is valued at RM385,800. Moreover, these bicycles are made of a stiffer yet lightweight carbon fiber material, utilizing the latest aerodynamic technology to reduce wind resistance.
National track cycling champion, Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang, believes that having bicycles like these has enabled him and his teammates to provide fierce competition to their opponents.
Clearly, in previous Olympic editions, cyclists from our country had the advantage in terms of the bicycles’ technology, making it easier for them to outperform cyclists from other nations.
Looking back, during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic edition, the WX-R Vorteq bicycles were developed at a cost of nearly RM13 million.
No guarantee of victory, only better performance
However, according to The Pocket Rocketman, the presence of such bicycles does not guarantee victory for him and his teammates at the Paris Olympics, which concluded on August 11, 2024.
“Many misunderstand, thinking that a new bicycle can automatically lead to victory. Before this, we did not have the R&D (research and development) for these bicycles, causing us to fall behind our competitors like Great Britain and Germany.
“They already had the advantage in terms of their cyclists’ bicycles and technology, putting them a step ahead. We may train hard, but when it comes to racing, we were already behind, which isn’t fair. But now, the UCI (International Cycling Union) has implemented new rules. After the Rio Olympics (Brazil 2016), all bicycles must be available on the market, and R&D can be performed,” he added.
“I believe we should be proud not all countries are doing this. Malaysia and Japan are among those seriously developing and supporting their cyclists. This is technology in sports.
“Now we are on par in terms of sports technology with Great Britain, Germany, and Japan. It is up to the cyclists to prove themselves because they are like the ‘engine’ that will determine victory,” explained Azizulhasni Awang.
