KUALA LUMPUR: National rider Nur Aisyah Zubir was forced to drop out of the women's road cycling race at the Paris Olympics today after suffering cramps in the second half of the race.
Aisyah, 26, said she got dropped by the peloton after avoiding a crash roughly 90 kilometres into the race and struggled to rejoin the group after suffering cramps in her legs.
The 158 kilometre race, which started and ended at the Pont d'lena bridge in Paris, features cobbled sections, roughly 1,700 metres of climbing (combined) as well as tight and technical narrow sections towards the finish.
"At about 90km in, there was a crash which happened near me and I was forced to brake to avoid it which caused me to lose time," said Aisyah.
"It happened just before the steepest climb of the race and there were many attacks going on at the time. I tried my best to chase down the group.
"I, however, suffered cramps. First it was in my left leg and later my right leg also cramped up. There was not much I could do.
"I am really disappointed not to finish the race. I really wanted to complete this race.
"I hope this is not the end for me. I want to bounce back from this."
Aisyah, nevertheless, created history as no Malaysian woman had competed in an Olympic road race prior to this.
American Kristen Faulkner claimed the gold in a time of three hours, 59 minutes and 23 seconds.
Netherlands great Marianne Vos (+58s) claimed the silver after pipping Belgian Lotte Kopecky to the finish.