KUALA LUMPUR: With many of the biggest names deloading after a tough Olympic cycle, the World Track Cycling Championships in Ballerup (Oct 16-20) are the perfect opportunity for the rest of the field to stamp their mark at the world level.
National track cycling programme technical director John Beasley said Shah Firdaus Sahrom, his brother Ridwan and Fadhil Zonis are very likely to compete in Denmark.
Shah, 28, has shown marked improvement in recent seasons and came close to winning a bronze medal in the keirin at the Paris Olympics earlier this month.
He, however, crashed out of the race at the final turn.
Ballerup would offer him a quick opportunity to bounce back.
"We have for some time been saying that Shah has massive potential but just needs to mature a bit mentally," said Beasley recently.
"And he has taken a massive step forward now, I think you will see a more consistent Shah from now on.
"Being so soon after the Olympics, I guess it just depends on whether he really wants a world championship (title).
"If he does, it will probably be in the year that we are not going to have Harrie Lavreysen (in the field) because I think he can beat everyone else. So this year would be a good year to go.
"There have also been a lot of retirements after the Olympics, even Jeffrey Hoogland has retired.
"It is normally the next generation of riders that steps up during the world championships just after the Olympics."
It is not uncommon for top riders to sit out the world meet when it is held just after the Olympics.
The Netherlands' Lavreysen proved that he is the greatest rider of his generation after sweeping the keirin, individual sprint and team sprint - with Hoogland and Roy van den Berg - gold medals in Paris.
Azizulhasni Awang has said that he will no longer compete for the national team after Paris though has since been asked to reconsider his decision.
The 2017 world keirin champion said he needs time to discuss this with his family.