KUALA LUMPUR: There are currently no clear cut replacements for Harrif Saleh if he decides to retire, says Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) advisor Danny Feng.
In terms of results, Harrif is the most successful road sprinter in Malaysian cycling history.
He won three Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) stages - one in 2019 and two in 2020 - and also became the first Malaysian to win a UCI sanctioned race in Europe when he triumphed at GP Manavgat in Turkiye in 2021.
He has also won three Sea Games gold medals but at 36, Harrif is fast approaching the twilight of his career.
While Malaysia does have a number of promising talents coming up the ranks, none have been able to really stand out, says Danny.
TSG have two younger sprinters in their squad - Irwandie Lakasek, 29, and Wan Abdul Rahman Hamdan, 25.
"I wish I could say there is somebody lined up to take over after Anuar Manan and Harrif Saleh," said Danny recently.
"But unfortunately nobody has been able to step up and win so far, at least in UCI level races.
"We were really hoping to see the next superstar come out soon, not just from TSG but also from Malaysia Pro Cycling (MPC) or the national team.
"Wan, who we call Acik, is very good. He has the mindset and the determination to become a good sprinter but perhaps he is still lacking the experience. We hope he will continue to develop.
"Irwandie probably has the best physique (among Malaysian sprinters). You can line him up next to a European sprinter and he would have a comparable physique.
"But as a sprinter you need to have a super aggressive and high-risk taking mindset. Perhaps his mindset is not as hungry or as determined to win (as the top sprinters).
"We also have an academy programme to try and develop the next (Malaysian) superstar, but it is not easy."
Terengganu has a history of producing strong sprinters both on road and track. Anuar Manan, who is also a former TSG rider, was the first Malaysian to win a LTdL stage and also win the sprinters classification, both of which he achieved in 2010.
Former world keirin champion and two-time Olympic medallist Azizulhasni Awang is also from the East Coast state.
Danny added that road sprinting is more than just about pumping out big watts as riders also need to have a killer instinct and fearless mentality.
"There are a lot of elbows in a bunch sprint but Harrif loves it while Anuar was just so good at navigating," said Danny.
"Everybody thinks it is all physical but it is actually about mental (strength) as well.
"Anuar is one of the smartest riders I have ever worked with. He knew how to place himself and win races.
"Harrif lacks that natural ability which is why we employed Youcef (Reguigui) to be his lead-out man. They are just different types of riders."
Danny is a former competitive rider himself and had helped form TSG in 2011. He continues to oversee TSG's rider signings and other aspects of the team's management.
He was speaking during a Timesport on the Beat podcast episode which will be available on Spotify, Audioplus and Apple Podcast beginning Thursday (Oct 17).