KUALA LUMPUR – With Malaysia’s top track cyclist, Datuk Azizulhasni Awang, turning professional, the national team is entering a rebuilding phase, relying on riders like Shah Firdaus Sahrom and Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri to carry the torch.
However, national technical director John Beasley, now overseeing the programme at a broader level, knows time is of the essence.
Rather than relying solely on a few elite names, the long-serving coach has shifted gears—focusing on raising the standards of coaching and reshaping the high-performance structure.
“We can’t afford to coach just on opinion anymore. That’s an old-school approach in a field now led by science and facts,” Beasley told Scoop recently.
“Every major successful cycling nation adopts a smart coaching approach—embracing and using technology to make better-informed decisions.”
Beasley has introduced tools like SRM power meters—used to measure and analyse every aspect of a training session—and is encouraging local coaches to interpret the data rather than relying on intuition or past habits.
These devices provide metrics such as cadence, heart rate, speed, and power output, enabling real-time feedback and post-session analysis.
“Right now, many of our coaches are still intimidated by this level of data. But we’re guiding them through the process, helping them understand that these tools are not something to fear—they’re there to make you better.”
Starting in June, all high-performance coaches will undergo a 12-week course designed to build data literacy, interpret performance metrics, and use feedback systems to track athlete progress.
With only a handful of elite athletes and rising expectations heading into major competitions like the 2026 Asian Games and beyond, Beasley believes the only way forward is to modernise.
“The goal is to move away from subjective coaching and build a system that values evidence, learning, and long-term development,” he said.
“It’s not about shortcuts anymore—we need a smarter, more sustainable ecosystem if we want to stay competitive.” — April 26, 2025