Expectations for Nguyen Thi That

The Vietnamese women's road cycling team participating in the 33rd SEA Games consists of cyclists Nguyen Thi That, Nguyen Thi Thi, Nguyen Thi Thu Mai, Lam Thi Kim Ngan, and Lam Thi Thuy Duong. Among them, Nguyen Thi That remains the number one hope, having won the Asian Championships three times in 2018, 2019, and 2023, and becoming the first Vietnamese cyclist to compete in the Olympic Games in 2024.

Nguyen Thi That is also the most successful Vietnamese cyclist at the SEA Games, having won gold medals in 5 consecutive editions. With Nguyen Thi That on the team, the chances of Vietnam achieving its goal of winning a gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games will be much higher.

The most anticipated event for Nguyen Thi That is the women's team start. Not only talented and skilled, Nguyen Thi That also has the strong support of Nguyen Thi Thi, Nguyen Thi Thu Mai, Lam Thi Kim Ngan (alongside Lam Thi Thuy Duong) - familiar teammates in the national team and An Giang women's cycling team.

The road cycling events at the 33rd SEA Games will take place at Kamol Sports Park (Bangkok) starting on December 14th. Besides the women's team, the men's team consists of five athletes: Pham Le Xuan Loc, Nguyen Hoang Sang, Nguyen Huong, Nguyen Minh Thien, and Quang Van Cuong, along with two coaches, Nguyen Huy Hung and Huynh Tam Hien. Nguyen Hoang Sang and Quang Van Cuong are experienced cyclists in this competition; Quang Van Cuong previously won a gold medal in the mass start event at the 31st SEA Games in 2022 in Vietnam.

At the 2023 Asian Cycling Championship also held in Thailand, Nguyen Thi That, with the support of Nguyen Thi Thi, Nguyen Thi Thu Mai and Lam Thi Kim Ngan, excellently won the gold medal in the women's mass start, thereby earning a place to attend the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Nguyen Thi That’s biggest rival in the speed race at the 33rd SEA Games is the host country’s racer Jutatip. Nguyen Thi That and Jutatip are two of the best sprinters in Asia today, and they are also “arch-rivals” of each other in regional and continental competitions.

At the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia, Nguyen Thi That beat Jutatip at the finish line to win the gold medal. However, at the 2025 Asian Championship in February, Jutatip was the champion while Nguyen Thi That was not in the top medalists.

This time, the competition at the finish line of the women's mass start category of SEA Games 33 will likely be a confrontation between Nguyen Thi That and Jutatip. The Thai racer has the advantage of being familiar with the terrain and racing conditions while Nguyen Thi That has courage, high fighting spirit, especially with the support of her teammates.

To prepare for the 33rd SEA Games, the Vietnamese women's cycling team underwent numerous training sessions at locations with terrain similar to the competition venues. The coaching staff focused on improving endurance, speed, and teamwork tactics – key elements in strategic races where even a moment of distraction can change the outcome.

The intensive final sprint training sessions were specifically designed for Nguyen Thi That, aiming to help her reach peak performance at the right time for the competition. In addition, arriving at the competition venue early allows Nguyen Thi That and her teammates to make the most of their training days to familiarize themselves with the terrain and competition conditions before the official competition.

Nguyen Thi That is the reigning SEA Games champion, so she will certainly face a lot of pressure in defending her achievements. However, with the courage of a racer who has competed many times in tournaments of the International Cycling Federation, the Olympics or the Asian tournament, Nguyen Thi That always knows how to overcome pressure to shine at the right time. Smart racing style, the ability to judge situations quickly and strong sprints are still the main weapons that help her make a difference compared to the rest in the region.

Furthermore, the support of teammates creates better coordination in the team's overall strategy. With thorough preparation, high determination, and especially the composure of Nguyen Thi That, fans can fully expect a spectacular SEA Games for Vietnamese cycling.