Vietnamese cyclists 'climb mountains' at SEA Games 33

The Vietnamese cycling team faces a big challenge at the 33rd SEA Games, which is about to take place in Thailand.

Mountain Bikes Trying to Regain Their Position

Cycling at the 33rd SEA Games has 17 categories of mountain biking, track cycling, road cycling, and stunt cycling. Vietnamese cyclists do not participate in track cycling and stunt cycling but focus on road cycling and mountain biking.

Cyclist Nguyen Thi That is ready to defend her SEA Games gold medal.

Photo: Huynh Van Thuan

In mountain biking, Vietnam has won gold medals many times in the downhill and cross-country categories with golden girls such as Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen, Phan Thi Thuy Trang, and Dinh Thi Nhu Quynh. However, at the 32nd SEA Games 2 years ago in Cambodia, Vietnam's mountain biking performance declined, with no names on the medal podium.

A member of the coaching staff of the Vietnam mountain bike team said: "The nature of mountain biking requires athletes to be diligent and endure hardships, not to mention the high risk of injury during training and competition, so fewer and fewer athletes pursue it. As a result, Vietnam mountain bikers are having difficulty in selecting and building a successor force." At the 33rd SEA Games, the Vietnam mountain bike team only brought 3 riders to Thailand: Bui Van Nhat, Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang and Chao Ong Lu Phim. In the process of renewing its force, the Vietnam mountain bike team will have to compete fiercely. The coaching staff hopes that the students will demonstrate their abilities after a long preparation process to help Vietnam mountain bikers regain their position in the regional arena.

WAITING FOR THE GOLDEN GIRL N NGUYEN THI THAT

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Vu, in charge of the cycling department - Vietnam Sports Administration, said that cyclist Nguyen Thi That is still the number 1 hope of Vietnamese cycling at the 33rd SEA Games. Nguyen Thi That's talent was confirmed when she won the Asian championship 3 times in 2018, 2019, 2023; won gold medals at 5 consecutive SEA Games. Nguyen Thi That's goal at the 33rd SEA Games is to win double gold medals in the road and speed categories.

According to the coaching staff, Nguyen Thi That will have to compete fiercely with the host racers in Thailand, especially her "rival" Jutatip. Both having the advantage of sprinting, the number 1 female cyclist in Vietnam and the number 1 racer in Thailand have repeatedly created a "fiery" speed competition before the finish line. At the 2025 Asian Championship held in February, Jutatip defeated Nguyen Thi That by a hair's breadth to step onto the highest podium. Jutatip has an additional advantage over Nguyen Thi That when she competes at home and knows the race route by heart. In the women's road category, the race route is 134.8 km long, including steep hills, so Nguyen Thi That needs the support of her teammates. Nguyen Thi Thi, Nguyen Thi Thu Mai, Lam Thi Kim Ngan, Lam Thi Thuy Duong will play the role of "tractors" with the goal of helping Nguyen Thi That compete for victory at the finish line with her opponents. Meanwhile, the speed category on flat roads will be more favorable for Nguyen Thi That.

After competing in Europe, Nguyen Thi That returned to Vietnam to focus on the 33rd SEA Games after the national championship in August. She and the Vietnamese road cycling team went to Da Lat ( Lam Dong ) for training to get familiar with the steep mountain passes, then returned to Phan Thiet (Lam Dong) to enter the final preparation phase before leaving for Thailand. The 32-year-old racer said she had prepared thoroughly in all aspects, ready to defend the SEA Games gold medal.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/xe-dap-viet-nam-leo-nui-o-sea-games-33-185251202212022543.htm