Cycling

Nguyễn Thị Thật (left) celebrates after crossing the finish line of the women's mass start event at the Asian Cycling Championship on June 12 in Thailand.

HÀ NỘI -- After winning ther Asian championship on June 12, Nguyễn Thị Thật needs confirmation from the International Cycling Union if she will be the first Vietnamese athlete to qualify for the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Once confirmed, she will be the first cyclist from Việt Nam to race at a quadrennial Games in history.

Thật overcame strong rivals to defend her title at the 42nd Asian Road Cycling Championship on June 12 in Rayong, Thailand.

As reigning champion Thật and archrival Maneephan Jutatip of Thailand were two title favourites in the women's individual mass start 109km.

The flat surface of the route was considered a great condition for both who are masters of the sprint.

During the race, Thật was strongly supported by teammates Nguyễn Thị Thi Mai, Nguyễn Thị Thi and Trần Thị Thùy Trang to speed up from the beginning.

Other teams of Thailand, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Japan, South Korea and China tried their best to open attacks, creating a big group cycling to the finish line nearly together.

The 32nd SEA Games champion Thật made a strong push to run away from the whole peloton to win gold with a time of 2hr 51.41min.

Chinese Sun Jiajun and Jutatip came second and third, respectively.

"Right after the start of the race, cyclists of Kazakhstan opened attacks immediately. Thật and her teammates had a good performance as they were always in the leading group," said coach Mai Công Hiếu.

"China and Thailand later joined the group and they tried to compete with Việt Nam in terms of sprinting ability. Thật was behind several cyclists when the group was hundreds of metres to the finish. But her strong cycling helped her to pass all and win."

Nguyễn Thị Thật (centre) and her runners-up on the podium of the women's mass start event at the Asian Cycling Championship.

It was the third time that Thật was on the top podium of this continental championship. Previously, she won in 2018 and 2022.

The Thai event is one of the Olympics' qualifications as the International Cycling Union (UCI) announced in April that the Asian championship's top two athletes would qualify.

“Based on the criteria of the International Olympic Committee, we believe that Thật has a chance to take this berth. However, we still need to contact the UCI for the final decision," said Nguyễn Ngọc Vũ of the Việt Nam Cycling and Motor Sports Federation.

If confirmed Thật will be in Paris as the Asian champion.

At the last Olympics, Thật was very close to Tokyo but she missed out when the 2020 Asian championship was cancelled because of COVID-19.

At her next competition, she will represent Việt Nam at the Asian Games in September in China.

Thật is currently a member of Israel Premier Tech Roland of Switzerland competing around Europe.

In the Thailand competition, Thạch Thị Ngọc Thảo, a young rider Việt Nam was outstanding to win gold in the women's junior mass start event.

Earlier, her teammate Nguyễn Thị Bé Hồng finished first in the women's junior individual time trial event. Phạm Lê Xuân Lộc pocketed bronze in the men's junior event. VNS