Cycling

Nguyễn Thị Thật will lead the pack aiming to win gold for Việt Nam's cycling at the 33rd SEA Games this year. Photo dep.com.vn

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam has set a target of winning gold in the cycling at December's 33rd SEA Games in Thailand.

The organising board announced eight cycling events: four for men and four for women.

The road race crew, with eight members, will take on the duty.

All eyes will be on Paris Olympian Nguyễn Thị Thật, who is the strongest cyclist currently in Việt Nam. She is the best Southeast Asian athlete in the women's road race event, having won the title in five straight SEA Games since 2015.

The coaching board said the former Asian champion Thật and her teammates have already begun their training camps for the games, since the gold target is certainly a tough one.

Thật who is member of Swiss Roland Israel Premier Tech club, will not join them for the competitions in 2025, so she can focus all her energy on the national mission.

“We have considered all relevant factors and goals that Việt Nam set for 2025 and the cyclist's plans. The decision is that Thật will not go to Switzerland, but stay in Việt Nam and take part in domestic tournaments and then participate in international tournaments with the national team," said the General Secretary of the Việt Nam Bicycle and Motor Sports Federation, Nguyễn Ngọc Vũ.

“In 2025, the cycling team will have several important tournaments and we will have to prepare well.

"We appreciate Thật's efforts and achievements in previous years and although this way she will not sharpen her technique abroad, she will be strongly supported to defend her title in the women's road race event."

Thật is also expected to earn a gold in the time trial category.

“All rivals are clearly aware of Thật, and they will definitely have plans to limit her ability," said Vũ.

"We have also reviewed teams and kept an eye on host Thailand, as their cyclists are very strong."

Thật will be supported by young and talented teammates such as Nguyễn Thị Thi, Nguyễn Thị Thu Mai, Thạch Thị Ngọc Thảo and Nguyễn Thị Bé Hồng.

Vũ added that players would have a few days of rest for the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday and will then be back to the training schedule.

They will take part in the Asian championship in Thailand from February 7-16. Two other events are the International Women's Cycling Tournament -- Biwase Cup on March 7-13 and the Tour of Thailand on March 24-29.

Thật, who finished second and claimed silver medals in the first and last events, confirmed her determination to have better results across all competitions in 2025.

Thật was the first Vietnamese cyclist to earn an Olympic spot in Paris last year, and she is also the first to sign a deal to compete for an international club. VNS/OVIETNAM.VN