Teamwork Behind Jamalidin's Champion Title

Jamalidin Novardianto is not finished even though he is 30 years old. He also won the men's elite Cycling de Jabar 2024.

KOMPAS/ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA

Jamalidin Novardianto (second from the left) finished first in the Cycling de Jabar 2024 event in Pangandaran, West Java, on Saturday (25/5/2024). The participants covered a route of 213 kilometers from Cirebon to Pangandaran.

PANGANDARAN, KOMPAS — Jamalidin Novardianto is no longer young, but he is still able to perform with high performance and beat young riders in the Cycling de Jabar 2024. The 30 year old racer who defended the Dr J Malang team won the title of men's elite general classification champion after defeating the 23 year old racer who defended the Nusantara Cycling team, Muhamad Herlangga, in the 700 meter sprint to the finish in Pangandaran.

The third position in the men's elite was occupied by Jamalidin's teammate, Jamal Hibatullah, who struggled to hold off Herlangga's teammate, a young racer from Southeast Sulawesi, Muhammad Ridwan. Jamal actually had a chance to win, but he then chose to push Jamalidin, who had a bigger chance in the sprint to the finish.

The collaboration between senior racer Jamalidin and Jamal (27 years old) yielded sweet results in the end. In the 700-meter sprint from the Marlin Pangandaran monument to the finish line, Herlangga initially led by half a tire from Jamalidin. However, entering the last 100 meters, Jamalidin was able to cross the finish line first with a time of 3 hours, 35 minutes and 0.010 seconds. Jamalidin led by 0.067 seconds over Herlangga to become the general classification champion of Cycling de Jabar. Jamal finished in third place with a difference of 0.107 seconds from Jamalidin.

Also read: Terry Makes Cycling de West Java a "Try Out" for the Asian Championship

"The key to this victory is actually teamwork, because of the long route (213 kilometers), many participants, and teamwork is very necessary today," said Jamalidin.

Jamal also emphasized that he ultimately abandoned his intention to pursue victory because he saw that the chance of becoming the champion could slip away and be taken by a racer from the Nusantara team.

"We calculated our strategy, because earlier on the last climb I had breakaway with Ridwan and his friend from the Nusantara team (Herlangga), but the chance to win was with Mas Jamalidin, so I calculated too, wait i> Jamalidin," said Jamal.

KOMPAS/ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA

Participants of the Cycling de Jabar 2024 bike race celebrated after reaching the finish line in Pangandaran, West Java, on Saturday (25/5/2024). The participants covered a route of 213 kilometers from Cirebon to Pangandaran. This year, Cycling de Jabar carried the theme "Sumanget Jawara".

"If Ridwan and I were together, maybe the chance of winning would be fifty-fifty, and the time difference with the chaser would be quite large, around five, six minutes. "Finally decided that instead of fifty-fifty it would be better to do 80:20," continued Jamal, who specializes in climbing.

"For me, the most important thing is the team's strategy to run smoothly. Winning or losing is just a bonus," said the racer from Sumedang, West Java, firmly.

Herlangga assessed that the results of this race were the maximum results that could be achieved. According to Herlangga, he and Ridwan had tried to breakaway but were always caught. Apart from that, Nusantara actually doesn't have a sprinter so in the sprint race before the finish he lost to Jamalidin.

The key to this victory is actually teamwork, because with a long route of 213 kilometres and many participants, teamwork is crucially needed today.

"Actually, we, the Indonesian archipelago, don't have sprinters. "So, our plan was to have a breakaway and that happened, actually according to plan," said Herlangga.

Also read: Oca is Maghfirotika's Strongest Competitor in Cycling in West Java

However, they were caught up and ended up fighting with two racers from Dr. J. "Earlier, from kilometer 100, we took turns in front, rotating, trying to break away because our target was to be number one, but we ended up in second place," Herlangga continued.

"Actually, we tried to breakaway again on the last climb, less than five kilometers from the finish, but then we were caught again and could be chased again. "So in the end we sprinted together to the finish," he said.

"Next year, it looks like we will respond," concluded Herlangga.

KOMPAS/ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA

Participants in the Cycling de Jabar 2024 bicycle race cross curves in Kuningan Regency, West Java, Saturday (25/5/2024).

High competition

In this race, competition in the elite class is very tight because it is attended by racers from strong teams in Indonesia. Therefore, Jamalidin and the Dr J Malang team have been attacking since the real start at Darma Reservoir, Kuningan, 50 meters from the real start in Cirebon. They were aiming to win the intermediate sprint, but there was a communication error between the riders so the sprint was won by the KGB Jakarta racer, Terry Yudha Kusuma.

“At the start, we actually relied on Noka (Rachmad Noka Wibisono) because he is a typical sprinter. "However, there was a slight misunderstanding so we failed to take the intermediate sprint," explained Jamalidin.

Also read: Cirebon-Pangandaran's steep descents and turns benefit brave racers

Jamalidin and his friends then aimed for the King of Mountain (KOM) title, but Jamal Hibatullah lost to Nusantara Cycling racer, Muhammad Imam Arifin. Then the overall champion target is activated by doing a breakaway after the long descent from Panawangan to Ciamis City.

"Earlier after the KOM I had a breakaway for three people, me with Ridwan (Nusantara) and Teten (Rohendi, Manta Liberta Cycling), but only lasted approximately 10 kilometers. Then we could be chased again by the peloton. Not long after, about 10 kilometers later, I was able to escape, and there was one of my friends, and two Indonesians. Head to head two against two, so in the end there were four of us at the finish," explained Jamalidin.

"Our abilities are equal, and we just try to do our best," continued the racer who often plays for the national team.

KOMPAS/ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA

Participants of the Cycling de Jabar 2024 race climbed a hill in Kuningan Regency, West Java, on Saturday (25/5/2024). The participants covered a route of 213 kilometers from Cirebon to Pangandaran, West Java.

For Jamalidin, this victory was very important because it gave him great enthusiasm after being absent for half a year. "After we were off for about six months, this is our first event after the off season. So it is very important capital, very good for facing the future races, because there are lots of races who have been waiting for this year," stressed Jamalidin.

Regarding the route taken in the Cycling de Jabar race, Jamalidin considers the 213-kilometer distance to be very challenging and puts strategy and physical endurance to the test.

"The cycling route in West Java is challenging with long distances and varied routes, and the weather is sometimes hot and rainy, making it interesting. What is most challenging is the distance, always above 150 kilometers, so it really tests the team's strength and strategy," explained the racer from Malang.

Jamal Hibatullah also considered this race to be very exciting because there were lots of breakaways.

"Cycling de West Java this time is quite exciting, starting from intermediate sprint, then KOM, because maybe the teams that come are good teams in Indonesia, so the competition is very exciting. "Earlier after the KOM there were also several breakaways and several chasers, but there were no breakaways like at the finish," said Jamal.

Meanwhile, Herlangga assessed that this event has met the standards of elite-class racing. However, there is a slight deficiency in traffic management in Ciamis and Banjar.

"Actually the route is great for the elites, but there are some traffic obstacles. Other than that, it's alright. Overall, it meets racing standards, with traffic being the only issue," said Herlangga.

KOMPAS/ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA

Racer Maghfirotika Marendra confirmed himself as a national elite racer by winning the Cycling de West Java, Saturday (25/5/2024).

Cycling race Cycling de West Java also confirmed that Maghfirotika Marendra was once again the overall champion of the women's elite class by finishing at the front. The GCC Racing Surabaya racer scored a time of 3 hours 57 minutes 26.377 seconds. The 26 year old national racer emphasized that he was still strong and superior to young racers.

The second position in the general classification of elite female racers is held by 21-year old racer, Dewika Mulya Sova from KGB Racing, while 19-year old racer, Mila Safa Fidela from KGB Jakarta, holds the third position.

Maghfirotika also won the title of Queen of Mountain after first reaching the top of the climb in Panawangan. The women's elite intermediate sprint was won by senior racer Crismonita Dwi Putri from SCID Racing. Crismonita, who had been absent for about two years from cycling, was also in fourth place in the general classification. He is still in the stage of returning to his previous performance again.