KUCHING: Every child knows the joy of riding a bicycle – but turning that simple fun into a serious sporting pathway remains a major challenge, says Sarawak Cycling Association (SCA) President, Irawan Sudarsono.
He adds that many teenagers eventually shift their interest to more popular sports, making it harder to retain young cycling talent and build a sustainable development pipeline in Sarawak.
Irawan said, cycling’s biggest hurdle is not a lack of interest at the early stages, almost every child grows up riding a bicycle – but keeping young riders engaged as they enter their teenage years, where other sports like football, badminton and even newer recreational activities increasingly compete for their attention.
“Cycling is something almost every kid experiences. It gives them a sense of freedom and adventure. But turning that into competitive sport requires will, discipline and, importantly, strong family support,” he told Sarawak Tribune in an interview recently.
Family involvement, he stressed, is crucial. At junior races across the state, it is common to see entire families accompanying a young rider – offering moral support, helping with logistics, and often contributing financially.
“For every junior you see on the starting line, there’s usually a whole family behind them,” he added.
Despite these challenges, cycling continues to attract youth thanks to an active race calendar supported by organisers across Sarawak.
Irawan credited event partners in Miri, Bintulu, Betong, Kuching and Serian – including Masterpiece, Bintulu Development Authority, DBKU and local district offices – for keeping the sport vibrant and competitive.
“These organisers play a big role. They treat cycling as sports tourism, and that brings in participants not just from Sarawak, but also from Brunei, Sabah, West Malaysia and even neighbours in Kalimantan,” he said.
The influx of outside riders helps elevate the standard of competition while giving local cyclists valuable exposure and motivation to improve.
Irawan said SCA is committed to supporting these events as collaborators and technical partners to ensure high-quality officiating, safety and timekeeping – all essential to maintaining positive experiences for participants.
“We want people to go home feeling the race was well-run and memorable. We cannot compromise on safety or the technical side. That’s what builds trust and keeps riders coming back,” he added.
As Sarawak continues to expand its cycling community and strengthen grassroots development, Irawan believes the state is on the right trajectory – but nurturing teenagers and sustaining long-term interest will remain the key battle in shaping the next generation of competitive cyclists.
