THE high cost of track bicycles to be used by Malaysian cyclists at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 is meant to ensure the bikes and technology involved are not obtained by competing parties, a source said.

The source, who is attached to the National Sports Institute (ISN), was responding to a report by BikeRadar that Malaysia is forking out the most for the Worx WX-R Vorteq Track, at RM131,000 (€28,000) each.

“The report on which are the most expensive bikes is not accurate. The purpose (of the high cost) is to protect the bike’s technology that was developed through research and development.

“We have to keep prices high so that other countries will not buy the bikes,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Malaysia, through the ISN, is developing the bikes in collaboration with the UK-based Worx, the source said.

The actual price of the bike is not as high as reported, he added.

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) required all equipment meant for use in the 2020 Olympics to be priced publicly by January.

National track cyclist Mohd Azizulhasni Awang also denied claims that the RM131,000 set for the Malaysian team’s machinery is the most expensive.

“The report is exaggerated,” the 2017 world keirin champion said when contacted.

He said the BikeRadar report was based on a leaked document and questioned whether some competitors have an “agenda”.

The document is a spreadsheet of equipment that must be registered, inspected and validated for use in competition by the UCI.

In Tokyo, Malaysia is aiming for the gold in the sprint event.

The BikeRadar portal cited a document listing the bike and components registered with UCI for the event.

It said the framework of the Work Vorteq Track model that Malaysian athletes will use is the most expensive model, at €28,000 or RM131,000 each.

The German and British teams, meanwhile, will use less expensive models and equipment of between €10,000 and €14,000, and £15,500 (RM84,000).

Under UCI rules, any equipment to be used in the Tokyo Olympics must first be vetted for use in international competition.

The list is provided to all national bike racing associations for transparency and to create a level-playing field by giving every competitor access to the same commercially available equipment.

The Malaysian Insight understands that ISN will hold a special press conference on the issue. – January 2, 2020.