The team`s chief coach, Wahyudi, said Indonesia`s chances to win golds were still fifty-fifty, although his charges were in high spirits after the team won two gold medals in the women`s and men`s downhill races earlier in the competition.
"The two gold medals won on the first day of the competition will be a stimulus to the other team members to match their peers` achievement in the downhill events," Wahyudi said.
Indonesia had prepared a team of eight athletes for the cross country number, consisting of four men and four women.
"They have equal chances to be the best, but I see great potentials in the women`s team," he said.
The eight cyclists prepared for the cross country number were Dandi Sugito, Chandra R, Arisute and Danny Nurcahyadi in the men`s team, and Kusmawati Y, Yana Intan, Fitriyanti Riyanti, and Risa Suseanty in the women`s team.
"I see a gold medal potential in Yana Intang and Fitriyanti Riyanti, but it is also possible Kusumawati and Risa will be the best in the South East Asian region sporting event," he said.
Wahyudi also said that the toughest competition in the cross country race would came from Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam but Indonesia`s strong potential was in the downhill number.
"I think all cyclists have prepared themselves for the SEA Games maximally, but the cyclists from these three countries will be our toughest competitors," he said.
The men`ss cross country cycling team also had potential but it was not as big as that of the women`s team. The men`s team consisted of Dandi Sugito, Chandra, Ari and Dandi Nurcahyadi, he said.
Earlier, the Indonesian cycling team had won two gold medals, namely by the wins of Purnomo in the men`s and Risa Suseanty in the women`s downhill race. (*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
