KUALA LUMPUR: Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) have been busy in the transfer market in search of replacements after parting ways with a number of their riders.
TSG confirmed that Andreas Miltiadis, Youcef Reguigui, Merhawi Kudus and Irwandie Lakasek are leaving the team ahead of the new season.
Reguigui, who has been Harrif's Saleh leadout man since joining the squad in 2019, has decided to call time on his competitive career. The Algerian, 34, had won the Le Tour de Langkawi yellow jersey with MTN-Qhubeka 2015.
Miltiadis' contract has not been renewed by TSG. The all-rounder joined TSG at the start of the year but has struggled to make an impact after being held back by a root canal issue since the start of the season.
Merhawi, who also joined at the start of this year, has been signed by Spanish UCI ProTeam, Burgos-BH. The highly rated Eritrean, 30, did well to finish second overall at the Tour of Turkiye in April.
Irwandie, 29, joined TSG in 2018 and has been the squad's second strongest sprinter after Harrif. It is understood that he is joining the national track endurance programme in preparation for next year's Thailand Sea Games.
TSG sporting director Saiful Anuar Aziz disclosed that they have promoted TSG academy rider Haizam Shabri to the elite squad for the new season and hope to finalise their foreign signings by the end of the month.
"We are looking to bring in three to four foreign riders and are currently finalising negotiations with them. Hopefully we can confirm our new riders by the end of the month," said Saiful yesterday (Nov 17).
"So far we have decided to promote Haizam from the academy team to the elite squad and hope he will be able to further develop with more exposure to higher level races.
"The TSG board have also decided to extend Harrif's contract for another year and hope he will excel for us."
Harrif, 36, is Malaysia's most successful road rider. He has three LTdL stage wins to his name - more than any other Malaysian - and was also the first Malaysian to win a UCI sanctioned race in Europe in 2021 (GP Manavgat, Turkiye).
There was speculation that TSG were eyeing Swiss rider Simon Pellaud, whose contract with Tudor Pro Cycling is not being renewed, though that has now been dispelled.
"I don't think we will sign the Swiss rider, I am not sure what happened, perhaps he received an offer from another team," said Saiful.
Pellaud, 32, won the LTdL red jersey (mountains classification) last year.
TSG ended this season's UCI Tour Asia rankings in the No. 1 position. It is the sixth time they have achieved the feat.
They also finished the season as the top ranked UCI Continental team in the world rankings (No. 30).
They will kick-off their campaign for the new season at the Tour de Siak (UCI 2.2) next month.