# Huge field stands between Awang and the perfect goodbye

*By Simon | April 20, 2026*

![Huge field stands between Awang and the perfect goodbye](https://globalkeirin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/aapresser.jpg)

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![](https://globalkeirin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/aapresser-jpg.webp)

## 󠀁[Huge field stands between Awang and the perfect goodbye](https://globalkeirin.com/2026/04/huge-field-stands-between-awang-and-the-perfect-goodbye/)󠁿

20 April 2026

[Azizulhasni Awang](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/azizulhasni-awang/) says he
is ‘super excited’ to welcome the world’s best to Malaysia for the third round
of the UCI Track World Cup – and his final race in front of a home crowd.

‘[Harrie Lavreysen](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/harrie-lavreysen/) performed
really well in Hong Kong,’ he told a press conference, ‘and that has made me
even more excited. I congratulated him after his win. He replied: see you soon
in Malaysia.

‘This will be his first time racing in Malaysia and I can’t wait to race with
him after not doing so for some time.’

Awang skipped the trip to Hong Kong, perhaps saving his 38-year old legs for
what is sure to be a demanding weekend of competition, with men’s keirin on
Saturday and sprint on Sunday.

The UCI’s preliminary registration website lists 58 riders currently intending
to start: that could mean as many as 9 first-round heats, with repechages at
both the first-round and quarter-final stages.

‘With more riders participating, there will be more rounds to race in,’ Awang
explained. ‘The challenge is to remain strong until the end.’

The keirin’s early rounds will be especially intense, with only 1 or 2
qualifiers from each race.

But one rider who won’t be participating is Awang’s team-mate
[Muhammad Ridwan Sahrom](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/muhammad-ridwan-sahrom/)
: he is reported to have suffered a serious shoulder injury in the crash at Hong
Kong, which saw
[Nikita Kiriltsev](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/nikita-kiriltsev/)
[running to the line](https://globalkeirin.com/2026/04/kiriltsev-finishes-on-foot-to-progress-at-hong-kong/)
to claim second, and a spot in the next round.

Awang produced a remarkable last lap to win the keirin at Perth in March,
snatching overall victory from
[Matthew Richardson](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/matthew-richardson/) at the
line; and there’s no doubt he will want to wave goodbye to his home fans with a
gold medal around his neck.

It was
[reported](https://www.scoop.my/sports/286924/azizulhasni-off-active-rtg-list-as-veteran-shifts-focus-to-packed-2026-racing-season-sources/)
last week that the Pocket Rocketman is no longer listed on Malaysia’s LA28 Road
To Gold programme; but this may simply be a reflection of his current short-term
focus.

Having announced his intention to retire at the end of this season, he is lining
up a grand exit from the international stage with the Glasgow Commonwealth Games
in July, and September’s Asian Games in Japan.

### 󠀁[UCI](https://globalkeirin.com/event/4162d0bb/)󠁿 > 󠀁[Track World Cup](https://globalkeirin.com/event/4162d0bb/c93e79c7/)󠁿 > 󠀁[2026](https://globalkeirin.com/event/4162d0bb/c93e79c7/bf1509f7/)󠁿 > 󠀁[Round 1](https://globalkeirin.com/event/4162d0bb/c93e79c7/bf1509f7/ac7b5643/)󠁿⏎ Final

<table>
        <tr><th colspan="4">Details</th></tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">Velodrome</td>
            <td colspan="2"><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/velodrome/perth/">Perth</a></td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">Date</td>
            <td colspan="2">07 Mar 2026</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <th colspan="4">UCI Track World Cup 2026 Round 1 : Final</th>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <th colspan="4">Result</th>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <th>Pos</th><th>Nat</th>
            <th>Rider</th>
            <th></th>
        </tr>
        <tr>
                <td><span>1</span></td>
                <td>MAS</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/azizulhasni-awang/">Azizulhasni Awang</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>2</span></td>
                <td>GBR</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/matthew-richardson/">Matthew Richardson</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>3</span></td>
                <td>AUS</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/leigh-hoffman/">Leigh Hoffman</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>4</span></td>
                <td>GER</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/maximilian-dornbach/">Maximilian Dörnbach</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>5</span></td>
                <td>ISR</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/mikhail-yakovlev/">Mikhail Yakovlev</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>6</span></td>
                <td>AUS</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/tayte-ryan/">Tayte Ryan</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr></table>

**Categories:** Original
**Tags:** uci, ucitwc