Thai cycling is ramping up preparations for the Asian Games, with track cyclists training in China, BMX riders testing the Nagoya course, and mountain bikers assessing their abilities at the Asian Championship.
“Sergeant Major Muek” revealed plans for the Thai cycling team to intensively prepare during the final three months before the 20th Asian Games in Japan. The track team will train in Tianjin, China; the BMX racing team will travel to Nagoya to inspect the actual competition course and participate in Olympic qualifying events; meanwhile, the mountain biking team will evaluate their form at the Asian Championship in Uzbekistan, aiming for outstanding results and medal opportunities at the Nagoya Games.
General Decha Hemkrasri, Vice President of the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC), President of the ASEAN Cycling Federation (ACF), and President of the Cycling Association of Thailand under the Royal Patronage, stated that the association has prepared the Thai cycling team for the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, across track, mountain biking, and BMX racing disciplines. They have planned an intense training schedule over the last three months, hoping to achieve surprising success.
General Decha said that in track cycling, the Thai team includes a men's sprint squad with Jai Angsuthasawit, Captain Narasettha Thada Boonma, and Sub-Lieutenant Yuenyong Phetcharat, and a women's mid-distance rider, Second Lieutenant Jutatip Maneephan. They plan to train at the 250-meter indoor velodrome in Tianjin, China, for an initial 10 weeks from June to August to acclimate and adjust their technique to the velodrome that will be used for the Asian Games. This is important because Thailand’s velodrome is 333.33 meters, which differs significantly.
“Originally, we planned for a full 10-week stay, but now we might have to shorten the initial training in China to 30 days to comply with the Chinese free visa duration limits. The Cycling Association is currently applying for a visa extension. If the extension isn't granted in time, the plan will be adjusted, but this won’t disrupt the overall schedule. If shortened, the team will continue training in Thailand before traveling to China around the fourth week of July. Afterward, they will return to Thailand to compete in the International Track Cycling Asia Cup 2026 at Hua Mak Velodrome from 28-30 August. Following this, they will return to Tianjin for a second training phase from 1-24 September before traveling directly from China to Japan for the Asian Games, where track cycling events are scheduled from 29 September to 2 October,” said General Decha.
Additionally, General Decha said that while the Thai national team trains in China, he and the executive board of the Cycling Association of Thailand will visit the Chinese Cycling Association’s leadership to discuss cooperation and sign a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop cycling sports. The goal is close collaboration at all levels between the two national associations to elevate cycling standards and development in both countries to match other global regions in the future.
General Decha continued that the Thai BMX racing team, led by head coach Mr. Harvey Crepe, will bring male riders Sergeant Gometh Sukprasert and Mr. Putthapoom Nakpan—both medal hopefuls—to inspect and train on the actual competition track in Nagoya from 10-13 June. This period marks the final opportunity to rent the track before Nagoya BMX Racing closes the venue to prepare for the Asian Games in July. Beyond this inspection, the BMX team, including female and youth riders, will compete in a warm-up and Olympic qualification event, the Banyuwangi Supercross in Indonesia on 27-28 June, followed by major BMX competitions including the Asian BMX Championship and Malaysia BMX Racing from 6-8 August in Malaysia.
“Regarding the Thai mountain biking team for the Asian Games, since American coach Mr. Robert Herber Jr. took over as head coach, the riders have shown remarkable physical and technical progress. The Cycling Association plans to assess the mountain biking team’s performance at Asia’s biggest pre-Asian Games event—the 2026 Asian Mountain Bike Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from 23-27 June. This will clearly indicate how the Thai mountain bikers compare with their Asian Games rivals,” General Decha concluded.