Thai national cyclists are intensifying their fitness training to compete in major events: the Asian Championships and to accumulate points for the Olympics.
The cycling team is advancing by fully integrating sports science, testing lactate levels of road and mountain bikers to plan training for the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya. The mountain bike team will compete at the 2026 Asian Mountain Bike Championships in Uzbekistan. Robert Herber Jr., coach of the Thai national mountain bike team, hopes the riders, including Poonsiri and Pongpeera in cross-country, and Phonchat and Watcharakorn in eliminator events, will perform well. Meanwhile, road cyclists will race in the Tour de Gangnam 2026 in South Korea to earn points for qualification to the 2028 Olympic Games.
General Decha Hemkrasri, Deputy President of the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC), President of the ASEAN Cycling Federation (ACF), and President of the Cycling Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage, revealed that the association has been holding training camps for all national cycling disciplines—road, track, mountain bike, and BMX—in preparation for the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. They have fully applied sports science methods. Additionally, the association coordinated with the Sports Science Center of the Sports Authority of Thailand to bring sports scientists to analyze lactate levels in the blood of road and mountain bike national cyclists at the Chateau de Khao Yai Hotel in Nakhon Ratchasima Province from 28 to 30 April to provide data for coaches to design appropriate training plans.
General Decha stated that mountain bike athletes are training under the supervision of Robert Herber Jr., the national mountain bike coach. They use sports science and lactate test results to plan training. They also utilize power meters to accurately measure the force exerted during cycling, allowing precise training and development. The Thai national mountain bike team for the 20th Asian Games includes eight athletes: five men—Phonchat Nakthongkham, Watcharakorn Onthulee, Worapong Muangsuk, Pongpeera Pongayukul, and Sergeant Poonsiri Sirimongkol—and three women—Pinpak Chiangsuang, Pornpak Prephotang, and Phumrat Chalermkit.
General Decha added that the cycling association plans to send the mountain bike team preparing for the Asian Games to compete at the 2026 Asian Mountain Bike Championships in Uzbekistan from 23 to 27 June. Coach Robert Herber Jr. will focus on events featured in the Asian Games, mainly men's and women's cross-country, but will also enter athletes in the eliminator event to test their abilities for the upcoming Asian Games. Moreover, since the athletes have been training since March, it is important they participate in international competitions to assess their performance and prevent training fatigue.
General Decha said the cycling association plans to move the road cycling team’s training camp to Chiang Mai Province once the PM2.5 dust situation improves. Chiang Mai’s terrain is similar to Nagoya’s. The association also collaborates with the Faculty of Medical Technology, Chiang Mai University, to provide comprehensive sports science support covering anatomy, physiology, nutrition, psychology, biomechanics, sports medicine, and technology for the Thai cyclists.
General Decha further stated that after some training time in Chiang Mai, the association will send the male road cycling team to compete in the Tour de Gangnam 2026 in South Korea from 9 to 13 June to accumulate points for qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games. The team includes Colonel Peeraphon Chaochiangkhuang, Sergeant Thanakarn Chaiyasombat, Ratchanon Yaowarat, Junior Sergeant Warut Paekratok, Junior Sergeant Tulthorn Sosalam, and Apisit Suwan, coached by Wisut Kasiaphat. Suriyan Wongphan is the team mechanic, and Junior Sergeant Taiwich Phara is the physiotherapist.
Robert Herber Jr., coach of the Thai national mountain bike team, revealed that lactate test results indicate the athletes still need to improve endurance by focusing on longer durations at lower intensities. However, due to limited time before the 2026 Asian Championships, they must incorporate high-intensity training as the next phase of preparation. The team is expected to compete in both cross-country and eliminator events, which are key targets for Asian Games preparation.
"I expect Pongpeera and Poonsiri to perform well in the cross-country event, which includes a total climbing distance of 3,410 meters per lap. Meanwhile, Phonchat and Watcharakorn should excel in the eliminator event, which features laps of 640 meters, as they have strong explosive power suited for this format," Robert Herber said.
Coach Wisut said training in Chiang Mai benefits the team as the course resembles Nagoya’s hilly terrain. Thai cyclists practice climbing Doi Suthep, Doi Samoeng, and Doi Inthanon alternately. Following the lactate analysis results, cyclists focus on endurance training combined with weight training. After two months, they will undergo another lactate blood test to compare results and assess their progress.