"Seth.Muek" plans the Thai cycling team to compete in three world events to gather points for the 2028 Olympics, fearing the 2027 budget may affect the quota pursuit mission.
"Seth.Muek" revealed that the Cycling Association is moving forward with the mission to secure quotas for the 2028 Olympic Games after the 20th Asian Games. The Thai national team will compete in three disciplines — road, track, and BMX racing — across world championships and World Cup events to accumulate points and improve world rankings. The goal is to qualify in at least as many events as in the 2024 Olympics, though concerns remain over the 2027 budget ceiling potentially impacting quota plans.
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 Royal Patronage, revealed that the association plans to send Thai national cyclists in road, track, and BMX racing to major international competitions to continuously collect points for qualification to the 2028 Olympic Games. This will follow the conclusion of the 20th Asian Games held in Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October 2026.
General Decha said that for road cycling, the team will compete at the Asian Games from 20-23 September, then return to Thailand before heading immediately to Canada to participate in the 2026 UCI Road World Championships in Montreal. Thailand has qualified in the men's elite, men's under-23, and women's elite categories. Competitors include Mr. Arthit Poolard (men's elite), Ms. Pityaporn Saetan (women's elite), and Mr. Judah Thompson (men's under-23). Team manager is Police Lieutenant Colonel Janpeng Nontasin, with Mr. Ronnie DeWille as assistant manager. The races are scheduled for 25 September (under-23), 26 September (women's elite), and 27 September (men's elite).
"For BMX racing, which will contest gold medals at the Asian Games on 28 September, after competing the athletes will return to Thailand before departing for Beijing, China, on 29 September to join the 2026 UCI BMX Racing World Cup. This event comprises four rounds in two cities, starting with rounds 5 and 6 in Mentougou on 3-4 October, then rounds 7 and 8 in Chongli on 10-11 October. The athletes attending the World Cup are Sergeant Gometh Sukprasert and Mr. Putthapoom Nakpan, with Mr. Harvey Kreps as team manager," General Decha said.
General Decha added that the track cycling team will compete at the Asian Games from 29 September to 2 October. Afterward, the team will return to Thailand. Then, the athletes, including Police Lieutenant Colonel Jutatip Maneepan, who will serve as full-time coach for the first time, will lead the short-distance riders — "TJ" Jai Angsuthasawit, "Naeo" Staff Sergeant Major Norasetthada Boonma, and "Makham" Sergeant Major Yuenyong Petchrat — to Guangzhou, China, for velodrome training on the 250-meter track from 3-10 October. Afterwards, they will take a high-speed train to Shanghai to compete in the 2026 UCI Track World Championships from 14-18 October.
"These three global competitions are extremely important for accumulating points toward qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA, due to their high world ranking points. In the track cycling world championships, Thailand aims to collect maximum points in team sprint, keirin, and individual sprint, especially as the team sprint currently ranks 15th globally. The BMX racing World Cup, with four events over two weeks, offers an excellent chance for Thai riders Gometh and Putthapoom to gain points and improve their world rankings," General Decha said.
"Regarding the road cycling world championships, I acknowledge that earning additional points is very difficult. However, securing quotas to compete in the men's and women's elite categories will grant Thailand an 'A' grade ranking according to UCI regulations. This classification means that at the 2027 UCI National Road Championships, national champions will earn up to 100 ranking points. Without world championship quotas, Thailand would be classified as 'B' grade, and national champions would receive only 50 points," he explained.
General Decha further explained that the Cycling Association is concerned about operations, especially sending Thai cyclists to various competitions to collect points for the 2028 Olympic quota. The concern involves the budget allocation policy of the Sports Development Fund, currently grouping Thailand's sports associations for the 2027 budget allocation. The maximum budget ceiling for this group is 35 million baht, which must also cover training camps for preparations for the 34th SEA Games in Malaysia.
"If the Sports Development Fund maintains this policy, it will severely impact the Cycling Association's plans to qualify for the 2028 Olympics in at least as many disciplines as in 2024. In that year, Thai cyclists qualified in three disciplines: road cycling with Sergeant Bankarn Chaiyasombat in the road race and Sergeant Female Petchdarin Somrat in road race and time trial; track cycling with Jai Angsuthasawit in keirin and sprint; and BMX with Sergeant Gometh Sukprasert. This remains our target," General Decha concluded.