"Breaking the barrier"

"Prior to LEL2022, multiple days long ride was never part of my drill. When the registration for ballot opened in January 2022, I signed up without hesitation, fully aware that I had less than 2 years of cycling experience. At that point, the longest ride I ever done was Audax BRM400 Twin Peak in December 2021. End of January is the starting point of my ultra-distance training. With my work commitment, I don’t have a lot of time for multiple days long rides, so I have to be selective with my training. Gap loop became my training ground. I always believed that quality is always better than quantity. I like hills and I’m quite good at it, so it serves as a bonus at every ride or races. The thing about ultra-distance cycling and a lot of climbing is that you get to experience the different in landscapes at every spot you cycled, enjoying the view."

In August 2022, Azly entered the London-Edinburgh-London (LEL) as a rookie, physical and mental strength should not be taken lightly. The route was amazing with a total of more than 15,000 meters elevation over 1,540KM in distance. The climax was the St John Chapel in the Northeast of England, the toughest climb of the event. It is the highest paved roads in the whole of United Kingdom. And he had to endure the climb to and fro – double the sufferings. He made a lot of acquaintance from all over the world, and ride with different strong and experienced cyclist along the way. He completed the ride in 109 hours and 50 minutes, the first Malaysian to arrive in the 125 hours COT category.

After LEL, he came back to Malaysia and participated in the Audax BRM1000. The momentum from the recently completed LEL helped him endured another ultra-distance ride. He was the first to arrive at the finishing line, completed it within 56 hours, riding solo most of the time.

"So, what’s next? The pursue of experience and pleasure have always been my priority ever since I started cycling. It’s my hobby. I am not a professional cyclist nor an athlete, so there’s no pressure on myself. I don’t need to prove anything to anyone. All I want to do is to push my body to its limit."

His ultimate goal is to be homologated as ECR Europe challenge Randonnée – the four longest and most aspired Randonnée’s of the European continent within a 4-year cycle. "But before that, I am really looking forward to the Race Across Malaysia in 2023 and hopefully get a slot for TCR No.10 in 2024."