Mountain Biker Sayu Bella Sets Sights on Asian Games, Olympics

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian mountain biker Sayu Bella Sukma Dewi is turning her focus toward the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi–Nagoya and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, building momentum after opening the year with a gold medal at the Thailand Mountain Bike Cup Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) earlier this month.

The Bali-born rider, who previously captured XCO gold at the 2023 SEA Games, dominated the Women’s Elite category with a winning time of 1 hour, 6 minutes, 49.706 seconds. She finished well ahead of Japan’s Yui Ishida, who crossed the line in 1 hour, 10 minutes, 08.813 seconds.

“My hope for 2026 is to become calmer and more patient so I can perform at my best in every race while preparing for the Asian Games and ultimately the Los Angeles Olympics,” Sayu said in a statement received in Jakarta on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The Thailand Mountain Bike Cup XCO is a Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)-sanctioned event, classified as C1 Continental Series, making it a crucial pathway for riders to collect world ranking points. These points are vital for qualification to major international competitions, including the Olympics.

This year, Sayu competed exclusively in the Women’s Elite category, unlike previous seasons when she also raced in Under-23. The field was tougher, featuring elite riders from Japan, Malaysia, and the Philippines. She admitted the course posed unique challenges, particularly the flat sections filled with sharp turns.

“The flat part was quite difficult because there were so many bends, making it hard to build speed,” she explained.

Sayu prepared for the 2026 season with one month and ten days of intensive training in Lumajang, East Java, ensuring her trusted bike, the Polygon Syncline DR nicknamed ‘Simba’, was in peak condition.

Her triumph also highlights the broader progress of Indonesian cycling. Local manufacturer Polygon continues to make its mark internationally, supplying bikes to the Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG), one of Asia’s leading squads.

After unveiling its latest Polygon Helios models in Terengganu, Malaysia, on January 15, the team quickly delivered results in India.

Australian rider Fergus Browning claimed the General Classification title, along with victories in the Individual Time Trial (ITT) and Points Classification, while Malaysian cyclist Nur Aiman Rosli secured the Best Asian Rider Classification. ***