Beasley’s 21-year cycling legacy questioned as analysts flag overreliance on Azizulhasni

KUALA LUMPUR – Outgoing Malaysian cycling technical director John Beasley’s 21-year tenure in cycling should be judged on more than the success of Datuk Azizulhasni Awang, with sports analysts questioning whether the Australian has helped develop a wider pool of elite riders and ensure a sustainable talent pipeline.

Senior sports analyst and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) sports science lecturer Sadek Mustaffa acknowledged Beasley’s impact on track cycling but said his contribution should be assessed alongside the broader development of the sport.

Speaking to Scoop, Sadek also questioned the wider impact of Hannah Yeoh’s tenure as Youth and Sports Minister, following reports that Beasley had praised her as one of the best Sports Ministers he had worked with during his 21 years in Malaysia.

Sadek said the development of Malaysian track cycling had taken place under several ministers over two decades, making it difficult to assess a minister’s capabilities after just two years in office.

“Beasley’s achievements and excellence in the country’s track cycling scene have certainly made a significant impact on the sport at the competitive level and at major events such as the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games,” he said.

However, Sadek argued that Beasley’s success had largely centred on developing cyclists who already possessed potential, rather than identifying and nurturing talent at grassroots level.

“In other words, he has been given the gems that need polishing, while coaches are the ones responsible for finding and developing those gems,” he said.

He also pointed out that Beasley’s achievements had been concentrated in track cycling, with road cycling, mountain biking and BMX requiring greater attention.

On Hannah’s record, Sadek said she had done more to resolve problems than introduce significant development policies across other sports.

“Overall, Hannah has not made a significant impact on other sports, having done more to resolve problems than to introduce highly significant development policies,” he said.

Sadek added that Azizulhasni’s individual achievements should not be mistaken for the success of the entire national cycling programme.

While acknowledging the cyclist’s impressive record at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Olympics, Sadek said Malaysia needed more riders capable of competing at a similar level.

“It is unfair to attribute 20 years of success solely to Azizulhasni, as he has yet to win an Olympic gold medal despite the amount of financial resources spent on track cycling,” he said.

“The team needs four or five athletes of Azizulhasni’s calibre.”

Meanwhile, senior sports analyst and UiTM Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation senior lecturer Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli echoed Sadek’s concerns, saying Beasley’s long tenure warranted closer scrutiny of his contribution beyond the achievements of Malaysia’s leading track cyclist.

Pekan said two decades was a considerable period in which to assess the programme’s overall impact, including the development of other riders and the transfer of technical knowledge to local coaches.

“Two decades is a long time. If we look at it in terms of Olympic cycles, that amounts to five Olympic Games,” he said.

Pekan questioned whether Malaysia had become too dependent on Azizulhasni, arguing that other cyclists had not achieved comparable success.

He said foreign coaches should be evaluated against clear key performance indicators (KPIs), including their ability to develop more elite athletes and pass on their expertise to local coaches.

“If the gap remains so wide, he should know why this is happening and should not use Azizulhasni as his ‘safe box’,” Pekan said.

“What about knowledge transfer to local coaches? Has that taken place, or might he have had to ‘reserve’ that knowledge throughout his time here?”

However, Pekan acknowledged that Beasley’s responsibilities depended on the KPIs set by the National Sports Council (NSC) and the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF).

He said Beasley might have been tasked primarily with focusing on Azizulhasni’s Road to Gold (RTG) programme rather than developing the wider cycling ecosystem.

“Perhaps that was not part of his duties or the KPIs set for him by NSC or MNCF. He may only have been required to focus on Azizulhasni’s Road to Gold programme. Therefore, we cannot blame him either,” he said.

Pekan also attributed Azizulhasni’s success largely to the athlete’s own exceptional qualities, while acknowledging the financial support provided by NSC.

“Azizulhasni has certain special qualities that other cyclists do not have. Some may disagree with my view. However, this is a reality we need to acknowledge by analysing the chronology of events and incidents that have befallen Azizulhasni, and how he has managed to rise again and continue fighting,” he said.

“In my view, this success is not because of Beasley; it is a strength that comes from the athlete himself.”

Pekan added that NSC had allocated millions of ringgit to support Azizulhasni, despite the disappointment of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Beasley is set to leave the national cycling squad on October 31 to join Japan, ending his long association with Malaysian cycling.

His departure has renewed questions about the programme’s ability to develop the next generation of elite riders and sustain its competitiveness beyond Azizulhasni’s career. - October 12, 2026

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