Indonesian University Lecturer Rises to Top Strava Leaderboard after Cycling 300KM a Day

KOMPAS.com – An Indonesian lecturer in Malang, East Java has made it to the world’s top Strava Leaderboard after joining in a virtual cycling race for 300 kilometers a day.

Asril Kurniadi Adenan began the virtual cycling race when a university in Indonesia’s second-largest city of Surabaya held the event in September.

Asril is an active person as he’s been a sports enthusiast since he was younger. Entering his 40s, Asril began to choose sports that put less burden on his ankles. He picked cycling.

Since 2017, the lecturer at Brawijaya University in Malang has been routinely cycling on a road bike. Asril used to spend at least an hour cycling every day, both outdoors and indoors, but his exercise regimen changed about two weeks ago.

The 48-year-old has been participating in the virtual cycling race organized by the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) in Surabaya in conjunction with its 60th anniversary. The virtual cycling race kicked off on September 20 and will be completed on November 1.

He didn't take an interest in the race at first but later signed up after hearing more about it from his wife, who had joined the race first and secured third place in the women's category.

“On September 30, my wife told me that the top leader in the men's category could cycle about 150-180 kilometers a day,” he recalled.

DOKUMENTASI Asril Kurniadi Adenan Asril Kurniadi Adenan

“It was an exciting competition,” Asril said in a phone interview.

Asril who has cycled in Indonesian cities from Surabaya to Denpasar, or about 400 kilometers, thought that it would be nice to join the virtual cycling race to keep him occupied during the Covid-19 pandemic. His wife signed him up on October 1, 2020.

Securing a leading position

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As an experienced cyclist, Asril set a target to beat those who are at the top of the leaderboard. At the time, the cyclists had covered around 1,800 kilometers.

“My efforts must be a ‘little crazy’ and after doing some calculations, I set the target of achieving 300 kilometers,” said Asril.

Asril was confident to achieve the target as he previously had outdoor experience with his road bike community.

“Back then I managed to participate in outdoor cycling. Insya Allah [God willing] I can also do indoor cycling,” he added.

The race rules do not require cycling locations. It only requires a specific distance. Asril’s consistency in covering 300 kilometers per day, brought him to the top list on the eighth day of the virtual race.

Currently, he already covers more than 4,500 kilometers. He left his opponent far behind by almost 1,000 kilometers. Now, he can relax a little.

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However, he will keep focused and monitor the progress of his opponents every day as his position is still not safe at the ongoing cycling race.

“Anything can happen in two weeks. I can relax a little but must remain vigilant,” he said. “This is a race. Don’t assume we’re done or win before reaching the finish line.”

Target: 9,000 kilometers

At the end of the month, he hopes to cover about 8,000-9,000 kilometers in distance.

He realized that what he had done during the last two weeks was indeed an achievement. He is also still wondering.

“When I look at the time records, it’s silly that I still ride the bike from 9am to 12.30am to achieve the target of staying at the top position,” the lecturer said.

He spends about 10 hours a day on his bike, juggling between teaching and preparing his lecture. He also has to make use of his time after dawn prayers and in the evening after his daily activities.

He has a reason as to why he likes to cycle in the evening. It is mainly because most of his opponents are usually less active at night Indonesia time. He cycles at a speed of 25-30 kilometers an hour, which is considered not too strenuous on his ankles.

Strava leaderboard

His consistency has brought him to the top Strava’s world-class leaderboard in the distance category. His friends said that his closest rival is a cyclist from Italy. However, Asril’s participation in the virtual race is to support the people. “It's just to encourage myself and my friends,” he said.

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A healthier diet

Though he has to do indoor cycling for about 250-300 kilometers every day, he maintains a fit lifestyle. He said that he has measured and planned the program.

By joining a group called AA SoS community, he gains a lot of knowledge from former athletes, nutritionists, and health experts, about how to exercise properly and not feel fatigued. He maintains his food intake, including calories. He has been advised to have more carbohydrate intake to obtain adequate glucose.

“During the virtual race, the portion of food can be two-three times more than usual because of physical activity.”

“Alhamdulillah [Thanks be to God), I never have a shortage of glucose, so I’m still fit,” said the cycling enthusiast.

(Writer: Maria Adeline Tiara Putri| Editor: Glori K. Wadrianto)

Source: https://lifestyle.kompas.com/read/2020/10/16/233733220/gowes-300-km-tiap-hari-dosen-unibraw-jadi-top-leaderboard-strava?page=all.