PUTRAJAYA, Explorer Khairil Aslan Ab Rasid embarked on his solo cycling expedition across Peninsular Malaysia today, as part of his intensive cardio training for the Ice Storm Russia Expedition in February next year.
The Ice Storm Russia Expedition 2025 is the first project where a Malaysian will cycle in temperatures of -50 degrees Celsius over a distance of 655 kilometres on the icye plains of the world’s largest freshwater lake, located in Irkutsk on the border of Russia and Mongolia.
Khairil Aslan, 50, said that the expedition across Peninsular Malaysia, covering 2,250 kilometres using a ‘Fatbike’ with approximately 80 kilogrammes of equipment, is expected to take him 35 to 40 days to complete.
‘This expedition is my training. Last February, I became the first person to traverse a new area in northern India, enduring -35 degrees Celsius on a newly formed glacier over 25 days.
‘That was also part of my training for Irkutsk because the temperature there is -50 degrees Celsius… I have experienced -45 de
grees Celsius during my climb of the three peaks of the Himalayas in 2016,’ he told reporters at the flagging-off ceremony for the expedition officiated by Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Adam Adli Abdul Halim here today.
The Perak-born explorer said he chose to embark on this solo cycling expedition journey because the current hot weather in Peninsular Malaysia would help his cardio training for the Ice Storm Russia Expedition.
‘The challenge might be in the Jeli area, which involves a long climb up the Titiwangsa peak, and possibly the weather conditions from Alor Star, Kedah towards Perlis,’ he said.
Meanwhile, Adam Adli said the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) is considering several types of assistance that can be provided to Khairil Aslan to ensure the success of the Ice Storm Russia Expedition 2025.
‘We will enhance cooperation with various parties to secure more sponsorships, not only from the government but also from private and corporate sectors. This is among the efforts we will undertake
,’ he said.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency