Asian Games 2026 / Kazakh Cyclist Alexey Lutsenko Becomes 5-time Champion Before Retirement

Kazakh cyclist Alexey Lutsenko claimed his fifth Asian Games title, this time in the men's individual time trial at the event held in Shinshiro, Aichi Prefecture. The 32.1-kilometer race saw Lutsenko start as the last rider, yet he maintained a brisk pace and overtook competitors who had begun earlier. He crossed the finish line approximately one and a half minutes ahead of second-place finisher Shunsuke Imamura, securing an easy victory.

Unlike team-oriented road races, the individual time trial is a pure test of an athlete's physical prowess. Lutsenko, a seasoned professional, has already won stages at the prestigious Tour de France. His Asian Games medal haul includes two victories from road races at the 2018 Games in Jakarta. Following his latest triumph, Lutsenko expressed his motivation for competing was to bolster his country's pride and honor the national flag.

Preparing for the Games, Lutsenko underwent high-altitude training and competed in races across Europe prior to the event. He arrived in Japan a week before the Games and honed his skills on the race's hilly course. After the race, Lutsenko revealed his intention to retire at the end of the season, despite being in excellent physical condition.

He has spent 15 years as a professional cyclist and shared that his wife and three children were present at the Games. Lutsenko will compete in the men's road race on Wednesday, where he could potentially add another medal to his collection.