UCI Track Cycling Nations Cup: Hong Kong’s Yeung Cho-yiu, Jessica Lee and To Cheuk-hei edge closer to podium times
- The 20-year-old Yeung clinches personal best in women’s time trial final while To bows out in men’s keirin
- Yeung believes she has ‘still not reached my best’ and aims to ‘join Sarah [Lee] on the podium’ in future
“I think I performed pretty well in the qualifiers today. Although I got my PB I actually think I can improve even more. I didn’t expect to qualify so today it is a pleasant surprise,” said former national handball player Yeung in a virtual interview.
“It’s my first time in the Nations Cup and competing against international riders. Although I’m a little behind, it was a really good experience. Finishing fourth tells me where I need to improve and what my faults are. In terms of development, I’ve still not reached my best. I hope I develop to the point that I join Sarah on the podium. That’s my objective.”
The more experienced Lee congratulated her new teammate and offered some wisdom, before explaining why she is not too concerned by her time trial displays and is focusing on Sunday’s women’s keirin headliner.
“Yeung was really good today, just a spot away from the podium. I know she was a bit disappointed but I told her medals are just the end product. The most important thing is to focus on your own time, that’s already a gold medal, so keep going,” Lee said.
“It was a bit short compared to my best time, but this 500m time trial is not a category I train for every day. I’m competing in the keirin and sprint at the Olympics, and although this performance is not as strong as I wanted it to be, we’ve found things to improve on. I’m not too worried.
“My goal is to get into the top six of the keirin [tomorrow]. The coach just discussed tomorrow’s tactics for the event and it’s to do what we originally planned. Whether we get a medal or not, we’ll be satisfied if we stick to it.”
Meanwhile, To Cheuk-hei narrowly missed qualification to the men’s keirin final. The 21-year-old had comfortably qualified in the preliminary qualifier and first-round repechage but could not slide into the top three of his second-round heat. He finished 10th of 12 in the overall keirin final placements.
To trailed Yuta Wakimoto, of Japan, Jai Angsuthasawit, of Thailand, and Lithuania’s Vasilijus Lendel.
Fans eagerly await the final day of the Nations Cup on Sunday, where legendary cyclist Sarah Lee Wai-sze will be competing alongside Jessica Lee in the women’s keirin qualifiers for a potential second event gold medal. Law Tsz-chun, who crashed out in the men’s keirin event earlier in the day, will join To in the men’s sprint category to wrap up Hong Kong’s tournament campaign.
