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Tokyo Olympics: Sarah Lee fails to repeat London 2012 heroics in keirin final bid, finishes eighth overall
- The 34-year-old Lee battles into fifth in her semi-final heat, leaving her to contest the 7-12 final where she finishes eighth overall
- ‘I’m not surprised by the result,’ says coach Shen. ‘There are many unknowns in keirin and there are bound to be some surprises’
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Paul Rydingin Tokyo
Hong Kong medal prospect Sarah Lee Wai-sze failed in her attempt to add to her London 2012 keirin bronze on Thursday when the city’s only track cycling Olympic medallist was eliminated at the semi-final stage at Izu Velodrome.
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Lee was ranked the No 2 rider in the world in the latest UCI rankings. None of her rivals in her semi-final heat on Thursday were ranked inside the top 10 and Lee could reasonably have been expected to advance from a heat in which she was easily the most decorated rider in the field.
The 2019 world champion was confident coming into the 2020 Games saying her her preparation had been spot on.
“The training this week has been the best over the years and I am ready to win medals in Izu,” Lee said soon before departing Hong Kong last week. “Everything is ready and we look forward to the actual races.”
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Lee’s coach Shen Jinkang said his charge had raced well but lamented the unpredictability of keirin racing.
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