Asian Games 2023: Hong Kong cyclist Leung Chun-wing set to become coach, warns team to ‘be realistic’ going forward
- ‘It’s time for me to step aside and let the youngsters take over,’ Leung says after finishing men’s road race in 29th place
- Leung Chun-wing warns athletes not to get ahead of themselves after winning six medals in Hangzhou
After what was likely to have been the last race of an illustrious career, decorated Hong Kong cyclist Leung Chun-wing turned his attention to his next job as the team’s coach.
The former Asian Games gold medallist finished well down the field in 29th in the men’s road race on Thursday, crossing the line in four hours, 32 minutes and 59 seconds, nearly eight minutes behind Kazakhstan’s Yevgeiny Fedorov and Alexy Lutsenko, who crossed holding hands in 4:25:29.
Fedorov took gold, Lutsenko silver and Mongolia’s Jambaltsamts Sainbayar was third in 4:31:11.
Leung’s teammates Leung Ka-yu and Ko Siu-wai finished 15th and 16th in 4:32:50, Vincent Lau Wan-yau dropped out early in the 207.7km race.
Already a part-time assistant coach with the team, Leung said it was “time for me to step aside and let the youngsters take over”.
Acknowledging that they did not have his experience just yet, the 29-year-old said they made up for that with the drive to compete, which he now lacked.
