Wong 'needs support' in Tour
Hong Kong coach Shen Jinkang has called on his local charges to take a more active role in the Tour of South China Sea, saying they are all capable of holding their own in good company.
Speaking on the eve of the seven-stage Tour, the long-serving national coach wants the Hong Kong contingent to step up the challenge and not rely solely on four-time Tour champion Wong Kam-po to fly the flag for the SAR.
He believes Hong Kong team members Derek Wong Ngai-ching, Cheung King-wai, Chan Chun-hing, Lam Kai-tsun and Wu Kin-san are good enough to win a stage or two. He also feels Wong Kam-po has the best chance of clinching his first Tour victory in four years.
At last year's Tour, Hong Kong riders only managed to win one stage when Wong won the Tsing Yi leg. Shen feels the Hong Kong riders are capable of much more.
'Our riders have done their training and they should be ready to do well. There is no reason why they cannot win a few stages.
'Wong has a very good chance of regaining his title. If he gets good support from his teammates, he should win the Tour again.'
Today's opening stage starts at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai, leading competitors through the Western Harbour Tunnel, then across Tsing Yi Bridge before winding up at Tsing Yi Road West, where riders race for 12 laps.
The favourites will be the powerful Russian team, led by 2003 world junior champion Alexander Khatuntsev.
Wong hopes to wear the yellow jersey after today's stage and never surrender it despite facing top amateurs from Australia, China, Slovakia, Denmark, Kazakhstan, Germany, the Czech Republic and Macau in the Tour, which ends on New Year's Day at the Macau Jockey Club.
Meanwhile, the Marco Polo cycling team will become the first professional cycling team on the mainland.
Team manager Gudo Kramer said an agreement had been reached with the Chinese Cycling Association, running until the end of 2008. 'It's a four-year agreement. There are four talented Chinese riders in our team and they will be competing in the Tour of South China Sea.
'The 2005 team also includes talented Hong Kong rider Leung Chi-yin, who competed in an international elite race in Belgium, winning one stage and a green jersey.
