To enhance Wong's medal chances, the Hong Kong team has employed a short-term performance coach from Belgium. Wong has been training with the Belgium team for a number of years but only returned to Hong Kong early this year hoping to boost his chances of representing Hong Kong in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Regarding yesterday's race, Shen said Chan had completed his mission, although he never challenged the top three positions throughout the 31-kilometre race held in Zhang Jun Shan Park in the outskirts of Nanjing.

'The top three finishers are in a class of their own and it would be difficult for Chan to mount a serious challenge to them,' said Shen. 'His pet event is still the road race in which he should have a chance to become another Wong Kam-po, provided that he keeps up the hard work in his training.'

Zhu Yongbiao, the defending champion from Yunnan, completed the gruelling race in two hours 16 minutes and 22 seconds, while Duan Zhiqiang from Hebei was second in 2:17.24. The bronze medal went to Ji Jianhua of Anhui with a time of 2:18.08. Chan was more than four minutes behind him. 'We know Chan is at that level and there is no complaint with a fourth position against more than 40 of the best riders from all over China. In fact, he worked extremely hard today to gain that position,' said the coach. 'All participants had to earn the right to be here by their results in 12 races over the past two years.' Chan was eighth when the five-lap race started but he moved to seventh at the completion of the first lap. He then overtook the opposition one by one until he reached fourth place on lap five and stayed there until the finish. 'I am very happy with the result as my target was a fifth position,' he said. 'I think I should be able to win a medal at the next games in four years.'