Curse of Diao strikes again - 100m from finish
After crashing in the pursuit event last week, HK rider suffers a puncture while leading the pack
If there was a prize for the most unfortunate athlete in Incheon, Hong Kong cyclist Diao Xiaojuan would be a strong contender.
After three and a half hours in the saddle and with only 100 metres left in the 126km women's road race, Diao led the pack and was flying to the finish when her hopes of glory ended with a bang as her rear tyre punctured.
She struggled home, but finished out of the medals in fourth.
"I feel sorry for my teammate [Meng Zhaojuan] and all the support staff behind me," said a sombre Diao.
This is her second mishap in a week. Last Monday, Diao collided with teammate Jaime Wong Wan-yiu in the team pursuit, an event in which they finished second in the qualifiers. They had been strong medal contenders but ended up in fifth.
"We trained really hard in Kunming, but now …"
Diao, the reigning Asian road race champion, could not finish the interview and left the venue accompanied by Meng.
"Our plan was to let Meng attack in the closing stages to break away from the peloton so she could come in first on her own but it did not work that way as her attack failed twice," said coach Shen Jinkang. "We then changed the plan, with Meng to lead Diao to the last sprint so that Diao, a much better sprinter, could beat the opponents with her power.
"This is the charm of road racing as there are many uncertainties and, in fact, I would say a puncture in the final 100 metres is quite rare. "
At the last Asian Games in Guangzhou, Diao, now 28, was leading in the women's points race and looked set for a podium finish, but was caught in a chain-reaction crash near the finish and her hopes ended with her in hospital undergoing an emergency operation to repair a dislocated shoulder. Yesterday, she was racing with six stitches in her left elbow following last week's team pursuit crash.
"Her confidence has been shattered by this series of mishaps," said Shen. "There are still four years to go before the next Games in Jakarta and it's too early to say if Diao will make a third attempt."
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong men's 4x100 metre relay team had a lucky break to reach the finals despite fourth place in their heat. Oman were disqualified over a baton exchange, which means Hong Kong have a finals berth.
However, second leg Lai Chun-ho strained a thigh in the warm-up then aggravated it further in the race and may have to be replaced for the final.
At the Wangsan Marina Centre, there was insufficient wind for windsurfing events. The last two races for Sonia Lo Sin-lam, who is just one penalty point behind leader Weng Qiaoshan of China in the women's RS:One, will be rescheduled today.
Andy Leung Ho-tsun also needs a good performance to keep his third place in the men's RS:X. He is two points behind Thai Ek Boonsawad and leader Wang Aichen of China.
