Fast-improving Derek Wong Ngai-ching finished fifth in yesterday's fourth stage of the Tour of South China Sea as teammate Wong Kam-po's hopes of another Tour title were dented in Zhongshan.
While 26-year-old Derek Wong stayed with the leaders in the 99km stage, his namesake suffered more heartbreak after being caught up in a pile-up 1.5 kilometres before the finish.
The four-time Tour champion lost precious time after falling off his bike to avoid the pile-up that involved at least four riders. Wong was unhurt in the drama but finished a lowly 80th.
'I lost precious time that could prove crucial as the leaders were ahead of us and they avoided the crash completely. I needed some time to get back on my bike and find my rhythm. By the time I found it, the leaders were too far ahead of me,' said 31-year-old Wong, who last won the Tour in 2001.
'It has not been a good Tour for me. There are three stages left. Unless I do really well in the remaining stages, I don't have a chance of winning it,' said Wong, who is still fifth overall behind leader Masahiko Mifune of the Marco Polo team.
Derek Wong, meanwhile, was still lying in second place overall - just six seconds behind Japanese Mifune - and was relieved at having avoided the crash.
