AMBITIOUS Ngai Hing again finished among the also rans in the second stage of the Tour de Taiwan but team officials believe they are still in a strong position to challenge for honours in the 1,203-kilometre series. After failing to make an impact in the five-kilometre individual time trial on Saturday, Ngai Hing's New Zealand recruits were in the main peloton of about 80 riders at the finish of yesterday's 100-kilometre criterium race. There were only two unsuccessful breakaway attempts and eventually the top three riders stole a small lead from the chasing group, who were all accredited with the same time - three seconds behind the winner. Ngai Hing were in 10th position overall after the first leg. Team manager Vincent Tse On-po said: ''We didn't lose much time today and are still within one minute of the overall team leaders.'' The Hong Kong national team, however, are struggling to keep up with the pace after only two stages. They were second last out of 25 teams after the opening leg, just ahead of Vietnam. Hui Chak-bor, the most experienced of the five-member Hong Kong squad, crashed out of yesterday's race while international debutants Wong Yuk-shing and Tse Wing-wan were lapped and had to pull out. The action is expected to pick up today when the tour leaves Taipei with the 170-kilometre race to Taichung.
