From left: silver medallist Anastasiia Voinova, of Russia, Germany’s gold medallist Emma Hinze and bronze winner Sarah Lee Wai-sze on the podium. Photo: AFP
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https://scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3052995/sarah-lees-unbeaten-record-womens-sprint-ends-rising-german-star Hong Kong
Sarah Lee’s unbeaten record in women’s sprint ends as rising German star takes gold at cycling track World Championships
- Lee loses both races in best-of-three semi-final to Emma Hinze before capturing bronze by beating Kelsey Mitchell, of Canada
- Hong Kong star rider still has to defend her keirin world title against the same group of riders as the sprint
Sarah Lee poses on the podium with her bronze medal at the track cycling World Championships in Berlin. Photo: AFP
Sarah Lee Wai-sze’s two-year, unbeaten record in the women’s sprint ended after the Hong Kong star rider finished third in the track World Championships in Berlin.
Ever since the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games qualification cycle began in October 2018, Lee had never lost a race in the sprinting event, including victory at the 2019 World Championships in Poland that marked her a favourite to defend her title at the Berlin Velodrome.
But upcoming German starlet Emma Hinze upstaged the veteran Hong Kong rider when the duo met in the semi-finals. The 22-year-old home favourite, having lost to Lee in their previous two clashes at the World Cup series finals in Glasgow and Hong Kong last year, finally got her way.
Hinze, who had already won the team sprint with partner Pauline Grabosch on the opening day and recorded the fastest time in the 200-metre flying start qualifiers, sent Lee out in the race with two wins in the best-of-three tie.
Grabosch was the last sprinter who defeated Lee when they met in the 2018 World Championships bronze medal play-off.
Hinze went on to win her second gold medal in front of the home crowds as she beat Anastasiia Voinova, of Russia, in the best-of-three final 2-0. Lee scored a 2-0 result over Kelsey Mitchell, of Canada, in their third-place clash, her second bronze in the event after her third place at the 2017 World Championships in Hong Kong.
Sarah Lee ‘s taking on Canada’s Kelsey Mitchell in the bronze medal ride-off. Photo: EPA
Hong Kong Cycling Association chairman Leung Hung-tak remained positive after the result, saying there was still time before the Tokyo Olympics.
“There is always the pressure of carrying an unbeaten record as it will happen one day,” said Leung, who’s also a former Hong Kong team captain. “It’s not too bad as it happened before the Olympic Games, which is our main focus of the year. We hope she can release the pressure after the race and gather momentum to strive for a better result in the Olympics.”
Sarah Lee waves to the fans after winning a bronze medal in the women’s sprint. Photo: EPA
Lee will also be defending her keirin title when the Worlds conclude on Sunday and will face the same group of opponents as during the sprint competition. Hong Kong men’s madison pair of Cheung King-lok and Leung Chun-wing will also feature as they aim to book a ticket to Tokyo this summer.
British star Laura Kenny sits in the team area after a crash during the women's omnium scratch race. Photo: PA Wire
In the women’s omnium, Hong Kong’s upcoming Lee Sze-wing finished 17th out of 24 riders in her World Championships debut. Favourite Laura Kenny, the 2016 Olympic champion, suffered a crash in the opening scratch event and was unable to fight her way back in the three remaining disciplines, managing a disappointing 12th place.