Sarah Lee Wai-sze clocked a personal best time of 33.296 seconds in the women’s 500-metre time trial at the World Cup cycling series in Aguascalientes, Mexico, but had to settle for a bronze medal as Australian Anna Meares set a new world record.
The Hong Kong rider then picked up her second medal when she finished with a silver in the keirin, losing to high-flying Kristina Vogel of Germany. Rebecca James of Britain was third. Vogel also won the opening leg of the series in Manchester last month when Lee was fourth.
The trio will be in contention again when the sprint is held on the last day of the three-day event.
Racing against a strong field of 22 top sprinters in the time trial, Lee’s personal best time was also an Asian record.
But Meares, who dropped the keirin to focus on the time trial, set a new world mark in a staggering 32.836 seconds, bettering her previous best of 33.010 recorded before the London Olympic Games.
Miriam Welte of Germany was second in 33.062 while Zhong Tianshi of China, who set a world record in the 200 metres at the same venue in January, came fourth. The mainlander said the high altitude of Aguascalientes helped push riders to the limit as several world records have been broken in the second round of the World Cup series.