Hong Kong's Cheung King-lok wins gold at cycling's track World Cup
Youngster takes title in points race in Colombia
Cheung King-lok became the latest rider from Hong Kong to win a gold medal in the track World Cup series – although his imminent future remains on the road.
The 24-year-old got off to a flying start in the men’s points race in Cali, Colombia this morning as he beat a field of 13 riders with 58 points, three more than Eloy Teruel of Spain. Third place went to Edwin Avila Vanegas of the hosts (52).
All three riders gained two laps over the peloton in the 30-kilometre, 120-lap race, earning 40 points each, but Cheung stood out with an additional 18 on sprint points.
Cheung joins Wong Kam-po, Jaime Wong Wan-yiu, Sarah Lee Wai-sze, Kwok Ho-ting, Choi Ki-ho and Diao Xiaojuan, who have all won gold for Hong Kong in the World Cup before.
But since the points race is no longer on the Olympic Games programme, Cheung will have to focus on the road race to bid for Olympic qualification, said coach Shen Jinkang.
The responsibility of pursuing Olympic glory on the track will fall on fellow rider Leung Chun-wing, who will take part in the men’s omnium in Cali.