Sarah Lee surges into semis of women’s sprint at track cycling world championships

Home favourite Sarah Lee Wai-sze fired up the crowd as she stormed into the semi-finals of the women’s sprint at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships at the Tseung Kwan O Velodrome on Thursday night.

The Hong Kong star now faces long-time rival and reigning Olympic champion Kristina Vogel of Germany in their showdown on Friday night. Vogel got the better of Lee in the quarter-finals of the sprint at the Rio Games.

But on Thursday night, in-form Lee was clinical against Kaarle McCulloch of Australia in a best-of-three quarter-final, winning the first two races in front of a 2,000 strong crowd at the velodrome.

Lee had earlier set her second best time in the 200m flying start qualifiers – 10.764 seconds. Her best time of 10.67 was set in the World Cup series in Mexico in 2013, with a little help from racing at altitude. Australia’s Stephanie Morton was first in the qualifiers yesterday with 10.724.

“I think [Lee] wanted to be the first in the qualifiers as this was her first race in the world championships in Hong Kong,” said coach Shen Jinkang. “In the end she just lost to Morton, but still a remarkable achievement.

“She really wants to meet Vogel again and now she has the chance. Lee did beat the German rider in the World Cup series in Cali in 2013 when they met in the bronze medal match but lost to her at the Olympic Games.