It was a repeat of the final result of the previous round in Glasgow three weeks ago. Earlier, the 22-year-old German young gun survived a scare when she needed three races before beating Canada’s Kelsey Mitchell 2-1 in the semis. The Canadian is one of the world’s rising stars in the sprint after setting a world record 10.154 seconds in the event’s 200 metre flying start at the Pan-American Championships in September.

But Hinze, who won the team sprint title in Hong Kong the previous day, had to settle for second best against Lee, who was in command in both races. Each race features a three-lap one-on-one battle around the 250-metre velodrome track.

It was Lee’s third victory in three World Cups this season and the seventh since the beginning of the 2020 Olympic qualification, which started last year. In between she also lifted the World Championships title in Poland in March and two Asian Championship trophies.

From the 200 metre flying start qualifiers to the final, Lee was simply in a class of her own. She topped the qualifiers in 10.59 seconds, which presented her with a bye in the first round before beating compatriot Jessica Lee Hoi-yan in the next stage.

Young German guns out to upstage Hong Kong’s Sarah Lee in World Cup series

She then overcame Zhong Tianshi, of China, in the quarter-finals before giving Ukraine’s Olena Starikova no chance in the next round with a 2-0 win to reach the gold medal match.

Lee will also be going for gold in the keirin, which takes place on the final day on Sunday. Lee came fifth in the opening round of the season in Minsk in early November while a crash in the following round in Glasgow prevented her from reaching the final.

“I didn’t expect this result but I felt happy because I applied different tactics during the competition,” said Lee. “The World Cup series is a good preparation building up towards the World Championships and I still need to refine some of my tactics.

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“The quarter-final against Zhong Tianshi was a bit difficult as I struggled to gain my best in the early afternoon but the evening session was fine. [Emma] Hinze was not as good as she was in the previous rounds in Europe, perhaps they need to get used to the conditions, but overall I am quite happy.”

Despite her dominance in the series, Lee will still take part in the next two rounds in New Zealand and Australia, according to coach Shen Jinkang.

“Many of her skills and tactics have been developed from competing in the region and she likes the competitions there,” said the coach. “Lee has proved both her mental and physical state are reaching its peak and her strong desire to win is another reason for her outstanding performance.”

The coach gave praised Leung Ka-yu, who finished sixth in the men’s omnium, Hong Kong’s best-ever result in the World Cup series which also revitalised the Olympic qualifying hopes in the event.

“He was very aggressive and attacked at the right time, especially in the last discipline points race,” said the coach. “Leung will be our key rider for the onmium for the remaining World Cup rounds and hopefully he can keep improving.”

Unbeatable Sarah Lee claims another sprint gold in Glasgow leg of World Cup series after keirin disappointment

Among the four-discipline event, the 23 year-old Leung won the final points race with two lap points. “I was able to grasp the opportunity when it came. This is very important in the points race. The result will definitely push me to work harder in the campaign.”

Hong Kong also finished seventh in the women’s madison through Yang Qianyu and Leung Po-yee, also their best-ever result in the World Cup series and a lift of their qualification hopes for Tokyo