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Sarah Lee will be out to impress in front of the home crowds at next year’s inaugural Nations’ Cup at the Hong Kong Velodrome in Tseung Kwan O. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Hong Kong wins right to host inaugural Nations’ Cup next year in major boost to sports community

  • World-class riders are expected to be in action at the Tseung Kwan O velodrome, which will act as a dress rehearsal for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
  • Organisers expect pandemic situation to improve next year to provide a safe environment for all participants for May showpiece

Hong Kong will stage the inaugural track cycling Nations’ Cup in May next year, keeping the city’s fine track record of hosting major cycling events.

The news came hot on the heels of the cancellation of a series of international events due to the pandemic outbreak.

“Hong Kong always deserves [to host] world class events as an international city and we are glad to bring some good news to the sports community during the pandemic,” said Cycling Association chairman Leung Hung-tak. “Also, the International Cycling Union is keen to give the hosting rights of this new series to Hong Kong as we have proven our organisation abilities from previous events.

Hong Kong’s Yang Qianyu (in blue, left) and partner Leung Bo-yee race in the madison at the 2019 World Cup series in Tseung Kwan O velodrome. Photo: Winson Wong

“Yes, the pandemic is still worrying at this moment, but we hope the situation will improve next year so that we can stage the prestigious event under a safe environment which is always our greatest concern these days.”

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The Hong Kong velodrome in Tseung Kwan O hosted three legs of the World Cup series as well as the 2017 World Championships, which proved popular with participants.

The Nations’ Cup, to be introduced in 2021, is a revamped format of the World Cup series formed by the UCI, with only three legs a year compared to six legs of the World Cup. Only national teams will be allowed to take part with individual track teams omitted from the series. The series will earn riders points that count towards qualification for the World Championships and the Olympic Games.

Leung is expecting a good turnout of world-class riders in Hong Kong next year as the event will be used as a warm-up for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Germany's Emma Hinze (in white) and Hong Kong’s Sarah Lee battle it out in the sprint semi-finals at the 2020 World Championships in Berlin. Photo: AFP

“The riders will be keen to compete in Hong Kong as it will be a good opportunity for them to acclimatise [to the Asian climate] and it will be chance for riders to meet each other in a major meeting ahead of the Tokyo Games,” said Leung. “Of course it will also help home riders who have qualified for the 2020 Games.”

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Sarah Lee Wai-sze and Jessica Lee Hoi-yan have qualified in both the women’s sprint and keirin for Tokyo while a team of two in the women’s madison have also made it. Leung Bo-yee, Pang Yao and Yang Qianyu are competing for the two spots. Sarah Lee will be a serious medal prospect in both events.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam attends the 2017 World Championships at Hong Kong Velodrome in Tseung Kwan O. Photo: Edward Wong

Leung said they have set aside a budget of HK$5 million for the event and is confident the event will not go into the red.

“We understand the government is keen to see international events coming [back] to Hong Kong next year and will provide some financial backing through the major event fund,” he said. “Also, many commercial sponsors from our previous World Cup and World Championships are quite happy with our work and have promised to support us again.”

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: City set to host new Nations’ Cup track event in welcome boost for local sport
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