UCI Nations Cup: reduced overseas field for Hong Kong’s first major sporting event of pandemic era
- The UCI-sanctioned track cycling event from May 13-16 is to take place in a safety bubble set up between the Tseung Kwan O Velodrome and hotel
- Top Hong Kong rider and Olympic gold medal hope Sarah Lee needs to regain that competition feeling ahead of the Tokyo Games, having not raced in 14 months
A reduced field of international and local track cyclists will take part in next week’s UCI Nations Cup – Hong Kong’s the first major international sporting event in the Covid-19 pandemic era.
Organisers said on Thursday less than 100 cyclists from more than 20 national and professional teams would compete in the four-day event at Tseung Kwan O Velodrome, with a similar number of officials. This compares to 440 riders and officials who registered for the May 13-16 event when entries closed three weeks ago.
“All parties involved have been working very hard over the past couple of months to make the event happen and we will go ahead with the inaugural event as planned,” said Alex Wong Chi-yu, executive director of the Cycling Association, the event organisers. “We are providing a safety environment for all participants through the setting up of a safety bubble. Not even spectators will be allowed for the competition because it will be held behind closed doors.
“Some of the riders were from extremely high-risk countries and were not allowed to come to Hong Kong at this moment while some of them have been affected by air travel restrictions and could not book flight tickets. That’s why the number of entries have been reduced.
“Of course, we will monitor the situation closely, especially when the overseas riders start arriving in Hong Kong on Sunday. But so far we are quite happy with the progress.”
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Wong said all riders and officials would be required to show proof of good health before their departure for Hong Kong and take a Covid-19 testing upon their arrival at the airport. They will then be transported to the hotel by designated vehicles and can only travel between the hotel and venue during their stay in Hong Kong. No contact with the community is allowed.
They will be tested every two days until they leave Hong Kong. A medical team will be in place to provide instant response should any Covid-19 cases be identified. All local staff and officials will be tested every seven days for three weeks upon completion of the event in case of an infection.
Germany failed to send their women’s team, who are supposed to be Hong Kong rider Sarah Lee Wai-sze’s biggest rivals for gold at the Tokyo Games. Head cycling coach, Shen Jinkang, though, is unconcerned.
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“The event mainly serves as a rehearsal for Lee as she has not competed for 14 months since the 2020 World Championships,” said Shen. “She has been training hard over this period but needs real races to regain her competition feeling in a competitive environment.
“Also, the event will take place under a safety bubble, which will be very similar to the Olympic Games. It will be good practice for her before the Tokyo Games.”
Lee will take part in three events in Hong Kong – sprint, keirin, both part of her Olympic programme, and team sprint, which for the first time features three riders in each team rather than two previously. She will partner Jessica Lee Hoi-yan, another Tokyo Olympian, and newcomer Yeung Cho-yiu.
Lee said she would take part in the China National Games in September and the World Championships the following month after the Olympics before taking a break to finish her university studies. She would then decide if she would represent Hong Kong at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
