UCI Track Cycling Nations Cup: Hong Kong’s Sarah Lee Wai-sze scoops silver medal in women’s keirin final

Lee pipped by Japan’s Kobayashi at the last turn but comes away with a memorable gold and silver at inaugural event

‘I felt quite nervous because it had been 14 months without competing,’ the London 2012 bronze medallist said

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Japan’s Yuka Kobayashi and Hong Kong’s Sarah Lee Wai-sze in the women's keirin final at the UCI Track Cycling Nations Cup at the Hong Kong Velodrome in Tseung Kwan O. Photo: SCMP / May Tse

Published: 7:31pm, 16 May 2021Updated: 10:13pm, 16 May 2021

Hong Kong Olympic medal hopeful Sarah Lee Wai-sze added another silver to her decorated trophy cabinet after a powerful showing in the UCI Track Cycling Nations Cup women’s keirin final on Sunday.

Lee, who eased through qualifications in the morning, finished behind favourite Yuka Kobayashi from Japan. Some would consider it a win-apiece as Kobayashi finished just behind Lee in Friday’s sprint final.

Taking a completely different strategy compared to the heats, the 34-year-old Hong Kong star led for much of the keirin but was left sandwiched by Japanese riders in the final stretch. Lee was nonetheless pleased with the display and that of her overachieving teammates throughout the weekend.

“I felt quite nervous because it had been 14 months without competing. Qualifying was solid and although I let Kobayashi past me in the end, I actually feel not winning is better than winning because now I can identify and assess what I did wrong in between it. Kobayashi uses a different technique to overtake so I felt that experience and know what to expect when she’s behind me in the future,” said Lee, who considered the event as a “warm-up” for the Olympics in less than three months’ time and therefore used similar tactics and communication with coach Shen Jinkang.

Hong Kong's Sarah Lee Wai-sze finishes second behind Japan’s Yuka Kobayashi in the women's keirin final at the UCI Track Cycling Nations Cup at the Hong Kong Velodrome in Tseung Kwan O. Photo: SCMP / May Tse

“This event is quite similar to what we’ll go through at the Tokyo Olympics so it gives us a good idea of what to expect. The competition may not have been as high but I am training with some Hong Kong boys … so I’m not worried about the difference in level. In these short tracks, I realised that despite not competing in for so long, I’ve still maintained a good base.