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Paul McNamara

The good news for Hong Kong’s cyclists is that the Izu Velodrome that will stage this year’s Asian Games increasingly felt like a “second home” during the Japan Track Cup.
The bad news is that it genuinely is home to the continent’s cycling powerhouse, who delivered a formidable show of strength throughout the competition, claiming 20 of the 22 available golds over four days.
A scratch race bronze for Franco Chu Tsun-wai on Sunday’s closing day lifted Hong Kong’s medal haul to eight, and the fast-improving 24-year-old’s tally to three.
Ceci Lee Sze-wing and Chloe Leung Wing-yee finished a disappointing fifth in the Madison, leaving Lee stuck on five medals.
“We were the only team consistently fighting with the Japanese, so that’s positive, but I could see [Japan’s] motivation – it already felt like the Asian Games,” said Herve Dagorne, the Hong Kong head coach.
“All our main opponents were here, and it was a really big fight to try to take the lead psychologically before the Games.”

Despite operating largely in Japan’s slipstream, Dagorne said his squad would fly back to the city “with good feelings”.
“I need to refresh their minds about where they were compared with where they are now,” said the Frenchman, pointing to the clutch of strong international riders who trailed their Hong Kong rivals in Japan.
“It was good to be there competing again. We go every year, so it’s not a place where we need one week to prepare. It’s like a second home track for us.
“We’ve made a lot of progress and, psychologically, this event will be a good asset for us.”
The outlier among Hong Kong’s upbeat squad was Tso Kai-kwong, who left Japan with “bad memories” after a “brutal” Madison crash on Saturday knocked him out cold.
Tso was released from hospital on Sunday morning, after a CT scan revealed no permanent damage.
“He landed very hard on his face,” Dagorne said. “It was a brutal and nasty crash, and he suffered a concussion. There’s nothing broken, but he has a really bad face, like he’s been boxing with Tyson or Holyfield.”
Japanese riders hogged the podium positions in Sunday’s men’s points race, with Mow Ching-yin next home in fourth.
“He competed with a world-championship mindset and had a big fight with the Japanese, so it was a good race for him,” Dagorne said.
Chu was two positions back in sixth, after he placed 13th in the elimination race. His scratch bronze, behind winner Eiya Hashimoto and Naoki Kojima, the points and elimination champion, added to elimination and Madison third places earlier in the meeting.
“He’s managing his tempo, and understanding you cannot give everything all the time,” Dagorne said.
“There’s still a lot of room for him to improve his tactics and strategy. You can improve physically by around three-to-four per cent from training, but tactically you can make a 20-per-cent improvement, which saves you 20 per cent of energy.”

There was a similar message for Lee and Leung after their flawed Madison effort. “The technique, and their tactical position in the group before the sprints, need to be improved,” Dagorne said.
“Ceci did a very good points race, and a nice elimination race, especially after a period where she was really scared on the track [following a painful fall last month]. She also made some really big mistakes that we need to fix”.
Leung had a quiet time at the meeting where 12 months ago she achieved her first Class 1 race victory.
“She made attacks that could have led to gold, the results didn’t come but she’s positive and making good progress,” Dagorne said.
Offering the first avenue to Asian Games qualifying points, the Hong Kong National Championships on Friday and Saturday will be staged at Pak Shek Cycling Circuit in Ma On Shan, with Hong Kong Velodrome unavailable.
Attention will then switch to next month’s National Road Cycling Championships, and their China equivalent, before Dagorne leads his squad in multiple European competitions, including Italy’s premier track cycling event, the 6 Days of Pordenone in July.
“We’re chasing UCI points and exposure to world level,” Dagorne said.


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Ceci Lee appears poised to attack during the Japan Track Cup points race. Photo: Japan Cycling Federation

Ceci Lee chases down Yumi Kajihara during the Japan Track Cup elimination race. Photo: Japan Cycling Federation

Tso Kai-kwong (far left) competing in the Madison before his “brutal” fall. Photo: Japan Cycling Federation

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Rishi Gurung and his partner Kerry celebrate their performance at Hyrox Hong Kong. Photo: Handout

Ceci Lee (right) and Chloe Leung, here on the way to Madison bronze on Friday, will reunite in the same event on Sunday. Photo: Japan Cycling Federation.

Ceci Lee in Japan Track Cup action in the Izu Velodrome. Photo: Japan Cycling Federation

Ceci Lee with elimination race winner Yumi Kajihara (centre) and runner-up Chen Ning (left). Photo: Japan Cycling Federation

Sport

Hong Kong

Franco Chu claims scratch race bronze on final day of Japan Track Cup as city squad claim eight medals, but dominant hosts bag 20 golds


Franco Chu claims scratch race bronze on final day of Japan Track Cup as city squad claim eight medals, but dominant hosts bag 20 golds.


Ceci Lee Sze-wing

Herve Dagorne

Hong Kong’s cyclists optimistic for Asian Games but powerhouse Japan send ominous warning

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Franco Chu claims scratch race bronze on final day of Japan Track Cup as city squad claim eight medals, but dominant hosts bag 20 golds

Franco Chu claims scratch race bronze on final day of Japan Track Cup as city squad claim eight medals, but dominant hosts bag 20 golds