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Paul McNamara

Herve Dagorne has been left “frustrated” over a series of changes for the cycling events at this year’s Asian Games in Japan.
Organisers have reduced teams’ road race quotas from four riders to three, and allowed only one athlete from each delegation to compete in the individual time trial events.
They have also compromised their own road competitions by scheduling them at the same time as the UCI Road World Championships in Montreal.
Positioning the track programme after the road races, a reversal of the order in Hangzhou three years ago, has also left track cyclists fewer than two weeks to recover for the UCI Track World Championships in Shanghai.

Currently in Italy, where he has a six-strong Hong Kong squad poised to compete in a pair of prestigious six-day events, head coach Dagorne said: “I would love to know their reasoning, it’s very disappointing because [their decisions] are not helping the development of Asian cycling.
“I have absolutely no idea why you’re allowed only one rider in the time trials, it’s so frustrating.
“Nobody knows why they put the road events before the track. I will send riders from the Asian Games to arrive the day before their World Championship [discipline], because we need to score Olympic qualifying and UCI points. If you participate, you get half a point.
“Myself and other head coaches are asking the Asian confederation why they’ve made these decisions, we’re here to help. But nothing has changed and it’s frustrating, it’s crazy.”
The Asian Cycling Confederation has been approached for comment.
Before flying to northeastern Italy for the Six Days of Pordenone meeting, which begins on Monday, Dagorne spent three days in the Spanish city of Girona with Chloe Leung Wing-yee, who will shoulder Hong Kong’s women’s time trial hopes in Nagoya in September.
“The circuit [in Girona] is like in Japan, it’s hilly and this was an opportunity to have a small camp focusing on descending skills,” Dagorne said.
Leung, Ceci Lee Sze-wing, Franco Chu Tsun-wai, Tso Kai-kwong, Charles Ng Pak-hang and Mow Ching-yin will all compete in Pordenone, before relocating roughly 315 kilometres (195 miles) west for the Six Days of Fiorenzuola event from July 20.
Star rider Lee, a three-time medallist at the 2022 Asian Games, claimed road race and time trial honours at last month’s Hong Kong National Championships before sitting out their Chinese equivalents to focus on training and preparation for the next fortnight. She will face two of her major Japanese rivals, Yumi Kajihara and Mano Kakita, in Italy.
“It’s her last big racing block before the Asian Games, she’s hungry to compete and happy to be here,” Dagorne said.
The Frenchman has appointed Cheung King-wai, the 2006 Asian Games points race champion, and Remi Anase, a member of the France technical staff who masterminded Benjamin Thomas’s 2024 Olympic omnium gold, as assistant coaches.
He also has Mickael Bouget, the former Swiss track cycling head coach, and recent Hong Kong track sprint coach, Anthony Peden, helping on freelance terms.

Both the events in Pordenone and Fiorenzuola are staged on outdoor 400m concrete circuits.
“It’s like competing on the road, we keep the same strategy [as track cycling] but we can build physically,” Dagorne said. “It’ll be a very high level, and being outside makes the races harder, but even though it’s 400m [unlike traditional 250m circuits], you still have the tactical side.
“I selected riders to perform, I couldn’t bring anyone here just to learn. We want UCI points and to prepare for the Asian Games.”
After Italy, the Hong Kong party will set up camp in mainland province Yunnan before finalising Games preparations back in Hong Kong.
Dagorne has submitted his squad to the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China but is sworn to secrecy until it is confirmed.
Still, there must be a chance that National Games road race champion Lee will be asked to channel all her efforts into the velodrome, given the undulating nature of the Japanese road course.
Wu Chun-yin, 20, made a shock case for selection when he won the men’s road race at the Hong Kong championships. He was also runner-up to 19-year-old speedster Daniel Yip Hon-man in the under-23 time trial.
“He’s constantly progressing and can now compete in a tactical and strategic way,” Dagorne said. “In the past his temper was a bit high; now he’s calm and makes good decisions.
“Daniel is going in the same direction. To have two young riders pushing and leading is a good sign of the vitality of Hong Kong cycling.”


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Hong Kong

Herve Dagorne baffled by reduced rider numbers and clash with UCI Road World Championships, as city squad accelerate preparations in Italy


Herve Dagorne baffled by reduced rider numbers and clash with UCI Road World Championships, as city squad accelerate preparations in Italy.


Ceci Lee Sze-wing

Herve Dagorne

Hong Kong cycling coach’s anger over ‘crazy’ scheduling, rules for Asian Games

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Herve Dagorne baffled by reduced rider numbers and clash with UCI Road World Championships, as city squad accelerate preparations in Italy

Herve Dagorne baffled by reduced rider numbers and clash with UCI Road World Championships, as city squad accelerate preparations in Italy