Latest news with #HerveDagorne
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong public urged to ‘come and cheer' city to National Games glory
Hongkongers have been urged to unite behind the city's athletes and 'cheer them to greatness' in this year's National Games. Eight events are being staged in the city as it jointly hosts the 15th edition of the Games along with Guangdong and Macau. With excitement mounting as the November 9 start date speeds into view, leading figures from cycling and triathlon said fervent support from the locals would 'make all the difference' in their hunt for medals. More than 300,000 tickets are set to be released for the Hong Kong-based competitions, with the first wave of sales beginning on August 28. Track cycling will be held at Hong Kong Velodrome from November 13 to 17. Herve Dagorne, the city team's cycling head coach, called it a unique opportunity. Ceci Lee (right) rides at Hong Kong Velodrome, where she will target Games medals. Photo: Edmond So 'Hosting the National Games track cycling is a moment of great pride and excitement for our city,' he said.
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong cycling's Vincent Lau ready to be National Games leader after coach demand
As someone who performs the grunt work for his professional team, Vincent Lau Wan-yau has needed a seismic mindset shift to become the spearhead of Hong Kong's National Games road cycling glory bid. Lau, a 2022 Asian Games medallist and Paris 2024 Olympian, is a domestique for Roojai Insurance, the Thai team he joined last year. 'I transport bidons [water bottles] to my teammates [from team car], help control the peloton, and spend time at the front to do lead outs and take the wind,' Lau said. 'It's giving me more experience. We have to make the race; be aggressive and attentive. With Hong Kong, we're not so [prominent] in races.' After Lau recently relinquished his Hong Kong time trial title to Chu Tsun-wai, head coach Herve Dagorne said: 'I don't see the anger in him, sometimes, I want to see more willing'. Vincent Lau (left) celebrates after finishing second in a recent Brisbane road race. Photo: CAHK The characteristically reserved Lau said Dagorne 'wants me to race more aggressively and, sometimes, be more vocal'.
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong cycling's Vincent Lau ready to be National Games leader after coach demand
As someone who performs the grunt work for his professional team, Vincent Lau Wan-yau has needed a seismic mindset shift to become the spearhead of Hong Kong's National Games road cycling glory bid. Lau, a 2022 Asian Games medallist and Paris 2024 Olympian, is a domestique for Roojai Insurance, the Thai team he joined last year. 'I transport bidons [water bottles] to my teammates [from team car], help control the peloton, and spend time at the front to do lead outs and take the wind,' Lau said. 'It's giving me more experience. We have to make the race; be aggressive and attentive. With Hong Kong, we're not so [prominent] in races.' After Lau recently relinquished his Hong Kong time trial title to Chu Tsun-wai, head coach Herve Dagorne said: 'I don't see the anger in him, sometimes, I want to see more willing'. Vincent Lau (left) celebrates after finishing second in a recent Brisbane road race. Photo: CAHK The characteristically reserved Lau said Dagorne 'wants me to race more aggressively and, sometimes, be more vocal'.
South China Morning Post
15-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong cyclists get National Games warning, as provinces ask ‘famous faces' for help
Herve Dagorne has issued a sobering warning to Hong Kong's cyclists after a tough showing at the China Track Championships. Entering Tuesday's climax of the six-day competition in Shanghai, which serves as a a key warm-up for November's National Games, the city team's senior riders remained empty-handed. On Monday, leading light Ceci Lee Sze-wing opened up a 12-point omnium lead after three disciplines, only to slump to seventh following a closing points race where Dagorne said 'she did not execute the strategy we agreed'. These championships, like their China road equivalents last month, gave head coach Dagorne a rare opportunity to study their rivals at close quarters. 'Strategically, they're making good choices, which makes our lives more difficult; they're very strong,' Dagorne said. Vasil Kiryienka, here enjoying 2015 World Championships time trial gold, is coaching Chinese riders. Photo: AP Photo The Frenchman also noted that the provinces had been busy adding 'famous faces' to their staff, with Vasil Kiryienka, the Belarusian former Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana stage winner, among a host of coaches from his country and Russia working for Chinese teams.
South China Morning Post
22-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong cycling star Ceci Lee claims double wins after mental transformation
Herve Dagorne said star rider Ceci Lee Sze-wing's twin National Road Championships triumph this weekend highlighted the 24-year-old's psychological transformation over the past 12 months. The irrepressible Lee made good on her pre-race promise to go all guns blazing for her first Hong Kong time trial title. She delivered a personal best performance of 22 minutes and 10.258 seconds on Saturday to upstage two-time defending champion Chloe Leung Wing-yee, who was condemned to second place despite covering the 15-kilometre time trial course in her own personal best time. Meanwhile, in the men's time trial, Chu Tsun-wai took the top spot with a time of 19:57.507, ahead of Vincent Lau Wan-yau, who finished second. On Sunday, Lee broke away from runner-up Kwan Tsz-kwan near the finish of the 70km road race to secure her third straight national road race crown. Ng Pak-hang, the 2023 champion, won the 120km men's road race. 'Ceci really wanted to win the time trial,' head coach Dagorne said. 'In the past, she would ask if I thought she could win. I'd always say she was physically capable, but she had to really want it. Ng Pak-hang (left) celebrates after winning the 120km men's road race. Photo: Sam Tsang 'She is physically strong, but there has been a psychological change. She is racing for herself, most of the time. The conditions on Saturday were wet and difficult, and she showed a good mentality.'
