Latest news with #HongKongInternationalTrackCup
South China Morning Post
24-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Can Hong Kong's Olympic gold formula for fencing work again in cycling?
Hong Kong's elite cycling set-up has been revamped with the aim of copying the formula that turned the city's leading fencers into world-beaters. Advertisement A high-end recruitment policy that brought in best practices from farther afield helped to power Cheung Ka-long and Vivian Kong Man-wai to Olympic fencing glory last summer. Now, Hong Kong is applying the logic to velodromes and pelotons. The late-2023 exit of cycling head coach Shen Jinkang after 29 years in the post prompted a regime overhaul. Herve Dagorne, a two-time Olympian from France, was appointed as Shen's successor. New Zealander Anthony Peden has since become sprint coach, and Ben Kersten, from Australia, the road endurance coach. A common thread? Looking outside the previous sphere of influence for personnel and knowledge. Bradley McGee, an Olympic team pursuit gold medallist in 2004 with Australia, attended the Hong Kong International Track Cup on Monday and could be the next high-profile appointment. Octavian Zidaru celebrates with Vivian Kong after the Hongkonger claimed Olympic fencing gold. Photo: AP 'I will meet [McGee], along with Herve; [whether he joins] is not just about if we want to hire him, it's if he wants to live in the city,' Leung Hung-tak, chairman of the Cycling Association of Hong Kong, China, said.
South China Morning Post
23-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Asian Games gold medallist Yang sets new goals, says she felt lost during brief retirement
Yang Qianyu said she felt lost and had 'no direction in my life' after quitting cycling following her Asian Games road race triumph in October 2023. Advertisement The 32-year-old Yang performed a retirement U-turn early last year, five months after she walked away from the sport to care for her ill parents. A back problem has compromised Yang's training since her return, but she won team bronze medals at this year's Asian Track and Asian Road Championships. Over last week's two Hong Kong International Track Cup (HKITC) legs, Yang claimed a pair of omnium 13th-places, and finished fifth in the Madison, alongside Boey Leung Bo-yee. 'The period away from cycling felt like the longest time of my life,' Yang said. 'I felt lost. In the past, I'd always had a target: a National Games or Asian Games. All of a sudden, I had no direction in my life. I wanted to come back and see if I could find a new goal.' Yang crosses the line first in the Asian Games road race in October 2023. Photo: Xinhua It was while she was riding alone in her home city of Liaoning that Yang realised she had made a mistake after three months away from competitive sport.
RTHK
22-04-2025
- Sport
- RTHK
HK's Ng, Lee bag medals in International Track Cup
HK's Ng, Lee bag medals in International Track Cup Ng's victory in the men's competition was the SAR's only senior gold of the three-day event. Photo courtesy of the Cycling Association of Hong Kong, China Hong Kong, China cyclist Ng Pak-hang on Monday claimed gold on the closing day of the Hong Kong International Track Cup, as fellow SAR athlete Ceci Lee claimed silver in the all-around competition despite a crash in the last points of the race. Ng's victory in the men's competition was the SAR's only senior gold of the three-day meet at the Hong Kong Velodrome, which doubled as a test event for the upcoming National Games in November. The 26-year-old's finish was nearly matched Lee, who claimed silver in the all-around competition. She recovered from a crash in the closing points race of the omnium event to come close to beating Japan's former world champion Yumi Kajihara. Having won bronze in the women's elite omnium on the opening day, Lee ranked seventh – ahead of Kajihara in the women's Scratch race ahead of the final day of action.
South China Morning Post
21-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's Ng Pak-hang wins gold at velodrome, Ceci Lee has career ‘turning point'
Ng Pak-hang thrilled the home crowd and parents who nearly missed his golden moment as he accelerated to scratch race victory on the closing day of the Hong Kong International Track Cup. Advertisement His finish at Hong Kong Velodrome was nearly matched by Ceci Lee Sze-wing, who recovered from a crash to come within a whisker of beating Japanese former world champion Yumi Kajihara in the closing points race of the omnium. Head coach Hervé Dagorne hailed a potential watershed in Lee's promising career, saying: 'I was really surprised by her. It was physically the hardest race of her life, and all day she was technically and tactically involved in the race. 'She's never suffered like that, it's what I've wanted for the past year-and-a-half, and it could be a turning point.' Ceci Lee looks to rejoin the fray after her crash during the omnium points race. Photo: Jonathan Wong A supercharged Ng claimed Hong Kong's only senior gold of the meeting, which doubled as a test event for November's National Games.
South China Morning Post
20-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong riders claim treble solo bronze as National Games test event gets under way
Home favourites Ceci Lee Sze-wing, Mow Ching-yin and To Cheuk-hei claimed bronze medals on the opening day of the Hong Kong International Track Cup on Saturday. Advertisement The three-day meeting is doubling as a National Games test event, and there was a notable police and security presence inside and outside Hong Kong Velodrome in Tseung Kwan O. A hardy core of around 150 fans showed up to watch the action, which unfolded on a day when Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu hosted Gao Zhidan, director of the General Administration of Sport of China, at his official residence to exchange views on preparations for the Games. Rosanna Law Shuk-pui, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, also attended the meeting at Government House, during which Lee said his government would continue to conduct test events to ensure the city's readiness. On the track, Lee, Mow and To delivered performances that ignited optimism for November's competition, while the city's women's and men's sprint teams won silver and bronze, respectively. Hong Kong's Mow Ching-yin finished third overall in the men's elite omnium. Photo: Jonathan Wong 'They all showed fighting spirit, which I loved,' said head coach Hervé Dagorne. 'You could see Ceci and Ching-yin chasing points, so that's positive.'
