FULL-ON FOR RISING STAR IN ASIAN GAMES QUEST
Lee Sze-wing has busy build-up for road and track events at regional event, starting with international competition at Tseung Kwan O this weekend
Cycling prodigy Lee Sze-wing has no fear about tackling both road and track competitions at this year’s Hangzhou Asian Games – the most important event of the season for the Hong Kong team.
The 22-year-old Lee is back in the city for this weekend’s International Track Cup at Tseung Kwan O Velodrome, just days after capturing a silver medal in the second leg of the All China Road Race Tour.
“I did pretty good in the road race in Guizhou despite racing in mountains for more than 10km, which would have been my weakness before,” Lee said.
“In the end, I finished in second place, which was quite surprising. Perhaps I have been losing some weight recently and that might have helped my climbing power but it also proves I have made an improvement.”
At the 2021 National Games in Shaanxi, Lee had a surprise win in the road race on a flat course. The event will take place on similar terrain with only small climbs at the Hangzhou Games, which start in late September.
“Racing in the road competition can help improve my endurance power – essential in the madison and omnium on the track,” Lee added.
“There will be a number of road and track competitions ahead of the Asian Games, which will be a good build-up for Hangzhou. I will give my best in all these events and see if the results are favourable.”
After the Hong Kong event, Lee and fellow team members will compete in Games track test events across the border before flying to Thailand for the Asian Championships road race, which will be followed by the track Asian Championships in Malaysia.
They will then return to China for Games road race test events at Qiandao Lake near Hangzhou. The track World Championships are in Glasgow in August, leading into the Asian Games.
“Lee is a very smart rider and can make correct judgments in road and track competitions,” head coach Shen Jinkang said. “Road races can also strengthen her endurance power on the track and we are happy to see her work on both disciplines.
“But since there are only two representatives per team in the road race at the Asian Games, she has to work hard for one of the spots and we have to see her performance in the coming months before making the final decision.”
Having taken part in all three track Nations Cups this year, Lee remains the biggest hope for Hong Kong to qualify for next year’s Paris Olympics in the madison and the omnium.
“I only had some mediocre results in all three events and must get a good result at the Asian Championships to improve my rankings,” she said. “It seems we have a big gap to close against the top nations in the madison but the omnium looks better, with room for improvement.”
Hong Kong qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in the women’s madison and Lee has partnered with both riders who took part in the event, Leung Po-yee and Yang Qianyu.
“I worked with Leung last year and changed partner to Yang this year in the madison,” she said. “There has been more understanding with my partners and we are trying to work out better ways to improve results.
“The Asian Championships will also be a crucial tournament for making it to the World Championships and we need ranking points to boost our chances of participation at Paris 2024.”