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Ada Li

Ceci Lee Sze-wing delivered an “epic, tactically perfect” performance to claim a brilliant elimination-race silver on the first day of her home UCI Track World Cup at Hong Kong Velodrome.
With the last rider in the field eliminated every two laps, the triple National Games gold medallist stayed consistently near the front of the peloton before securing the best result of her burgeoning career.
Norway’s Anita Yvonne Stenberg took gold, while Valentine Fortin of France claimed bronze.
“Winning a medal at home for the first time means a lot to me,” Hongkonger Lee said. “I hope I can keep improving in the coming races.”
The 24-year-old, who won bronze in the elimination and omnium disciplines from the previous World Cup leg in Perth, attributed her progress to a combination of “improving a lot technically” and her climbing confidence.
“I have set higher goals for myself and I hope I can do even better next time,” she said.
Lee had little trouble progressing from the morning heats, finishing third in her group. There were surprise early exits for Japan’s former world champion and Tokyo Olympic medallist Yumi Kajihara, and reigning points race world champion Yareli Acevedo Mendoza from Mexico.
The home favourite will race again on Saturday in the Madison alongside her National Games gold partner Chloe Leung Wing-yee, before competing in the omnium on Sunday.
“My goal in the omnium is to perform at my best. If I execute technically, I will already be satisfied,” Lee added.
Herve Dagorne, the Hong Kong head coach, said Lee had demonstrated her race awareness.
“Today she was epic, not just because it is a World Cup, but because her strategy and tactics were almost perfect,” Dagorne said.
Elsewhere, Hong Kong’s Chu Tsun-wai advanced to the men’s elimination race final, where he finished 16th.
Italy’s Matteo Fiorin won gold, with New Zealand’s Thomas Sexton and the Netherlands’ Yoeri Havik taking silver and bronze respectively.
Hong Kong’s men’s team pursuit squad, fresh from a historic silver medal in Perth, placed 10th in qualifying with a time of 4 minutes and 2.629 seconds, missing out on the final.
However, the quartet of Chu, Tso Kai-kwong, Mow Ching-yin and Ng Pak-hang set a new city best, improving on the 4:04.387 they clocked in last November’s National Games.
“The men’s team pursuit are closing the gap to the strongest teams,” Dagorne said. “We are not there yet, but we are improving.”
The Hong Kong men’s and women’s team sprint squads fell short of their finals, finishing 11th and 12th respectively, in qualifying.
Dagorne noted technical improvements despite the results. “The sprint group do not have much experience, but today they executed,” he said, adding it had been “a good day [overall], for sure”.
“Of course, we always want more medals and Ceci would prefer gold, but we are moving forward step by step. We will take each day as it comes.”


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Hong Kong

Home star storms to second in elimination race behind Anita Yvonne Stenberg of Norway, while Valentine Fortin is beaten into third


Home star storms to second in elimination race behind Anita Yvonne Stenberg of Norway, while Valentine Fortin is beaten into third.


Ceci Lee Sze-wing

Chu Tsun-wai

Ng Pak-hang

Herve Dagorne

‘Epic’ Hongkonger Ceci Lee claims UCI Track World Cup silver for career high

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Home star storms to second in elimination race behind Anita Yvonne Stenberg of Norway, while Valentine Fortin is beaten into third

Home star storms to second in elimination race behind Anita Yvonne Stenberg of Norway, while Valentine Fortin is beaten into third