Hong Kong cyclist Leung to step into coaching role after Asian Games race

After what was likely to have been the last race of an illustrious career, decorated Hong Kong cyclist Leung Chun-wing turned his attention to his next job as the team’s coach.

The former Asian Games gold medallist finished well down the field in 29th in the men’s road race on Thursday, crossing the line in four hours, 32 minutes and 59 seconds, nearly eight minutes behind Kazakhstan’s Yevgeiny Fedorov and Alexy Lutsenko, who crossed holding hands in 4:25:29.

Fedorov took gold, Lutsenko silver and Mongolia’s Jambaltsamts Sainbayar was third in 4:31:11.

Leung’s teammates Leung Ka-yu and Ko Siu-wai finished 15th and 16th in 4:32:50, Vincent Lau Wan-yau dropped out early in the 207.7km race.

Already a part-time assistant coach with the team, Leung said it was “time for me to step aside and let the youngsters take over”.

Acknowledging that they did not have his experience just yet, the 29-year-old said they made up for that with the drive to compete, which he now lacked.

“I hope when I become a part of the coaching team, I can pass on my experience as an athlete to those who come after me and help them perform better,” he said.

After bursting onto the scene with a stunning points race victory at the UCI Juniors Track World Championships in 2012, Leung said he had “no regrets” about the course his career had taken, despite some thinking he had not made the most of his ability.

“As an Asian athlete, I’ve won everything I can, but … from when I was the world junior champion, people labelled me as really strong and had so many expectations of me [when I became] a senior rider,” he said.

“Nevertheless, I think it is a ‘complete’ 12 years for me as an athlete, I am really happy as I’ve experienced much more than the others.”

The road and track rider also appeared unfazed by the expectations that came with his early success as a teenager.

“My coaches and those who rode before me probably would have wanted me to have better, higher achievements,” he said. “But I think we need to be contented.

“By saying this, it sounds like I didn’t have any desire, or was not pursuing anything. But at the end of the day, some athletes may have fought 12 years for a medal or two, and I did take a few home, so, I guess it is not bad really.”

Hong Kong’s results over the past few years have been inconsistent, and Leung said the city’s cyclists needed to “to be realistic” even as though leave with one gold, three silvers and two bronze medals between them.

“We dominated track cycling five years ago but things have changed, other countries have emerged and become stronger,” Leung said.

“We still have good results, but the fact is we aren’t as good as the others. This is a good opportunity for us to reflect, we need to lay out plans for the next Games and ask ourselves about the targets.

“Our good results [in the past] and the support we enjoyed from everyone around may have blindfolded us to our shortcomings, so, with these missed medals, we can reflect ahead of the next Games and try to do better.”