Hong Kong’s cycling team is aiming to rake in four medals at the ongoing National Games, with the city set to host all the track cycling events.

Fourteen gold medals are at stake at the events which will be raced from Thursday to Monday at the Hong Kong Velodrome in Tseung Kwan O.

The events include men’s and women’s individual and team events.

During a media briefing on Tuesday, Lee Sze-wing, second-time winner of the Women's Road Cycling Individual on Sunday, said she is confident about the upcoming races, while the city's head coach, Herve Dagorne, said they are aiming for more medals amid fierce competition which has “much higher density than the Asian Games”.

Eyeing another medal, Lee will compete in the Madison event in track cycling and the Omnium multiple race.

Cycling has long been a strong suit for the Hong Kong team, accounting for 23 of the 47 medals the team has won in past National Games. Twenty-four-year-old Lee, who secured the first gold for Hong Kong’s cycling team in the 15th National Games, expressed confidence in her current training intensity and condition, saying she will deliver an even stronger performance in the upcoming track cycling competition this week.

Looking ahead, she said she views the Sichuan and Henan teams as tough rivals, especially considering Sichuan's gold win in the women's Madison race final at the 14th National Games.

ALSO READ: HK cyclist defends her crown, secures city’s second gold

She mentioned that with Hong Kong co-hosting the National Games for the first time, she feels a blend of excitement and nervousness competing in her home city. She also expressed her hope for more residents to come and cheer for the Hong Kong team.

During the National Games, 25 athletes from Hong Kong’s cycling team will compete in events spanning track cycling, road race, and mountain biking. In a pre-match interview, Dagorne expressed aspirations for the team to secure four medals. However, in the final of the men's individual time trial for road cycling in the Guangdong division, cyclist Ng Pak-hang finished fourth, narrowly missing out on a medal.

Dagorne said that in the upcoming events, the team would strive to secure more medals, acknowledging that it is a lofty goal. "Every province is at the top of the game," he said, adding that each province is investing in and fueling the athletes' performances, leading to a very high level of competition in this National Games. At the same time, the intensity of the five-day competition surpasses that of any Asian Games, he said. Therefore, he stressed the importance of the Hong Kong team delivering a “perfect” performance to secure victory, encompassing both technical proficiency and strategic tactics.

However, he also expressed confidence in the recent form and positive atmosphere of his team, mentioning that “everybody is in good shape” and ready to strive for Hong Kong with maximum effort.

Contact the writer at amberwu@chinadailyhk.com