Hong Kong cyclist pays for brief Asian Games wobble but strikes back for redemptive medal

Chloe Leung content with bronze after troubled build-up, baton passes to city men on Wednesday as young duo prepare for Games debuts

The briefest of wobbles cost Chloe Leung Wing-yee Asian Games road race gold on Tuesday, but 48 hours after a bitterly disappointing individual time trial, the Hongkonger and her coach were content with the bronze she captured in Japan.

Herve Dagorne suspected his rider was destined for victory as the 90.4km tussle in secluded Shinshiro City entered its business end. Committing unflinchingly to her pre-race strategy of attacking on the downhills, however, Leung slipped to hand the initiative to Li Guo and Fariba Hashimi.

Spying the chance for a two-way fight for gold, Li and Hashimi joined forces to isolate Leung, who mounted a courageous but forlorn chase.

“I lost my [control of the] wheel in the downhill, as it’s quite slippery there,” Leung said.