National Games: Hong Kong cycling coach targets repeat of 4-medal haul in November
Herve Dagorne warns that competition will be tough, with some athletes considering the Games ‘even more important than the Olympics’
Hong Kong cycling head coach Herve Dagorne said it would be a “tough job” but the team aimed to replicate their medal haul at the National Games from four years ago when the city co-hosts the next edition in November.
They will have a dress rehearsal at the city’s velodrome from April 19 to 21 during the Hong Kong International Track Cup, which will double as a test event for the Games and is expected to attract more than 150 riders from around the world.
Dagorne, who took over at the start of last year, admitted the team would have few excuses on their home track.
“We’re targeting four [medals] … this is a very high expectation for me,” he said. “We need to be good in every field of performance to be able to achieve this.
“The Games is very important for some provinces, and for some mainland athletes it’s even more important than the Olympic Games.
“The level is very high, even higher than the Asian Games, but we are working on it. If we achieve all the different fields of performance – the technique, the strategy – I’m confident about the physical side of our athletes.”