The country's top cycling boss has denied reports that four
Chinese men's riders have already qualified for the Beijing
Olympics.
China Cycling Association Secretary-general Jiang Guofeng
confirmed that Wong Kam Po had followed Li Fuyu's ProTour
qualification, but stressed others mentioned in various dispatches
still had more work to do.
"I saw the reports saying three Chinese cyclists have gained
enough points from the 2007 UCI World Class-B Championships last
month and Li Fuyu of Discovery Channel also won a spot of the
Beijing Olympics," Jiang told China Daily. "Actually it was not all
right."
Reports have been rife that Li, the only Chinese member of a top
professional team, became the first to qualify for the Olympic road
race by finishing fourth with his Discovery Channel in the ProTour
Team Time Trial in Eindhoven of the Netherlands last month. Ma
Haijun, Song Baoqing and Hong Kong cyclist Wong Kam Po had
reportedly followed suit at the World Class-B Championships in
South Africa early this month.
Jiang revealed that Wong did have secured an Olympic road race
berth after finishing fourth in the South African equivalent while
Li also have unofficially qualified.
But he advised that Ma and Song still have a struggle ahead
because the individual time trials in Africa, where Ma won gold and
Song finished fourth, were not International Cycling Union (UCI)
endorsed qualifiers.
"Only Wong's result is recognized as his event is the Olympic
qualifying competition," Jiang confirmed. "Ma and Song still need
other ways to advance into the Olympic Games."
The cycling supremo expressed his pleasure with the progress
made recently by Chinese riders while explaining qualification
requirements during last week's sixth annual Tour of Qinghai
Lake,
Ma emerged clad in the blue jersey as Asia's best rider during
the 1,400km nine-stage event, finishing 19th overall after a
grueling four months at the UCI World Cycling Center in
Switzerland.
The benefits of that experience were patent in his dramatic
improvement from last year, when he finished 30th overall at the
corresponding event.
Li clinched five from a possible nine blue jerseys before
surrendering the coveted shirt to Ma in the final two stages.
Li finished 21st to register the best individual result for his
feted ProTour team.
"Some of the key national riders are riding very well and have
showed impressive performances after they have gained experienced
in pro teams or overseas training and competitions," Jiang
noted.
"Considering the overall level is higher than last year's race,
with the participation of one ProTour team and seven continental
pro teams, I am confident Chinese riders have the potential."
(China Daily July 25, 2007)