World champions skip Hong Kong track World Cup to rest amid civil unrest
Wild, Pieters skip third round as Dutch federation monitors protests
The reigning Madison world champions Kirsten Wild and Amy Pieters will not travel to Hong Kong for the third round of the UCI Track World Cup this month. The Dutch riders have opted to rest rather than join their national teammates in the embattled territory.
The Dutch federation said it was monitoring the situation in Hong Kong, which has been hit by months of escalating protests sparked by a bill allowing extradition of criminal suspects to China. Hong Kong began its 50-year transition from being a British colony to Chinese control in 1997, and the youth-led protest reflects fears that freedoms may be limited under China rule. The protests have grown increasingly violent in recent weeks, with thousands of protesters clashing with police at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, about 15km from the velodrome, this week.
The KNWU issued a statement saying, "The developments in Hong Kong are being closely monitored, with close contact with the travel organization, the UCI and the Dutch government, should the unrest there escalate."
This year's World Cup is key for countries to qualify for the events at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo and the Dutch lead in the rankings for the women's Madison, but national coach Adriaan Helmantel says it will be important for the men's Madison team to help qualify the maximum number of spots for the endurance team.
"Scoring points on the Madison remains of great importance for the Olympic Ranking," Helmantel said according to a KNWU press release. "We have made up a large gap but are still far from certain."
The Dutch sprinters have benefited from the strong performances of Harrie Lavreysen and look set for Tokyo, but the women's team and individual sprint points will be a focus for Hong Kong.
Netherlands for the Hong Kong World Cup
Scratch: Roy Eefting
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Omnium: Yoeri Havik
Madison: Yoeri Havik en Roy Pieters
Team Sprint: Women: Kyra Lamberink, Shanne Braspenninxs, Steffie van der Peet. Men: Roy van den Berg, Harrie Lavreysen, Jeffrey Hoogland and Matthijs Büchli
Individual Sprint: Shanne Braspennincx, Steffie van der Peet, Harrie Lavreysen, Jeffrey Hoogland
Keirin: Shanne Braspennincx, Harrie Lavreysen
Cyclingnews is the world's leader in English-language coverage of professional cycling. Started in 1995 by University of Newcastle professor Bill Mitchell, the site was one of the first to provide breaking news and results over the internet in English. The site was purchased by Knapp Communications in 1999, and owner Gerard Knapp built it into the definitive voice of pro cycling. Since then, major publishing house Future PLC has owned the site and expanded it to include top features, news, results, photos and tech reporting. The site continues to be the most comprehensive and authoritative English voice in professional cycling.