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As the Paris Olympics take place, it has captivated the public with our Hong Kong athletes’ unwavering determination and perseverance, also known as the Hong Kong Spirit. One of our city’s most iconic athletes must be Asia’s God of Cycling, Wong Kam-po (also known as Ah Po), whose ground-breaking performances not only won Hong Kong’s pride but also popularised cycling in the community. Rekindling the active participation of last year's event, Ah Po is back with Hong Kong’s cycling athletes Marco Kwok and Jamie Wong, to support Tour de Link 2024, extending his passion to life, moving competition beyond to the community. All cycling enthusiasts are now invited to join the race!
"Tour de Link 2024" is back with a new theme — "Beyond Limits," It will be held in two rounds from 7 August to 1 September 2024 in six of Link’s malls: TKO Spot, T Town (South), Oi Tung Shopping Centre, Lok Fu Place, Kai Tin Shopping Centre and Wo Che Plaza. The “Ace Team” category featured as one of the main attractions last year, and Ah Po was pleasantly surprised by participants' outstanding performances. “I didn't expect that so many people were enjoying cycling in the shopping mall, even the children. It’s even more thrilling to see their satisfaction in finishing the race.” Ah Po said.
Speaking of this year’s Tour de Link theme "Beyond Limits", Ah Po thinks “breakthrough” is not limited to competition. “Athletes are pushing their limits in every training with strength and stamina, but what keeps me persistent must be the passion, which even drives me to change my path from a professional athlete to a businessman as a cycling company owner, and to promote cycling in our community. These are all about achieving breakthroughs.”
As cycling is inseparable from Ah Po's life, are you curious if his family is as passionate about cycling as he is? He chuckled. “Asking my son to go cycling with me is never easy, I really have to use all the tricks up my sleeve for that.” It’s normal for children to be reluctant to exercise, while parents should be role models and take them to the neighbourhood to do it together. Riding bit by bit with achievable goals, eventually, I believe it will turn into a habit."
The path towards becoming a champion is never easy, paved with dedication and perseverance. Marco (Kwok Ho-ting), our second medalist, reminisces on his nine-year journey. "When I entered high school, I joined the Hong Kong Future Cyclists Scheme and the representative team of Hong Kong. Back then, I ventured into cycling out of sheer curiosity, I didn’t even have any experience of it." He added, each stage felt like the levels in a game, which he kept clearing stage by stage. "I keep pushing my limits, not only on my mentality, but also on capability when I have to compete with experienced legends like Ah Po, and to achieve my ultimate goal towards the world championship.”
Joining Tour de Link for the first time, Marco has expressed his excitement towards the event, “This is a great opportunity to attract and discover more talented and enthusiastic cyclists and cultivate more legends for Hong Kong in the future."
Jamie (Wong Wan-yiu) won enormous respect at the Guangzhou Games in 2010 when she broke ribs in a fall in the points race but soldiered on to claim the silver medal at the end. Her persistence to climb back on her bike has showcased the spirit of "Beyond Limits". Similar to Ah Po who changed paths after retirement, Jamie opened a cycling park in Shenzhen to promote sports and cycling for children. "I think cycling is not limited to professional training, it's a gateway to cultivating a healthy lifestyle”. Jamie said.
While riding on the craze of the Olympic Games, Jamie hopes that we all can do more exercise in our daily lives to maintain physical and mental health, bringing positive energy into our communities, she encouraged, “instead of watching TV at home, why don’t we enjoy the Olympics live in the mall, and come cycle with us, challenge ourselves as the athlete!”
Whether you are a devoted fan of Tour de Link or a new rider participating for the first time, come join us and unleash your inner athlete. We look forward to cheering you on during your personal breakthrough at one of Link’s gathering hubs in your neighbourhood!
