Discovery's Li enjoying life in fast lane

Now, the ProTour team Discovery Channel cyclist is setting his sights on the ultimate goal in the sport - competing in the Tour de France.

"I have been improving since I joined Discovery Channel early this year. It is a new challenge for my career. I am hoping to have the chance to compete for the team in the Tour de France next year or in 2009," Li told China Daily during the 2007 Tour of Qinghai Lake in Xining, West China's Qinghai Province.

"The team is developing me and has been giving me lots of chances to compete."

This Qinghai race marks the first time that Li has competed on home soil as a professional cyclist for one of the world's most prestigious teams. Li finished 16 in the first stage on Saturday and was the first Asian home. He managed to keep the blue jersey for best Asian rider after Sunday's second stage and yesterday's third stage.

"I am taking part in the event for the fifth time. But this time is a little bit different. I am competing for a new team. It is a great team and all the staff and teammates have helped me a lot."

Since 2005, the Chinese Cycling Association (CCA) has sent more than 20 riders to join overseas pro-teams and races in Europe. This gets them much more experience and improves their skills faster than if they were in China.

Li, the Tenth National Games road champion, was drafted by former Tour de France Team event winner Discovery Channel. However, he failed to make the team's elite nine-man squad for this year's Tour.

"Compared to last year, I am feeling much better. I am starting to get used to high-level competitions. A pro-team coach says simple but important things during training, and then it is up to you to experience what you have learned from training. So what I benefit from most in the team is learning how to race my best during fierce competition," said Li.

"It is my dream to be a part of the team in the Tour de France. I will compete as much as possible and bring myself up to the standard."

The 29-year-old's performances have impressed his teammates. "I raced four times with him in Europe. On the first day (in Qinghai), he helped me a lot at the finish. He is strong and has big future in the sport," Australian Allan Davis said after winning the first stage.

As major races show, the elite riders all come from professional teams. Cycling teams are classified into four categories - UCI (International Cycling Union) pro-team, UCI continental pro-team, continental team and national team. Only UCI pro-teams are able to go into the top three tours of cycling (Tour de France, Tour de Italy and Tour de Spain).

"You have to compete in the professional circuit around the world, otherwise there is no chance of moving up," Li added.

Olympic show

With former Tour of Qinghai Lake champion and Asian Games champion Wong Kam-po absent, Li is the most famous of the 18 Chinese cyclists competing.

Questions also turned to his Olympic expectations after becoming the first Chinese to win enough points for the road event.

"It is hard to predict what I will achieve at the 2008 Beijing Games. But I hope I will give people a surprise. When you have competed a lot in high-level tournaments, you will have nothing to fear during the Olympics."

Li gained seven ProTour points by finishing fourth at the Team Sprint Event in the Netherlands last month.

Despite its fame as the country with the most bicycles in the world, a Chinese road cyclist has never participated in the Olympics in the sport's 100-year history.

"To be the first Chinese is not enough. I will go further. I know the Olympic course is very difficult. I have trained there and I know the course very well. I feel I am capable of challenge anyone."

Joining the Olympics was once a mission impossible for Chinese road cyclists as none were competing in ProTour Races four years ago. According to the Games qualification system, the top 50 cyclists in the International Cycling Union (UCI) men's and women's rankings will automatically qualify for the Olympics. Points mainly come from UCI ProTour events. The other entry route is if riders finish in the top five at the World Championships.

(China Daily 07/17/2007 page22)