As someone who performs the grunt work for his professional team, Vincent Lau Wan-yau has needed a seismic mindset shift to become the spearhead of Hong Kong’s National Games road cycling glory bid.
Lau, a 2022 Asian Games medallist and Paris 2024 Olympian, is a domestique for Roojai Insurance, the Thai team he joined last year.
“I transport bidons [water bottles] to my teammates [from team car], help control the peloton, and spend time at the front to do lead outs and take the wind,” Lau said.
“It’s giving me more experience. We have to make the race; be aggressive and attentive. With Hong Kong, we’re not so [prominent] in races.”
After Lau recently relinquished his Hong Kong time trial title to Chu Tsun-wai, head coach Herve Dagorne said: “I don’t see the anger in him, sometimes, I want to see more willing”.
Vincent Lau (left) celebrates after finishing second in a recent Brisbane road race. Photo: CAHK
The characteristically reserved Lau said Dagorne “wants me to race more aggressively and, sometimes, be more vocal”.