HK athletes warn Tai Mei Tuk will be extra gruelling
Hong Kong's triathletes are warning their international competitors they're going to be faced with one of the toughest courses in the world when they come to the SAR for this month's Asia Triathlon Cup, and that the local team's knowledge of the terrain will be a major boost.  The competition is back in Hong Kong for the first time since 2018, taking place in Tai Mei Tuk on February 25. "[The cycling trail] is extremely hilly, there is no flat section in the course at all," Andrew Wright, head coach of the Hong Kong Triathlon National Squad, said on Wednesday.  "Depending on the weather, the run can also be hard because there is no shade on the [Plover Cove Reservoir] dam." Hong Kong's top triathlete Oscar Coggins, who finished 33rd in the men's triathlon at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, told RTHK that his knowledge of the terrain will give him an advantage and he is looking forward to seeing some results from all his training.  But he said fewer international competitions during the pandemic have taken a toll on him and his fellow athletes. "It was very hard to travel, a lot of international events were cancelled. As an athlete, we train to compete. The inability to compete in our sport makes it quite hard to motivate yourself," Coggins said. The team are also hoping that this month's competition will help attract more athletes to take on triathlons. "The Covid period has been very difficult for the sport. Many people dropped out because it's such a hard sport to do if you don't have an aim," Wright said. "Competitive races keep athletes wanting to come and take part to get to a high level within this sport."