Cyclist Lee Hyejin, 3rd Place in Keirin Round 1... Rechallenge in the Repechage

Cyclist Lee Hye-jin. [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] Lee Hyejin (29, Busan Regional Public Corporation SpoOne), aiming for South Korea's first cycling medal, has moved to the women's Keirin repechage round.

On the 4th, at the Izu Velodrome in Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, during the 1st round of the women's Keirin track cycling event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Lee Hyejin finished 3rd out of 5 riders in heat 1, failing to advance to the 2nd round (quarterfinals). In Keirin, riders must finish in the top 2 of their heat in the 1st round to advance to the quarterfinals.

Riders eliminated in the 1st round can join the quarterfinals if they finish in the top 2 of their heat in the repechage round.

Keirin is a competition held on a 250m indoor velodrome track, where riders complete 6 laps, competing based on position rather than time. A pacer on a motorcycle (called a derny) leads the riders for 3 laps, gradually increasing the speed, then pulls off, after which the riders sprint for the remaining 3 laps in a fierce battle for position.

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