Asian sprint queens show Olympic cycling promise

China's Guo Shuang and Wai Sze Lee of Hong Kong led the Asian charge on the women's sprint event at the World Cup Olympic track cycling test event -- and came away with top marks. Only a year into competing in the Olympic event Lee was pushed into a bronze medal match-up against Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton by the experienced Chinese rider, and punched above her weight to beat the Englishwoman 2-1. Guo, arguably with the easier path to the final, then confirmed her recent purple patch by upstaging Australia's world champion Anna Meares 2-0 in the final. Having taken bronze in Beijing behind Pendleton and Meares in track's most prestigious event, Guo's second consecutive World Cup win has confirmed her as a major gold medal threat to Pendleton and Meares this summer. The Chinese rider admitted, however, that Meares' efforts in the semi-final, where she took three races to oust Pendleton, had gone in her favour. "It's very competitive. My opponent (in the final) wasn't in the best condition after the semi-final," said Guo, who will now aim to take her Olympic preparations up a notch at the world championships in Australia this April. "We have the world championships next and I think we can all get better. I will try and do my best in the summer." While Guo is an established name in the women's version of track's most prestigious event and will be expected to medal in London, Lee is not. After taking the sprinters' traditional route through the non-Olympic event of the 500-metre time trial, she has been training and competing in the sprint tournament for only a year. Her speed and tenacity, however, combined to hush the sold-out 6000-seater velodrome when she humbled Pendleton over three legs to win the bronze. "(She's) impressive," Australian veteran Meares told AFP when asked about the Hong Kong rider's performance. "She's shown really good turns of speed previously but tonight she had a little bit more tactical nous about her and I was very impressed with her rides. "I thought she was very impressive against Victoria, I think she's one to watch." Lee was delighted at beating the Olympic champion, but admitted she is still learning the finer points of the track sprinters' art. "I have never won against Pendleton before. This is my best result against a big rider like this," said Lee. "I think she was very tired because she had to race three times (against Meares). We had the same speed, but I think I was a little fresher." She added: "I was a little surprised to do so well today. I still need to learn more about the sprint. I've only been racing the sprint one year. Next, I go to the world championships and it will be like school for me. "I hope some day I can beat all the women. But I still need to learn a lot."