Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    BEIJING, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Cuban female cycling star Yoanka Gonzalez believes she could win a medal at the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games.

    "I trained hard for Beijing Games, as I want to retire following a great Olympic achievement. I hope that could be a medal," Gonzalez told Xinhua after training at the Lao Shan velodrome here on Friday.

    The Lao Shan velodrome opened on Friday and Gonzalez became the first one to have a train session on the Olympic cycling track.

    "It was good. The facilities and the track are all world-level. She felt OK after biking on this track, and I hope she could realize her dream and take a medal here," Gonzalez's coach Leonel Alvarez said.

    According to Alvarez, Gonzalez will compete in women's point race and Cuba also has another female cyclist Lisandra Guerra to compete in the sprint race.

    "There are many top level competitors on the cycling track. The Netherlands, Britain, and Russia all have very good girls. We will try our best, and I hope our hard work could get payed off," Leonel Alvarez added.

    Gonzalez, the 2004 world champion ended a nearly one-year rest and picked the first Bolivarian Alternatives for the Americas (ALBA) Sport Games for her comeback in 2005.

    Cuba sent a strong-168 member delegation to Beijing, and will be competing in 16 sports, including boxing, volleyball, cycling and shooting. Cuba aims to be among top 10 in the medal standings.