Hong Kong cycling star Ceci Lee on Sunday successfully defended her National Games road race title in a thrilling finish.

She broke out from the pack in the final seconds to edge out the other riders to the finish line in Zhuhai.

The 24-year-old completed the near 140-kilometre course in three hours, 19 minutes and 54 seconds, with riders from Guangdong and Heilongjiang finishing second and third.

Cyclists from Heilongjiang and Hainan broke out in the second half of the race, but they were unable to hold on to their advantage as the main group managed to claw their way back for the exciting finish.

After the race, an emotional Lee hugged her teammates and coaches as they celebrated Hong Kong's first medal in the cycling competition.

She said the strategy for Team Hong Kong was for her to make a dash at the end as part of the main group, and it worked out according to plan, showcasing the team's spirit.

"The coaches kept telling us through the intercoms how we could chase the leaders. Every teammate did all they could to help me," she told reporters.

"I was thinking, I cannot lose. I just cannot - because the entire team helped me out. So I just had to gut it out."

Lee said she had a roller-coaster year in 2024 with some sub-par results, saying she made extra efforts to improve and it was rewarding to get a gold medal.

She called on the public to attend the upcoming track cycling events, to be held in the Tseung Kwan O Velodrome from Thursday.