From October 25 to 27, 2019, the world’s premier experiential cycling race — the 2019 Haute Route Daqingcheng — successfully concluded in Dujiangyan and Wenchuan, China. Chinese rider No. 128, Wu Yunfei, won the men’s individual category with a total time of 6 hours, 31 minutes and 17 seconds. The second and third places went to Chinese rider No. 233, Shao Junqi, and British rider Tim Proctor, with times of 6 hours, 33 minutes and 16 seconds, and 6 hours, 35 minutes and 8 seconds, respectively. The women’s individual champion was Chinese rider Liu Qianshuo, while Singaporean rider Yinxiao Wu and Chinese rider Ye Jinghan took second and third. The men’s tandem category was won by an Italian duo.
Tang Xiaofeng, member of the Standing Committee of the Dujiangyan Municipal Committee and Minister of the Propaganda Department, Chen Lina, Vice Mayor of the Dujiangyan Municipal Government, Zeng Min, Secretary of the Party Group and Director of the Dujiangyan Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, and Zheng Guangjie, General Manager of Chengdu Dujiangyan Culture & Tourism Group Co., Ltd., presented awards to the winning riders after the race.
This event was the final leg of the Haute Route global series. It was hosted by the People’s Government of Dujiangyan City and the People’s Government of Wenchuan County, organized by the Dujiangyan Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and the Wenchuan Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, operated by Dujiangyan Xingzhi Exploration, and specially supported by Beijing Xingzhi Exploration Group. The successful introduction and hosting of the race is the result of regional collaborative development between Dujiangyan and Wenchuan, both of which are renowned tourism counties in Tianfu. It will also continue to enhance the cultural, sports and tourism status of both regions. It is reported that this was the first time the race was held in China, and its inaugural edition attracted over 1,000 elite riders from 21 countries and regions, including China, the United States, Italy, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
The Haute Route Daqingcheng featured three racing days, covering a total distance of 236 kilometers with cumulative elevation gain exceeding 4,970 meters. Continuous rainy weather made the roads slippery, adding difficulty to the race, while the low temperatures posed even greater challenges for all riders.
The first day of racing started in Dujiangyan, home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, passing landmarks such as Nanqiao Bridge, Xuanhua Gate, Zipingpu Dam, Rainbow Bridge, and Shuimo Chanshou Old Street, before reaching the finish line in Wenchuan, known as the “Hometown of Yu the Great and Home of the Giant Panda.” The second and most challenging day also began at Nanqiao, proceeding via Dujiangyan Avenue, the mountain pass between Xiang'e and Hongkou, Lotus Lake, Jianfu Palace, the mountain loop road, and Yingbin Avenue, ultimately arriving at the new gate of Qingcheng Mountain. The final day featured a unique individual hill time trial, starting at the intersection of Puhong Road and Tuanjie Road and ending at the Puhong Road mountain pass.
Dujiangyan is a tourism hub connecting the golden corridor of western Sichuan’s travel routes and a world-renowned tourist destination. It has been honored as a National Historical and Cultural City, one of China’s First Batch of Excellent Tourism Cities, and a Sichuan Provincial Tourism Strong County. Its neighboring city, Wenchuan, has tailored a comprehensive tourism development strategy focusing on “sports wellness, ecological health, and elderly cultural care,” successfully establishing the national 5A-level Wenchuan Special Tourism Area and the national 4A-level Dayu Cultural Tourism Area. It enjoys the reputation of being a “Sunshine Valley, Panda Home, and Wellness Wenchuan.”
In 2011, the Haute Route cycling race was born in the Alps of Europe. Eight years later, it has grown into the world’s most prestigious and high-end experiential cycling event. With mountainous routes as its main feature, it is the first amateur road cycling race themed around climbing, and the 2019 season featured 12 global stops.
Haute Route aims to provide amateur cyclists with an experiential race journey, dedicated to offering high-end cycling enthusiasts the most challenging and immersive events, allowing business elites to enjoy the same level of service, respect, and riding experience as professional cyclists. Its signature format — a classic two-day long-distance challenge plus a one-day individual time trial — was pioneered by Haute Route.
Each year, thousands of business professionals and elite athletes compete in the world’s most renowned cycling destinations — the Alps, Dolomites, Rocky Mountains, Norwegian fjords, and more. Haute Route Daqingcheng is the first event in this series to be held in East Asia, aiming to deliver a premium racing experience for domestic and Asian cyclists, and to inspire more people to fall in love with cycling.