Taichung is actively nurturing outstanding cyclists. The Rinan Junior High School cycling team, under the guidance of coach Chiang Sih-han, traveled to Hu Tou Shan in Taoyuan to compete in the 2019 National Mountain Bike Championships, where they claimed the overall team championship in the junior division. In individual events, Huang Jing-lun won the gold medal, Chang Po-yu took third place, while Chiu Hsin-wei and Lee Yu-chun secured fourth and sixth places respectively, achieving excellent results.
Rinan Junior High School Principal Shu Fu-nan stated that mountain bike competitions are highly challenging, testing not only courage but also skills and proficiency, requiring consistent daily practice. The students’ success is attributed to their step-by-step efforts under the coach’s guidance. Additionally, thanks to strong support from the municipal government, the school has established the nation’s first on-campus cross-country mountain bike training facility, offering safe and high-quality training that enables athletes to further enhance their abilities.
The Taichung City Government Education Bureau noted that the National Mountain Bike Championships are the highest-level domestic competition in the cycling discipline. This year’s national championship also included UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) points for the first time, and internationally renowned referee Brittney Adlynne served as the chief judge for the event. Selected elite and youth athletes have the opportunity to represent Taiwan in the 2020 Asian Mountain Bike Championships.
Director of Education Yang Chen-ching pointed out that Taichung achieved outstanding results at the recently concluded National Games, winning 55 gold, 54 silver, and 44 bronze medals—the best performance since the merger of counties and cities. Among these, the cycling team alone secured 13 gold medals, demonstrating Taichung’s strong capabilities in various cycling disciplines.
Furthermore, this year the municipal government has increased incentives by introducing the “Taichung City Outstanding Athlete Training Grant,” which will provide significant encouragement and support to competing athletes, aiming to help them fully commit to training and give their all in competitions.
Yang Chen-ching commended the efforts of the Rinan Junior High School participants, encouraging the school, coaches, and athletes to continue striving and to win more medals for Taichung and the country on both domestic and international stages.
(China Times)