The 2019 Taiwan KOM Challenge, the Taiwan Cycling Mountain King Challenge, kicks off tomorrow. This year, a total of 730 professional and amateur mountain biking athletes from 42 countries and regions around the world will compete for the summit at Wuling, including the CCC-Liv team, home to the legendary female cyclist Marianne Vos, widely regarded as the greatest of all time, as well as top-tier WorldTour teams Katusha-Alpecin and ASTANA. Domestic stars such as Feng Chun-kai, who just secured his sixth consecutive national road race title at the National Games, will also take part, making this year’s competition even more intense than ever before.
With the event gaining increasing international attention, the number of foreign riders registering for the race has been rising year by year. This year, out of the 730 participants, 488 are international riders, accounting for over 60% of the total—marking the third consecutive year that foreign athletes make up the majority. In addition, there are 74 female riders this year, setting a new record high in the event’s history.
Marianne Vos, the Dutch cyclist once voted by Cycle Sport magazine as the best female rider in the world, has achieved nearly 350 victories in various cycling competitions throughout her career, making her one of the most accomplished and legendary stars globally. She is also the gold medalist in the women’s road race at the 2012 London Olympics and a six-time world champion. She admitted, “Even across Europe, you won’t find a race as tough as the KOM. I’m prepared to suffer, but I’ve also heard the scenery along the way is stunning. I’ll approach the KOM with the mindset of enjoying the views while riding!”
Feng Chun-kai, who just completed the Tour of Guangxi and won double gold in the individual time trial and road race at the National Games in Taoyuan, showcases extraordinary determination. He arrived in Hualien just the night before and will take on the KOM again tomorrow. Also generating excitement is “Taiwan’s strongest amateur” Fan Yong-yi, who, after suffering injuries from a traffic accident during a triathlon last year and undergoing 11 surgeries for recovery—even though his left palm still can’t grip the handlebar firmly—has decided to return to the KOM after a two-year absence.
Meanwhile, many female celebrities and TV hosts are also participating, including Windy Duan Huilin, host of the domestic sports travel show “Go Go Taiwan,” Lin Yan-jun, a field reporter for “Foodie Paradise,” and sports anchor Hou Yi-li. All have signed up for the challenge. Windy, who recently suffered a back injury during a trekking expedition in Nepal, still intends to join others at Wuling to experience the thrill of finishing the race. Standing just 151 cm tall, Lin Yan-jun has turned down numerous event invitations over the past two months to focus on training. She said, “I heard that Stanley Huang only made it to Bili Shennong. For me, just finishing the race is the goal!”