The 2013 Taiwan King of the Mountain Cycling Challenge kicks off tomorrow in Hualien’s Qixingtan, with a total of 440 riders from 28 countries around the globe taking part in the race. Competitors will tackle the grueling course that climbs from sea level all the way up to Wuling, the highest point on Taiwan’s highways at 3,275 meters. The tough route has drawn many international elite cyclists, but local riders Wang Yin-zhi and Feng Jun-kai are highly motivated to keep the title in Taiwan.
“This time, I’m better prepared and more confident in myself,” said Wang Yin-zhi, who finished fifth last year with a time of 3 hours, 35 minutes and 23 seconds. After a year of training and preparation, he’s back to compete in the King of the Mountain challenge. He’s not only aiming for the championship, but also hopes to break the 3-hour and 30-minute barrier. “I’ve learned from the previous race that as long as I pace myself well on the Dayuling section at the end, my time will definitely improve.”
Feng Jun-kai, who just won the gold medal in the men’s road race at the Tianjin East Asian Games, is facing some uncertainty about his future as his current team, Champion System, is set to disband next year. However, he remains unfazed and revealed that his sights are still set on Europe, with several teams already approaching him. “My performance this year should have caught the attention of European and American teams, and I definitely want to stay in a second-tier (professional) team,” he said.