The Alishan Cycling Race, the final leg of the National Cycling Club League, was won yesterday by local cycling triathlete Fan Yongyi, who edged out British rider Lee Rogers by just 10 seconds, finishing in 2 hours, 25 minutes, and 59 seconds. Fan is now fully focused on preparing for the November Taroko Mountain Race and expressed satisfaction at passing this mid-term test in Alishan.
The Alishan race became a battle of wits and strength between Fan Yongyi and Rogers. After the elite teams reached Shizhuo at the 36-kilometer mark, it turned into a duel between the two. The clever Rogers took advantage of his speed on the gentle uphill slopes to launch an attack, gaining a lead of over a minute. Fan did not dare to attack aggressively but instead stayed close behind.
In the final 3 kilometers, Fan began to press forward and test Rogers’s limits. He noticed that Rogers was only keeping up without counterattacking. Fan Yongyi said, “At that point, I knew Rogers had hit his limit, so I launched a full sprint 500 meters before the finish line, not giving him a chance to use his physical advantage.”
Fan Yongyi, a teacher at Dongda Elementary School, has participated in the Alishan Race for 10 years and finally claimed his first title this year. He said happily, “In 2007, I led all the way until the last 3 kilometers when I was overtaken and ended up as the runner-up. This year, I held on.” Fan felt his ride become smoother and more comfortable once he passed the 1,500-meter mark.
Fan has been preparing since June for the November Taroko Mountain Race, aiming for a third consecutive title. Meanwhile, Fan’s team, Qianpei Cycling Team, fielded a large squad of 105 riders yesterday, hoping to secure a sixth straight victory in the citizen category—and they succeeded in defending their title.