On April 27, the first “Zhong-Jiang” Mountain Bike Cross-Country Race commenced at Heshan Race Track. The event drew hundreds of mountain biking enthusiasts from within the province, and German outdoor brand VAUDE took part in the competition, sponsoring several types of cycling backpacks as awards.
At the referee’s signal, over two hundred fully geared-up mountain bikers started the race. The competition featured three categories: Experience Group, Regular Group, and Open Group. The entire course spanned 3 kilometers and was entirely made up of dirt tracks. Participants in the Experience Group had to complete three laps around the full course. One of the most challenging parts of the track was a 3-meter-high slope with an approximately 45-degree incline, which stumped many riders who had to push their bikes uphill.