At 10:00 AM on September 8, 2013, Italian time (4:00 PM Beijing time), the fourth “Tor des Géants” race began. Zeng Huafeng, Wang Daqing, Jin Feibao, and Chen Shuwen, jointly sponsored by Tecnica China, ISPO BEIJING, Happy Fox, and MICO, stood at the starting point of this year’s “Tor des Géants.” This marked the second time Chinese athletes appeared in this event. They not only represented the Tecnica Trail Running Team (Tecnica China Trail Running Team) but also China. After nearly three days of continuous day-and-night racing, the champion was Spanish athlete Iker Karrera, who completed the course in 70 hours, 04 minutes, and 12 seconds, beating the previous race record by over five hours. Last year’s champion, Oscar Perez, secured second place with a time of 70 hours, 29 minutes, and 10 seconds. Franco Colle, the handsome Italian Tecnica Trail Running Team athlete who had visited China, took third place with 72 hours, 05 minutes, and 5 seconds. The women’s first place was retained by Francesca Canepa.
The “Tor des Géants” takes place in the northwestern Alps of Italy, passing through the four highest peaks in Italy: Mont Blanc (4,807 m), Monte Rosa (4,637 m), the Matterhorn (4,478 m), and Gran Paradiso (4,061 m). The course spans 330 kilometers with a total elevation gain of 24,000 meters and crosses 25 mountain passes. The 150-hour cutoff is part of what makes the “Journey of Giants” so captivating.
A tragic accident also occurred during this year’s Tor des Géants that deeply saddened us all. Athlete No. 1040, Yang Yuan from China, fell down a slope due to darkness and slippery conditions on the first night of the race and tragically passed away from head injuries. In response to the incident, the organizing committee actively coordinated follow-up arrangements. A memorial poster of Yang Yuan was displayed at the finish line, allowing every finisher to leave a message. At the beginning of the awards ceremony, the four Chinese Tecnica athletes were invited to the stage. Chen Shuwen recited a poem that Yang Yuan had written for the Tor des Géants. At the end of the ceremony, the host stated: “The spirit of Yang Yuan will forever inspire us and give everyone more strength!”
Ultimately, athlete No. 936 Jin Feibao and No. 1038 Wang Daqing withdrew from the race due to injury and missing the cutoff time, respectively. Athlete No. 573, Zeng Huafeng, finished in 143 hours, 43 minutes, and 48 seconds, ranking 266th. Athlete No. 574, Chen Shuwen, completed the course in 148 hours, 21 minutes, and 25 seconds, ranking 370th. Another participant from Hong Kong, Tsang Kin Kit, finished in 148 hours, 11 minutes, and 07 seconds, ranking 366th. This marked the second time Chinese athletes conquered the 330-kilometer renowned trail running event, the “Tor des Géants,” helping more people learn about the race and trail running.
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World-class in ItalyTrailRunning event — Introduction to the 330-kilometer “Tor des Géants”http://www.lvye.cn/article-27249-1.html