Organized by the Peking University Cycling Association and co-sponsored by Acenno (AUANU), a new e-commerce brand under Toread, and renowned mountain bike manufacturer UCC, the “UCC · Acenno Cup 11th National University Mountain Bike Exchange Race” was successfully held on April 29–30, 2013, in Kangling Village, Changping District, Beijing. Bathed in brilliant sunshine, gentle breezes, and the vibrancy of spring, nearly 500 young cycling enthusiasts from over 50 university cycling associations across the country showcased a spectacular display of speed and passion amid the majestic mountains during Beijing’s most beautiful season and on its most rugged peaks.
This exchange race was organized by the Peking University Cycling Association, co-hosted by the Kangling Village Committee and the Yuanren Tribe Forum, and received generous sponsorship and strong support from UCC Guangzhou Global Bicycle Company and Beijing Acenno Outdoor Products Co., Ltd.
This exchange race is a traditional large-scale cycling event hosted by the PKU Cycling Association. It is the highest-standard and largest-scale mountain bike competition in China specifically for college students, and a grand gathering for university cycling communities nationwide. This year’s edition saw an even greater scale than previous years, with participants from over 50 universities including Peking University, Tsinghua University, China University of Petroleum, Central University of Finance and Economics, and Xi'an Jiaotong University. The number of contestants exceeded 400, and when adding the over 100 friends and family members who came along, the total attendance surpassed 500. To manage such a large-scale event, the PKU Cycling Association deployed a team of over 60 staff members throughout the competition to ensure everything proceeded smoothly, safely, and efficiently.
On the 29th, led by the chief judge of the exchange race, participants from various universities set off from Peking University together to the race’s accommodation area. A bicycle procession of up to 500 riders became a beautiful sight across Beijing. That evening, an exchange party was held around the accommodation area, where each club showcased their unique features and essence, sharing experiences and stories. An exciting fixed-gear competition displayed distinctive flair. The top five riders received cycling glasses sponsored by Beijing Acenno Outdoor Co., Ltd.
On the 30th, the official races took place, featuring men’s open, men’s elite, women’s open, and team events. Throughout the day, university cyclists from over fifty institutions across Beijing, North China, Northeast China, Northwest China, and even the southern regions poured out their youth and passion on the field. Although many riders lost control and fell during technically challenging mountain sections, most ignored their injuries, quickly got back up, and pushed forward to strive for better results. During the race, the PKU Cycling Association arranged medical personnel at aid stations to promptly treat riders’ wounds.
In fact, after more than a month of preparatory work, the organization of the exchange race was very thorough. For safety reasons, even the selection of the racecourse involved reducing its difficulty, and as a result, no serious injuries occurred. In addition, ample preparations were made in terms of race supplies, course maintenance, and venue rental, ensuring the successful and smooth running of the event.
Finally, at 5:00 PM on the 30th, all competitions concluded. Under the scorching heat, the exhausted riders found relief from the enthusiastic applause of the spectators, and the prizes sponsored by UCC Global Bicycles brought boundless joy to the award winners. Individual champions received fully carbon custom frames sponsored by UCC Global Bicycles, while other top performers received helmets, cycling jerseys, and other gear from UCC. All award winners were given ultra-light cycling jackets sponsored by Acenno. After the awards ceremony, cycling clubs from various universities gathered in front of the main backdrop to take commemorative group photos, preserving precious memories of this unforgettable holiday.
Through the exchange race, interactions among university cyclists across the nation were further strengthened, bringing everyone together from different parts of the country for this annual gathering. During this event, students made friends with cyclists from diverse regions, gained cycling experience, and most importantly, all experienced the pure joy of outdoor cycling.
At the same time, the PKU Cycling Association also hopes that through hosting the exchange race, it can draw attention from society, further encourage university students to engage in sports, and promote cycling—a low-carbon, environmentally friendly, and physically beneficial activity.