Taiwan King of the Mountain Cycling Challenge kicks off in Hualien on the 15th

Reported by You Tzu-ju / Taipei

The 2014 Taiwan King of the Mountain Cycling Challenge commenced at 6:30 a.m. on November 15 at Qixingtan in Hualien, with a total of 473 cyclists from 28 countries participating. The event features 2014 California Cycleway King of the Mountain Will Routely, 2012 Giro d’Italia women’s stage winner Tiffany Cromwell, 2013 Taiwan King of the Mountain third-place finisher Wang Yin-zhi, and Feng Jun-kai, the first Taiwanese cyclist to join a world professional cycling team—promising an exciting race.


▲ Illustration. 2012 Taiwan King of the Mountain champion Danish rider John Ebsen (front). (Photo / Provided by the Republic of China Cycling Association)

A major highlight of this year’s King of the Mountain Cycling Challenge is the increased total prize money of NT$2.41 million. The top six male riders will share NT$1.75 million, with the overall champion taking home NT$1 million alone. The women’s division also sees an increase, with total prize money reaching NT$440,000 and the first-place prize at NT$200,000.

The route of the Taiwan King of the Mountain Cycling Challenge starts near sea level at Qixingtan Beach in Hualien, with an altitude close to 0 meters, and continues via the Taroko Bridge → Provincial Highway 8 → Tianxiang → Xibao → Xinbaiyang → Biyu Sacred Tree → Guanyuan → Dayuling → Provincial Highway 14A, culminating at the 3,275-meter-high finish line at Wuling on Hehuanshan. The total distance is 105 kilometers. About 90 kilometers of the 105-kilometer course involve an average gradient of 7%, ascending through the magnificent Taroko Gorge. After completing 95 kilometers, participants face the final 10-kilometer stretch known as “Heaven’s Road,” with gradients ranging from 17% to 27%. This is one of the few routes in the world that achieves such a dramatic elevation gain over a short distance.

With stunning scenery and the awe-inspiring beauty of nature along the way, coupled with extremely high difficulty, this challenge—although only in its third year—has already earned excellent international acclaim. It has even been recognized by the French magazine Le Cycle as one of the world’s top ten most challenging races, alongside classic routes such as those in the Alps. The Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications hopes that this event will attract both domestic and international cycling enthusiasts to take on the challenge and enjoy Taiwan’s unique landscapes.