“A difficulty never to be forgotten” – World-class cycling climbers take on Taiwan challenge

Reported by Travel Center / Taipei

A road’s value goes far beyond mere transportation. Provincial Highway 8, which climbs from sea level at 0 meters to an altitude of 3,275 meters, is more like a living book. It begins at Qixingtan Beach in Hualien, features the majestic grandeur of Taroko Gorge as its main highlight, and culminates in the stunning blue-green beauty of Wuling on Hehuanshan — a breathtaking, limit-pushing highway pilgrimage.

The highlight event of the 2012 "Taiwan Cycling Festival," organized by the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the "Taiwan King of Climbing" cycling challenge, saw Danish rider John Ebsen (CCN Cycling Team) claim the throne as the King of Taiwan Cycling Climbing with a time of 3 hours, 27 minutes and 35 seconds. The route took riders from Qixingtan Beach on the Pacific coast in Hualien, along Provincial Highway 8 through Taroko Gorge, all the way up to Wuling — the highest point on Taiwan’s highways, Hehuanshan.


▲ The “Taiwan King of Climbing” challenge takes cyclists from Qixingtan Beach on the Pacific coast in Hualien, along Provincial Highway 8 through Taroko Gorge, all the way up to Wuling — the highest point on Taiwan’s highways, Hehuanshan. (Photo / Provided by Tourism Bureau)

At 6:30 a.m., 380 riders from 19 countries gathered at Qixingtan Beach in Hualien and set off at the sound of the starting gun.

After passing Dayuling, only 12 kilometers remained to the finish line. Four top riders jockeyed back and forth, vying for the lead, with the final outcome to be decided at the end. This year, Danish rider John Ebsen (CCN Cycling Team), who had shown outstanding performance in the Asian Tour, arrived in Taiwan in peak physical condition. In the final kilometer, he sprinted ahead to take the lead, eventually crossing the line in 3 hours, 27 minutes and 35 seconds to claim the title of Taiwan King of Climbing. France’s Peter Pouly finished second, 30 seconds behind, and Ireland’s 39-year-old veteran rider David McCann from the RTS team came in third, 2 minutes and 38 seconds behind.

Fan Yongyi, who had won the Taiwan King of Climbing title for two consecutive years (2010, 2011), suffered two mechanical failures at the 50-kilometer mark of the race, thus missing out on contention for the title. He finished the race in 3 hours, 58 minutes and 52 seconds, ranking 18th overall. Fan lost valuable time dealing with the issues — around 20 minutes — which put him far behind the leading group. However, he maintained a steady pace and caught up with Anthony Charteau, the 2010 Tour de France King of the Mountains. The two crossed the finish line one after the other to applause from the crowd. Such perseverance and sportsmanship were truly admirable.

The “Prince of Cycling” ranks best among Taiwanese riders
The first Taiwanese rider to cross the finish line was Wang Yin-zhi (e-MA Racing Team). The 24-year-old, known for his good looks, is hailed as the “Prince of Cycling.” He finished in sixth place overall with a time of 3 hours, 35 minutes and 23 seconds. Feng Jun-kai (Taichung Hoh Hot Team) and Chang Wei-? (RTS Racing Team) took second and third places among Taiwanese riders, respectively. Fan Yongyi, who ranked seventh among Taiwanese due to the mechanical issues, said: “Equipment failure is part of racing. You do your best and leave the rest to fate. Although I couldn’t defend my title this year, over the past 10 years of cycling, I’ve made biking a part of my life. It feels great to feel even slight daily improvements in my fitness. The Taiwan King of Climbing challenge is like our annual final exam. This year’s mishap won’t dampen my passion for cycling. I’ll keep pushing myself to improve.”

Top riders from around the world, such as France’s Jérémy Roy and Spain’s Francisco Mancebo, shared the same sentiment about Wuling on Hehuanshan: “Amazing, Crazy, Unbelievable — no word can fully describe the extreme difficulty and uniqueness of this challenge.” John Ebsen, who won the 2012 King of the Mountains in the Thailand Cycling Tour and conquered Wuling on Hehuanshan, also spoke in awe of the route.

“At the 35-kilometer mark from the finish, I had a flat tire. After fixing it, I chased hard and used up a lot of energy. Even after catching up to the lead group, I didn’t have much confidence I could win the race, especially during the last 7 kilometers where there were slopes steeper than 15 degrees — is this a mountain? It felt like climbing a wall. The level of difficulty was astonishing. Cycling at altitudes above 3,000 meters is a truly unique experience. The harder I pedaled, the more I pushed myself. When I crossed the finish line first, the excitement was indescribable,” Ebsen shared after the race.


▲ The three kings of Taiwan’s climbing challenge — Ebsen (center), Pouly (third from left), and McCann (third from right) — were awarded their prizes at Taiwan’s highest highway point by Minister of Transportation and Communications Mao Chi-kuo (right) and Tourism Bureau Director-General Shieh Wei-jen (left). (Photo / Provided by Tourism Bureau)

A day of surpassing limits
This year’s course spanned 105 kilometers — longer than previous editions — yet the finishing times were nearly 30 minutes faster. With the participation of elite riders from around the globe, the King of Climbing Challenge reached new heights. Masashi Morimoto, the 2011 overall winner of the Mount Fuji Climbing Race in Japan, said: “The intensity today was truly astonishing. Under the fierce attacks from riders worldwide, the climbing race transformed into a non-stop road race. This challenge has become a classic cycling event in Asia.”

Taiwan’s mountains are unforgettable
The average age of three young Italian riders was just 23. They are Tedeschi Mirko, Busato Matteo, and Davide Orrico. Making their first trip to Taiwan, the young rider Orrico, who finished fourth overall, said: “The gradient changes on Wuling at Hehuanshan are unpredictable. It’s really hard to figure out this mountain’s temperament. Conquering Taiwan’s highest highway point is no easy feat. I hope to come back next year and break my own record.” Orrico, who is 22 years old, had tears and sweat mixed on his face as he crossed the finish line.

Having traversed altitudes from 0 to 3,275 meters, covering a total distance of 105 kilometers, riding through the deep Taroko Gorge, ascending to the towering Hehuanshan peaks, experiencing multiple climate shifts, and finally climbing to 3,275 meters above sea level, this cycling challenge blended adventure with the pushing of physical limits. It showcased Taiwan’s tourism appeal to the world through a cycling event that fused strength and beauty.