Taroko Bicycle Mountain Race – Japanese and Taiwanese Riders Battle for First Place

The 2011 MAXXIS Taroko International Mountain Bike Race will start at 6:00 AM this Sunday (the 20th) from Xiulin Junior High School in Xincheng Township, Hualien. This year, the race has especially invited last year’s champion of the Japan Cycling Grand Prix, Shingo Fukushima, along with five other well-known Japanese professional and Olympic riders such as Takashi Miyazawa and Kazuhiro Yamamoto to compete. Fan Yongyi, who won the first edition of the race last year, will once again represent Taiwan to compete against the Japanese riders.

The most distinctive feature of the Taroko Bicycle Mountain Race is the challenge of altitude and distance. Covering a route of approximately 90 kilometers, the race climbs from sea level all the way up to Wuling at 3,275 meters above sea level. The continuous uphill sections pose a significant physical and mental test for the competitors. Shingo Fukushima, a renowned Japanese cyclist and winner of Stage 5 of the 2011 Taiwan KOM Challenge, as well as the 2010 Japan Cycling Grand Prix, said in an interview that he finished fourth in last year’s race and hopes to claim the title this year.

The event also features an easy cycling route from Taroko to Tianxiang, suitable for the general public. Spanning 20 kilometers, the course offers views of famous Taroko attractions such as Swallow Grotto, Tunnel of Nine Turns, and Changchun Shrine. In addition to cheering on the international riders, participants can also enjoy a leisurely and immersive journey through Taroko.