Writing a New Chapter with "New" — Xinyi Shows a Fresh Face
The 8th China Xinyi Around Luoma Lake Cycling Road Race Concludes Successfully in 2018
With the successful conclusion of the women’s open group race on April 22, 2018, during the 8th China Xinyi Around Luoma Lake Cycling Road Race, the latest edition of the “Around Luoma Lake” event has come to a successful close. “Spring at its best between two cities and one land, happy cycling through picturesque scenery.” The 8th China Xinyi Around Luoma Lake Cycling Road Race actively responded to the national strategy of “sports + tourism,” explored new ideas for the development of sports-tourism integration through practice, and created a new level of influence.
The event was jointly organized by the Chinese Cycling Association, the Jiangsu Provincial Sports Bureau, the Xuzhou Municipal Sports Bureau, and the People’s Government of Xinyi City. It was hosted by the Xinyi Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, News and Publication, the Xinyi Sports Federation, and the Jiangsu Donglonghai Cultural Industry Group, and exclusively operated by Beijing Shizhi Shanshui Cultural Communication Co., Ltd. The race received strong sponsorship from China Life Insurance, Maeson, Xijiu, Gold Medal Alliance, Tianfu Winery, Coca-Cola, Mopai Buckwheat Liquor, and the Sports Lottery Center, as well as heartfelt support from CCTV5, CGTN, China Sports Daily, China Cycling, Yetu, and Qiyoubike.com. On April 22, races were held in three categories: Men’s Age Groups A/B, and Women’s Open Group. Each race covered a 48-kilometer course on road bikes, featuring a star-studded lineup. The fierce competition among the three groups brought new excitement to the scenic landscapes of Xinyi.
At 9:00 am, the Men’s Age Group A, Men’s Age Group B, and Women’s Open Group races started one after another. Despite the rainy weather, it did not deter the top cyclists from launching attacks. Before halfway through the race, a breakaway group of seven riders had formed in the Men’s Age Group A and established a lead, including key riders to watch—Zhang Wenlong from the Qinghai Mahaijun Cycling Team and Hou Huoli from the China RT-Superman Cycling Team. The breakaway group maintained a fast pace and kept their advantage all the way to the finish line. In the end, Zhang Wenlong unsurprisingly won the sprint to the finish, while Hou Huoli and independent rider Liang Mingxi took second and third places respectively.
The competition in the Men’s Age Group B was equally intense. Midway through the race, independent rider Zuo XuanYu and Yang Changcheng from the Great Wall Express Cycling Team broke away from the main group, maintaining their lead until the finish. The champion crossed the line five minutes before the main peloton arrived, and Zhang Chunxiao from Ando China Racing Team sprinted to secure the final podium spot. The Women’s Group race was more subdued, with average speeds under 30 km/h in the first half. In the second half, light rain began to fall, and Dong Yanxia from the Hebei Giant Hengde Muhua Cycling Team seized the opportunity to break away successfully. She rode solo for nearly 20 kilometers to win the race, with a lead of up to five minutes. In the main group sprint, Wang Yujie and Liu Yanni finished second and third respectively.
The 8th China Xinyi Around Luoma Lake Cycling Road Race unfolded along a route that connected the Lakeside Boulevard, Scenic Boulevard, and Ancient Town Boulevard, offering participants stunning views of Xinyi’s beautiful landscapes. The outstanding performances of riders across different categories painted a vivid picture of elite competition, adding color to Xinyi and injecting new vitality into the city’s and surrounding areas’ sports-tourism development.
Located at the border of Jiangsu and Shandong provinces, Xinyi is the northern gateway of Jiangsu. During the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, this area was known as Zhongwu, the fiefdom of the Zhongwu Viscount, referred to as the “Zhongwu Kingdom.” Nestled among mountains and water, where landscapes blend harmoniously, Xinyi is the birthplace of the renowned Huating Ancient Culture. Emperor Qianlong once praised this beautiful and fertile land as the “Foremost Scenic River and Mountain.” The combination of Xinyi’s exceptional natural advantages and diverse tourism marketing strategies has allowed it to compose a new chapter in northern Jiangsu’s tourism. The beautifully renewed Xinyi continues to welcome visitors from all directions with a fresh and vibrant attitude.
The “Around Luoma Lake” event uses sporting competitions as a platform to create a vibrant city image that promotes development through sports. After two days of fierce competition, the 8th China Xinyi Around Luoma Lake Cycling Road Race has concluded successfully. The race fully leveraged Xinyi’s natural resources and historical-cultural strengths, using diversified sports-tourism projects to further explore the allure of outdoor activities on the foundation of the city’s “one mountain, one lake, one ancient town” brand. This deepened its appeal as a destination for sports tourism, achieved new breakthroughs in tourism through the “Xinyi Approach,” and made Xuzhou an even better place. With sports and cultural tourism as a powerful combination, Xinyi has driven continuous innovation and development in local eco-tourism, bringing unprecedented vitality. The deepening culture of two-wheeled sports has opened up a new development landscape for Xinyi, giving the city a fresh and vibrant new look.