On the afternoon of February 20, 2017, the press conference for the 2017 season of the China Cycling League was grandly held in Beijing. Han Jiling, Director of the Cycling Department at the Cycling and Fencing Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, Liu Jian, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Scenic Area Association, and Liu Dake, Chairman of Shizhi Sports, along with other distinguished guests, gathered together. Nearly a hundred media outlets and cycling enthusiasts from within and outside the industry also arrived at the scene to witness the new starting point of the China Cycling League.
Race Schedule Announced
2017 Season Brimming with Highlights
At the press conference, Ma Xiaotian, Race Director of the China Cycling League, unveiled the 7 stages of the league's full-year schedule for the 2017 season for the first time. This is one of the most anticipated focuses for many teams, riders, and cycling fans. The announced 7 stage races are: Zhejiang Chun’an Qiandao Lake on March 11–12, Guizhou Zunyi Huichuan on March 25–26, Hubei Zhijiang on April 8–9, Jiangsu Xinyi on May 13–14, Sichuan Mianzhu on May 26–28, Chongqing Fengjie on August 26–27, and Jiangsu Suzhou Yangcheng Lake on September 23–24. Registration for the new season has also officially begun. As for the season-ending finals, the spot remains up for grabs—who will claim it? The organizing committee left everyone with a cliffhanger at the press conference.
According to the announcement, the new season of the China Cycling League features several notable highlights in terms of competition structure, category settings, and prize money. First, in addition to the existing Men’s Open Group and Mass Fitness Group, the league will introduce three new categories in the 2017 season: Men’s Road Age Groups AB, Women’s Road Open Group. Building on this, the China Cycling League (CCL) will also collaborate with the host venues to organize local brand events, sharing professional execution teams and other support services. Second, in terms of prize money and team subsidies, the total amount of prize money and incentives for the 2017 CCL season will exceed 3 million RMB. Based on the league’s points system and graded evaluation mechanism, individual riders and teams will receive more assurances and encouragement.
Particularly noteworthy is that the 2017 season of the China Cycling League will also introduce multi-day races on top of the original competition format. The event in Sichuan Mianzhu from May 26–28 will not only mark the league’s first race in Sichuan but also the first multi-day stage of the 2017 season. The introduction of multi-day racing meets the aspirations of many participants who hope for more opportunities to showcase and prove themselves on the big stage of the league.
A Combination of Strategies
“Graded Evaluation” and “Incubation Plan” Make a Big Impact
Moving on from the 2016 season, the China Cycling League has made new plans and elevated its standards for the 2017 season, launching a set of strategic moves: the “CCL Team Grading Evaluation Standards and Incentive Subsidy Measures” and the “CCL Inter-Provincial Team Incubation Plan.”
It is reported that the 2017 organizing committee further refined the “CCL Team Grading Evaluation Standards and Incentive Subsidy Measures.” The policy states that teams that complete all scheduled races for the year and rank in the top 3 of the annual overall standings will be rated as A-level teams; those ranking 4th to 6th will be B-level; 7th to 9th will be C-level. Additionally, to better support the development of teams and clubs, the top 3 teams ranked 10th or below (including 10th) that complete all scheduled races and achieve the best possible rankings will be rated as D-level teams. All graded teams will receive an annual incentive subsidy ranging from 30,000 to 35,000 RMB.
The other part of this strategic combination, the “CCL Inter-Provincial Team Incubation Plan,” will also be officially implemented in the 2017 season. It includes four components: Team Manager Plan, Team Communication Plan, Team Business Plan, and Team Subsidy Plan. These will provide systematic and comprehensive support in manpower, financial resources, and materials, offering “24-hour team secretary services” to truly help deserving and promising teams realize their dreams. This means that starting this season, CCL team operations will become more stable. All teams joining the CCL Inter-Provincial Team Incubation Plan can apply for a total incubation fund of 1 million RMB and compete under the name of the Inter-Provincial CCL Team. For many outstanding clubs, this is undoubtedly excellent news to kick off the year.
Full of Highlights
Thematic Activities Continuously Innovate and Upgrade
In addition to major moves in the competitive aspect, the China Cycling League has also shown great creativity in thematic activities, bringing us many surprises.
“In the 2017 season, CCL will introduce VR smart device experiences at the host venues, creating the most fashionable sports tech carnival of the new era. Through the collision of technology and sports, it aims to generate widespread public participation and bring greater social impact to the host locations. At the same time, it will integrate its fashion cycling IP events with mass fitness cycling activities, led by eye-catching cosplay cycling squads to showcase the unique natural and cultural features of the host venues,” explained Race Director Ma Xiaotian.
In addition, the new season will further customize exclusive online cycling activities for the China Cycling League. Through full coverage of both online and offline platforms, cyclists across the country can join the league via online platforms and share in the beauty of scenic rides.
At the end of the press conference, after the grand signing ceremony for the 2017 season host venues, Hu Hao, representative of the Sendy-Xinyuanhong Team, holding the league’s “China Wheel” trophy, launched the 2017 China Cycling League season in front of all attendees, guests, and media, bringing the entire press conference to a climax.
With athletes at the core and the league as the platform, the new season of the China Cycling League has established a clearer strategic and tactical direction, demonstrating a firm determination to accelerate the development of mass cycling in China, as well as the courage and sense of mission befitting a leading national benchmark event. In its third season, let’s follow it as it “Be Bold and Unleashed”!