Country Garden"2016The Huangshan Taiping Lake Triathlon International Elite Race and National Triathlon Points Race today first welcomed participants of the national points race. A16-year-old rising star from Taiwan, Zhang Jiahao, unexpectedly defeated the highly favored Shanghai triathlete Pete to win the men's elite group championship.
"The lake water today was great—clear and with almost no waves. The cycling course was also excellent—not only closed off but also smooth-surfaced with little wind." After crossing the finish line, Zhang Jiahao was swarmed by the media for an intense round of interviews, but he started by praising the racing course in Huangshan. This men's elite group featured many top amateur athletes from across the country, and before the race, Shanghai’s Pete was the favorite to win. However, today Zhang not only led Pete by one minute in the swim leg, but also closely followed Pete—who is very strong on the bike—during the cycling segment, eventually overtaking him after the second transition and winning the men's elite title. "This is my third time competing on the mainland. I felt the scenery here was wonderful, and racing against top athletes like Pete was a real treat," said Zhang.
"He’s a very strong athlete," Pete said after crossing the finish line, offering sincere congratulations to Zhang. "I’m not as good at swimming, and today I was slower than him in that leg. On the bike, he wasn’t weak at all and stayed right with me the whole time. So honestly, I’m not surprised I lost to him today." Pete added that due to the hot weather, he hadn’t performed at his absolute best, but still felt he had raced normally. As for the Huangshan event, Pete spoke highly of it: "The scenery here is beautiful. Yesterday during my test ride, I enjoyed the views along the course. Today I had to focus on speed to get a good result, so I didn’t get to enjoy the scenery as much as I’d have liked."
Bian Beili from the Shanghai Persistence Triathlon Club is a well-known figure in China’s triathlon community. She entered today’s national points race together with her boyfriend, Alex. "We often take part in races organized by the Chinese Triathlon Association because they’re well run. We just established our own club this year. Competing in events like this helps us accumulate points and also fits in with our training schedule, acting as part of our preparation. Huangshan is close to Shanghai and the scenery is beautiful, so we came."
Hu Yan, representing the Nanjing Triathlon Association, is also a renowned female triathlete in China. She has participated in40national triathlon competitions and winning championships has become routine. Today, she once again secured the women's55+ age group championship without much difficulty. "Today I pulled ahead by more than a lap," Hu Yan laughed after the race. This year, Hu’s goal is to earn a qualification for the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii in November by competing in the Ultraman race in Penghu, Taiwan. Therefore, these earlier races are just part of her training. "Participating in the national points race is mainly about maintaining fitness and training, so I didn’t rush today. I consciously controlled my pace, stayed mindful of the heat, kept a steady rhythm, and still ended up finishing way ahead." Regarding the Huangshan event, Hu commented that the organization was solid, the course was stunning, and the swim water was clean and comfortable.10Won a qualification spot for the Hawaii Island World Championships at the big ironman race in Penghu, Taiwan in November, so all the previous races were just part of her training. “Participating in the national points race was mainly for training and maintaining form, so I wasn’t in a rush today. I deliberately controlled my pace, didn’t go too fast, paid attention to heat prevention, kept a good rhythm on the road, and still ended up arriving at the finish line well ahead.” Regarding the Huangshan race, Hu Yan said the organization was good, the course was very beautiful, the swimming water was clear, and it felt comfortable to swim.KONAthe qualifying event for the Island World Championships, so all the previous races were just part of her training. “Participating in the national points races is mainly for training and maintaining form, so I wasn’t in a rush today. I deliberately controlled my pace, didn’t go too fast, paid attention to staying cool, and kept a steady rhythm on the course. In the end, I still arrived at the finish line well ahead.” Regarding the Huangshan race, Hu Yan said that the organization was good, the course was very beautiful, and the swimming water was clear and comfortable.
Compared to the top athletes, everyday competitors from various clubs were the main force in today’s race. Perhaps their results weren’t outstanding, but they are all driven by passion for the sport. Among them, a white-haired elderly man named Cheng Lixing caught the attention of reporters. This64-year-old competitor from Xuzhou had attached two IV drip bottles to his bike, inserting straws to create a DIY drinking system on the handlebars. "My teammate invented this. I copied it—it only cost a few yuan. Leaning forward while riding, I can easily drink water. It’s very convenient," the elderly athlete showed off his clever invention.
"Triathlon is more fun than a marathon. It’s a full-body workout, not as monotonous as running," Cheng said. Since starting triathlon in2000, he has won16national age-group championships. "Competing in triathlon events lets me travel around the country, and the event services everywhere are great—with organizers providing transportation and even banquets. I really enjoy taking part in such races." This time, Cheng also plans to tour the Huangshan scenic area when he’s not racing.