2015On October 19,the Ride the Sky Road race entered its tenth day. At 7:35 AM, 19 brave riders set off through the chilly morning mist of the Nyang River, heading straight for Lhasa.
The temperature dropped significantly overnight, reaching around minus nine degrees Celsius. Athletes staying in tents at the Nyang River campsite had to endure the cold, but with today being the final day of the race, everyone rallied their spirits. The final stagecovered a distance of 230kilometers, with a time limit of13hours, and required ascending the highest pass on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, the5013-meter-highMila Mountain Pass. The undulating road before the climb was relatively smooth, but the descent led to rougher conditions.
Right from the start, Wang Yongjian dashed ahead, aiming to give himself a special life gift. Liu Xingyu closely tailed Dai Luo, with the two pushing each other on the undulating sections. After 40kilometers, as the climb began, Dai Luo dropped Liu Xingyu. He then caught up with Wang Yongjian, received a mid-air boost (a “flying refuel”), and from that point on, the two VWD teammates rode in coordination, crossing the finish line one after the other.Dai Luo once again claimed victory in the day’s stage, becoming the first rider to reach the finish line and arrive in Lhasa in the Ride the Sky Road race, proving his exceptional strength.This marks Dai Luo’s third stage win
. Close behind him, Wang Yongjian, who had been performing modestly until then, arrived second under the lead of teammate Dai Luo, even though he had taken a fall in the final 20kilometers, scraping his hands and legs.This result was astonishing, as if an unknown force had been driving Wang Yongjian forward.
The third to cross the finish line was Liu Xingyu, who ultimately secured the overall championship of the race by a significant margin, also showcasing his impressive capabilities.
“Fellow cyclist Dang Kui”and Ding Tao were the fourth to reach the finish line today, marking Ding’s14completion of the Sichuan-Tibet route by bicycle. More and more people are beginning to view Ding Tao as the Chen Tengbin of the road, a true role model for amateur cyclists.
Humanity has never held such an extreme bicycle endurance race at altitudes averaging above 4,000 meters. This is a feat that challenges life itself, akin to the first human ascent of Mount Everest; it is a grand attempt, a game reserved for the brave.
Today,the Ride the Sky Road—VAUDE-318Bicycle Extreme Racehas finally concluded successfully. Among the 31participating riders, a total of only6A total of riders completed all stages of the race, measuring the distance from Zheduo Tang to Lhasa New Bridge with the wheels of their bikes.20%The completion rate of this edition, while not the lowest in the world, is certainly among the lowest. This proves that Ride the Sky Road is truly one of the most challenging cycling races on Earth.
Over ten days of racing, the weather-beaten faces of the riders and teams are proof of their journey through Ride the Sky Road — but they endured the pain and enjoyed the ride.
Ride the Sky Road ― VAUDE-318Bicycle Extreme RaceIts successful hosting has drawn widespread attention and enthusiasm from cycling enthusiasts across the country. Organizers stated that this year’s event served as an exploratory pilot, and next year they will learn from experience to refine aspects such as rider recruitment,race organization, logistical support, and stage design, aiming to elevate the competition to new heights.
The “Ride the Sky Road VAUDE 318 Bicycle Extreme Race” has come to a perfect close — see you next year.
