The 2014 Taiwan King of the Mountain Cycling Challenge will take place in Hualien City on November 15. Yesterday, the event's organizing committee held a press conference in Taipei to introduce various aspects of the competition.
Photos from the 2013 event
This year marks the third edition of the Taiwan King of the Mountain Cycling Challenge, with the total prize money raised to NT$2.41 million (approximately RMB 500,000). A total of 473 riders from around the world have registered to compete. The men’s champion will receive NT$1 million (about RMB 200,000), the highest prize in the event’s three-year history. Among the participants are top Taiwanese cyclists such as 2013 third-place finisher Wang Yin-zhi and Feng Jun-kai, the first Taiwanese rider to join a WorldTour team, as well as international stars like Will Barta, the King of the Mountains from the 2014 Tour of California, and Tiffany Cromwell, the 2012 Giro d’Italia women’s champion. From mainland China, the Fuzhou Cycling Association has formed a team to take part.
Although the Taiwan King of the Mountain Cycling Challenge is relatively new, it has already been ranked among the world’s ten most challenging cycling races, alongside classic routes in the European Alps. The race begins at Qixingtan Beach in Hualien and finishes at Wuling on Hehuanshan, covering a total distance of 105 kilometers. Starting at sea level, the route climbs to an altitude of 3,275 meters at the finish — an extraordinary elevation gain. More daunting still, around 90 kilometers of the course feature an average gradient of 7%, while the final 10 kilometers push riders up slopes as steep as 17% to 27%. This grueling stretch is known as the “Heavenly Road.”
According to officials from the organizing committee, the race route offers stunning scenery, showcasing the wonders of nature. Riders pass through majestic canyons and enjoy breathtaking alpine landscapes along the way, making it a truly memorable experience. Many participants consider it “a once-in-a-lifetime challenge worth undertaking.”