China’s Toughest 100km Race Concludes in Qilian Mountains; Red Bull Outdoor Team’s Yang Jiagen Wins
Published: 2026-09-24
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Last updated 2026-09-24 — At 12:30 noon on July 26, after a grueling 15 hours, 21 minutes and 01 second journey, Yang Jiagen from the Red Bull Outdoor Team and his female teammate Gan Xue crossed the finish line, successfully claiming the championship of the 100km Mixed Gender Division at the 2014 China Zhangye Qilian Mountains 100km Mountain Outdoor Sports Challenge. As the champions of the mixed-gender category, Yang Jiagen and Gan...
At 12:30 noon on July 26, after a grueling 15 hours, 21 minutes and 01 second journey, Yang Jiagen from the Red Bull Outdoor Team and his female teammate Gan Xue crossed the finish line, successfully claiming the championship of the 100km Mixed Gender Division at the 2014 China Zhangye Qilian Mountains 100km Mountain Outdoor Sports Challenge. As the champions of the mixed-gender group, Yang Jiagen and Gan Xue finished nearly 20 minutes faster than the male duo champions. The Qilian Mountains 100km Mountain Outdoor Challenge is known as China’s toughest 100km race due to its highly demanding course and high-altitude, low-temperature conditions. Currently, some participants in the 100km division are still on the course, striving to complete the race.
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The Zhangye Qilian Mountains 100km Mountain Outdoor Challenge is a national-level A-grade outdoor sports event. The competition is divided into three categories: a 100km team race, 50km individual races for men and women, and a 10km mass participation race. Over 500 athletes and outdoor enthusiasts from across the country participated in both the professional and mass categories. The 100km team race is further split into men’s pairs and mixed-gender pairs, with nearly 150 athletes taking part. The full course of the Zhangye 100km Challenge spans 102km, with an average altitude of 2,600 meters and a highest point of 3,800 meters. The total elevation gain is 4,800 meters, and the race has a 36-hour cutoff time. The entire route traverses the natural mountainous terrain of the Qilian Mountains, showcasing unique landscapes within Zhangye such as danxia landforms, deserts, grasslands, canyons, glaciers, and snow-capped mountains—truly a grand exhibition of China’s geographical diversity.
On the evening of July 25 at 9:00 PM, the 100km team race started from Observation Deck No. 1 of the Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, with the finish line set at the Great Prayer Wheel in Hongwansi. In the mixed-gender category, Yang Jiagen from the Red Bull Outdoor Team and his teammate Gan Xue led from the start, finishing more than 2 hours and 23 minutes ahead of the runners-up. After crossing the finish line, Yang Jiagen said he thoroughly enjoyed the experience of the race. The danxia landforms along the route featured spectacular scenery, the views were beautiful, and the fresh air made every moment of running a pleasure. However, he also faced challenges during the race. “At around 2 AM on the 26th, it started raining on the course, and the temperature dropped sharply, approaching zero degrees. That period was particularly tough because running already consumes a lot of energy, and the cold causes even more heat loss. If you don’t manage it well, it’s very difficult to finish the race.” Fortunately, the rain lasted less than 20 minutes and soon stopped, and Yang Jiagen had taken adequate measures to stay warm, which helped him avoid being defeated by the cold.