This exchange competition was one of the events of the 4th International Bicycle Touring Conference. It was organized by the Peking University Cycling Association, co-organized by the Yanqing County Sports Bureau, and received strong sponsorship and support from UCC Guangzhou Global Bicycle Company and Beijing ACANU Outdoor Products Co., Ltd. Additionally, Beijing Northwest Tourism Company provided comfortable accommodation and transportation for the event.
This exchange competition is a traditional large-scale cycling event hosted by the PKU Cycling Association. It is the highest-standard and largest-scale mountain bike competition in China specifically for college students and is considered a grand gathering for university cycling clubs nationwide. This year’s event was held in Yanqing County, which has recently been promoting cycling tourism, and the scale was further expanded compared to previous years. Participating universities included Peking University, Tsinghua University, China University of Petroleum, Central University of Finance and Economics, Central South University, and a total of 61 institutions, with over 700 attendees. To manage such a large-scale event, the PKU Cycling Association deployed a team of more than 60 staff members during the competition. Despite encountering rainy and cold weather on the second day of competition, all events proceeded in an orderly and safe manner thanks to the efforts of the entire team.
On the afternoon of May 10, teams from university cycling associations across the country arrived one after another and began test rides on the track to familiarize themselves with the course. The gloomy weather threatened rain at any moment, but the young riders were undeterred, as racing in the rain adds even more excitement. In the evening, an exchange party was held at the accommodation site, where each club showcased their unique features and shared experiences and stories. The party also featured a special performance by cycling stunt expert Zhou Changchun, whose impressive tricks electrified the crowd. The fixed-gear one-kilometer speed race brought the evening to a thrilling climax. After the exciting competition, there was also an engaging WeChat wall activity. ACANU and UCC provided a large amount of cycling gear for the event, and the combination of races, lucky draws, and WeChat interactions sparked waves of cheers.
May 11 was the official competition day, featuring men's open, men's elite, women's open, and team events. Overnight rain turned the track muddy and slippery, and it continued to rain right up until the start of the races. However, neither the rain nor the mud could dampen the students’ enthusiasm as they poured their youth and passion into the competition. The muddy course caused several riders to lose control and fall, but most of them, regardless of minor injuries and covered in mud, quickly got back up and continued racing, striving for better results. The Yanqing County Sports Bureau had medical personnel stationed at first aid points to promptly treat any injuries.
Finally, at 6:00 PM on May 11, all competitions concluded. The rain had stopped, and the sun emerged from behind the clouds, adding a touch of warmth to the end of the event. After intense competition, all awards were presented. The team from Shanxi University emerged as the biggest winner, taking home the championships in the men's elite, women's open, and team events. The men's open champion was a rider from Taiyuan University of Technology. The most exciting men's elite champion was Li Shaoying from Shanxi University, who received a full-carbon custom frame sponsored by UCC Global Bicycle and cycling gear worth 3,000 RMB from ACANU. Other top-performing athletes also received helmets, cycling jerseys, and other equipment from ACANU and UCC. After the award ceremony, university cycling clubs gathered in front of the main backdrop for group photos, creating lasting memories of this unforgettable holiday.
Through this exchange competition, interaction among university cyclists from across the country was further enhanced, bringing everyone together for this annual gathering. During this event, students made friends from different regions, gained cycling experience, and most importantly, experienced the pure joy of outdoor cycling.
At the same time, the PKU Cycling Association also hopes to draw social attention through the competition, further encouraging university students to participate in outdoor sports, and to promote cycling—an environmentally friendly and physically beneficial outdoor activity. According to a representative from ACANU, this event is part of the "Ride the World – ACANU Annual Partner Program" launched by ACANU in February at ISPO. This competition is the second stop of the 2014 ACANU National University Mountain Bike Touring Exchange Series. Starting in May, ACANU will collaborate with more university cycling associations in major university hubs such as Beijing in North China, Chengdu in Southwest China, Shenyang in Northeast China, Shanghai in East China, and Xi'an in Northwest China, organizing national university cycling tours. These events will include a wider variety and broader scope of cycling culture promotion activities, aiming to promote healthy and green outdoor lifestyles among target audiences at universities, and gradually build deeper recognition of ACANU, the online-born outdoor fashion cycling brand, among its target consumers.
Below are the final results of each competition: