Huang Jiaqiang, a cycling enthusiast from Chengdu, rode nearly 360 kilometers, smashing the previous 19.5-hour record with an impressive time of 16 hours and 48 minutes.
Descending Longquan Mountain under relentless rain, no one gave up despite the torment
Although light rain fell on Friday, making the roads slippery, the six riders aiming to set a new 370-kilometer Sichuan-Chongqing cycling record still gathered punctually at Tianfu Square at noon and set off right on time.
The ride out of Chengdu via Jiaozi Overpass went smoothly. Cruising down Longquan Avenue, the group chatted easily and arrived at Longquanyi in under an hour. But once they crossed the mountain, the weather turned harsh—ice-cold rain poured down. By the time they descended, their trembling hands revealed the full force of the wind and rain.
Their trembling hands descending the mountain revealed the full force of the wind and rain.
From 4 a.m. to 7 a.m., the rain intensified. Mud splashed by the wheels drenched their bodies, shoes, and clothes, while thick fog limited visibility. Though they later put on raincoats, the lack of breathability made them sweat profusely, as if it were raining inside too. Beyond Jianyang, the battered Old Sichuan-Chongqing Highway—scarred by trucks—revealed its rugged face, with moon-like surfaces, continuous ups and downs, and violent jolts that made everyone wish they were riding mountain bikes. Sleep deprivation set in, drowsiness attacked everyone, and flashlights grew dimmer as batteries drained. They struggled to stay awake, focusing on the road while pedaling mechanically. Despite the agony, no one considered hopping onto the support vehicle—only mutual encouragement kept spirits up as they waited for dawn. After 7 a.m., as light broke, they felt reborn, even speeding up. By 9 a.m., they had covered over 60 kilometers in just two hours, reaching a total of 186 kilometers in Anzhou—more than halfway through the challenge.
But signs of physical exhaustion began to show. During breaks, the skinniest rider, Chen Ying, curled up shivering in the support van, while Liu Jinsong’s mud-caked cycling pants weighed four or five pounds.
Setbacks continued—only three made it to Chongqing
After an hour of changing clothes and refueling, it was already 10 a.m. With nine hours left to beat the record, plummeting body heat and energy levels made the climb ahead even tougher. To hit the 19-hour target, they calculated they needed to maintain an average speed of at least 25 km/h. The team decided to carry their own supplies, eating and drinking only while riding unless absolutely necessary.
It turned out the break had been too long—the lactic acid buildup in their legs made the next stretch, a long climb out of Anzhou, agonizing. Everyone pedaled painfully, standing on their bikes to push forward with their body weight. After riding 20–30 kilometers, 18-year-old rider Wei Yi’s bike suddenly got a flat tire. During the repair, his body temperature plummeted, and when he tried to continue, he could barely go on, forcing him to take the support vehicle.
Shortly after entering Chongqing, Liu Lijia—the only female rider in the challenge—wiped out due to a pedal issue, swelling her left knee and forcing her to quit.
Only four riders remained. The reporter, having found a rhythm after 220 kilometers, rode at high speed alongside the strongest rider, Huang Jiaqiang, inching closer to the record goal. But after crossing 300 kilometers, during a climb, just ten meters in, a loud *snap*—the bike’s rear derailleur broke. The reporter had no choice but to take the support vehicle.
At 4:48 p.m., Huang Jiaqiang arrived at the University Town after riding 360 kilometers, followed by Liu Jinsong and Chen Ying. But then the temperature dropped again, and rain returned. No one had a single dry piece of clothing. For health and safety, the entire group decided to take the support vehicle into the city.
In 2009, Chengdu cyclist Ren Bin set the previous Sichuan-Chongqing record of 19.5 hours for a 340-km ride from Chongqing’s Gele Mountain to Chengdu’s Longquanyi. Though the Chengdu challengers didn’t achieve their original goal of 370 km from Tianfu Square to Jiefangbei, their ride to University Town surpassed 350 km. The fastest rider, Huang Jiaqiang, shattered the Sichuan-Chongqing cycling record with his 16-hour, 48-minute time. Chen Ying and Liu Jinsong finished in under 18 hours, the reporter rode 302 km, the sole female rider Liu Lijia completed 260 km, and Wei Yi rode 220 km.
The challenge garnered widespread attention on Weibo and Sichuan Online. Upon hearing about it, triathlon and cycling enthusiasts in Chongqing vowed to “ride back” the record.
Drained—eating and drinking several pounds yet losing weight
Cycling burns “bone fuel,” and food is the fuel. On the support van of rider Liu Jinsong, a barrel of mineral water, over 10 pounds of bananas, seven or eight pounds of bread, and more than 20 bottles of sports drinks like Red Bull and Shouting were prepared before departure.
But cycling is an extremely energy-consuming aerobic activity, especially in the cold, where body heat loss accelerates.
Huang Jiaqiang, the fastest rider, consumed several instant noodles, three bananas, one steamed bun, one energy bar, three eggs, and countless sesame cakes. Yet upon returning to Chengdu, he weighed one kilogram less.
The support van’s supplies were entirely depleted by the time they reached Chongqing.