The 2013 "Qiansen Cup" UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup Yanqing stop will take place on September 21, 2013, at the Gubei Lake Forest Park in Yanqing, Beijing. This is the first time the International Cycling Union (UCI) has held a professional Cyclo-Cross event in China. On August 21 Beijing time, the route was surveyed by UCI technical officials and incorporated into the design process by Qiansen Sports, resulting in a world-class track now unveiled.
The event is approved by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and the General Administration of Sport of China, organized by the Chinese Cycling Association, and co-hosted by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports and the People’s Government of Yanqing County, with operational support from Qiansen Group. Cyclo-Cross, or cross-country cycling, originated in Europe in the 1990s and combines elements of mountain biking, road cycling, and off-road running. It not only demands strong cycling skills but also requires riders to dismount and carry their bikes through non-ridable sections. A skilled Cyclo-Cross rider can approach obstacles at full speed, shoulder the bike, jump over barriers, then remount and accelerate swiftly, minimizing speed loss through fluid movements. This event features elite men’s and women’s races, attracting nearly 80 top global Cyclo-Cross athletes from 16 countries including Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. Competitors include 2008 U23 World Champion Julien Taramarcaz from France, 2009 World Cup winner Lars van der Haar from the Netherlands, Swedish champion Victor Westergren, Australian National Champion Michael Palmer, and others.
The newly unveiled Shuxiangyuan Cyclo-Cross Track in Yanqing, Beijing, spans 3.5 kilometers and is China’s first UCI-certified international-standard Cyclo-Cross course. The track includes both paved and natural surfaces, dry and wet sections, featuring obstacles such as small streams, shallow marshes, tree trunks, and steps. About 95% of the course is rideable, with the remaining sections requiring riders to shoulder their bikes and run. Top cyclists from Europe and the U.S. will compete on this professional Yanqing track, delivering a world-class Cyclo-Cross event for Chinese fans. Wang Xuanqing, Deputy Director and Party Committee Secretary of the Cycling & Fencing Sports Administration Center, stated that introducing top-tier international events to boost mass sports participation is a valuable development model. He hopes such high-level competitions will inspire more amateur cyclists to take up the sport.
In recent years, Yanqing County has been developing itself as China’s premier cycling destination, launching eight major cycling zones and 11 premium cycling routes that cover attractions such as the Gubei Ecological Corridor and the Hundred-Mile Gallery. The county offers over 300 kilometers of cycling-friendly roads, with more than 30 bike rental stations and a fleet of 2,000 bicycles. The Beijing International Cycling Tour, hosted in Yanqing, has become the city’s largest public cycling event. It also hosted two amateur Cyclo-Cross races in 2012 and 2013. The success of events like the Cycling Tour, the Tour of Beijing, and the National Road Cycling Championships has attracted growing numbers of domestic and international professionals. Six provincial cycling teams have chosen Yanqing as their training base. With extensive cycling routes and a large local cycling community—nearly 20,000 regular cyclists—the area has also boosted local bike sales. In the first seven months of this year alone, over 8,000 bicycles were sold in Yanqing, generating more than 20 million yuan in revenue.
Qiansen Sports, dedicated to developing professional cycling tracks, organizing high-level cycling events, and supporting China’s cycling development, serves as the track builder and event partner for UCI Cyclo-Cross in China. The company is responsible for planning the event, assisting national associations and local hosts, and aims to establish it as a regular UCI World Cup stop to promote Cyclo-Cross in China. Next year, under the guidance of the Chinese Cycling Association, Qiansen Group will introduce UCI Mountain Bike (MTB) and BMX professional events to China, offering audiences a thrilling feast of comprehensive off-road cycling disciplines.