On April 8, the men's 180-200 kilometer individual race of the 2013 "Yuxi Cup" National Road Cycling Championship and the inaugural Yuxi Cycling Open kicked off in Chengjiang. Ninety-two professional athletes from across the country raced around Fuxian Lake twice. After more than four hours of intense competition, two athletes from the Shandong team and one from the People's Liberation Army team claimed the first, second, and third places respectively.
At 8:45 a.m., the opening ceremony for the men's 180-200 kilometer individual race of the 2013 "Yuxi Cup" National Road Cycling Championship and the first Yuxi Cycling Open was held at the Chengjiang County Gymnasium. Relevant leaders from the General Administration of Sport of China, as well as officials from the provincial, city, and county levels, attended the event. Li Chaowei, Deputy Secretary of the County Party Committee and County Chief, delivered a speech at the ceremony, welcoming the athletes, judges, and guests who came to attend the competition. Subsequently, Yang Ning, Director of the Provincial Sports Bureau, announced the start of the race.
At exactly 9:00 a.m., the starting gun fired, and the 92 athletes rushed out of the starting line in a competitive flurry, officially beginning the race. The race started at the County Gymnasium, proceeded down Xianhu Road, then turned left onto Chenghua Road, circling Fuxian Lake twice. The route passed through Haikou Town, Huaning Haijing, Jiangchuan Lujü, Geyue, Sunshine Coast, and Niumo Village, before arriving at the finish line — the Angsana Resort Fuxian Lake. The total distance was nearly 200 kilometers.
It is reported that this race was organized by the Cycling and Fencing Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, and hosted by the Yunnan Provincial Sports Bureau and the Yuxi Municipal Government. It is the first national-level road cycling event held in China this year, representing the highest level of the sport in the country. It is also one of the events that contribute to the National Games points standings. As a result, it attracted 171 professional athletes from 22 teams, including those from Beijing, Shanghai, and the People's Liberation Army. The competition will run until April 9.
At 11:20 a.m., the first group, consisting of three athletes from the Shandong team, took the lead by passing the Angsana Hotel in the first lap. The second group, about 500 meters behind, quickly followed, with the larger pack of cyclists closely trailing behind, trying to close the gap with their competitors.
After more than four hours of grueling cycling, the Shandong athletes maintained their lead until the end. At 1:37 p.m., an athlete wearing a red-and-white racing jersey was the first to come into view of the on-site spectators. Amidst the cheers, this Shandong cyclist, number 48 — Wang Meiyin — was the first to cross the finish line. He won the
At the award ceremony, Yang Ning, Director of the Provincial Sports Bureau, and Yang Yang, Vice Mayor, presented souvenirs and certificates to the athletes who secured the first, second, and third places respectively.