Yu Lei is preparing for the race
Today, Dalian young man Yu Lei, along with three other ultra-running elites, will represent China in the 330-kilometer "Tor des Géants" ultra-trail race in Italy. This marks the first time Chinese participants have entered this top-tier global ultra-running event.
To prepare for this race, within 80 days, Yu Lei ran 2,030 kilometers, averaging 25 kilometers per day. He said, "I ran the last 5 kilometers in tears. My nose tingled and the tears just kept flowing. Over the two-plus months of preparing for the 'Tor des Géants,' I gave so much—my sweat weighed dozens of pounds. So I want to say, I gave it my all on the road to the 'Tor des Géants.' No matter the outcome, I have no regrets!"
He ran 2,030 km in 80 days of training
In early June this year, Yu Lei received a notice from Tecnica (China) headquarters that he had been selected, along with three other ultra-running elites, to represent China in the 330-kilometer "Tor des Géants" ultra-trail race in Italy. This is the first time Chinese participants have entered this top-tier global ultra-running event: a 330-kilometer race with the longest distance, highest elevation gain, greatest difficulty, and crossing five major mountain ranges of the European Alps.
Upon hearing the news, Yu Lei was overjoyed, as challenging limits is one of his life goals. Beyond the excitement, Yu Lei knew this was no ordinary race. He carefully researched and learned that the Tor des Géants course is more grueling than any other ultra-trail race, with finishing rates below 50% in the first two editions. Based on this, Yu Lei developed a detailed, targeted training plan.
Starting June 5, Yu Lei’s tall, muscular figure could often be seen on Binhai Road, Xishan Lansheng, Bangchui Island, Donghai Park, and the mountains around the city. Sometimes he set off at midnight and ran continuously for over ten hours. During one training session, he ran up to 110 kilometers. He did 12 round trips on Xishan Lansheng, covering 28 kilometers with a cumulative elevation gain of over 2,500 meters.
This summer, neither scorching heat nor storms stopped Yu Lei from running. Carrying nearly 10 kilograms of weight, he drank 6 to 8 liters of water per session, sweat soaking his clothes and marking the path he ran. From early June to August 26, Yu Lei ran 2,030 kilometers, completing his training plan with high quality.
He beat over 100 competitors to win a mountain race
Those who know Yu Lei know he’s a young man with exceptional athletic talent—standing 1.85 meters tall with defined muscles, the epitome of an athlete.
At age 14, Yu Lei joined the Dalian Rowing Team. Within just a year and a half, he and veteran teammates won the National Youth Rowing Championships. He was only 16 at the time.
Sports are an essential part of Yu Lei’s life. After retiring from the rowing team, he stayed fit and consistently performed at his best in amateur sports competitions, achieving remarkable results.
In 2009, Yu Lei participated in a mountain race and was the first among 120 national participants to reach the summit, setting the fastest recorded ascent time and beating the previous foreign record by 23 minutes.
Last year, Yu Lei was appointed Deputy Secretary-General of the Dalian Mountaineering Association. He often leads sports enthusiasts on mountain and coastal runs. In April this year, he even funded an ultra-run invitational, attracting many enthusiasts.
The "big beast" of his outdoor circle
In Liaoning’s outdoor community, Yu Lei is a well-known figure. His nickname is "Big Beast," a loving term given by fellow outdoor enthusiasts. Some call him superhuman or even inhuman—all due to his extraordinary capabilities in outdoor sports.
During an outdoor weighted trail race, after trekking dozens of kilometers through a primeval forest, two teammates suffered severe exhaustion and could no longer continue. Yu Lei stepped up, shouldered both their backpacks (totaling over 60 kg), and even held one teammate’s hand as they pushed forward to finish the race.
Over the years, Yu Lei has joined numerous outdoor trail and mountaineering races. When climbing Liaoning’s highest peak, he reached the summit first and then returned to assist teammates. On a Long March hike, he and his team trekked over 40 km overnight in rugged conditions, securing the only Best Team Award.
Some have criticized one of Yu Lei’s actions. In February this year, during a -5°C day at Donghai Park, Yu Lei and fellow runners stripped down to their underwear for a "naked run." At the height of excitement, they even dropped their underwear and ran a few dozen meters. Some called it inappropriate. Yu Lei responded, "Those few meters ‘in the raw’ had strict safety measures. We just wanted to promote the idea that exercise is important."
He sets off with the “China Dalian” flag
On September 3, Yu Lei will embark on his journey to Italy to compete in the Tor des Géants. The toughest and most testing phase begins.
Facing such an important race, Yu Lei remains calm. He said, "Over these months preparing for the Tor des Géants, I’ve laughed, cried, been hurt, and exhausted. Everything I’ve put in proves I’m someone who takes things seriously, and I’m confident I’ll finish the race. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has helped, supported, and encouraged me—the runners who trained with me, and even strangers who read about my participation in newspapers or on TV and cheered me on when they saw me training. It made me feel I wasn’t alone. When I run through the rugged Alpine trails, I’ll think of my beloved fellow citizens back home!" Yu Lei said that before leaving, he specially made a flag: a blue background, China’s map, Dalian landmarks, and four large characters “中国大连” (China Dalian) across it.
Yu Lei
A prominent figure in Liaoning’s outdoor scene. At 16, he teamed up to win the National Youth Rowing Championships. In 2009, he was the first to summit in a mountain race, beating over 100 national participants and setting the fastest recorded time, breaking the previous foreign record by 23 minutes. In 2011, Yu Lei was appointed Deputy Secretary-General of the Dalian Mountaineering Association.
In 2010, the champion completed 330 km in 80 hours
Tor des Géants, originating in Italy and organized by the Aosta Valley regional government, is now renowned throughout Italy and Europe as a top-tier endurance ultra-trail race. Each year, 550 participants must traverse five major Alpine ranges in Italy over 330 kilometers with a total elevation gain of 24,000 meters—all within 150 hours. Crucially, sleep is self-regulated; in 2010, the winning runner Ulrich slept just 90 minutes in 80 hours.
This year marks the third edition of Tor des Géants. According to Tecnica China’s general manager, within minutes of registration opening, the 550 spots were filled by elite endurance runners from around the globe, with thousands more on the waiting list. No Chinese athletes competed in the first two editions, but this year Tecnica specially applied for four “wild cards” to sponsor four Chinese runners in September.