What’s it like to be shopping in a mall when suddenly you find yourself in the middle of a high-speed race? On October 27, the third stop of the nationally sweeping extreme sports event—the 2018 Battle Horse Downhill Cycling Tour—arrived as scheduled in the beautiful Spring City, Kunming. The shopping mall, usually bustling with pedestrian traffic, was instantly transformed into a professional venue for high-difficulty downhill cycling. Professional riders descended from the escalators like paratroopers, dazzling the crowd with breathtaking aerial stunts and glides, completely igniting the passion and energy of this gentle city.
The event heats up with record-breaking participant numbers
As one of the rare professional downhill cycling events in China, the Battle Horse Downhill Cycling Tour has attracted enthusiastic registrations from numerous professional riders and cycling enthusiasts across the country since its launch. As competitions unfolded in various regions, registration enthusiasm continued to soar, with each stop now attracting over 500 participants. Local sign-ups in Kunming were exceptionally strong, prompting multiple requests for additional slots. Deeply moved, the organizing committee made an exception, increasing the participant limit from the originally capped 60 to over 100, setting a new record for this edition of the tournament. Among them were riders who traveled across half of China just to compete, including even a professional rider from Taiwan, China, showcasing the event’s immense influence and appeal.
Female riders competition, proving girls are just as capable
If the number of participants in Kunming already hit an all-time high, then the appearance of female rider Wei Yangyang added a unique and delightful surprise, earning her prolonged applause from the audience. To many, extreme sports may seem like a man’s game, but this young female competitor demonstrated extraordinary courage and exceptional riding skills, proving that seemingly delicate women can also excel on the professional downhill cycling circuit.
The organizers of the Battle Horse Downhill Cycling Tour also admitted: "The enthusiasm of the riders far exceeded our expectations. From riders under 10 years old to veteran cyclists nearing 60, and now the first female rider in the tournament’s history, every stop brings us new surprises. Our goal in hosting this event is to showcase a category and style of cycling to the public. Extreme sports aren’t about recklessness or danger—they’re not synonymous with risk. There are no age or gender restrictions. As long as you’ve undergone professional training, taken proper safety measures, and progressively challenge yourself, this sport is open to everyone."
Professional riders face off, with roaring audience support
Mall downhill, as a branch of downhill cycling, has emerged several times in China in recent years. Transplanting mountain races into urban shopping malls introduces challenges like smooth floors and unique environments that inherently increase difficulty. For this edition of the Battle Horse Downhill Cycling Tour, the track design continued to innovate, significantly raising both the difficulty and spectator appeal compared to past events. Especially notable was the specially designed "Battle Horse Energy Boost Zone," where riders could earn time bonuses of 0.1 to 0.5 seconds for impressive aerial maneuvers, making it a hotly contested spot. The thrilling jumps repeatedly drew waves of applause and cheers from the audience.
This stop maintained the competition format with both amateur and elite groups racing separately. For elite riders, the biggest draw was the chance to compete against top international professional cyclists in the Shenzhen finals by securing one of the top two spots. The fierce competition among riders made the event especially exciting. Despite extended race times due to the large number of participants, the passionate audience was reluctant to leave.
While the live audience was electrified, online streaming was also booming. It’s reported that all five major stops of the Battle Horse Downhill Cycling Tour and the final Shenzhen year-end championship will be live-streamed in full on platforms like Tencent, Youku, and Zaker News. With the tournament’s growing popularity, more and more users are tuning in online. Bicycle enthusiasts unable to attend future stops can still witness the unique thrill of downhill cycling through these livestreams.
…………………………………………
As one of the most anticipated extreme sports events of the year, the 2018 Battle Horse Downhill Cycling Tour has passed its halfway point. For cycling enthusiasts nationwide, every weekend now brings this sensational experience. To close, let’s end with Battle Horse’s slogan as we look forward to the next stop: “Your energy exceeds your imagination.” See you in Guangzhou on November 3rd！