By Li Xinyi, reporting
After more than 30 years of effort, the 2012 International Taiwan Cycling Road Race was rated by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) as superior to those in Japan and South Korea, upgrading it to a 2.1-level race alongside events in Italy, France, Spain, and for the first time, inviting world-class Tour de France professional teams to compete in Taiwan. The seven-day event from March 10 to 16 took place across seven cities in northern, central, and southern Taiwan. A total of 95 riders from 19 teams representing 22 countries participated in this international competition. To promote Taiwanese tourism, the event featured special night market food and hosted a Taiwan Cycling Food Banquet today, inviting riders from various countries to enjoy the cuisine.
Before the start of the Taiwan Cycling Road Race, the organizers held a Taiwan Food Banquet allowing international riders to taste local specialties. (Photo by TravelScape Li Xinyi)
The Taiwan Cycling Food Banquet prepared ten popular local snacks: oyster omelet, xiaolongbao soup, oyster and intestine vermicelli, stinky tofu, braised pork rice, rice ball, rice dumpling, danzai noodles, beef noodle soup, and bubble tea. Kristian House, a rider from the Sharp Eagle Pro Cycling Team visiting Taiwan for the first time, has cycled along the northern coast and found Taiwan’s cycling environment very clean. Among the foods served, he and his teammates especially loved the rice dumplings and xiaolongbao. Another Sharp Eagle Pro Cycling Team rider, Downing Dean, was so fond of Taiwanese bubble tea that he learned how to make it on-site from a beverage vendor—and succeeded on his first try.
A total of 95 top international riders are participating in this edition of the Taiwan Cycling Road Race. (Photo by TravelScape Li Xinyi)
The Taiwan Cycling Road Race opens this Saturday, starting in Taipei City. The route then continues from New Taipei City Government to Linshanbi Recreation Area, Taoyuan County Government to Jiaobanshan Image Commercial Zone, Taichung City Hall to Metropolitan Park, Bagua Mountain Giant Buddha in Changhua, Tainan City Government to Guanziling Scenic Area, and concludes at Kaohsiung Love River.
2012 Taiwan Cycling Race Official Website: www.tourdetaiwan.org.tw
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