FEATURE: Tour de Taiwan introduces nation to rest of the world

US cyclist Shawn Milne crosses the Tour de Taiwan finishing line on March 24. Milne took the individual combined title with a time of 17:56.35. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CHINESE TAIPEI CYCLING ASSOCIATION

With preparations under way for the Tour de Taiwan in March next year, enthusiasts recalled how the race has evolved from an annual sports event to an opportunity to introduce Taiwan to the world.

Lee Kai-chih (李開志), secretary-general of the Chinese Taipei Cycling Association, said the nation had previously only held local cycling events.

That changed in 1978, when the Tour de Taiwan was first held. It began as an international invitational event sponsored by local bicycle manufacturers like Giant Manufacturing Co (巨大機械).

Today the Tour de Taiwan is an international cycling event recognized by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).

"The event has promoted unity in the nation's cycling community," Lee said.

Manufacturers used to donate NT$1 for every bicycle exported overseas to help fund the Tour, he said.

Since it was only an invitational event, not many bicycle teams were willing to come to Taiwan, even though the organizers offered additional benefits as incentives, Lee said.

The turning point came in 2005, when the UCI rated the Tour de Taiwan as a level 2.2 tournament on the UCI Asia Tour. The tournament's total prize pot reached US$37,000.

The race has since drawn teams from more than 20 countries.

With its designated route passing through several tourist attractions, the national tourism bureau has enthusiastically backed the Tour de Taiwan Lee said.

Not only does the race attract overseas visitors, it also showcases the beauty of the nation and customs of the people, he said.

For next year, the bureau has asked local authorities along the route to host special events for the race at each stage.

Starting in 2005, the bureau entrusted local broadcaster ESPN with the task of covering the race.

Chinese Taipei Cycling Association vice director-general Wang Mei-hsiang (王美香) said the race coverage is edited into two episodes of about an hour each.

Although ESPN recorded this year's race in March, it was broadcast in July in a bid to reach a bigger audience.

Steven Kuo Su (郭蘇燦洋), the bureau's deputy director-general, said the project cost NT$4.5 million (US$138,500).

In addition to the race, each episode introduces highlights of Taiwan toward the end, such as a scenic spot or the food in a night market along the way.

The station was also tasked with producing a 20-second preview for next year's race, which was broadcast before the premiere of the episodes.

"The investment is really worth it," Su said, "given that the channel can be viewed in 20 countries in Asia and has an audience of 100 million people."

Lee said 40 cycling teams have applied to participate in next year's Tour de Taiwan, which runs from March 9 to March 16. The total prize pot will jump from NT$45,000 this year to US$50,000.

The race will begin at the Love River (愛河) in Kaohsiung and end at Taipei 101 seven days later.

Along the route, cyclists will ride through Baguashan (八卦山) in Changhwa County and the northern coast of Taipei County.

After the race, visitors can also attend the Taipei International Cycle Show held from March 13 to March 16th at the new Nangang Exhibition Hall of the Taipei World Trade Center.

In addition to the 2008 Tour de Taiwan, the nation also won the right to host the UCI Asia Tour event in 2010, Lee said.

The Kaohsiung City Government is planning to build a facility for the event, which will resemble the Dunc Gray Velodrome in Sydney, Australia.

The construction is estimated to cost about NT$100 million and is partially funded by the Sports Affairs Council. It is to be completed by 2009, Lee said.