The week-long Tour de Taiwan cycling race starts today in Kaohsiung and will cover 820km during seven stages that will take the riders through culturally diverse areas along the west coast before concluding in Taipei.
Huang Chao-hsun, president of the organizers, the Chinese Taipei Cycling Association (CTCA), said he hoped that the event would promote the nation internationally to the same extent that the renowned Tour de France promotes the European nation.
He also hopes that the race would enhance public awareness of the need to reduce carbon emission and lend further impetus to the enthusiasm for cycling that has swept the nation.
The race, which will run through next Saturday, begins in Kaohsiung and then heads north through Chiayi County and Taichung City, go back south to Changhua County and then continue northbound again through Hsinchu City and Taipei County before reaching the final stage in Taipei, the CTCA said.
The association said the cyclists would ride past some of the nation’s best-known tourist attractions, such as the Love River in Kaohsiung, Bagua Mountain with its giant Buddha sculpture in Changhua, Taipei County’s Shihsanhang Museum of Archeology and Taipei 101.
Teams from 23 countries on five continents, including Poland, Greece, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia and South Africa, will pursue NT$1.6 million (US$46,000) in prize money, the CTCA said.
The Tour de Taiwan is being held for the 21st year, the organizers said.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care