Getting back on its feet after it was cancelled in 2001, the Tour de Taiwan was wrong-footed last year when a bad crash stained the record that Li Kai-chi (
This year, Li and the association have high hopes for the race, both in terms of sport, and also as a step to gaining greater recognition on the world stage.
The Tour de Taiwan will start out with a circuit race in the Baolai hot springs district in Liukuei Township in Kaohsiung County on Nov. 19 and having wended its way up the east coast through Taipei County and then to Taichung, it will finish up in a circuit race around a section of Kaohsiung's Love River on Nov. 26. In between, there will be some tough mountain sections which will delight veteran Hong Kong racer Wong Kam-po (
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHINESE TAIPEI CYCLING ASSOCIATION
Over 15 international teams are expected to participate in the Tour de Taiwan this year, with star cyclists from BRC Kennemerland of Holland and Team Merrida of Germany. Taiwan will be entering only one team.
"It is all about keeping up a very professional standard," Li said, "We only want the best we can get, so we can't afford to consider local cyclists who are below international standard."
Up and running
Getting cycling up and running as a major sport in Taiwan has proved hard work for Li, who shook his head over last year's debacle, which put a spanner in the works of upgrading to a 2.5 grade on the international circuit this year. Li said the current race is still listed as 2.6, a grading that is also due to the relatively small purse that awaits the victors, a total of just over NT$1 million.
"It is not enough to attract the very top riders," Li said, "but we are working at it."
Safety for the cyclists will this year be a major concern, but Li pointed out that in a road race, there were too many variables, and Taiwan's drivers and not used to making way for cyclists, even if they know a race is on.
"We will be closing off sections of road as the cyclists go through and will hand out fliers to drivers are passing through, but that's the most we can do."
The stakes are high for the Chinese Taipei Cycling Association as there will be a new lot of international monitors from International Cycling Union (UCI), the main body behind international bicycle competition, to view Taiwan's performance as host.
Local organizers are enthusiastic about the course, citing the many arduous sections, especially sections such as the ascent to Tatachia, which stands 2,610m above sea level from the banks of Sun Moon Lake.
"This is comparable to anything in the Tour de France," Li said proudly. The race will run a total of 1,031km over eight days (no rest day), and according to Li is the longest yet held in Taiwan.
Tourism agenda
Another factor in the design of the racecourse has been the desire to showcase major scenic locations around Taiwan.
"We have managed to include many of the locations that are being especially promoted by the Tourism Bureau," Li said, a statement that does not sit altogether well with his desire to create a truly unique international cycle race.
The circuit race at Shetou in Changhua and Kaohsiung's Love River have been included to coincide with tourism promotions, and while this does not necessarily invalidate them as good cycle routes, it reveals a dangerous lack of focus on the requirements of the sport.
Even so, while Taiwan will still not be drawing major international names, the field will include riders such as Holland's Francis de Jager, Ivor Bruin and Rol Raymond, France's Denis Roudier and David Fouchet, and Germany's Juergen Kottula. Taiwan's own team is sadly getting rather less publicity than Hong Kong's Wong, whose success in last year's race has meant so much to people in the local cycling community.
Action Asia
While the Tour de Taiwan gears up, Action Asia Challenge, the multi-discipline sports event originally scheduled for this weekend, has been delayed until Dec. 7, purportedly on account of calls by local contestants for more time to train.
The race is now being slated as a two-day event with a mini skills workshop on Dec. 6, a further indication that initial confidence in the enthusiasm of Taiwan's sportsmen was misplaced.
At least this time moves are being made to remedy this problem.
A new category has been added to the race, which in its original format requires teams of three. A new category of doubles will now be included for the extended registration period, opening up the competition to the less well-organized sporting community in Taiwan but also fundamentally changing the nature of the race.
Action Asia was designed in the tradition of Eco-Challenge and other adventure races in which teamwork was one of the key factors -- with teams of two, this aspect of the race is reduced. Information about the race can be found at the Action Asia Challenge Web site www.aachallenge.com.
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