Cyclists looking for a challenging ride can register today for a 217km road race to be held on the east coast next month.
The East Coast National Scenic Area Administration said yesterday that the 200km race was being organized for people interested in participating in next year’s Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) race.
To take part in the 1,200km PBP race, a competitor must first qualify through a series of certified races, including 200km, 300km, 400km and 600km distances. Some countries also offer a 1,000km race.
Cyclists joining the 200km race will begin at Jialulan (加路藍) in Taitung before passing Changhong Bridge (長虹橋) in Hualien, Ruigang Highway (瑞港公路), Highway 193 and Yuchang Highway before returning to Jialulan. Competitors will be given a maximum of 13.5 hours to complete the race. Those who finish the race will obtain certification and medals from the Audax Club Parisien (ACP), the organizer of the BPB race.
Ling Hung-hsin (凌宏新), representative of the Taiwan Super Triathlon Association, said the route had been approved by the ACP for a 200km race, adding that there were other certified routes in Taiwan.
Meanwhile, the East Coast National Scenic Area Administration will also host a 100km race. Cyclists registering for this race will ride from Jialulan to Sansiantai (三仙台) before returning to Jialulan.
Li Chih-hua (李枝花), chief of the administration’s recreation section, said Japan and Taiwan were the only two countries in Asia to have ACP certified routes. Cyclists in Japan, Europe or North America may want to join the 200km race in Taiwan because of the cold weather in their own countries.
The race will be held on March 20. Each of the two races can accommodate 500 participants. The registration fee is NT$500 per person for both races.
Registration can be done online at tstc.myweb.hinet.net.
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