CHENGDU,
China, July 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On
June 30, the 2024 China Chengdu
Tianfu Greenway International Cycling Race concluded successfully
at the Tianfu Olympic Sports Park in Chengdu's Eastern New Area. Professional
cyclists and cycling enthusiasts from around the world competed
around Sancha Lake and Danjingtai, showcasing the beauty and
vitality of Chengdu through a
journey that bridged history and modernity, nature and culture.
The 2nd day's competition featured individual races.
The race started and ended at the new campus of Chengdu Sport
University in Chengdu's Eastern
New Area. The route went from the north road around Sancha Lake to
the west road, then entered the Danjingtai area of Longquanshan
City Forest Park via Beiwu Road. Each lap was 44.3 kilometers, with
a total of 133 kilometers over three laps, featuring two climbing
points and two sprint points. A total of 96 athletes from 15
continental teams from France,
Italy, Belgium, Germany, the
Netherlands, and China,
along with the Macau Cycling General Association, participated. The
Chengdu Intercontinental Cycling Team, which won first place in the
team time trial on the 29th and was honored as the best Chinese
team, attracted significant media and fan attention.
133-Kilometer Individual Race: 96 Cyclists Showcase Their
Skills
At 9 AM, the race officially
started at the new campus of Chengdu Sport University. Cyclists
passed the second-level climbing point in the Danjingtai area three
times. Despite being a second-level climb, the final 500 meters
were exceptionally steep and crucial for determining the race's
outcome.
The race's basic pattern was set during the first climb.
Although some cyclists attempted to break away early, the high
difficulty of the climb fragmented the main group. Strong climbers
quickly moved to the front, forming a leading group of fewer than
20 cyclists, who then regrouped during the descent. By the end of
the first lap, they had established a significant lead over the
rest of the field. The Li-Ning Star Continental Cycling Team had a
numerical advantage and controlled the race pace.
During the subsequent climbs, the leading group was further
filtered, with numbers dwindling and competition intensifying. The
race winner was destined to emerge from this group. On the final
climb, Raileanu Cristian from the Li-Ning Star Continental Cycling
Team showcased his climbing prowess, breaking away and crossing the
finish line solo with a significant lead, winning today's race. In
the small group sprint that followed, Mudgway Luke, also from the
Li-Ning Star team, took second place, while Krijnsen Jolt from the
Dutch Valkenburg Parkhotel team claimed third.
Raileanu Cristian won the green
jersey for first place overall and the polka dot jersey for the
climbing points leader. Mudgway Luke secured the blue jersey for
the sprint points leader, while Li
Boan from the Bardiani CSF Faizanè team earned the white
jersey as the best Chinese rider.
The Sancha Lake/Danjingtai course in the Eastern New Area was a
significant challenge for all participants, with an elevation gain
of over 1,100 meters and nearly 20-degree climbs. Even professional
cyclists found it tough. Raileanu Cristian from the Li-Ning Star
Continental Cycling Team recalled, "The three climbs were the most
challenging part of today's race, and the hot weather added to the
difficulty." He praised the race organization and atmosphere,
saying, "I love China, and
Chengdu is my favorite place."
The city greenway, Sancha Lake, and Longquanshan are also
popular among local cyclists. Ms. Li, a participant in the mass
ride, said, "In Chengdu, we ride the city greenway every week, and
Longquanshan is our top choice for climb training. We often
organize group rides to challenge this route. I'm grateful to the
organizers for giving us the opportunity to ride alongside many
European and local professional teams."
Sancha Lake, with a water area exceeding 27 square kilometers,
is renowned for its exceptional ecological environment and is often
referred to as the "Maldives of
Chengdu." Danjingtai, located in
the Eastern New Area, is the leading project of Longquanshan City
Forest Park and a national 4A tourist attraction, featuring rich
natural landscapes like starry skies, sunrises, forests, and
ecological resources. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Sancha
Lake by day and starry skies by night, along with various
attractions such as the Danjingtai Pavilion, outdoor expansion
bases, stargazing camping sites, and the "Eye of the City"
observatory. It exemplifies the organic growth of Chengdu's Eastern New Area and central urban
area. Longquanshan City Forest Park combines ecological protection
with value transformation, cultivating the "Tianfu Longquanshan"
event brand and forming a green development model of "forest +
greenway + sports."
Ms. Wang, a Chengdu resident
who participated in today's mass ride with friends, was thrilled
after finishing. "I've only been cycling for less than six months.
I used to check in at Longquanshan with my cycling friends because
of its beautiful scenery and excellent ecological environment.
There are many cyclists in Chengdu, and the cycling atmosphere is great,
so I gradually started cycling," she said. "This race not only
featured European and Chinese professional riders, allowing fans to
watch up close and feel the intensity of professional racing, but
also gave amateur cycling enthusiasts a stage to perform. The
fitness culture in Chengdu is
getting better and better."
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SOURCE Chengdu Tianfu Greenway International Cycling Race