For Lee Kai-chih (李開志), secretary-general of Taiwan’s national cycling organization, the Chinese Taipei Cycling Association (CTCA), it is quite apparent why the sport has experienced such rapid growth in the nation in recent decades. “Before tackling a job, you need the right tools,” he says, alluding to a local saying.
The former cyclist, marathon runner and triathlon athlete, who represented Taiwan at a number of international competitions, says the country’s renowned bicycle manufacturing industry has provided the perfect foundation for the development of sports cycling. The nation is home to some of the world’s largest and most well-known bike makers such as Giant Manufacturing Co. and Merida Industry Co., in addition to countless producers of specialized bicycle components and equipment. Now, thanks to the support of these enterprises, as well as the dedication of the CTCA and its governmental partners, the nation’s premier cycling competition, the Tour de Taiwan, is also developing a strong international reputation.
From March 22 to 26 this year, 23 national and professional teams, consisting of nearly 200 cyclists, competed in the five-stage Tour de Taiwan. The competition, which names winners in its General, Mountains, Points and Teams classifications, is ranked as a 2.1 level race by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), or International Cycling Union, the global governing body for sports cycling. That puts the event on a par with other major UCI Asia Tour counterparts such as the Tour of Japan and Tour de Korea.
The Tour de Taiwan was established in 1978 by King Liu (劉金標), the founder of Giant and a former president of the CTCA. The association, the main organizer of the race, was formed in 1974 in southern Taiwan’s Kaohsiung City to promote cycling as a leisure activity and sport. In recent years, the CTCA has worked tirelessly to establish its signature road race as a major international cycling event. “Our goals are to expand the tour’s brand recognition and enhance the international image of the country in addition to helping boost the standard of the sport in Taiwan,” Lee says.
Since 2003, the Tour de Taiwan has climbed from the lowest 2.6 grade on the UCI scale for international cycling competitions to its current position as a 2.1 race. Lee says that the CTCA expects the 2016 edition of the event to be upgraded to a 2.HC race—the top level for the UCI Continental Circuits in Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceania and just one rank below the UCI World Tour events, such as the prestigious Grand Tours in France, Italy and Spain.
The 2.HC races often feature a significant number of riders from the UCI WorldTeams, which employ the sport’s elite athletes. “In the past, we sometimes had to beg foreign cyclists to join the Tour de Taiwan,” Lee says. “In the future, I’m confident they’ll be eager to participate in the event.”
During the fifth and final stage, the competitors passed by the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial Center in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan. (Photo courtesy of Chinese Taipei Cycling Association)
At present, the 2.HC grade has been awarded to only a handful of contests in the UCI Asia Tour, such as the Dubai Tour in the United Arab Emirates and Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia as well as the Tour of Qinghai Lake and Tour of Hainan in mainland China. The fact that the UCI is considering promoting the Tour de Taiwan to this rank is a testament to the race’s popularity and the efficiency of its organizers. “Arranging a road race is very different from planning an indoor sports competition,” Lee says. “Staging a successful event requires extensive preparations, a wide range of facilities and military-like precision.”
Several government organizations have played key roles in transforming the Tour de Taiwan into an elite-level cycling competition. A major turning point in the evolution of the road race occurred in the early 2000s, when organizers began cooperating with the Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications. The combined efforts of the bureau and CTCA helped significantly enhance the international exposure of the race. The huge progress that has been made in this regard is evidenced by the fact that US-based broadcaster Fox Sports aired daily highlights of this year’s tour on its stations across the globe. “Taiwan’s beautiful scenery will be presented not only to elite athletes from different countries, but also to TV audiences around the world,” said David Hsieh (謝謂君), director-general of the Tourism Bureau, in a statement announcing the beginning of the race in March this year.
For the 2015 edition, the Tour de Taiwan visited major scenic locations nationwide. During its first two stages, the race traveled through the northern cities of Taipei and Taoyuan, passing by a number of popular urban attractions such as the Taipei 101 building. The third stage took the riders through the beautiful countryside of Changhua County in central Taiwan. The fourth stage also took place in central Taiwan on 109 kilometers of mountain roads from the Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area to Yushan National Park. For the fifth and final stage, competitors started at the Siraya National Scenic Area in Tainan City, traveled southward to the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial Center in Kaohsiung and finished at the Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area in the southernmost county of Pingtung. By showcasing all aspects of the country, from its soaring metropolises to its stunning natural beauty, the event conveys a clear and positive image of Taiwan, Lee says.
Another important milestone in the development of the competition occurred in 2006, when it was integrated with the Taipei International Cycle Show. The annual bicycle industry exhibition—organized by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, a semi-official trade promotion organization that works closely with the Ministry of Economic Affairs—is one of the largest of its kind in the world.
The 2015 Taipei International Cycle Show was held from March 18 to 21 in the days leading up to the tour, enabling participating athletes and race sponsors to attend the exhibition. “We’ve crafted a unique occasion that combines sporting competition, tourism and industrial development,” Lee says.
The increasing prominence of the Tour de Taiwan has helped spread interest in the sport locally. This is demonstrated by the outstanding performance of Taiwanese athletes at recent competitions in the region, such as the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, where cyclists representing the nation garnered one gold and three bronze medals.
One of the competitors in the 2015 Tour de Taiwan visits a booth at the Taipei International Cycle Show. (Photo courtesy of Chinese Taipei Cycling Association)
Taiwanese athletes also achieved major success at the 2015 Asian Cycling Championships and Asian Junior Cycling Championships, which were held concurrently in Thailand and featured both track and road races. In the track portions of the two championships, competitors from Taiwan won a total of nine gold, four silver and two bronze medals, boasting the best performance among the 15 participating nations. It was also Taiwan’s best ever result in these championships. Such competitiveness has cemented the nation’s status as a leading player in Asia’s cycling circles, Lee says.
Taiwanese athletes have also begun competing in major professional races organized by the UCI. Toward the end of last year, Feng Chun-kai (馮俊凱) joined Lampre-Merida—an Italian road racing team sponsored by the bicycle manufacturer. In doing so, he became the first Taiwanese cyclist to sign for one of the UCI WorldTeams. The bike maker also funds other teams such as Senter-Merida, which is composed solely of Taiwanese athletes, including Wu Po-hung (巫帛宏).
Wu and Feng participated in this year’s Tour de Taiwan as members of Taiwan’s national team. Another Taiwanese team also competed in the event, the professional RTS-Santic Racing Team. At the conclusion of the tour, Wu ranked seventh in the Points Classification category, while Feng finished seventh in the Mountains Classification. The tour was won by Mirsamad Poorseyedigolakhour from Iranian team Tabriz Petrochemical.
Cycling officials are very optimistic about the future of the sport in Taiwan, noting that it is becoming increasingly popular among students. “This can be seen in the growing number of young people taking part in the National High School Cycling Championships,” Lee says. Student athletes can use their results in the annual CTCA-organized competition, which was held in April this year, to apply for admission to senior high schools and universities as long as they also meet certain academic criteria. This event and another similar contest for track and field athletes are significant factors in Taiwan’s increasing competitiveness in international sports championships in recent years, he believes.
Beyond athletic contests, the CTCA secretary-general says that the increasing popularity of cycling as a leisure activity in Taiwan indicates growing awareness of environment protection and healthy lifestyles. Lee stresses that his organization is committed to further developing the pastime, and to continuing its efforts to transform the Tour de Taiwan into one of the premier annual sports competitions in the region. In the same manner as the Tour de France, “this cycling event can become a powerful symbol of national pride for Taiwan,” he says.
Write to Pat Gao at cjkao@mofa.gov.tw