The second edition of the Tour de France-certified L’Étape Sun Moon Lake cycling event is set to kick off Oct. 18 at Xiangshan Visitor Center in central Taiwan’s Nantou County, according to the Tourism Administration June 4.
As the first event in Asia in this year’s L’Étape series, the race will involve cyclists from over 30 countries and comprise 29-kilometer and 104-kilometer categories. Participants of the former will pass by scenic spots including Ita Thao Pier and Xuanguang Temple, while cyclists in the latter will enjoy the scenery of Puli Township and nearby Checheng Village, the TA said, adding that the winner of the longer route will be awarded the highest honor yellow jersey and earn a slot in the 2026 L’Étape France Championship along with winners of the annual King of the Mountain race.
According to the TA, the event gives participants a Tour de France-like experience on a cycling path ranked as one of the world’s top 10 by CNNGo, an online travel guide affiliated with U.S.-based Cable News Network. This year also marks the first time that an e-bike race has been added to the event to expand its scale, the administration said.
The 2025 edition is expected to sustain the momentum from last year, when over 3,000 cyclists took part, the TA said. The popularity of L’Étape Sun Moon Lake continues to raise Taiwan’s international cycling profile while attracting more global tourists to visit one of the country’s most sustainable tourism destinations, the administration added. (YCH-E)
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