Team Taiwan member Feng Chun-kai took home Best Asian Rider in Tour de Taiwan March 5 as the country’s top professional cycling event wrapped up in the southern city of Kaohsiung.
Completing the five-stage, 661.35-kilometer north-south route of the competition in a time of 14:39:57, Feng claimed the symbolic Blue Jersey by beating Japanese cyclists Nakane Hideto of France’s Team Nippo Delko Provence and Suzuki Yuzuru of Japan’s Team Utsunomiya Blitzen, who finished in 14:39:59 and 14:40:05, respectively.
Feng also finished fourth overall out of nearly 100 cyclists from 30 countries and territories, trailing only Nicholas White of Australia’s Team Bridgelane; Ryan Cavanagh, Australia’s ST George Continental Cycling Team; and Marcus Culey, Malaysia’s Team Sapura Cycling.
Established in 1978 by King Liu, founder of world famous bicycle maker Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd. based in the central city of Taichung, Tour de Taiwan was first included in the Asia Tour of Switzerland-headquartered Union Cycliste Internationale in 2005.
Since 2003, the Tour 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, one level below the UCI Continental Circuits in Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceania and two below the UCI World Tour events, such as the prestigious Grand Tours in France, Italy and Spain. (YCH-E)
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