The Formosa 900 cycling event wrapped up Nov. 17 in Taipei City, spotlighting the government’s efforts to promote Taiwan as one of the world’s must-visit cycling destinations.
Organized by Taipei-based Cycling Lifestyle Foundation with support from the Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the event involved 725 cyclists across nine teams from home and abroad, with each required to complete a 900 kilometer circuit finishing in the country’s capital. The routes took in sights such as Wuling on Mount Hehuan in Taroko National Park and East Rift Valley in eastern Taiwan, as well as Provincial Highway No. 3 running from Taipei to the southern county of Pingtung.
At the closing ceremony, TB Director-General Chou Yung-hui said cycling is the ideal way to take in the country’s culture and natural beauty. Bike routes are available throughout Taiwan for visitors who are looking to explore the nation’s hidden gems, he added.
One of the cyclists in this year’s event was Hsu Cheng-chang, deputy director-general of the MOTC’s Directorate General of Highways, who said that taking part gave him a new perspective on conditions for bike users that he can apply to road planning.
According to Hsu, TB’s promotional theme in 2021 will be cycling, with events such as the Formosa 900 set to play a key role. Participants can make use of the Central Weather Bureau’s Weather On Demand platform, which provides cyclists with real-time updates on local meteorological conditions.
First staged in 2012 as part of the annual Taiwan Cycling Festival, the Formosa 900 has been completed by over 4,300 cyclists across 150 teams. (YCH-E)
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