Cyclists pushed to their limits
By Fei Lai |
May 16, 2011, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
The Tour of Chongming is a stiff test for international cyclists as they battled rain, wind and the blazing hot sun, along with their fierce rivals, over three stages. But Chinese cyclist Huang Li says its all part of the sport. Fei Lai reports.
Wet weather is perhaps the last thing professional cyclists want. Not only does it lead to a soggy and uncomfortable ride, it's also dangerous as the bicycle's tires have less grip on the road. Braking becomes more difficult and cyclists have less visibility.
The Tour of Chongming Island, a top-rated 2.1 race featuring three stages over a total distance of 271 kilometers, started last Wednesday in heavy rain.
Qiu Jijin, who was doing live commentary for the race, said the windy and rainy weather made the first stage "flat and ordinary."
"The whole process is of no big ups-and-downs, except for some athletes crashing, skidding off the road or having a flat tire," Qiu says. "The heavy rain made the riders more cautious."
The next two stages, held last Thursday and Friday, were in good weather.
Ina-Yoko Teutenberg from HTC Highroad Women successfully defended her hold on yellow jersey at Tour of Chongming Island. The second place went to Annemiek Van Vleuten from Nederland Bloeit, while Monia Baccaille from Mcipollini-Giambenini, Italy, walked away with the third place.
Jutatip Maneephan from Thailand won the Best Asian Rider award while Zhao Na from Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling was ranked second.
Organized by the International Cycling Union, the General Administration of Sports of China and the Shanghai Municipal Government, it was followed by yesterday's UCI Women's Road World Cup 2011.
The 2.1 race has been held annually in Chongming County since 2006, while this is the second time the Women's Road World Cup race has been hosted by the island.
Unlike the former years, the start and finish line was the same in the Chongming New City.
Both races attracted top cyclists from 17 national and professional teams from 14 countries and regions, including China, Norway, Italy, Belgium, Germany and the United States.
The cyclists seemed to be unaffected by the heavy rain or burning sun. They were bold, energetic and passionate while racing.
For local fans, the biggest highlight this year was Huang Li, a Chongming native. Huang is the first person from the island to compete in this race.
The 23-year-old says she felt more pressure racing in Chongming, her hometown, because she wanted to do well and make her hometown proud.
Although the injury of her elbow in the last 3km during the first stage greatly affected her result, Huang smiled and said it was common.
"In heavy rain visibility can be poor, with water running into the eyes and spray coming up from other vehicles or cyclists. It's more dangerous," Huang says. "But it is part of the sport and it's the same for the other cyclists."
Huang won the all-round competition at the national championship last month. She also won the green jersey as the top sprinter at the Women's Tour of New Zealand 2011 in February and is regarded as one of China's most promising cyclists.
Huang's passion for cycling started in 2002, when she was still a middle school student.
"I am always up and about. As early as in elementary school, I've been playing basketball. I thought it was my explosive force that got me chosen as a cyclist," she says.
Five years later she turned professional.
She and her teammates ride 120-140 kilometers each day with male cyclists. It normally takes around four hours to finish. The team trains in Yunnan Province, Shenzhen in Guangdong Province and Qiandao Lake area in Zhejiang Province.
"Sometimes it seems to be endless," Huang says. "There are times when the idea of giving up pops into my mind. However, it quickly disappears because I know I won't give up before winning a medal."
It was not until last October that Huang turned her orientation from track cycling to road cycling and joined Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling.
Formerly known as Giant Pro Cycling, the team was created to promote Chongming Island to the world, help contribute to its strategy of developing as an environmentally friendly tourist attraction and develop more top cyclists who are capable of competing with the world's best.
"I felt there was little room in developing my career in track cycling," Huang says. "So I switched to road cycling. My next goal is to win at the National Games."
Carnival fun
Coinciding with the races, the island also hosted a five-day carnival at Xincheng Park, close to the start spot of the races.
The first-ever such carnival, "Green Chongming, Carnival Zero," showcased the local county government's ambition to turn the races into a major tourist attraction.
Around 120 colorful tents were set up that featured food, games, a creative bazaar and performance stages.
The food stands were the most popular as tourists could sample authentic Chongming cuisine such as sticky rice cakes along with some Taiwan delicacies.
Shen Yongping, director of Chongming Tourism Bureau, says sports and tourism are a perfect match.
"In Chongming, the high seasons for tourism used to be spring and winter. However, we're trying to make it a hot destination all year," Shen says. "Life should be simple and relaxing. You can find all these elements here in Chongming."
For leisure cyclists who just want to get out of the city and get some exercise, Chongming offers plenty of scenic stops including Dongping National Forest Park, Xisha Wetland and the Yangtze River embankment.
According to the county government, construction will start this year on a new bicycle-themed park.
Wet weather is perhaps the last thing professional cyclists want. Not only does it lead to a soggy and uncomfortable ride, it's also dangerous as the bicycle's tires have less grip on the road. Braking becomes more difficult and cyclists have less visibility.
The Tour of Chongming Island, a top-rated 2.1 race featuring three stages over a total distance of 271 kilometers, started last Wednesday in heavy rain.
Qiu Jijin, who was doing live commentary for the race, said the windy and rainy weather made the first stage "flat and ordinary."
"The whole process is of no big ups-and-downs, except for some athletes crashing, skidding off the road or having a flat tire," Qiu says. "The heavy rain made the riders more cautious."
The next two stages, held last Thursday and Friday, were in good weather.
Ina-Yoko Teutenberg from HTC Highroad Women successfully defended her hold on yellow jersey at Tour of Chongming Island. The second place went to Annemiek Van Vleuten from Nederland Bloeit, while Monia Baccaille from Mcipollini-Giambenini, Italy, walked away with the third place.
Jutatip Maneephan from Thailand won the Best Asian Rider award while Zhao Na from Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling was ranked second.
Organized by the International Cycling Union, the General Administration of Sports of China and the Shanghai Municipal Government, it was followed by yesterday's UCI Women's Road World Cup 2011.
The 2.1 race has been held annually in Chongming County since 2006, while this is the second time the Women's Road World Cup race has been hosted by the island.
Unlike the former years, the start and finish line was the same in the Chongming New City.
Both races attracted top cyclists from 17 national and professional teams from 14 countries and regions, including China, Norway, Italy, Belgium, Germany and the United States.
The cyclists seemed to be unaffected by the heavy rain or burning sun. They were bold, energetic and passionate while racing.
For local fans, the biggest highlight this year was Huang Li, a Chongming native. Huang is the first person from the island to compete in this race.
The 23-year-old says she felt more pressure racing in Chongming, her hometown, because she wanted to do well and make her hometown proud.
Although the injury of her elbow in the last 3km during the first stage greatly affected her result, Huang smiled and said it was common.
"In heavy rain visibility can be poor, with water running into the eyes and spray coming up from other vehicles or cyclists. It's more dangerous," Huang says. "But it is part of the sport and it's the same for the other cyclists."
Huang won the all-round competition at the national championship last month. She also won the green jersey as the top sprinter at the Women's Tour of New Zealand 2011 in February and is regarded as one of China's most promising cyclists.
Huang's passion for cycling started in 2002, when she was still a middle school student.
"I am always up and about. As early as in elementary school, I've been playing basketball. I thought it was my explosive force that got me chosen as a cyclist," she says.
Five years later she turned professional.
She and her teammates ride 120-140 kilometers each day with male cyclists. It normally takes around four hours to finish. The team trains in Yunnan Province, Shenzhen in Guangdong Province and Qiandao Lake area in Zhejiang Province.
"Sometimes it seems to be endless," Huang says. "There are times when the idea of giving up pops into my mind. However, it quickly disappears because I know I won't give up before winning a medal."
It was not until last October that Huang turned her orientation from track cycling to road cycling and joined Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling.
Formerly known as Giant Pro Cycling, the team was created to promote Chongming Island to the world, help contribute to its strategy of developing as an environmentally friendly tourist attraction and develop more top cyclists who are capable of competing with the world's best.
"I felt there was little room in developing my career in track cycling," Huang says. "So I switched to road cycling. My next goal is to win at the National Games."
Carnival fun
Coinciding with the races, the island also hosted a five-day carnival at Xincheng Park, close to the start spot of the races.
The first-ever such carnival, "Green Chongming, Carnival Zero," showcased the local county government's ambition to turn the races into a major tourist attraction.
Around 120 colorful tents were set up that featured food, games, a creative bazaar and performance stages.
The food stands were the most popular as tourists could sample authentic Chongming cuisine such as sticky rice cakes along with some Taiwan delicacies.
Shen Yongping, director of Chongming Tourism Bureau, says sports and tourism are a perfect match.
"In Chongming, the high seasons for tourism used to be spring and winter. However, we're trying to make it a hot destination all year," Shen says. "Life should be simple and relaxing. You can find all these elements here in Chongming."
For leisure cyclists who just want to get out of the city and get some exercise, Chongming offers plenty of scenic stops including Dongping National Forest Park, Xisha Wetland and the Yangtze River embankment.
According to the county government, construction will start this year on a new bicycle-themed park.
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