Gearing up for some great cycling races
Print Edition
CYCLING fans have a chance to catch some of the world’s best female athletes pedal at a furious pace next week as the Tour of Chongming Island and UCI Women’s Road World Cup races return to an area of Shanghai known for its seaside and countryside scenery.
The three-day Tour of Chongming, a top-rated 2.1 race, begins on May 13 while the World Cup race takes place on May 17. Both events are supported by the International Cycling Union, the General Administration of Sport of China and the Shanghai government.
“With a natural environment and good air quality, Chongming Island aims to become an outdoor sports paradise that people love visiting,” said Tang Hailong, the director of Chongming County. “We plan to open 413 kilometers of scenic cycling paths over the next three years. The first 350 kilometers of paths will open before the end of this year.”
One route will be a ring around the island’s coast while there will also be shorter circular routes in Chongming New City area, Xisha Wetland, Dongping National Forest Park, Chenjia Town and Hengsha Island. The cycling paths will be 2 meters wide and painted red. Rest stations will be set up every 4 to 8 kilometers. Separate jogging lanes are near the river banks. They provide an alternative to cycling and provide nice views of the Yangtze River.
UCI Women’s Road World Cup
As one of the 10 stops on The UCI Women’s Road World Cup 2015, the Chongming Island race is the only one in Asia. It attracts top riders from 18 teams from countries and regions including England, Switzerland, Norway, Italy, Mexico, France, Germany and China.
Among these teams, there are many elite athletes including the Dutch “Queen of Sprint” Kirsten Wild from Hitec Products and Italian rider Giorgia Bronzini from team Wiggle Honda. Four teams from China are Cycling Team of Hong Kong China, Chinese Taipei Cycling Team, China National Team and China Chongming-Liv-Champion System Pro Cycling. Four women from the China National team will compete in this race.
The 125km race starts at Oriental Sports Center and runs through Shanghai Yangtze River Tunnel-Bridge, Dongtan Wetland and along the coast. The two sprint points are at 29.2km and 98.4km.
Chongming first held national cycling races from 2003-2005. In 2006, the island hosted the international men’s tour of Chongming Island. The county became the host of the women’s Tour of Chongming Island in 2007. In 2009, it was granted the right to host the women’s World Cup race.
Route: Yaoti Rd (Oriental Sports Center) – Yaolong Rd – Yongyao Rd – Yaolong Rd – Dongyu Rd – Yaoti Rd – Jiyang Rd – Middle Ring Rd – Huaxia Elevated Rd – Shanghai Ring Expressway (G1501) – Shanghai Yangtze River Tunnel – Shanghai Yangtze River Bridge – Chenhai Rd – Dongtan Ave – Zhongbin Rd (Reentry) – Jinchen Rd – Chenpang Rd – Xiangbao Rd – Datong Rd – Xinhe Rd – Tuancheng Rd – Qiaosong Rd – Chongming Ave
Time: May 17, 10am-1:58pm
Length: 125km
Tour of Chongming Island
The 13th annual three-day Tour of Chongming Island is the highest-level professional cycling event in Asia. The 304km tour has three stages. The start and finish point are at Xincheng Park on Chongming Avenue.
The first stage covers 107km and passes through Dongping National Forest Park and Chenjia Town. The two sprint points are at 48km and 90.7km.
The second stage, or the Chongxi stage, covers 113.7km and is the tour’s classic stage as the athletes take a route along the coastline.
The route also passes Mingzhu Lake, Xisha Wetland, Luhua Fruit Garden, World Sandbank Culture Museum and Xilai Farm. As an alluvial island formed by silt carried along the Yangtze River, Chongming Island has beautiful river banks.
The final stage is referred to as the Island Circuit and stretches 83.2km. There are two sprint points at 20.8km and 52km for riders to earn extra points.
Last year, Kirsten Wild of the Netherlands won the tour’s yellow jersey as the overall winner. Racing for Giant-Shimano, Wild, also known as the “sprint queen,” also picked up the tour’s blue jersey for most points.
The China Chongming-Giant-Champion System Pro Cycling Team won the Best Asian Team Award.
Four teams will represent China this year on Chongming Island.
Route:
Stage 1: Chongbei stage
Chongming Ave (Xincheng Park) – Gulangyu Rd – Caogang Rd – Beichen Rd – Beiyan Rd – Gangdong Rd – Gulangyu Rd – Chongming Ave
Time: May 13, 10am-12:36pm
Length: 107km
Stage 2: Chongxi stage
Chongming Ave (Xincheng Park) – Gulangyu Rd, Yulinqiao Rd – Limin Rd – Honghai Rd – Chenhai Rd – Baigang Rd – Sanhua Rd – Xinjian Rd – Beiyan Rd – Xingcun Rd – Beiyan Rd – Honghai Rd – Hezuo Rd – Beiyan Rd – Sanshuang Rd – Yulinqiao Rd – Gulangyu Rd – Chongming Ave
Time: May 14, 10am-12:46pm
Length: 113.7km
Stage 3: Island Circuit
Chongming Ave (Xincheng Park) – Jiangfan Rd – Qiaosong Rd – Gulangyu Rd – Yulinqiao Rd – Limin Rd, Xiyin Rd – Beimen Rd – Jiangshan Rd – Chongming Ave
Time: May 15, 10am-12:01pm
Length: 10.4*8 laps = 83.2km
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