On November 16th, 2024, the 2024 Tour of Mentougou International Road Cycling Race and 2024 Mentougou Outdoor Mountain Cycling Tour Festival kicked off in grand style in Mentougou District, Beijing. Nearly 600 cyclists from 21 elite teams representing countries and regions such as France, Russia, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Hong Kong(China), and Taiwan(China), as well as amateur cyclists and families from across China, gathered to celebrate the start of this cycling extravaganza in early winter.
Around 10 AM, the TANKO Moofland Park in Mentougou was bustling with people and flags waving. As the starting whistle blew, cyclists from home and abroad dashed off like arrows, igniting their passion for the race. Amidst the green mountains and clear waters of Mentougou District, they embraced the challenges and joys of cycling.
The event is hosted by the Chinese Cycling Association, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports, and Mentougou District People's Government of Beijing Municipality, and organized by Beijing Sports Competition Administration and International Exchange Center, Mentougou District Sports Bureau of Beijing Municipality, and Mentougou District Sports Federation.The competition features three categories: the Men's Road Professional Group City Circuit Race (81.6km), the Men's Road Open Group City Circuit Race (40.8km), and the Men's Road Professional Group Peloton Race (115.2km). The races will be held over two days in Tanzhesi Town and Zhaitang Town.
This year's race course seamlessly integrates the distinctive landscapes of Mentougou, including mountains, forests, ancient towns, bridges, and parks. It organically combines mountainous ecological settings with cycling sports, allowing domestic and international riders to fully immerse themselves in the majestic mountains, rich culture, and beautiful ecology of Mentougou. This event showcases the excellence of Mentougou's sports tourism routes.
The first day of the competition took place in TANKO, Tanzhesi Town, featuring the Men's Road Professional Group City Circuit Race and the Men's Road Open Group City Circuit Race. Professional cyclists raced around TANKO for 16 laps, traversing Jingtan West Road, Tanzhe Third Road, and Jinping South Street. The course offered a mix of scenic parkland and urban streets, providing a challenging and varied route that tested the riders' speed and endurance.
After a fiercely competitive race, CHIA BERMUDEZ LUIS Carlos from the Huan Sheng-SCOM-Tai Shan Sports Continental Team claimed victory in the Men's Road Professional Group City Circuit Race with a time of 1 hour 49 minutes and 57 seconds. BEREZNYAK Aleksandr from Chengdu Continental Team secured second place, while VITALIINOVAKOVAKYI from Gusto-SuperTeam finished third. In the Men's Road Open Group City Circuit Race, Liu Aolin from Hebei took first place with an impressive display of speed, followed by Zhang Weiyi from Shandong and Li Peilin from Beijing in second and third place respectively.
A race can make a city unforgettable. Global events offer invaluable opportunities to showcase a city's economic development, local customs, and future potential. Mentougou, the host city of this event, is known as "Beijing's Cycling Paradise" and boasts numerous scenic cycling routes. Notably, the Tanwang Road and Miaofengshan Road cycling routes have been included in the "China Cycling Map" for 2024.
In recent years, Mentougou has been dedicated to building its brand as an international mountain tourism destination, a global mountain sports check-in-point, and a preferred micro-vacation destination for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Through the power of sports, Mentougou aims to stimulate tourism and foster the integrated development of various industries, including commerce, culture, agriculture, health, and sports, accelerating the construction of the Western Beijing Sports and Cultural Tourism Belt.
By leveraging the event as a medium and making it a window to the world, this international benchmark race has attracted the attention of global cycling enthusiasts. Under the spotlight of a world-class event, Mentougou District continues to release its "urban attraction," fostering the development of its brand as an international mountain sports destination and enhancing its global reputation.