Taiwan KOM Challenge 2014 Press Release

Now is the time of the year, to register for the amazing KOM Challenge 2014 which will be held in November.I will not be attending the event this year,but I highly recommend to do it.

Please read the review from last year here.

Climbing Experience to the Extreme

Official Press Release for the TAIWAN KOM CHALLENGE 2014

Brought to you by the Taiwan Travel Bureau & the Taiwan Cyclist Federation

Event Date & Time: November 15th 2014

Total Prize Money: $2,410,000 (New Taiwan dollars, equivalent to over $80,000 US)

Statement:

One Million New Taiwan Dollars for Overall Men’s Winner, Increased Prizes for the Women’s Race, and New Anti-Doping Policy Introduced 

The Taiwan Travel Bureau in association with the Taiwan Cyclist Federation is proud to announce the details of the eagerly anticipated 2014 Taiwan KOM Challenge.

They are also thrilled to announce the participation of the 2009 women’s Tour de France winner and four-time British champion Emma Pooley in the 2014 event.

This year’s race sees a massive increase in the prize money on offer and a zero tolerance drug policy introduced, the first of its kind in Asia.

Now in its third year, the Taiwan KOM Challenge has established itself as Asia’s premier hill climb event and as the toughest of its kind in the world. The 105km route travels from the eastern coastal town of Hualien, starting at sea level, and rises along its route to the roof of Taiwan, up on HeHuan Mountain at 3,375 meters.

The course takes the participants up at an average 7% through the breathtaking Taroko Gorge to the 97km point at Dayuling, and then rises up over its remaining kilometers to a maximum incline of 27%, averaging at 17% for the final 8 kilometers. 

The mountain dwarfs anything that North America and Europe have to offer, making the Taiwan KOM Challenge truly a once in a lifetime experience.

Spectacular views of the surrounding countryside, oxygen-depleted air and an overwhelming sense of accomplishment wait to greet those who finish the ride within the 6 and a half hour time limit. Last year’s winner Rhaim Emami of Iran completed the race in an astonishing 3 hours and 26 seconds from the official timed start, which begins after the 18km of neutralised riding.

In the past professional riders of the caliber of Jeremy Roy of Francaise des Jeux, Anthony Charteau of Europcar and Tiffany Cromwell of Specialized-lululemon have taken part in the event, a tradition which continues this year with the participation of Giro d’Italia Femminile KOM winner Emma Pooley. The organisers are also in talks with other top professionals, the details of which will be released later. 

Prize money this year will total to 2,410,000 New Taiwan dollars ($80,000US), with NT$1,000,000 (US$33,376) going to the overall winner of the men’s event. Cash prizes will go down to the 6th rider over the line, with NT$1,750,000 in total available for the men.

Recognizing the growing interest on the women’s side of the sport and eager to encourage more women to ride the Taiwan KOM Challenge, the TTB and the TCF are offering NT$200,000 ($6,675US) for the first female rider over the line. Similar to the men, cash prizes are available to the top 6 riders. In total there will be NT$440,000 ($15,000US) on offer for the women’s race. 

After much discussion, the organisers of the Taiwan KOM Challenge 2014 have decided to implement drug testing for the top 6 riders and reserve the right to randomly test any other participant.

Furthermore, any rider with a previous record of doping will not be allowed to compete in the race. This decision was not taken lightly and is one that the Taiwan Cyclist Federation feels reflects the current climate in world cycling and is one that will encourage fairness. 

The testing will be carried out by the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee and the tests will be analysed at a laboratory in Japan. 

Registration for the event officially opens on the 15th of September, and can be accessed at http://www.taiwankom.org/.

Press and online media enquiries can be sent to leerodgers202@gmail.com.

Links to videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65_ncpaYnvg (KOM video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c5M_Nw5A0w (Charteau interview)

Have fun and get SaddleDrunk

Yak Attack Nepal 2014 report from Cory Wallace

Hi all, I have managed to get in touch briefly with Cory Wallace from Nepal, reporting from Day 1 at the Yak Attack North Face 2014.A multi stage MTB event held in the beauty of the Himalayas.

Cory and I in Taiwan for the KOM 2013 last November.

This is what Cory had to say:

Day 1 we road across some terraces overlooking the Kathmandu valley. Later on we descended into a valley of chaos with Lose dogs, farm animals, people and cars everywhere. It was half bike race, half dodging the chaos. It is beautiful here racing below 7000 Meter mountains

A view of the track.

Scenery form the top.

Here at SaddleDrunk wish Cory a good luck during this amazing challenge.

I will keep you posted with more photos.

La Bellissima Tiffany Cromwell & "Omloop Het Nieuwsblad"

I had the chance to catch up with Tiffany, after a long time and I have kindly asked her to tell me more about tomorrow race the "Omloop Het Nieuwsbald' 2014.

Tiffany wearing the flabbergasting kit.

Tiffany will be defending her title from last year win in one of the most acclaimed races at the beginning of the season.This season she rides for the Team Specialized-Lululemon.

Especially the first in Europe for the riders after the different tour around the sandy,windy and hot Middle East races.

Following are Tiffany explicit words:

Het Nieuwsblad is one of my favourite races not only because I won it last year but it is just a cool and exciting race. It is the opening race of the classics and a great warm up to Flanders, there are plenty of cobble sectors and tough climbs to punish the legs and really sort out the tough from the weak.

I expect the women's race to be a hard fought battle. The course has slightly changed this year, we have lost one climb but added more cobbles which I think will make it more challenging. It certainly will be a race of attrition being the first European race of the season combined with the cold weather and difficulty of the course.

I expect it to be an aggressive race and the racing to first heat up over the Cote de Trier (not sure of spelling) and the Pateberg and continue all the way to the finish where we will see a small group or a late attack going for the victory.

Personally I have high exceptions for the race being defending champion, I want to be strong and have a good race as I am targeting a lot of the early season classics so it would be nice to start strongly but not peak in the first of them as I did last year. My Specialized-Lululemon team have a strong squad here and we're looking towards the win.

If amateurs have the chance to do a similar race or ride the roads of the Omloop I would highly recommend it, then you get a true sense of the feeling it is to ride these roads and just how tough the cobbles are on your body and how difficult they can be to ride. It's a fantastic challenge.

SaddleDrunk wish Tiffany and her Team good luck for tomorrow and a big Thank you in sparing some relaxing time before the while doing her nails, which a peculiar charateristic of her.

Ciao e Grazie,let's get SaddleDrunk.

SD.

CYCLIST LEGS: SHAVE OR NOT TO SHAVE?

Tiffany signing my leg.

Before departing for my recent Journey the KOM TAiwan Challenge 2013,I have decided to shave only one leg.

The reason behind was that I wanted to try the new born baby feel in my legs.

At first when I was shaving with the razor,I thought it was going to be ok,but afterward I was not happy at all for it.

My legs during the event obviously were noticed, people wanted to take photos of them because they seemed really strange.

My legs.

Therefore I will give a full explanation of the reason why I did this on a later date.But now please fill in the survey that I have created regarding the cyclist legs.

https://survey.zohopublic.com/zs/E6BVBz

Thank You

FLABBERGASTED by TAIWAN

Definition of Flabbergasted is "Informal overcome with astonishment". This is what my short Trip to Taiwan (thanks to the Taiwan Cycling Federation) has left in me.

Amused by the immense mountains, by the warmth of the people, the deep blue waters of the coast line, the delicious cuisine, made me think all the way back on a 15 hours journey back to London that I am looking forward to go back to Taiwan. It is strange for me to say this due to the fact I have visited 55 countries around the world and on the way to reach 100 (sometimes in my life time),but this remote Island in the South China Sea has completely deserved the name given by the Portuguese colonies in the past to call it "Formosa", which it means beautiful island.

Night Market.

Yin Chih Wang,Adam Semple,Andy Von Bergen(Cycling Tips Australia),Craig Symons enjoying a game at the night market.

Glasses could be wear with no lenses,it is the new trend in Asia.

In Taiwan you can cycle anywhere,you can use your own bike,or take one of the city bike to move around.They are great and cheap. To all you people, I have discovered that cycling is the best way to see the world starting from the busy cities to the open empty fields.Forget the sticky public transport,the queues and the rucking( rugby terminology,Packed crowd of people) to get on them.

We got lost while training.

From scooters at the front,cycling in the middle,and airplanes at the back.

MTB star Cory Wallace and TK from Japan,next to the red spotted shirts.

Cyclist can ride all this climbs in Europe, Stelvio,Mortirolo,Zoncolan and many others that have made history in cycling, and you felt proud to achieve the top.You felt like the Pro when you reach the summit,but this KOM Taiwan Challenge up the Taroko Gorge is for real the tougher.