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.

Sun Moon Lake Bike Ride with Pro

Last Sunday we had an early start,due to the fact we had to take part at the Bike Ride with Pro organised by TCF around Sun Moon Lake. The ride was only of 30km around the lake with sharp hills and twists...all along the lake's coastal road.

Tourist boats awaiting passengers

Sunrise by the lake with Simon Clarke & Tiffany Cromwell.

During this ride we had a chance to admire and blend in with different sort of riders.From the lookalike professional and the rider with a cassette stereo in the handlebar.

For us it was a sort of push hard and pull harder,it means we wanted to get going fast to finish it.The group was formed by myself and Bota Grego,and the 3 stars of the event Taiwanese Pro RIder Yin Chih Wang,(watch out for him,he will be soon in Europe),Simon Clarke and Tiffany Cromwell.

You can click here to have a look at the profile

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/403306695

My self riding with Simon & Tiffany.

me by the lake.

For me was a good way to say good by to Taiwan,before travelling back to Taipei for my departure on Monday.

Another great view.

We had some lunch on the way back to Taipei and a little toilet break.

Then when we got to Taipei we went out for a night walk into town for a bit of shopping and admiring the city.After a quick shower and dinner at the hotel where we had an amazing food we headed to the night market.

Dog's trolley

Sashimi

Having a massage

Saturday Race Day to the beast Climb...

We all been talking about it behind the stage,first comers and non, about this astonishing event that will take us from the lovely beach of Haulien to the top of Wu Ling via the Taroko Gorge Road. Wu Ling is also known in the past as ski resort where during the climb you can see in the distance remains of the lifts, and also previous to that as military training camp.

The Taroko Gorge road it is considered to be one of the most dangerous road in the world, in fact the safest time to cycle through there it is during the KOM Taiwan Challenge.

2012 Champion John Ebsen having breakfast on the bike,3 jam sandwiches.

Elite and Invited riders on the way from Hotel to the Start,0530am.

Sunrise by the Start Line.

Traditional Aboriginal Dance.

The start was given by the official and as the riders clipped on,the competition atmosphere was growing like a new born baby.The peloton rode together controlled by the race commissaire for the first 18km with average speed of nearly 40km/h.At the turning point from the main road to the infamous continuos 54.7 miles climb the elite riders decide to take the lead with a fast pace,and setting the pace for the rest of us to choose if we wanted to stay in the game.

Views while cycling.

Another one.

The race evolved in different ways at the front,with the predominant power from Iranian Team RTS-Santic which they achieved the first two positions in the podium,with remaining step of the podium taking by the raising Taiwanese Cilmber Yin Chih Wang,considered to be the strongest Asian Climber.

Few more challenges along the route.

Nearly to the top,3200 m.s.l.

The last 500 metres,variety of solutions were taken in consideration to the reach the finish line.

A well deserved support to a finisher by a friend to the amazing achievement.

Amazing views on the other side of the Mountain

It is Movember for Tiffany Cromwell enjoying dinner with a bunch of friends after the race.

The Elite riders and the Invited riders enjoyed the amazing challenge, all agreed to be one of the most toughest challenges in the world.Personally I will come back.

No words to comment about this event,but emotions,feelings and personal achievements can only be remember by those participants.

Day 2 KOM Taiwan Challenge

Today it has been a day which all of us manage to warm up the legs for tomorrow morning with an early start at 0630 from the grid. The KOM event staff arranged a press conference at the start line for the race,which it is about 5km from the hotel by the beach.

We all fully kitted up and rode to the beach in a big peloton.We all took pictures with each others,wearing lycra, and chatting away to make the time pass under the sun rays with an amazing temperature of nearly 30 degrees Celsius.

Again with Tiffany Cromwell

David Mc Cann 3 Times Irish Olympian.

 Chatting in Italian with Simon Clarke, and discovering little secrets.

Elite RIders.

After the presentation we all decided to go for a ride,in groups we took different directions to discover this amazing country side.We rode through down town,hills,and open fields,motorways and much more astonishing scenery.

Cycling Tips Australia also with us.

In the middle of nowhere.

Ordering a Bubble Plum Ice Tea with Pearls with Adam Semple and Craig Symons.

Finally we were back at the hotel, after chasing and racing each others on the road like kids with new toys to be able to attend the riders meeting inclusive of a local dance from aborigine women from Taiwan.

To finish off the afternoon, it was nice to catch and talk with a great MTB rider and friend Cory Wallace,two times Mongolia Bike Challenge Champion,and various podium finishers at the most hardest MTB races in the world.Cory has been invited by the Taiwan Cycling Federation to take part at the event and to challenge the Elite riders.I can see Cory placing himself very well in tomorrow race.

Cory Wallace.

Good Night

Day 1 KOM Taiwan Challenge 2013

Today it has been a long day on the road. Our day started with a full on breakfast,which it was needed to recover from jet-lag.

We then all boarded Private Vans to head to Taipei main square for the official presentation with the media,and all the relevant authorities,such as Taiwan Cycling Federation,Taiwan Tourism Board all involved in organising this event with a total of 450 riders from 28 different countries in the world.

There was also the presentation of some Elite riders, which includes Simon Clarke winner of KOM at La Vuelta 2013 of Team Orica-Greenedge,Tiffany Cromwell of Australia,Team Orica-Ais.Not to forget my room mate for last night,which he kept it quite,the 3 times Irish Olympian David Mc Cann, and the two times champion of the Mongolia Bike Challenge Cory Wallace all the way from Canada,after he finished second last week at the hardest Mountain Bike Event in the world called the Crocodile Trophy.

The Taiwan Cycling Federation treated us with a lovely Italian Restaurant for a delicious meal,before the 4 hours journey to Hualien,on the East Coast through a magnificent country side of mountains and east coast line.

We finally reached our hotel,after a day of spending great time talking ancd chatting with the professional and learning great tips.

Simon Clarke of Team Orica-Greenedge

Tiffany Cromwell of Team Orica-Ais