China News Service, Xinjiang Jinghe, July 22 (Pan Qi) After two years, the China Xinjiang Tour of Limu Lake Road Cycling Race (hereinafter referred to as the Lake Tour) fired again.
On the 22nd, the first stage of the 14th Lake Race started in Jinghe County, Bozhou, which is known as the "Hometown of Chinese Wolfberry".
A total of 170 people from 33 teams signed up for the competition, including 18 teams from outside Xinjiang and 15 teams from inside Xinjiang.
On the same day, the riders rode 90 kilometers from Jinghe County, Bozhou to Bole City, Bozhou.
In the first race, Peng Yuantang of the Merida-Nuofeike China team won the championship in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 49 seconds.
The riders compete fiercely.
Photo by Zhang Jianting
"There are 5 stages in this competition, with a total distance of 420 kilometers, passing through snow-capped mountains, Gobi, grasslands, wetlands, alpine lakes and other areas, which are extremely challenging and enjoyable to watch. There is a fierce competition between them," said Liu Quan, member of the party group and deputy director of the Xinjiang Department of Culture and Tourism.
A number of riders told reporters from Chinanews.com that the first race was flat and the temperature was suitable, but the crosswind on the road was large, which caused great resistance to riding.
Huo Bingliang, a rider from Beijing, said that we all finished the race safely today, and what we have to do now is to save our physical strength and show our skills in the high-altitude climbing stage.
It is understood that this event is hosted by Xinjiang Sports Bureau, Xinjiang Culture and Tourism Department, and Xinjiang Bozhou People's Government. The total prize money of the competition is 400,000 yuan.
The second stage is around Bole City, with a course of 60 kilometers.
The third stage starts from Bole City, rides 92 kilometers, and arrives in Hot Spring County, "the spring capital of China and the cool capital of the Western Regions".
The fourth stage starts from Wenquan County and rides 80 kilometers to reach Sailimu Lake, the "Pearl of the High Mountains".
The fifth stage is around Sailimu Lake, with a course of 92 kilometers, and the average altitude of the entire stage exceeds 2,000 meters.
The first stage of the 14th Tour of Limu Lake Road Cycling Race in Xinjiang, China kicked off in Jinghe County.
Photo by Liu Xinjia
Feng Baozhong, deputy director of the Cycling and Fencing Center of the General Administration of Sports of the People's Republic of China and vice chairman of the China Cycling Association, said that in 2016, the Lake Tour was rated as "China's top ten sports tourism events", and in 2017, it was named "China's sports tourism boutique events".
With the development of the Tour of the Lake getting better and better, the influence is getting bigger and bigger, which has played a huge role in promoting the hot development of Xinjiang tourism.
It is reported that since 2007, the Lake Tour has been held for thirteen sessions.
Located in Bozhou, Xinjiang, Sailimu Lake is located at the northern foot of the western section of the Tianshan Mountains, with a water area of about 458 square kilometers.
(Finish)