- Jun 16, 2009
- 3,171
- 0
- 0
Website: http://english.thetourofchina.com/
The [Marco Polo Cycling Team] is getting ready for the Tour of China that is starting in the former capital of China, Xian. It was a rainy day and the riders had to train on the wet streets to loosen the legs for the 3.4 K prologue tomorrow.
The weather cleared up just in time for the opening ceremony which took place at the most incredible background of an entrance gate of the famous historic city wall of Xian. A spectacular show with music, lights, dancers and artists moved it's way through the buildings of the gate to end with a spectacular finish with fire works at the wall itself. One rider of each team took part, riding with their bicycles along, in the show. On behalf of the Marco Polo Cycling Team it was former Chinese Champion Liu Yilin who took part.
The teams enjoyed the beautiful opening ceremony at the top of the city wall which was built into a big terrace with buffet dinner. An amazing way to start this Tour of China.
Teams
European teams
· Nutrixxion Sparkasse(Germany)
· Joker Bianchi (Norway)
· GLUD&MARSTRAND-LRO(Denmark)
· FUJI Europe Team(Germany)
· CKT Tmit - Champion System Team(Armenia)
· Ukraine National Team
American teams
· US National Team
· Mexico National Team
Oceania teams
· Fly V Australia Team(Australia)
Asian teams
· Mongolia National Team
· TPT Cycling Team(Iran)
· Geumsan Gingseng Continental Cycling Team(Korea)
· Polygon Sweet Nice(Indonesia)
· Giant Cycling Team (Taiwan，China)
· Hong Kong China Team (Hong Kong，China)
· Marco Polo Cycling Team(China)
· Qinghai Tianyoude Cycling Team(China Qinghai Team)
· MAX Success (China Xi’an Team)
· China National Team
Stages presented by [peloton]:
The UCI 2010 Tour of China kicks off Sept 10th in the historic city of Xi’an. in central-east China. This years race covers 1,800 kms with a rather whopping total prize kitty of $200,000 US. 18 professional cycling teams as well as National teams have been invited to participate, and all will be very motivated to race hard to get a cut of the prizes on offer.
The 2010 Tour of China is yet another rather flat race on this year’s Asia Tour. Many on the Asia Tour are, the organisers it seems more desirous of the ‘excitement’ of sprint finishes in towns as opposed to gruelling mountain-top finishes that blow the peloton apart. This policy might guarantee more sponsorship cash and a good crowd, not to mention pleasing the non-climbers in the pack, but it can be quite monotonous if you’re actually in the race and don’t mind the climbs...
I’m fortunate enough to be taking part in the race this year with the Fuji-Europe team, managed by Chris Lintaman, and will be bringing you daily updates (if I can make the daily cut, that is) on my trials and tribulations! Stay tuned for more.
(Sep 10): Prologue: a 4 kilometre prologue that features a 1 km rise either side of two downwards sloping roads.
Stage 1 (Sep 11): Xian Criterium. 125km
This is a 125km criterium that takes in 11 laps of 11.4km circuit. The course has what appears to be a little incline that rises some 50 metres over about 4km, so whilst not too demanding, it should sap the legs of any early breakaways.
Stage 2 (Sep 12): Xian - Mount Hua 118km
A day for the sprinters it looks like, at least on paper. However of there are crosswinds it could be a different story altogether, and riders will have to watch for changes in the wind. No doubt there will be the usual barrage of attacks from kilometre zero.
Stage 3 (Sep 13): Sanmexia - Luoyang 146km
The 4th stage starts off on an incline but with a rise of just 400metres over 24km it shouldn’t be too tough a climb. Then the race heads downhill to the finish, which should mean a fast and furious stage. The sprinters will be sure to be vigilant this day, and any breakaway will have to be very good to stay away. The last kilometre however does rise up but it’s at no more than a metre over the kilometre, so not tough enough to deter even the heaviest sprinter.
Stage 4 (Sep 14): Luoyang to Zhengzhou 171.3km
Almost identical to stage 4, except for a slight decline as opposed t the previous stage’s incline t the finish. Having said that, the climb is longer and with the inclusion of a KOM point after 50km, we could see a select group of powerful all-rounders and climbers get away here. Sill, it’s quite a distance from the finish.
Sep 15: Transportation
Stage 5 (Sep 16): Mount Tai Stage 109km ^^
This stage should decide the tour. The stage isn’t long but the final climb up Mount Tai is 10km long and rises about 400 metres. Not super steep, this could suit again a powerful all-rounder as opposed to a climbing specialist, but the profiles of many of the Asia Tour races are notoriously unreliable - it could be much steeper in reality.
Sep.17: Transportation
Stage 6 (Sep 18): Shijuazhuang Criterium 119.8km
A jagged little course by the looks of it, its doubtful that this course could upset the GC but stranger things have happned. With another relatively flat stage the next day, anyone close to the leader’s jersey might just throw in a n attack or two in the final 10 km or so.
Stage 7 (Sep 19): Tianjin Criterium 85km
Another crit for the criterium lovers! This is a tour of relatively short stages and this is the shortest, should be fast and furious with little change in the GC.
List of honor: (after absence of 5 years)
2005 1. MIZOUROV Andrey - 2. ZHENG Xiaohai
2004 1. FUKUSHIMA Koji - 2. FUKUSHIMA Shinichi
2003 1. ABE Yoshiyuki - 2. VAN DE WALLE Jurgen
2002 1. IIJIMA Makoto - 2. IGLINSKIY Maxim
Today Sep 10, Stage 1 Xian Criterium. 126km
Start Time: 10:00
Estimated Finish Time: 12:50
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram