Can Chinese drivers create miracles and approach the Hangzhou Asian Games: the lightning fast road bike

Editor's note: The Hangzhou Asian Games opened on September 23rd and will close on October 8th. The Chinese sports delegation recently announced its overall goal for participating in the Hangzhou Asian Games - to achieve both sports results and spiritual civilization.

Jiefang Daily's Shangguan News City Affairs Channel and the School of Journalism and Communication at Shanghai Sport University jointly launched a column titled "Approaching the Hangzhou Asian Games" to experience the five major characteristics of the Hangzhou Asian Games: "Green, Intelligent, Humanistic, Simplicity, and Benefiting the People", witness the charm of Asian sports athletes, and experience the "high school entrance examination rhythm" of Chinese sports soldiers simulating their preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

China is a major cycling country, but the opportunities for the public to engage in road cycling projects in their daily lives are relatively limited. From October 3rd to 5th, the Hangzhou Asian Games road cycling competition will be held at the Chun'an Jieshou Sports Center road cycling track, generating a total of 4 gold medals.

Observation features: substitute competition for practice, free court

Observation features: substitute competition for practice, free court

After more than a century of development and changes, the road cycling project has formed a relatively complete competition system around the world, and has demonstrated the basic characteristics of "replacing practice with race and free route".

Xinhua News Agency

Xinhua News Agency

Road cyclists usually join high-level cycling clubs in countries and regions around the world. With the guarantee and sponsorship of the club, professional riders can obtain registration qualifications for various levels of UCI certified competitions and participate in the team format.

The method of "substituting competition for practice" not only helps players earn points, but also accumulates competition experience. For example, Lu Zenko, the champion of the men's group event at the Jakarta Asian Games, has been participating in the World Tour with the local Kazakhstani team Astana for many years and has won multiple stage championships.

On September 23, 2017, citizens of Chun'an County, Zhejiang Province rode public bicycles through the lakeside cycling greenway of Qiandao Lake Qingxi New City. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xu Yu

Road cycling events usually take place outdoors on flat roads, with relatively relaxed requirements for the venue. Cities hosting the Asian Games often tailor their competition routes to local conditions, fully showcasing local characteristics and scenery.

The road cycling track of the Hangzhou Asian Games is located by the Qiandao Lake in Chun'an County. The track passes through lake areas, mountainous areas, towns, and villages, with beautiful scenery along the mountains and waters, fully reflecting the concept of "green, intelligent, frugal, and civilized" in the Hangzhou Asian Games.

The big group race and time trial are two sub events of the road cycling race at the Asian Games, and the differences are first reflected in the differences in rules. A group race can be understood as a marathon in the field of road cycling, where over a hundred participants set off together to compete for the championship towards the same finish line.

Contestants chasing Shao Jianping on the Chongming Island Highway, photographed

The big group race and time trial are two sub events of the road cycling race at the Asian Games, and the differences are first reflected in the differences in rules. A group race can be understood as a marathon in the field of road cycling, where over a hundred participants set off together to compete for the championship towards the same finish line.

Contestants chasing Shao Jianping on the Chongming Island Highway, photographed

The individual time trial adopts an interval starting system, with contestants starting sequentially from the designated starting platform. After all athletes finish the competition, their results will be ranked in order, and the player with the shortest time will win. At the Hangzhou Asian Games, each Olympic Committee can send a maximum of 4 male and 2 female athletes to participate in the group stage, with 1 male and 1 female athlete participating in the individual time trial.

Secondly, there are differences in the race track. The track of a large group race is generally longer, and in most cases, male athletes ride longer distances. Taking the Hangzhou Asian Games as an example, the total length of the women's track is 142 kilometers, while the total length of the men's track is 208 kilometers.

In addition to the flat road, there is also a climbing section in the group stage, which tests the endurance, willpower, and explosive power of the athletes. The individual time trial track usually adopts a closed circular route, with a single lap length of about 20 kilometers. Athletes cycling around the track compete more for speed.

The third difference is the race car. Large group racing cars often use accessories such as sheep horn brake lever, integrated manual brake lever, and carbon knife wheel group. The large group of racers lean forward while cycling, placing their center of gravity on their hips to ensure stability and comfort while riding. Timing cars usually use blade shaped frames, enclosed wheel sets, and other accessories to reduce wind resistance. The driver rides in a rather aggressive prone posture, maintaining a high-speed state.

On September 27, 2014, Chinese athlete Li Wenjuan set off. On that day, Chinese athlete Li Wenjuan won a silver medal in the women's individual time trial for road cycling at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games with a time of 38:46.26 seconds.

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xie Haining

Chinese road cyclists have repeatedly performed excellently at the Asian Games, with gold medals earned in all three Asian Games from 1998 to 2006. In the 2006 Doha Asian Games, Chinese athletes Song Baoqing and Li Meifang also won two gold medals in the time trial event.

On September 27, 2014, Chinese athlete Li Wenjuan set off. On that day, Chinese athlete Li Wenjuan won a silver medal in the women's individual time trial for road cycling at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games with a time of 38:46.26 seconds.

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xie Haining

In recent years, the overall level of Asian road cycling projects has improved. The men's intercontinental racing teams from countries and regions such as Kazakhstan and Bahrain often have impressive performances on the world tour; Japan and South Korea have produced a group of excellent female drivers. The champion of the women's group stage at the Jakarta Asian Games is South Korean athlete Ro Ahren.

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Ga

To enhance the core competitiveness of road cyclists, China is vigorously promoting the construction of high-level intercontinental racing teams. Tianjin men's timed racer Xue Ming is a member of the Huaxing Intercontinental Racing Team. At the age of 23, this young general follows the team around the world and participates in various International Cycling Union certified races. He has now become one of the top riders in China. Xue Ming successfully won the men's adult individual time trial event at the National Road Cycling Championships held on June 20th this year.

On November 22, 2010, the contestants competed. On that day, in the men's individual road cycling race at the 16th Asian Games, Hong Kong athlete Huang Jinbao won the championship with a time of 4 hours, 14 minutes, and 54.18 seconds.