Taiwan KOM Challenge

Last updated
Taiwan KOM Challenge
2020Tai Wan Zi Xing Che Deng Shan Wang Tiao Zhan .jpg
John Ebsen in the 2020 edition, which he won
Race details
DateOctober/November
Region Taiwan (Qixingtan Beach -> Wuling)
Local name(s)臺灣自行車登山王挑戰 (in Chinese)
DisciplineRoad
Type One-day race
OrganiserTaiwan Cycling Federation
Web site www.taiwankom.org/en/
History
First edition2012 (2012)
Editions12 (as of 2023)
First winnerFlag of Denmark.svg  John Ebsen  (DEN)
Most winsFlag of Denmark.svg  John Ebsen  (DEN)(5 wins)
Most recentFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Ben Dyball  (AUS)
History (women)
First winnerFlag of Japan.svg  Eri Yonamine  (JPN)
Most wins
Most recentFlag of Japan.svg  Shoko Kashiki  (JPN)

The Taiwan KOM Challenge is a one-day road cycling race held annually in Taiwan. Created in 2012, the event is recognized as one of the most difficult cycling races in the world due having nearly 3500m of climbing over a 105 kilometer course. [1] Vincenzo Nibali, the 2017 winner, holds the record for the fastest time, with a time of 3:19:54. [2]

Contents

Route

The route starts in the coastal eastern city of Hualien at around sea level, heads north on Highway 9, and turns left into Highway 8, where it enters Tarako National Park, which is a deep gorge. The route gradually gains elevation as it goes westwards, ultimately ending above the clouds in Wuling, near Mt Heuhansan, which at 3275m (10,744 ft) is the highest paved road in Taiwan. [3] Because of the significant increase in elevation, altitude sickness is a concern as well as the sudden change in temperature and weather. [3]

Winners

Men

YearWinnerSecondThird
2012 [4] Flag of Denmark.svg John Ebsen Flag of France.svg Peter Pouly Flag of Ireland.svg David McCann
2013 [5] Flag of Iran.svg Rahim Ememi Flag of Iran.svg Amir Zargari Flag of the Republic of China.svg Wang Yin-chih
2014 [6] Flag of Denmark.svg John Ebsen Flag of Hong Kong.svg Ronald Yeung Flag of Laos.svg Ariya Phounsavath
2015 [7] Flag of France.svg Damien Monier Flag of Denmark.svg John Ebsen Flag of Ireland.svg Mark Dowling
2016 [8] Flag of Spain.svg Óscar Pujol Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jai Hindley Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ben Dyball
2017 [9] Flag of Italy.svg Vincenzo Nibali Flag of Spain.svg Óscar Pujol Flag of Denmark.svg John Ebsen
2018 Flag of Denmark.svg John Ebsen Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ben Dyball Flag of France.svg Damien Monier
2019 [10] Flag of Denmark.svg Anthon Charmig Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ben Dyball Flag of Italy.svg Pierpaolo Ficara
2020 [11] Flag of Denmark.svg John Ebsen Flag of Bulgaria.svg Christian Trenchev Flag of the Republic of China.svg Huang Guan-Lin
2021 [12] Flag of the Republic of China.svg Feng Chun-kai Flag of the Republic of China.svg Lu Shao-hsuan Flag of the Republic of China.svg Huang Kuan-lin
2022 [13] Flag of Denmark.svg John Ebsen Flag of the Republic of China.svg Huang Kuan-lin Flag of the Republic of China.svg Lu Shao-hsuan
2023 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ben Dyball Flag of Colombia.svg Jesús David Peña Flag of Japan.svg Sohei Kaneko
2024Race cancelled due to risk of landslides.

Women

YearWinnerSecondThird
2013 Flag of Japan.svg Eri Yonamine Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tiffany Cromwell Flag of the Republic of China.svg Lian Yin Yi Ch
2014 [6] Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Marg Fedyna Flag of the Republic of China.svg Qin Xin Flag of the Republic of China.svg Guo Nian Wen
2015 [7] Flag of Japan.svg Eri Yonamine Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Marg Fedyna Flag of the Republic of China.svg Tseng Hsiao-chia
2016 [14] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Emma Pooley Flag of Japan.svg Yumiko Goda Flag of the Republic of China.svg Cheung Zi Yin
2017 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Emma Pooley Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Hayley Simmonds Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Emily-Grace Collinge
2018 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lucy Kennedy Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Emma Pooley Flag of France.svg Edwige Pitel
2019 Flag of South Africa.svg Ashleigh Moolman Flag of the Netherlands.svg Marianne Vos Flag of New Zealand.svg Kate McIlroy
2020 [11] Flag of the Republic of China.svg Kuo Chia-chi  ? Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Sandra Boesiger
2021 [12] Flag of the Republic of China.svg Zeng Ke-xin Flag of the Republic of China.svg Wang Hsin-hui Flag of the Republic of China.svg Chen Tzi-yin
2022 [13] Flag of the Republic of China.svg Chiu Xen-xin Flag of the Republic of China.svg Cheng Shi-xuan Flag of the Republic of China.svg Wang Xin-hui
2023 Flag of Japan.svg Shoko Kashiki Flag of Japan.svg Tsubasa Makise
2024Race cancelled due to risk of landslides.

References

  1. "Travel: Taiwan KOM Challenge". VeloNews.com. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  2. "Nibali ends season with victory at Taiwan KOM Challenge". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  3. 1 2 https://www.taiwankom.org/upfile/file/20240227/20240227095579887988.pdf
  4. "Ebsen climbs 3,275m to conquer Taiwan KOM Challenge". Cyclingnews.com . 12 November 2012.
  5. Shane Stokes (9 November 2013). "Emami triumphs at 3,275 metres altitude in Taiwan KOM Challenge". velonation.com.
  6. 1 2 Chris Case (15 November 2014). "Ebsen, Fedyna take Taiwan KOM Challenge titles". Velonews.com.
  7. 1 2 Aaron Lee (30 October 2015). "Monier, Yonamine claim Taiwan KOM Challenge crowns". VeloNews.com.
  8. Matt McNamara (1 November 2016). "Taiwan KOM Challenge 2016". pezcyclingnews.com.
  9. "Nibali ends season with victory at Taiwan KOM Challenge - Gallery". cyclingnews.com . 20 October 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  10. "2019 Taiwan KOM Challenge Result - The General Classification" (PDF). taiwankom.org . 25 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  11. 1 2 "Danish cyclist wins fourth King of the Mountain Race". Taipei Times. 24 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  12. 1 2 Craig Sakamoto (30 October 2021). "VICTORIOUS FENG WINS 2021 TAIWAN KOM CHALLENGE – RESULTS". granfondodailynews.com.
  13. 1 2 Craig Sakamoto (29 October 2022). "KING OF THE MOUNTAIN: JOHN EBSEN WINS HIS 5TH TAIWAN KOM CHALLENGE". granfondodailynews.com.
  14. "Pooley wins Taiwan KOM Challenge". Cyclingnews.com . 2 November 2016.