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Taiwan KOM Challenge

Taiwan KOM Challenge
John Ebsen in the 2020 edition, which he won
Race details
DateOctober/November
RegionTaiwan (Qixingtan Beach -> Wuling)
Local name(s)臺灣自行車登山王挑戰 (in Chinese)
DisciplineRoad
TypeOne-day race
OrganiserTaiwan Cycling Federation
Web sitewww.taiwankom.org/en/
History
First edition2012 (2012)
Editions12 (as of 2023)
First winner John Ebsen (DEN)
Most wins John Ebsen (DEN) (5 wins)
Most recent Ben Dyball (AUS)
History (women)
First winner Eri Yonamine (JPN)
Most wins
Most recent 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]

Route

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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

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Men

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

Women

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

References

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  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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b Chris Case (15 November 2014). "Ebsen, Fedyna take Taiwan KOM Challenge titles". Velonews.com.
  7. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "Danish cyclist wins fourth King of the Mountain Race". Taipei Times. 24 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  12. ^ a b Craig Sakamoto (30 October 2021). "VICTORIOUS FENG WINS 2021 TAIWAN KOM CHALLENGE – RESULTS". granfondodailynews.com.
  13. ^ a b 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.
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