About 2,500 cyclists from 32 countries yesterday joined two Grand Tour cyclists for the first-ever L’Etape du Tour de France in Taiwan.
Seven-time Grand Tour champion Christopher Froome and recently retired all-time great Mark Cavendish, who in July achieved a record-breaking 35th Tour de France stage win, took center stage in the Tour de France sportive series event in Nantou County.
L’Etape du Tour de France, which was launched in 1993 and is organized by the Paris-based Amaury Sport Organisation, offers participants a glimpse of the Grand Tour experience.
Photo courtesy of the Tourism Administration
The event in Taiwan featured two routes: a 104km and a 29km course.
The 104km route included a yellow jersey competition and two King of the Mountain sections.
The mountain winners earned slots in next year’s L’Etape Championship in France.
Cyclists on the longer route passed cultural landmarks such as Xuanguang Temple, Ita Thao Pier and Shuishe Pier while enjoying the stunning scenery of Sun Moon Lake and the surrounding mountains.
The Sun Moon Lake cycling route has been recognized by CNN as one of the “Top 10 most beautiful cycling routes in the world.”
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