Taiwan KOM Challenge
{{Infobox cycling race
| name = Taiwan KOM Challenge
| current_event =
| image = 2020臺灣自行車登山王挑戰.jpg
| image_caption = John Ebsen in the 2020 edition, which he won
| date = October/November
| region = Taiwan (Qixingtan Beach -> Wuling)
| english =
| localnames = 臺灣自行車登山王挑戰 {{in lang|zh-tw}}
| nickname =
| discipline = Road
| competition =
| type = One-day race
| organiser = Taiwan Cycling Federation
| director =
| website = http://www.taiwankom.org/en/
| first = {{start date|2012}}
| number = 12 (as of 2023)
| final =
| firstwinner = {{flagathlete|John Ebsen|DEN}}
| firstwinner_women = {{flagathlete|Eri Yonamine|JPN}}
| mostwins = {{flagathlete|John Ebsen|DEN}} (5 wins)
| mostwins_women = {{Ubl|{{flagathlete|Eri Yonamine|JPN}}|{{flagathlete|Emma Pooley|GBR}} (2 wins)}}
| mostrecent = {{flagathlete|Ben Dyball|AUS}}
| mostrecent_women = {{flagathlete|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.{{cite web | url=https://www.velonews.com/news/road/travel-taiwan-kom-challenge/ | title=Travel: Taiwan KOM Challenge | work=VeloNews.com | accessdate=19 January 2021}} Vincenzo Nibali, the 2017 winner, holds the record for the fastest time, with a time of 3:19:54.{{cite web | url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nibali-ends-season-with-victory-at-taiwan-kom-challenge-gallery/ | title=Nibali ends season with victory at Taiwan KOM Challenge | work=cyclingnews.com | accessdate=12 May 2022}}
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.{{Cite web | url=https://www.taiwankom.org/upfile/file/20240227/20240227095579887988.pdf | title=The Road to Taiwan KOM – Spring | website=www.taiwankom.org}} Because of the significant increase in elevation, altitude sickness is a concern as well as the sudden change in temperature and weather.
Winners
=Men=
=Women=
cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="border: 1px solid silver; color: black; margin: 0 0 0.5em 0; background-color: white; padding: 5px; text-align: left; font-size:85%; vertical-align: top; line-height:1.6em;"
!scope=col; align="center" bgcolor="FFDF80"|Year !scope=col; align="center" bgcolor="FFDF80"|Winner !scope=col; align="center" bgcolor="FFDF80"|Second !scope=col; align="center" bgcolor="FFDF80"|Third |
2013
| {{flagicon|JPN}} Eri Yonamine | {{flagicon|AUS}} Tiffany Cromwell | {{flagicon|TWN}} Lian Yin Yi Ch |
2014
| {{flagicon|CAN}} Marg Fedyna | {{flagicon|TWN}} Qin Xin | {{flagicon|TWN}} Guo Nian Wen |
2015
| {{flagicon|JPN}} Eri Yonamine | {{flagicon|CAN}} Marg Fedyna | {{flagicon|TWN}} Tseng Hsiao-chia |
2016{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pooley-wins-taiwan-kom-challenge/|title=Pooley wins Taiwan KOM Challenge|work=Cyclingnews.com|date=2 November 2016}}
| {{flagicon|GBR}} Emma Pooley | {{flagicon|JPN}} Yumiko Goda | {{flagicon|TWN}} Cheung Zi Yin |
2017
| {{flagicon|GBR}} Emma Pooley | {{flagicon|GBR}} Hayley Simmonds | {{flagicon|GBR}} Emily-Grace Collinge |
2018
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Lucy Kennedy | {{flagicon|GBR}} Emma Pooley | {{flagicon|FRA}} Edwige Pitel |
2019
| {{flagicon|RSA}} Ashleigh Moolman | {{flagicon|NED}} Marianne Vos | {{flagicon|NZL}} Kate McIlroy |
2020
| {{flagicon|TWN}} Kuo Chia-chi | {{flagicon|TWN}} Chen Zih-yin | {{flagicon|SUI}} Sandra Boesiger |
2021
| {{flagicon|TWN}} Zeng Ke-xin | {{flagicon|TWN}} Wang Hsin-hui | {{flagicon|TWN}} Chen Tzi-yin |
2022
| {{flagicon|TWN}} Chiu Xen-xin | {{flagicon|TWN}} Cheng Shi-xuan | {{flagicon|TWN}} Wang Xin-hui |
2023
| {{flagicon|JPN}} Shoko Kashiki | {{flagicon|JPN}} Tsubasa Makise | {{flagicon|TWN}} Hsu Shu-wei |
2024
| Race cancelled due to risk of landslides. | | |
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commonscat|Taiwan KOM Challenge}}
- {{official website|http://www.taiwankom.org/en/}}
- {{Cycling archives race|27100}}
Category:Cycle races in Taiwan