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=

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

2012{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ebsen-climbs-3275m-to-conquer-taiwan-kom-challenge/|title=Ebsen climbs 3,275m to conquer Taiwan KOM Challenge|work=Cyclingnews.com|date=12 November 2012}}

| {{flagicon|DEN}} John Ebsen

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Peter Pouly

| {{flagicon|IRL}} David McCann

2013{{cite web|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/15792/Emami-triumphs-at-3275-metres-altitude-in-Taiwan-KOM-Challenge.aspx|title=Emami triumphs at 3,275 metres altitude in Taiwan KOM Challenge|work=velonation.com|date=9 November 2013|author=Shane Stokes}}

| {{flagicon|IRI}} Rahim Ememi

| {{flagicon|IRI}} Amir Zargari

| {{flagicon|TWN}} Wang Yin-chih

2014{{cite web|url=https://www.velonews.com/2014/11/news/ebsen-fedyna-take-taiwan-kom-challenge-titles_353042|title=Ebsen, Fedyna take Taiwan KOM Challenge titles|work=Velonews.com|date=15 November 2014|author=Chris Case}}

| {{flagicon|DEN}} John Ebsen

| {{flagicon|HKG}} Ronald Yeung

| {{flagicon|LAO}} Ariya Phounsavath

2015{{cite web|url=https://www.velonews.com/2015/10/road/monier-yonamine-claim-taiwan-kom-challenge-crowns_388438|title=Monier, Yonamine claim Taiwan KOM Challenge crowns|work=VeloNews.com|date=30 October 2015|author=Aaron Lee}}

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Damien Monier

| {{flagicon|DEN}} John Ebsen

| {{flagicon|IRL}} Mark Dowling

2016{{cite web|url=https://www.pezcyclingnews.com/racing/taiwan-kom-challenge-2016/|title=Taiwan KOM Challenge 2016|work=pezcyclingnews.com|date= 1 November 2016|author=Matt McNamara}}

| {{flagicon|ESP}} Óscar Pujol

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Jai Hindley

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Ben Dyball

2017{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nibali-ends-season-with-victory-at-taiwan-kom-challenge-gallery/ |title=Nibali ends season with victory at Taiwan KOM Challenge - Gallery|date=20 October 2017 |website=cyclingnews.com|access-date=20 October 2017}}

| {{flagicon|ITA}} Vincenzo Nibali

| {{flagicon|ESP}} Óscar Pujol

| {{flagicon|DEN}} John Ebsen

2018

| {{flagicon|DEN}} John Ebsen

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Ben Dyball

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Damien Monier

2019{{cite web |url=http://www.taiwankom.org/upfile/results/19102522217.pdf|title=2019 Taiwan KOM Challenge Result - The General Classification|date=25 October 2019 |website=taiwankom.org|access-date=30 October 2019}}

| {{flagicon|DEN}} Anthon Charmig

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Ben Dyball

| {{flagicon|ITA}} Pierpaolo Ficara

2020{{cite news |title=Danish cyclist wins fourth King of the Mountain Race |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2020/10/24/2003745713 |accessdate=25 October 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=24 October 2020}}

| {{flagicon|DEN}} John Ebsen

| {{flagicon|BUL}} Christian Trenchev

| {{flagicon|TWN}} Huang Guan-Lin

2021{{cite web|url=https://granfondodailynews.com/2021/10/30/victorious-feng-wins-2021-taiwan-kom-challenge-results/|title=VICTORIOUS FENG WINS 2021 TAIWAN KOM CHALLENGE – RESULTS|work=granfondodailynews.com|date=30 October 2021|author=Craig Sakamoto}}

| {{flagicon|TWN}} Feng Chun-kai

| {{flagicon|TWN}} Lu Shao-hsuan

| {{flagicon|TWN}} Huang Kuan-lin

2022{{cite web|url=https://granfondodailynews.com/2022/10/29/king-of-the-mountain-john-ebsen-wins-his-5th-taiwan-kom-challenge/|title=KING OF THE MOUNTAIN: JOHN EBSEN WINS HIS 5TH TAIWAN KOM CHALLENGE|work=granfondodailynews.com|date=29 October 2022|author=Craig Sakamoto}}

| {{flagicon|DEN}} John Ebsen

| {{flagicon|TWN}} Huang Kuan-lin

| {{flagicon|TWN}} Lu Shao-hsuan

2023

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Ben Dyball

| {{flagicon|COL}} Jesús David Peña

| {{flagicon|JPN}} Sohei Kaneko

2024

| Race cancelled due to risk of landslides.

|

|

=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}}