Taiwan – Exploration notes

So little is known about Taiwan! Most foreigners have in mind the overused “Made in Taiwan” label but very few actually know what Taiwan can unveil as a cycling destination. One of our first motivation to head there was linked to a conversation Axel had in 2017, during IncaDivide first edition, with one of the athlete who was born and raised in Taiwan.

As we were handling the logistics of IncaDivide 2017, Alex Wall who scratched from the race at the border between Ecuador and Peru, shared how wild could be an unsupported race in his home country. We had to go and figure out by ourselves how Taiwan could be more than factories and big crowded cities…

Picture this: two-thirds of Taiwan island is composed of rugged mountains running in five incredible different ranges. You have countless summits above 3,000m (the highest is the Yu-Shan, the Jade mountains, with a summit at 3,952m above sea level), this island is a paradise for climbers! With a subtropical and marine tropical climate (between the Northern and Southern regions), we were stunned by its wildlife and the contrast of the riding conditions you can experience there. From tropical conditions which feel like riding into the Amazon rainforest, to the spectacular shores of the Chinese sea on the Eastern coast, it feels you are riding in different countries within a single day.

As we were climbing to the Sun Moon Lake area, the fauna just gets greener, with numerous lakes, spectacular climbs and curious monkeys! Getting the right cycling kit in Taiwan is a challenge with the constantly changing weather conditions. You can feel the heat in a tropical climb, sweating like crazy and feel cold on top with a chilly rain. Some route choices we’ve made took us in the middle of nowhere, only hearing the sounds you would expect in the jungle with absolutely no cars. A very addictive cycling experience if you are not afraid of the jungle…

What would by cycling without climbing? Every race we build has a climbing challenge in it: Oman with the Jebel Shams, Corsica with its constant mountainous terrain, Peru with the high altitude factor and Taiwan with one of the longest climb in the world, the dreadful Taroko! Before reaching it, there are numerous passes to acclimatize your legs across the Yu-Shan and Alishan national parks. Taiwanese climbs are steady and fast if you’re used to long ascents. The Taroko with its 89 kilometers is one of the highlights of the race. It takes your legs from sea-level up to 3,200m as you ride along marble gorge, alpine mountains and vertical valleys. It is every year the theatre of the KOM challenge, which takes its participants on a sportive race on the entire length of the climb.

On the road we met a lof of respectful supporting drivers with even a coffee offered in a climb with a driver waiting for us on the side of the road! The excellent food you can find in local restaurants is a mix of Chinese typical plates and local derivatives of Hoklo ethnicity dishes. The beef noodle soops, a turkey rice and a good bubble tea and you’re good to hammer on the road. The countless 7-eleven shops available in Taiwan help to find fast fueling snacks and drinks along the route!

The idea you can have if you don’t know Taiwan and the one you can have after riding the entire island is entrusted in Taiwan’s geography. Sometimes it feels you won’t be able to find your way out of the dense jungle and the overwhelming presence of the mountains. Then, you feel blessed once you manage to hit the Eastern coast which unveiled a flattish fast riding section and a direct view on the Chinese sea.

The race course is challenging and full of surprises. The show will be captivating as we will discover the athletes’ strategies. Would you save your legs in the long climbs to feel powerful once you hit the coast? Would you go all-in from race start to the finish and pray for a warm and gentle weather? Let the show in October unveils it all.