Returning to China to Race!

I always love racing in China.

I love the way the Chinese put on grandiose bike races with all the pomp and excitement and 100% closed roads lined with thousands of people watching us race by. The local Chinese government is usually always involved, and this ensures an event that is well supported.

Me leading the peloton at the inaugural 2014 Yunnan Grandfondo when I was an elite rider

The last time I raced in China was back in 2019, right before Covid hit, when I led a small group of riders to take part in the Tour of Pingtan Island. It was my usual thing to do for years: leading small teams of international riders from around the globe to experience racing in China. Those people who came with me got a taste for the racing in China and kept wanting to go back for more. As a foreigner in China who also speaks Mandarin, I usually found myself surrounded by Chinese fans wanting an autograph.

My access to China was cut off due to the events of Covid, and the event business completely died off for a long time. Over the last couple of years, the events in China have started to mushroom again, with even greater numbers of Chinese cyclists attending and fewer foreigners due to the mass exodus during the time of Covid. I can keep my finger on this pulse by keeping up with the number of events being listed on the Chinese Wild Tu app. A decent amateur rider racing in China has opportunities to win decent prize money week to week, with many races paying 50 deep, and if you win, you can collect nearly $2k NZD each week, provided you can win against the Chinese riders, who have improved considerably since I was living long-term in China.

The biggest drawback with bike events in China is the lack of confirmed dates with enough lead time. Due to the local government decision-making process, they can't confirm the event until 1 or 2 months out. This was the case for the Yunnan Gran Fondo I participated in last November. The organizers have a set approximate date but cannot actually confirm or have registrations open until the dates are made official by the government.

My impromptu trip to China last November was fueled by the invite from the organizer, whom I had previously done media coverage of their very first event back in 2014, and also the need for me to visit all of my manufacturing partners for GreenMonkey. Once it was official, I jumped on a plane to China, which was the start of my 7-week trip to Asia!

China has really progressed tremendously since my last visit in 2019, and it's now so easy to move around the vast country. A big plus is the fact that you no longer need to apply for a visa if you are visiting for 30 days or less; this removes a massive friction for tourists to visit. Moreover, the prices of flights from Auckland to China are extremely cheap. I was able to find a one-way ticket with Hainan Airlines to Kunming for less than $300 NZD.

I was excited to be back in China to take part in the five-day Yunnan Gran Fondo, which is located in the far southwest subtropical area of China. I wrote a blog piece about the inaugural Yunnan Granfondo back in 2014 on SaddleDrunk, which mentions 800 riders taking part. The 2024 edition had more than 1,800 riders sign up to race both the long and short course; it was amazing to witness the growth of Chinese cycling and their riding abilities. This time, as I was about to turn 50 years old and no longer the elite cyclist I was more than a decade ago, I was definitely packing more weight and had a fraction of my fitness from the 2014-2015 years, where I was top 10 on general classification and winning the 40+ category easily.

Me in 2024 enjoying the moment of finishing with another Chinese rider, just inside the top 100. Not top 10 like I was used to back in the day! 

For those unfamiliar with the Yunnan Gran Fondo, you can find out more by visiting their website - Colourful Yunnan Gran Fondo. The event is built for the mountain climber, with its five mountainous stages and an incredible 10,000+ meters of elevation gain over the five days. It is truly a memorable experience and highly recommended if you wish to experience China with a well-organized event.

It is also an amazing culinary experience, especially if you are a foodie! I was quite popular with a group of ladies from London who were hosted by Stefano from SaddleDrunk Cycling Tours.  My knowledge of Chinese cuisine proved to be very useful when we ordered food at restaurants for dinner. The ladies from London were thrilled with the food and even more amazed when the bill came out to less than 8 quid per head, which included plenty of drinks for everyone!