The 2009 International Tour de Taiwan Opening leg in Kaohsiung City / 2009自由車環台公路賽 高雄起跑
The 2009 International Tour de Taiwan
Opening leg in Kaohsiung City
◎Text by Fu-Ju Lin
◎Photos courtesy by Chinese Taipei Cyclists Assocation
On March 8th, 2009, twenty-three teams, with one hundred fifteen cyclists, from thirty countries and five continents, gathered to participate in the 2009 International Tour de Taiwan. This year the opening lap was held in Kaohsiung City. The cycling event covered a total of 820 km and gave away prizes totaling $1.8 million NTD. Some of the cyclists new to the race this year, came from South Africa. Many spectators came out to cheer on the participants.
The 2009 International Tour de Taiwan cycling race took place from March 8th to March 14th. The route began at the Love River in Kaohsiung City. From Kaohsiung, they continued on to Chiayi City Hall and Fongtian Temple in Singang Township. They would then continue on to Wunsin Forest Park in Taichung City and Baguashan Mountain in Changhua County. A seventeen-kilometer coastline road would lead them to Hsinchu City. From Hsinchu, they would then head to the ShihSanHang Museum of Archeology, via the Hsinchuang Stadium in Taipei County. The race finished at Taipei City's most famous landmark, the Taipei 101.
This year, the 2009 International Tour de Taiwan marked its 21st anniversary. Over the past few years, Kaohsiung City has been selected to host the opening leg of the race. The race was covered by ESPN sports network and provided Kaohsiung City with the opportunity for some international exposure. The opening ceremonies were also hosted at the Love River, giving Kaohsiung the chance to present some of its famous landmarks to an international audience. Kai-Chih Lee, Secretary General of the Chinese Taipei Cycling Association, assured Union Cyclists International, competitors had all fulfilled the international qualifications.
The race kicked off at the Love River's 228 Peace Park. Kaohsiung's part of the race would include forty 2.2 km laps. These laps would take cyclists through the city via Hedong Road, Wufu 4th Road, Dajhih Road, Daren Road, Dayong Road and Jhongjheng 4th Road. Park Seon Ho from South Korea took first place for this leg of the race. Also, during the first leg of the race Bo-Hong Wu from Taiwan dislocated his left wrist in an accident. However, he still finished the entire route and beat all the other Taiwanese participants in this leg of the race. He received a great round of applause when he crossed Kaohsiung's finish line.
Kaohsiung City has recently increased the length of its bike paths to 150 kilometers. It is also pioneering an urban public bike rental system. This allows people to rent bikes in one place and return them at another. The city government also aims to establish greener transportation systems. Part of this initiative includes allowing passengers to take their bikes with them on the Kaohsiung MRT. Cycling has enjoyed increased popularity in Kaohsiung City, following these efforts to promote the leisure activity. All the participants from this year's race have promised to return to Kaohsiung in 2010 to participate in the International Tour de Taiwan!
2009自由車環台公路賽
高雄起跑
◎文／王御風
◎照片提供／中華民國自由車協會
來自全球30個國家、23支隊伍、115 名中外好手齊聚高雄市愛河畔，台灣水準最高，也最具傳統的自行車賽事─2009自由車環台公路賽首站在高雄。今年總里程820公里的環台公路賽，總獎金超過180萬，吸引了23個車隊、百餘名中外好手參加，為一年一度的台灣自行車盛會，尤其是今年加入南非車隊後，首度聚集五大洲，競爭激烈，吸引許多民眾蒞臨觀賽。
2009國際自由車環台公路賽於３月８日至14日，共分７站舉行。首站在高雄愛河，接續到嘉義市政府至新港奉天宮、台中市文心森林公園、彰化八卦山、新竹市17公里海岸線、台北縣新莊體育場到十三行博物館公路賽，終點站為台北市101大樓繞圈賽。
國際自由車環台公路賽今年堂堂邁入第21年，近年首站均選在高雄市，各參賽選手無不摩拳擦掌，希望能在第一站就交出漂亮的成績單，因此競爭格外激烈。結合本市知名觀光景點和自行車競賽，透過ESPN全球實況轉播，讓高雄最知名的景點愛河躍上國際舞台，把高雄美麗的影像傳送到全世界。
中華民國自由車協會秘書長李開志表示，國際自行車總會相當重視台灣自行車比賽，能到台灣參加自行車比賽的隊伍必須具備國際排名的資格。
首站高雄市的比賽，依其區域的特性進行繞圈賽，選手要環繞愛河及附近道路，起點為228和平公園，沿途行經河東路、五福四路、大智路、大仁路、大勇路以及中正四路，2.2公里的路程需騎乘40圈，總長度為88公里。選手們在南台灣良好的氣候及民眾熱情的吶喊加油聲下，於美麗的愛河畔揮汗競賽，最後由南韓車手朴善胡奪冠，而我國好手巫帛宏雖然因摔車造成左手腕脫臼，但仍負傷騎完全程，且是高雄站的國內冠軍，抵達終點時，現場民眾報以熱烈掌聲。
高雄市目前鋪設有150公里的自行車道，更是全國率先啟用都會型公共自行車租賃系統，讓民眾享有甲地租車乙地歸還的便利，再結合自行車上捷運等大眾運輸政策，在打造綠色運輸工具之餘也提供市民或遊客更健康的休閒生活。這樣一個對自行車最投入也最友善的城市，吸引著許多喜好自行車的民眾都到高雄騎乘自行車。所有的選手與車迷相約，2010，自由車環台公路賽大家高雄見！