On the morning of March 3, 2024, the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area Urban Cycling Challenge was held in Zengcheng, Guangzhou. The reporter learned on site that this competition is the first amateur road cycling competition in China in 2024, and it is also the second time to settle in Zengcheng after the 2023 Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area Urban Cycling Challenge was held in Zengcheng.

(On the morning of March 3rd, the male highway elite group athletes set off from the starting point.)
      It is reported that this bicycle challenge is mainly in the form of a lap race, with a single lap distance of 5 kilometers, and the starting and ending points are located near the Zengcheng District Government Service Center. The competition is divided into three categories. Among them, 150 participants from the men's elite group rode 9 laps for a total of 45 kilometers, 100 participants from the women's open group rode 5 laps for a total of 25 kilometers, and 150 participants from the men's public group rode 7 laps for a total of 35 kilometers.

(The sprint moment of the male highway elite group athletes.)
      At around 9:30 on that day, with the sound of the whistle, 150 male highway elite group contestants rushed out from the starting point and started the competition first. After 9 laps of cycling, three riders almost simultaneously crossed the finish line. In the end, Liang Jiaru from the Sun Hung Kai Singles team won the championship with a time of 54 minutes and 13.69 milliseconds, while Liu Aolin and Ma Zequan finished second and third respectively with a difference of 161 milliseconds and 241 milliseconds.

(The top three contestants in the men's highway elite group will receive awards.)
      In the subsequent women's open group competition, after 4 laps of 20 kilometers of cycling, the top three also almost simultaneously crossed the line. Wei Xiaoqing won the championship with a time of 30 minutes, 36 seconds, and 457 milliseconds, while Zhang Tingting and Niu Hui finished second and third respectively with a difference of 236 milliseconds and 308 milliseconds. In the final men's road public group race, Chen Qiming won the championship with a time of 42 minutes and 34.942 milliseconds, Dai Mingheng and Wang Renxian finished second with a difference of 38 milliseconds, and Wang Renxian won third place with a time of 43 minutes and 24.650 milliseconds.

(The top three contestants in the women's highway group will receive awards.)
      It is reported that the top three winners in the men's highway elite group are 4000 yuan, 3000 yuan, and 2000 yuan, respectively, while the top three winners in the women's highway group and the men's highway public group are 3000 yuan, 2000 yuan, and 1500 yuan, respectively.
      "The competition in today's competition was quite fierce, and I was quite satisfied with my performance." Wei Xiaoqing said in an interview after the race, both the surrounding environment and the track design were good. "The track has a small undulating road, and turning on both sides is relatively difficult, everything else is good. I look forward to participating in the competition again next year," Wei Xiaoqing said.

(This competition is mainly in the form of a lap race, with a single lap distance of 5 kilometers.)
      It is reported that this competition is guided by the China Cycling Association, hosted by the Guangdong Provincial Social Sports and Training Competition Center, and organized by the Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Zengcheng District, Guangzhou and Guangzhou Aojian Culture Communication Co., Ltd. At the same time, the Guangdong Sports Lottery Center, Guangdong Sports Federation, and Guangdong Cycling Association have also provided strong support.

(Cycling commemorative medal.)
      It is worth mentioning that the competitors who finished the race can get a commemorative medal for riding. It is reported that the medal integrates the image of the dragon into the medal design, which means that the dragon represents courage, tenacity and perseverance. At the same time, the golden and red matching related to the the Year of the Loong is selected to increase the visual effect of the medal and the festival atmosphere. In addition, incorporating elements of cycling into medal design, such as a scrollable bicycle chain and bicycle icon, reflects the characteristics of cycling activities.
      "Today's condition is not very good, it's a bit regrettable that I didn't keep up with the speed. I'll come back next year!" Mr. Qin, a cycling enthusiast who just got off the track, comes from Dongguan. He just received his cycling commemorative medal and told reporters that he not only participated in the men's road elite race that day, but also in the 94 kilometer cycling activity held the day before, "The weather was a bit cold yesterday, and I got cramped while riding. My physical exertion was higher than expected, which had a slight impact on today's racing performance." Mr. Qin said that although it was his first time cycling in Zengcheng, the route along the Zengjiang Gallery left a deep impression on him. "The scenery was great all the way, especially the section by the river, where the scenery was great and the road was also easy to ride."

(Aerial competition scene.)
      The reporter learned that as a carefully crafted brand event for sports events in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area, the city cycling challenge around the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area has attracted nearly 100 Hong Kong and Macao athletes as well as some foreign athletes to sign up and participate.
      In fact, behind the intense competition, Zengcheng has vigorously developed "sports+" in recent years. By organizing various sports and cultural activities to promote and develop Zengcheng, it continuously promotes the deep integration of culture, tourism, and sports, and provides new impetus for the high-quality development of Zengcheng's economy and society. Zengcheng is gradually becoming an outdoor sports destination in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area.
      Wen/Guangzhou Daily New Flower City Reporter: Xia Qiang
      Image/Guangzhou Daily New Flower City Reporter: Gao Hetao Correspondent: Zeng Xuan
      Guangzhou Daily New Flower City Editor: Zhao Xiaoman