Taoyuan Mayor Chang Shan-Cheng attended the opening ceremony of the “2023 Tour de Taiwan - Taoyuan City” at the City Hall Square on March 13. Mayor Chang said that the “2023 Tour de Taiwan - Taoyuan City” would start here and cover a total distance of 124.71 kilometres (including the warm-up section). The route would be divided into 3 sections, each with its own characteristics: the first section would start from the City Hall and then enter Tai No. 61 Expressway, which is a ride to enjoy the beauty of Taoyuan’s coastline and a physical test for the riders; the second section, Tai No. 66 Expressway, is an extreme speed challenge for the riders; and the final section is a climb up Jiaobanshan on a provincial road, which will test the riders’ physical strength and endurance. Mayor Chang hoped that the riders would experience Taoyuan’s diverse characteristics in a safe cycling environment. He also encouraged all riders to push themselves to the limit, achieve outstanding results and leave behind a valuable experience of Taoyuan.
Mayor Chang pointed out that more than 180 riders from 22 countries are taking part in the “2023 Tour de Taiwan - Taoyuan City”, challenging themselves on Taoyuan’s diverse roads. From the coastal route, to the speedy route, and finally to the hiking route, the whole course would give the riders the opportunity to express their unique characteristics. For the safety of the event, the Taoyuan City Government conducted traffic control rehearsals along the race course. On the day of the event, over 1,000 police officers and volunteers were deployed to maintain order on the race course. Additionally, a cheering team was organized to support the riders at the start and finish lines, as well as along the race route.
Li Kai-Chih, Secretary-General of the Chinese Taipei Cycling Association, expressed his gratitude to the Sports Administration of the Ministry of Education and the Taoyuan City Government for their support of the Tour de Taiwan, and especially to the Taoyuan City Government for the support in providing comprehensive traffic control for the event over the years. “Tour de Taiwan” was recognized by international judges and marshals in 2011 and was upgraded to Class 2.1 in 2012, making it shine brightly in the international cycling arena.