La Vacanza e' Finita!!

Ciao a tutti,

Now the holidays are over and we will be getting back to the normal life,routines, activities.

We will spent the next few rides chit chatting away about the amazing holidays we had & peoples we met..

Photo Credits of PA-Cyclism

Photo Credits of PA-Cyclism

Brain cells will start to plan for your next trip,goal.target or PB's...Always remember to stay concentrate on the road while talking on the saddle.

Therefore if you let me, I would like to give you few cycling events which are worth taking part:

  1. The Road World Championships 2017 Granfondo in Bergen,Norway just less the 4 weeks away;
  2. Leg of Steel 2017 in the Surrey Hill it say on the tin..good riding.Amazing event organised by Ful On Tri (30th of September); 
  3. Our few days trip around the Mount Ventoux, 8th to the 10th of October email us at ride@saddledrunk.com for more info;
  4.  The stunning KOM in Taiwan ,for real climbers not for the faint hearted (October 2017);
  5. The Granfondo China in November ,multi stages event in the stunning Yunnan (November 2017);
  6. We also have another little trip away to Majorca from the 6th to the 9th of November, email us at ride@saddledrunk.com for more info;
  7. Ethiopia Wild Bike organised by a good friend Willy at PA Cyclism (December 2017);
  8. Another one is the Patagonia,Argentina & Chile ride, for real wilderness (December 2017);
  9. Finally my favourite...The Mongolia Bike Challenge....Mongolia is a stunning country,people are amazing and this is the best way to see the true colours (August 2018);
The beautiful Colours of Yunnan.

The beautiful Colours of Yunnan.

Those ones are my favourite that I would like to share with you. So now is time to shape up, to keep dreaming or start dreaming.

Be determine and you will reach your destinations, push your limits.Don 't create barriers that are not needed.Just do it.

SD Team.

Taiwan KOM Challenge 2014 Press Release

Now is the time of the year, to register for the amazing KOM Challenge 2014 which will be held in November.I will not be attending the event this year,but I highly recommend to do it.

Please read the review from last year here.

Climbing Experience to the Extreme

Climbing Experience to the Extreme

Official Press Release for the TAIWAN KOM CHALLENGE 2014

Brought to you by the Taiwan Travel Bureau & the Taiwan Cyclist Federation

Event Date & Time: November 15th 2014

Total Prize Money: $2,410,000 (New Taiwan dollars, equivalent to over $80,000 US)

Statement:

One Million New Taiwan Dollars for Overall Men’s Winner, Increased Prizes for the Women’s Race, and New Anti-Doping Policy Introduced 

The Taiwan Travel Bureau in association with the Taiwan Cyclist Federation is proud to announce the details of the eagerly anticipated 2014 Taiwan KOM Challenge.

They are also thrilled to announce the participation of the 2009 women’s Tour de France winner and four-time British champion Emma Pooley in the 2014 event.

This year’s race sees a massive increase in the prize money on offer and a zero tolerance drug policy introduced, the first of its kind in Asia.

Now in its third year, the Taiwan KOM Challenge has established itself as Asia’s premier hill climb event and as the toughest of its kind in the world. The 105km route travels from the eastern coastal town of Hualien, starting at sea level, and rises along its route to the roof of Taiwan, up on HeHuan Mountain at 3,375 meters.

The course takes the participants up at an average 7% through the breathtaking Taroko Gorge to the 97km point at Dayuling, and then rises up over its remaining kilometers to a maximum incline of 27%, averaging at 17% for the final 8 kilometers. 

The mountain dwarfs anything that North America and Europe have to offer, making the Taiwan KOM Challenge truly a once in a lifetime experience.

Spectacular views of the surrounding countryside, oxygen-depleted air and an overwhelming sense of accomplishment wait to greet those who finish the ride within the 6 and a half hour time limit. Last year’s winner Rhaim Emami of Iran completed the race in an astonishing 3 hours and 26 seconds from the official timed start, which begins after the 18km of neutralised riding.

In the past professional riders of the caliber of Jeremy Roy of Francaise des Jeux, Anthony Charteau of Europcar and Tiffany Cromwell of Specialized-lululemon have taken part in the event, a tradition which continues this year with the participation of Giro d’Italia Femminile KOM winner Emma Pooley. The organisers are also in talks with other top professionals, the details of which will be released later. 

Prize money this year will total to 2,410,000 New Taiwan dollars ($80,000US), with NT$1,000,000 (US$33,376) going to the overall winner of the men’s event. Cash prizes will go down to the 6th rider over the line, with NT$1,750,000 in total available for the men.

Recognizing the growing interest on the women’s side of the sport and eager to encourage more women to ride the Taiwan KOM Challenge, the TTB and the TCF are offering NT$200,000 ($6,675US) for the first female rider over the line. Similar to the men, cash prizes are available to the top 6 riders. In total there will be NT$440,000 ($15,000US) on offer for the women’s race. 

After much discussion, the organisers of the Taiwan KOM Challenge 2014 have decided to implement drug testing for the top 6 riders and reserve the right to randomly test any other participant.

Furthermore, any rider with a previous record of doping will not be allowed to compete in the race. This decision was not taken lightly and is one that the Taiwan Cyclist Federation feels reflects the current climate in world cycling and is one that will encourage fairness. 

The testing will be carried out by the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee and the tests will be analysed at a laboratory in Japan. 

Registration for the event officially opens on the 15th of September, and can be accessed at http://www.taiwankom.org/.

Press and online media enquiries can be sent to leerodgers202@gmail.com.

Links to videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65_ncpaYnvg (KOM video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c5M_Nw5A0w (Charteau interview)

Have fun and get SaddleDrunk

 

Yak Attack Nepal 2014 report from Cory Wallace

Hi all, I have managed to get in touch briefly with Cory Wallace from Nepal, reporting from Day 1 at the Yak Attack North Face 2014.A multi stage MTB event held in the beauty of the Himalayas.

Cory and I in Taiwan for the KOM 2013 last November.

This is what Cory had to say:

Day 1 we road across some terraces overlooking the Kathmandu valley. Later on we descended into a valley of chaos with Lose dogs, farm animals, people and cars everywhere. It was half bike race, half dodging the chaos. It is beautiful here racing below 7000 Meter mountains

A view of the track.

Scenery form the top.

Here at SaddleDrunk wish Cory a good luck during this amazing challenge.

I will keep you posted with more photos.