Anthon Charmig (Photo courtesy of the Tourism Bureau)
Taipei, Oct. 25 (CNA) Danish cyclist Anthon Charmig won the 2019 Taiwan KOM (King of the Mountains) Challenge on Friday, finishing the mountainous 105-kilometer course in 3:24:24.
Second place in the men's race went to Australian Benjamin Dyball, who crossed the line in a time of 3:28:16, one minute ahead of third place Pierpaolo Ficara of Italy.
The women's title went to Ashleigh Moolman, who completed the challenge in 3:51:55. She is a professional road cyclist, member of the International Cycling Union (UCI) Women's Team, and competes for CCC Liv of the Netherlands.
Moolman was followed home by Dutch cyclist Marianne Vos, and Kate McIlroy of New Zealand, who finished second and third, respectively.
This year, the top Taiwanese finisher was Wu Chih-hao, who completed the course in a time of 3:38:24.
The 105-kilometer race begins at sea level in Qixingtan scenic area on the Pacific coast, before climbing 87 kilometers through majestic Taroko Gorge to Wuling at 3,275-meters, near Hehuanshan, the highest point accessible by public road in Taiwan.
In 2014, French magazine Le Cycle rated the Taiwan KOM Challenge one of the 10 most challenging hill climb races in the world, likening it to the Haute Route Alps Mountain Challenge in Europe.
According to the Tourism Bureau, one of the event organizers, the 2019 event, currently in its 8th year, drew 730 cyclists from 42 countries.
