Failure on My First Westward Wuling Attempt, Success on My Second: A Journey from Defeat to KOM

Many Wuling (武嶺) stories are proud tales of “finishing on the first try,” but the real journey for most people is: fail the first time, barely finish the second, and only find your rhythm on the third. This is a true story of someone who got completely obsessed with this climb.

First Attempt: October 2023 (Failure, DNF)

Preparation Status

• 1 year of cycling
• FTP 180W, weight 72kg (W/kg 2.5)
• 5 hours of training per week
• Longest single ride: 80 km
• Had never ridden Wuling before

Race Day

07:30 Puli (埔里)

• Rainy, 18°C
• Excited, nervous, hadn’t slept well

08:00 Start

• Went out too hard in the first 30 minutes, heart rate in Zone 4
• Already fatigued by Renzhiguan (人止關)

09:15 Wushe (霧社)

• Rain intensified, gear soaked through
• Felt cold to the bone
• Couldn’t eat any fuel

10:30 Qingjing (清境)

• Stopped 20 minutes to change clothes (hadn’t prepared for this)
• Body temperature dropping, started cramping

11:40 Cuifeng (翠峰)

• Completely spent by Cuifeng
• Couldn’t turn the pedals anymore
• Called for the pickup vehicle

Result: DNF, 39 km, 4 hours 10 minutes

Failure Analysis

1. Insufficient training volume: FTP 180W was too low for Wuling
2. Gear didn’t account for rain: No rain jacket, no waterproof gloves
3. Never practiced fueling: First time eating energy gels over a long ride, stomach couldn’t handle it
4. Pacing mistake: Went out too hard early on
5. Mental collapse: Rain, fatigue, and cold all crushed me at once

Second Attempt: October 2024 (Finished, 7:12)

Preparation Status

• 8 months of learning from failure
• FTP 210W, weight 68kg (W/kg 3.1)
• 8 hours of training per week
• Long-ride experience: 4 rides of 150 km+
• Did 2 Wuling simulation rides

Gear Upgrades

• 34T front chainring + 11-34T cassette
• Rain jacket (Castelli short-sleeve rain jacket)
• Waterproof gloves (as backup)
• Digital tire pressure gauge
• Better bike computer (Garmin Edge 830)

Race Day

07:30 Puli

• Cloudy, 22°C
• Relaxed, confident

08:00 Start

• Deliberately kept heart rate in Zone 2 (70% HRmax)
• Didn’t chase the fast group
• Felt fine by Renzhiguan

09:25 Wushe

• Ate rice balls, drank sports drink
• Bathroom break
• Stopped for 7 minutes

10:45 Qingjing

• Fueling went smoothly
• Energy levels stable

12:15 Cuifeng

• Stopped 10 minutes to add layers
• Ate a caffeinated energy gel
• Spirits lifted

13:30 Wuling

• Finished the last 2K in tears
• Finish time: 7 hours 12 minutes
• Sobbed with the medal around my neck

What I Learned

1. Experience beats speed: Learning from the first failure made me far better prepared
2. Gear is insurance: Spending money on upgrades was worth it
3. Rhythm matters more than anything: Steady pacing beats short bursts of high intensity
4. Accept imperfection: Don’t fixate on a time goal, enjoy the process

Third Attempt: October 2025 (Broke 5 Hours)

Preparation Status

• 1.5 years of continuous training
• FTP 260W, weight 65kg (W/kg 4.0)
• 10-12 hours of training per week
• Completed multiple climbing races
• Started working with a coach

Special Preparation

• 3 months of Wuling-specific training
• Climbing repeats + VO2max intervals
• 3-week taper before the race
• Practiced the race-day meal plan

Race Day

07:30 Puli

• Clear skies, 20°C
• Completely relaxed, in rhythm

08:00 Start

• Held a steady 200W (77% FTP)
• Heart rate mid-Zone 3
• Entered a flow state

08:55 Wushe

• Stopped 2 minutes for fuel
• Kept the rhythm going

11:12 Cuifeng

• Stopped 3 minutes
• Caffeinated energy gel
• Energy still strong

12:42 Wuling

• Pushed the final 2K at 95% FTP
• Finish time: 4:42
• Achieved the sub-5-hour goal

Key Turning Points

1. Professional coaching: Progress doubled after working with a coach
2. Weight management: Lost 3kg to boost W/kg
3. Gear optimization: Wheels, gearing, and kit all optimized for Wuling
4. Mental strength: After two prior attempts, Wuling no longer intimidated me

Three Years of Transformation, Fully Obsessed

Fitness Changes

• 2023: FTP 180W, W/kg 2.5
• 2024: FTP 210W, W/kg 3.1
• 2025: FTP 260W, W/kg 4.0

Mental Changes

• 2023: Feared Wuling
• 2024: Respected Wuling
• 2025: Loved Wuling

Lifestyle Changes

• 2023: Occasional casual riding
• 2024: Regular weekly training
• 2025: An entire life built around cycling

What Failure Taught Me

1. Failure isn’t scary — giving up is

• The 2023 DNF wasn’t a failure, it was a learning opportunity
• I went home and studied exactly where each part went wrong
• Those tears became the motivation for 2024

2. Preparation determines the outcome

• Wuling gives no chances to those who aren’t prepared
• Fitness, gear, mindset, and fueling — none can be missing

3. Time is your friend

• 6 months to a year of training absolutely makes a difference
• No need to rush to finish on the first attempt
• The second and third attempts will always be faster

4. The power of community

• Join a Wuling challenge group
• Find people to train with
• Encourage each other and share experience

5. Health matters more than time

• Don’t sacrifice your health for a finish time
• Overtraining does more harm than good
• Listen to your body

Advice for Riders Whose First Wuling Attempt Failed

Adjusting Your Mindset (1-2 weeks after failure)

• Allow yourself to feel sad
• Don’t rush into another attempt
• Share with friends
• Take a clear look at yourself

Analyzing the Cause (2-4 weeks after failure)

• Was your training volume enough?
• Was your gear right?
• How was your fueling?
• How was your mindset?
• Did you misjudge the weather?

Making a Plan (1-2 months after failure)

• A new training plan
• A gear upgrade checklist
• Fueling tests
• Simulation rides

When to Try Again

• At least 6 months later
• Don’t attempt again in the same season (climate factors)
• Try a different event (change up the mood)

Reflections After Finishing

After finishing in 2024

“I didn’t just finish Wuling — I defeated the failed version of myself from 2023.”

After breaking 5 hours in 2025

“Wuling taught me: failure is only temporary, persistence is eternal. This 3,275-meter mountain gave me a lifetime of inspiration.”

Conclusion

You don’t have to finish Wuling on your first attempt. Behind every success there may well be a story of failure. If you failed the first time, don’t give up — that might just be the beginning of your real story. Learn from failure, prepare with time, and try again with patience. You’ll find that the scenery along this road is worth far more than any finisher’s medal.

Related Reading

• After a Failed Wuling Solo Attempt: The Lessons That Made Me a Better Rider
• Nailing Wuling on Your First Try: A Complete Beginner’s Guide to the Westward Wuling Route
• Taking on the Wuling KOM Challenge: An Amateur’s Preparation Story for the Official Timed Segment
• Route Tactics: Taking on the Westward Wuling NeverStop Challenge — A Full Practical Guide to W/kg Power-to-Weight, Pacing, and Power Management from Cuifeng to Dayuling to Wuling