Race Report: Autumn Wuling Challenge – A First-Timer’s Race Experience

“Want to sign up and give it a shot?”

When a friend dropped the Wuling Challenge registration info into the group chat, my first reaction was: “Someone at my level is going to race?”

But just as that “forget it” was about to slip out, another thought crossed my mind: “If you never try, how will you ever know if you can?”

So, I signed up.

About the Wuling Challenge

The Wuling Challenge is held every autumn in central Taiwan and is one of the most famous road cycling climbing events in the country.

Event Details:

• Course: Climb from Ren’ai Township to Wuling (elevation 3,275 meters)
• Distance: Approximately 60 kilometers
• Elevation gain: Approximately 2,100 meters
• Categories: Open men’s and women’s, age groups, and elite/open (competitive)

As an amateur rider, I chose to enter the “Age Group” (Men 35–44).

After Signing Up: 12 Weeks of Preparation

Assessing My Current Level

First thing after registering: honestly evaluate where I stood.

Using a power meter, I reviewed my data from the past 3 months:

• Estimated FTP: 210W (3.0 W/kg at 70kg body weight)
• Longest climb on record: 600 meters of elevation gain (lower section of Daxueshan)
• Sustained riding ability: 4+ hours

Diagnosis: I needed more climbing-specific training and accumulated long-elevation-gain rides.

The 12-Week Training Plan

Weeks 1–3: Foundation Building

• 200–250 km per week
• Focus: long aerobic rides
• One climbing session per week (Yangmingshan or Beihuan)

Weeks 4–7: Intensity Increase

• Introduced sweet spot training (88–94% FTP)
• One tempo ride per week (95–100% FTP)
• One long climb (accumulating as much elevation gain as possible, over 1,000 meters)

Weeks 8–10: Simulation Training

• Full course simulation (starting from Ren’ai)
• Practiced fueling at near-race intensity

Weeks 11–12: Taper

• Reduced training volume to 60% of normal
• Maintained a small amount of high-intensity work to stay sharp
• Prioritized rest and nutrition

Key Training Log Entries

Week 6 Weekend: First full climb simulation, starting from Ren’ai.

Completed the simulated course in 5 hours 28 minutes – 30 minutes slower than expected. The problem hit in the third segment (Cingjing → Cuifeng), where I ran severely low on energy.

Adjustment: Increased in-race carbohydrate intake and practiced eating while riding.

Week 9: Second simulation.

This time: 4 hours 52 minutes – a 36-minute improvement. More importantly, the final segment felt much better, and the fueling strategy was working.

The Day Before the Race

Check-in and Pre-Race Briefing

The day before the race, I drove from Taipei to Ren’ai Township to check in. The moment I received my race number, I felt more nervous than I had expected.

Looking around, the other participants’ setups were all very professional – TT bikes, aero helmets, turbo trainers… My road bike looked decidedly “humble” in comparison.

I told myself: The opponent is the clock, not the other riders.

Pre-Race Evening Preparation

Everything was ready before bed:

• Final bike check (brakes, shifting, tire pressure)
• Fueling supplies (5 energy gels, 2 rice balls, electrolyte tablets)
• Clothing confirmed (could be hot at dawn, cold up the mountain)
• Spare phone battery
• Race plan (target times for each section)

Sleep… I managed about 5 hours, and I was riding in my dreams all night.

Race Day

Nerves in the Starting Area

At 5:00 AM, several hundred riders had already gathered in the starting area. The categories set off in sequence, with my age group starting at 6:30.

Those 30 minutes of waiting were the most nerve-wracking.

Riders around me were warming up, spinning on trainers, and doing final equipment checks. I took a few deep breaths and told myself: Finishing at a sensible effort is a success.

The Start

The starting gun fired, and everyone surged forward – no, wait, hold back!

Five kilometers in, I glanced at the power meter: 190W.

Too high! My plan was 160–170W. At this pace, there was no way I’d hold on later.

I forced myself to ease off and let other riders pass me. It was mentally painful, but it was the right strategy.

Mid-Race: Finding a Rhythm

After the 20-kilometer mark, I finally settled into my own rhythm.

Power held steady around 165W, heart rate in Zone 3, and it felt sustainable.

I reached the Cingjing Farm aid station, ate half a rice ball, took a big drink of water, and kept going.

The High-Altitude Challenge

Past Cuifeng (elevation 2,600m), the thinning air became increasingly noticeable.

My heart rate didn’t look high (150bpm), but the overall effort felt harder than 180bpm at low altitude.

The training plan had mentioned that “at altitude, heart rate runs low but the perceived effort is much higher” – now I fully understood what that meant.

The final 10 kilometers were pure willpower.

Crossing the Finish Line

The moment I saw the finish banner, I unconsciously accelerated.

I passed two riders ahead of me and crossed the line.

Time on the watch: 4 hours 17 minutes 32 seconds

Post-Race Reflections

Confirming the Result

Final age-group result: 4 hours 17 minutes 32 seconds
Age-group placing: 31st (out of 68)

A mid-pack result. It was 35 minutes faster than my simulation (accounting for the time saved by not stopping for supplies during the race).

Am I satisfied? Very much so.

A Better Experience Than I Imagined

The event organization was highly professional – well-stocked aid stations, solid safety measures, and friendly riders all around.

Along the climb, several riders cheered each other on. That warmth among competitors during a race was something I hadn’t expected.

“Keep going! Almost there!” – even at the point of total exhaustion, hearing those words still gave me strength.

A Personal Victory

After finishing, I took a photo with my race number in front of the Wuling monument.

In the photo, I look terrible – face covered in sweat, eyes glazed over, jersey soaked through.

But it’s my favorite photo, because it captures the moment someone who doubted himself decided to try, and ultimately stood at the finish line.

To Any Friend Hesitating About Signing Up

You don’t need to be fast to deserve a place at the starting line.

Racing isn’t just for professional riders. It’s for anyone willing to challenge themselves.

Sign up. The version of you who finishes will thank the you who made this decision today.

Related Reading

• KOM Wuling Challenge: An Amateur’s Journey to Official Timing
• First Time at Wuling: A Beginner’s Preparation Journey and Race-Day Report
• Climbing-Specific Training Plan: A Complete 8-Week Wuling Prep Schedule
• Wuling on Your First Try: The Complete Beginner’s Guide to the Western Route