One-Day Twin Towers 520km Chronicle: The Ultimate Challenge from Fugui Cape Lighthouse to Eluanbi Lighthouse

What is the One-Day Twin Towers Challenge?

The One-Day Twin Towers Challenge is the most legendary feat in Taiwan’s cycling world—starting from the northernmost Fuguijiao Lighthouse and riding all the way south to the southernmost Eluanbi Lighthouse, covering approximately 520 kilometers, all to be completed within 27 hours.

This is no ordinary long-distance ride; it is an ultimate test of physical endurance, mental willpower, and logistical planning.

Pre-Race Preparation

Physical Preparation (4 Months)

Support Crew

Completing the One-Day Twin Towers Challenge solo is nearly impossible. You will need:

• Support vehicle: At least one car following you, providing food, water, and emergency support
• Drivers: Support vehicle drivers need to take shifts
• Spares: Spare wheels, inner tubes, and supplies

The 520 km Journey

00:00 — Departure (Fuguijiao Lighthouse)

At midnight, we depart after a group photo in front of Fuguijiao Lighthouse. The sea wind is strong, and the temperature is around 18°C. Headlights illuminate ten meters of road ahead; beyond that, total darkness. There is only one thought in my mind: for the next 27 hours, it all comes down to these legs.

00:00-06:00 — Northern Taiwan in the Dark (0-120 km)

Provincial Highway 1 is eerily quiet in the dead of night, with the occasional truck roaring past. We pass through Taoyuan and Hsinchu, reaching Miaoli around 4 a.m. My body hasn’t fully woken up yet, and I keep pedaling on caffeine and adrenaline.

Key data: Average speed 28 km/h, heart rate Zone 2, power at 60% of FTP

06:00-12:00 — Sunrise to Noon (120-270 km)

At 6 a.m., the sun rises over Taichung. The moment sunlight hits my skin, my spirits lift instantly. Passing through Taichung, Changhua, and Yunlin, we reach the vicinity of Chiayi by noon.

By now, 270 km have been covered, and my body is sending out various protest signals: sore butt, stiff neck, numb hands. I stop at a support station for fifteen minutes to stretch, change gloves, and reapply chamois cream.

Key data: Average speed drops to 25 km/h, fatigue beginning to set in

12:00-18:00 — The Most Grueling Afternoon (270-400 km)

These are the toughest six hours of the entire ride. The stretch from Tainan to Kaohsiung feels like a giant oven under the midday sun. Body temperature management becomes the top priority—spraying water on myself every 15 minutes to cool down.

Mentally, I enter the darkest phase. At the 300 km mark, I seriously consider quitting for the first time. My legs have no strength left, my eyelids are heavy, and the pain in my butt has gone from discomfort to constant torment.

A teammate from the support vehicle hands me a can of cola and says, “Only a third left.” For some reason, those words keep me pedaling.

Key data: Average speed drops to 22 km/h, multiple stops to stretch

18:00-24:00 — Sunset to the Finish (400-520 km)

After passing Kaohsiung at 6 p.m., the route turns toward Pingtung. The sunset paints the Pingtung Plain in gold—one of the most beautiful sights of the entire ride. My spirits miraculously recover upon seeing the Pingtung sign—the finish line is ahead.

After entering the Hengchun Peninsula, the sea breeze returns. The final 30 km of coastline glimmers with silver light under the moonlight.

At 10:40 p.m., I see the light of Eluanbi Lighthouse. In that moment, all the fatigue, pain, and doubt vanish. I made it.

Finish time: 22 hours 40 minutes (including rest stops)

Nutrition Log

Nutrition intake throughout the ride:

Total carbohydrate intake: Approximately 1,380g
Total fluid intake: Approximately 12 liters

The Toll on the Body

Physical condition after finishing:

• Butt: Severely chafed despite applying chamois cream three times
• Hands: Numbness in the palms lasted for three days
• Neck: Unable to turn freely for a week
• Legs: Barely able to walk the next day
• Feet: Swollen and painful

But all of this recovers. What remains is a lifetime of memories.

Advice for Aspiring Challengers

1. Logistics are key: Do not attempt the One-Day Twin Towers Challenge without a support vehicle
2. Train thoroughly: Complete at least one 300 km single-day simulation
3. Pace conservatively: If the first 200 km feels too easy, you’re doing it right
4. Mental preparation: You will hit an extreme low between 300-400 km—this is normal
5. Don’t push through injury: Stop if you experience abnormal pain (not just regular fatigue)
6. Enjoy the journey: There are countless beautiful moments in the 520 km ride—don’t forget to look up

Conclusion

The 520 km One-Day Twin Towers Challenge is the craziest, most painful, and most moving experience of my cycling career. It taught me not just how to ride, but about human resilience when facing limits. When you’re on the Pingtung coastline in the dead of night and see the light of Eluanbi Lighthouse flickering in the distance, you’ll understand why people say: the One-Day Twin Towers Challenge—once in a lifetime is enough. But after completing it, you’ll start thinking: when’s the next time?

Related Reading

• Complete Guide to the Taipei-Kaohsiung Twin Towers: Taiwan’s 520 km Double Century Challenge
• Taiwan Twin Towers Challenge Race Analysis: Strategy and Preparation for Extreme Time Trials
• Twin Towers Challenge: Complete Guide from North Lighthouse to South Lighthouse
• Failed One-Day Twin Towers: Collapse and Rebirth in a 200 km Single-Day Ride