Jiaobanshan Devil Slopes: The Climbing Battle at the Taoyuan Stage, Stage 2 of the Tour de Taiwan

Flat-Land Heroes Become Climbing Grunts Here

If the first stage’s Taipei circuit race was a sprinter’s paradise, then the second stage in Taoyuan is their nightmare. Packed into the 123.31 km course are three Category 2 climbs, with a total elevation gain of 1,275 meters. This is the “Queen Stage” of the Tour de Taiwan, and the decisive battleground for the yellow jersey.

Route Analysis

Starting from Zhongli Qingtang Park, the route passes through:

• Xinwu Lotus Garden (flat warm-up zone)
• Zhuwei Fishing Harbor (the smell of seafood is distracting)
• Guanyin Caota Sand Dunes (very windy, very painful)
• Baishajia Lighthouse (photo op? No time for that during a race)
• Yong’an Fishing Harbor (another fishing harbor, getting hungrier)
• Shimen Reservoir (climbing begins, legs start to protest)
• Jiaobanshan (finish line, 438 meters above sea level)

Climbing Report

The Jiaobanshan climb in the final 10 kilometers is decisive. Although the gradient isn’t extreme, after more than 110 kilometers of attrition, every percentage point of grade feels like a brick tied to your legs.

KOM Points (95.14 km Category 2 climb):

1. Yuhi Todome (Aisan Racing Team)
2. Other riders

KOM Points (105.94 km Category 2 climb):

1. Adne van Engelen (Terengganu Cycling Team)

Fox’s Yellow Moment

23-year-old Australian rider Matthew Fox, representing Lotto-Intermarche, showcased his all-rounder capabilities on this climbing stage. He crossed the finish line first in 2 hours 45 minutes 36 seconds, 4 seconds ahead of the chasing group, to take the yellow jersey.

This is his first victory in Asia and also his first win at the WorldTour level.

The Misrouting Incident

But this stage was not without controversy. Around the 10-kilometer mark, two leading riders were led off course by the commissaire’s car. The race was neutralized (yellow flag) at the 110-kilometer point to allow the peloton to regroup. According to regulations, time gaps of less than 30 seconds are not counted.

This incident made the race even more chaotic and gave spectators an extra topic for conversation: “Just how complicated is a route that even the commissaires can get lost on?”

Taoyuan’s Tradition

Taoyuan has hosted a Tour de Taiwan stage for 16 consecutive years, making it the most loyal host among all counties and cities. Since 2011, every Taoyuan stage has brought different challenges and stories.

Taiwanese Riders’ Performance

• He Yan-Yi (Kern Pharma): Suffered cardiovascular issues in the final 3 kilometers, finishing 51 seconds down (30th place)
• Li Ting-Wei: Solo breakaway for nearly 50 kilometers, earning third-place sprint points. Although eventually caught, the fighting spirit was commendable
• Hong Kun-Hong (40 years old): Attempted a solo attack but was reeled in; the veteran’s fighting spirit remains admirable

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