Feng Chun-kai's 17th Tour de Taiwan: 17 Years of Riding from Youth to Legend

When the Tour de Taiwan Becomes Your Annual Family Gathering

Some people return home for Lunar New Year every year. Some people celebrate their birthday at the same restaurant every year. And Feng Chun-kai? He returns to the Tour de Taiwan every year.

In 2026, it will be his 17th time.

What Does 17 Years Mean?

Let’s make some interesting comparisons:

From the birth of smartphones to the proliferation of artificial intelligence, Feng Chun-kai has pedaled his way through an entire era of technological revolution.

Feng Chun-kai Profile

From National Team to Japan-Based Rider

Feng Chun-kai’s professional career has spanned the most important period in the development of Taiwanese cycling. He represented the Chinese Taipei national team in numerous international events before moving to Japan to ride for Utsunomiya Blitzen, making a name for himself in Asia’s professional cycling scene.

Returning to the Tour de Taiwan every year is more than just a race for him—it’s like “coming home.” Taiwan’s roads, Taiwan’s wind, Taiwan’s spectators—these are the racing elements he knows best.

The Special Significance of 2026

This year’s Tour de Taiwan returns to Hualien and Taitung, and Feng Chun-kai may be one of the few riders who personally rode the last Hualien-Taitung stage (15 years ago). As he once again steps onto the “Highway of Happiness” along Provincial Highway 9, one wonders whether memories from 15 years ago will surface in his mind.

Passing the Torch with Teammate Tu Chih-hao

Tu Chih-hao (28), who also rides for Utsunomiya Blitzen, is Feng Chun-kai’s “junior” on the team. The two Taiwanese riders support each other within the Japanese squad and fight side by side on the Tour de Taiwan.

This cross-generational passing of the torch is precisely the most precious asset of Taiwanese cycling.

Can a 37-Year-Old Still Ride?

In the world of professional cycling, 37 is already “advanced age.” Most riders start considering retirement around 32-35. But Feng Chun-kai is clearly not among the “most.”

Of course, a 37-year-old body can’t be the same as it was at 25. Explosive power declines, recovery slows down, and the risk of injury increases. But experience and racing intelligence are things young riders simply cannot match.

In a stage race like the Tour de Taiwan, knowing when to conserve energy, when to attack, when to stay with the peloton, and when to let go—these instincts are the crystallization of 17 years of racing experience.

The Next Milestone

If Feng Chun-kai keeps riding, 2027 will be his 18th Tour de Taiwan. By then, he’ll be 38.

The 20th time? That would be 2030, when he’s 41.

In the world of cycling, anything is possible. After all, his teammate Hung Kun-hung is still attempting breakaway attacks at the Tour de Taiwan at age 40.

A Tribute to a Legend

Regardless of the final results, Feng Chun-kai’s 17th Tour de Taiwan is itself a legend. In an era obsessed with immediate results, his 17 years of persistence tell us this: Greatness isn’t just about winning races—it’s about showing up at the starting line year after year.

Thank you, Chun-kai. See you next year.

Related Reading

• Taiwanese Cyclists on the International Stage: Feng Chun-kai, Huang Ting-ying, and the New Generation’s Challenge
• Hung Kun-hung: The Ageless Legend Still Attacking at 40 in the Tour de Taiwan
• Tour de Taiwan History: The Evolution from a Domestic Invitational to a UCI 2.1 Race
• Stories of Taiwan’s Outstanding Cyclists: Taiwanese Riders on the International Stage