Hung Kun-hung: The Ageless Legend Still Breaking Away in the Tour de Taiwan at 40

What Is a 40-Year-Old Man Doing? Fighting 20-Year-Olds on a Mountain

In the Chinese Taipei national team at the 2026 Tour de Taiwan, one rider’s age stands out in particular—Hung Kun-hung, 40 years old.

Let’s make a comparison:

• The youngest Taiwanese rider in the Tour de Taiwan, Huang Wei-cheng: 19 years old
• Hung Kun-hung: 40 years old
• Age gap: 21 years

When Huang Wei-cheng was born, Hung Kun-hung had already been racing professionally for several years.

The Solo Attack at the Taoyuan Stage

At Stage 2, the Taoyuan Stage, on the climb up Jiaoban Mountain, Hung Kun-hung did something that surprised everyone (including his own teammates)—a solo attack.

In the dictionary of a 40-year-old rider, the term “solo attack” has usually already been crossed out. Most veteran riders at this age choose to sit safely in the peloton, avoiding unnecessary energy expenditure.

But Hung Kun-hung is not “most” riders.

He accelerated away from the group, pedaling desperately alone on the mountain road. Spectators were probably thinking: “Is this guy crazy?”

In the end, he was caught—which was to be expected. One man against the entire peloton is almost impossible to pull off at the level of the Tour de Taiwan. But he tried, and that in itself is a victory.

The Secret to Still Riding at 40

Research shows that a cyclist’s VO2max (maximal oxygen uptake) declines by about 1% per year after age 30. This means that at 40, Hung Kun-hung may physiologically have only about 85% of the aerobic capacity he had at 25.

But experience and wisdom can compensate for part of the physiological decline. Knowing when to conserve energy and when to push hard—that kind of judgment is something young riders can’t buy with money.

Cycling’s Ageless Legends

Hung Kun-hung is not the only veteran pro rider:

Why Is He Still Riding?

What drives a 40-year-old to keep competing in professional cycling?

Maybe it’s a pure love of the sport. Maybe it’s unwillingness to give up. Maybe it’s the desire to set an example for young riders. Or maybe it’s simply that he can still ride, so he keeps riding.

Whatever the reason, a 40-year-old veteran attempting a solo breakaway on the climbs of the Tour de Taiwan is itself one of the most moving sights of the race.

Encouragement for Middle-Aged Riders

If you’re also a 40-year-old (or older) cycling enthusiast, Hung Kun-hung’s existence is the best motivation:

1. Age is just a number (okay, it’s also a physiological reality, but you know what I mean)
2. Experience is your weapon: young riders have strength, you have wisdom
3. Enjoy the process: you don’t have to win, but you do have to ride
4. Take care of your body: recovery, stretching, and nutrition matter more than when you were younger
5. Dare to try: anyone who can still launch a solo attack at 40 can do anything

Hung Kun-hung’s story tells us: Cycling is not a young person’s sport—it’s a sport for all brave people.

Related Reading

• Taiwan’s Nine Warriors: The Battle of the Tour de Taiwan National Team and Overseas Riders
• 19-Year-Old Huang Wei-cheng’s Cramp Diary: Survival Rules for a Tour de Taiwan Rookie
• Li Ting-wei’s 50 km Solo Ride: The Bravest Breakaway Attempt at the Tour de Taiwan
• Feng Chun-kai’s 17th Tour de Taiwan: 17 Years of Riding from Youth to Legend