RIDING HIGH: OUR EPIC TAIWAN KOM CHALLENGE TOUR 2026

From an easy but thrilling riverside warm up ride in Taipei to the breathless heights of Wuling,  scenic lakeside finish and a fantastic final stage up through the Central Mountains, completing the Taiwan KOM Tour is a true bucket-list accomplishment for any cyclist. 

Ready for action - image by Eason Hong

But beyond the epic roads, what makes this experience unforgettable is the camaraderie, the culture, and the lasting relationships a challenging ride like this fosters. 

Tour Totals at a Glance

Total Distance: 566 km

Total Elevation Gain: 9,562 m

Indeed - image by Eason Hong

A tour like this relies on a firm foundation. Our team worked tirelessly behind the scenes to keep every detail running seamlessly. Their professionalism ensured that all our riders had to focus on was turning the pedals, taking in the sights, and enjoying the ride.

And then there were the descents—thrilling, sweeping downhills that rewarded every meter climbed—and the weather, which turned out to be absolutely glorious throughout the week. Equal to the riding was the food: Taiwan’s incredible local cuisine fueled us every day with unforgettable meals that brought everyone together after long hours in the saddle.it really was one memorable meal after another! The seafood supper at Su’ao and mountain hotpot on the last stage were true highlights. 

Destination Wuling, image by Michael Blann

Most importantly, we saw a group of riders come together from all over the world and look after each other, supporting one another every step of the way. They arrived as guests and they leave as friends.


Stage-by-Stage Breakdown

Stage 1: The Leg Opener

    • Distance: 40.82 km

    • Elevation Gain: 115 m

    • Moving Time: 1:48:51

    • A smooth, flat leg-opener along Taipei's river bikeways in Wanhua District to spin out travel legs

Stage 2: Yangmingshan 

    • Distance: 111.29 km

    • Elevation Gain: 1,893 m

    • Moving Time: 5:06:57

    • A major climb into Yangmingshan National Park featuring the glorious Balaka climb and the thrill of the Yangjin downhill. The monkeys looked on with bemused indifference! 

Image by Eason Hong

Stage 3: The Descent Stole The Day

    • Distance: 111.00 km

    • Elevation Gain: 1700 m

    • Moving Time: 5:08:00

    • Taipein to Su’Ao. A long but shallow climb delivered us with some elan down into ride Yilan, as we flew down a road that seemed to be designed for cyclists, and the coastal ride to Su’ao had us all in a blissful meditative state. The fish supper in Su’ao deserved a Michelin star!

On the way to Su’Ao

Stage 4: Taroko Recon

    • Distance: 67.75 km

    • Elevation Gain: 766 m

    • Moving Time: 3:08:00

    • A recon spin into the marble walls of Taroko Gorge - gasps of astonishment echoed through the valley, such is the wonder of this impressive cathedral of stone. 

Image by Michael Blann

We got humbled

Stage 5: Press Conference Ride

    • Distance: 17.38 km

    • Elevation Gain: 122 m

    • Moving Time: 53m 44s

    • A relaxed ride through Hualien City for photos and pre-event festivities. Though we were not riding the event we had fun and picked up some loot from the stalls. 

Stage 6: The Queen Stage

    • Distance: 87.19 km

    • Elevation Gain: 3,865 m

    • Moving Time: 5:35:00

    • The ultimate test: climbing from sea level to the summit of Wuling in perfect weather conditions. Could not have done better. The crew synched with the riders perfectly, and everyone got up inside 7 hours. 

Image by Michael Blann

Image by Eason Hong

Summit to love

Mission Accomplished!

Stage 7: SML to Shinshe

    • Distance: 70.93 km

    • Elevation Gain: 1,166 m

    • Moving Time: 2:46:00

    • A scenic finale past Sun Moon Lake through Yuchi and Xinshe. No rest for the wicked, however! We finished off the climbing on this epic tour with a little (!) 12km climb. Then is was hotpot for lunch an a 2 hour drive back to Taipei. 

Image by Eason Hong

Lee & Eason

Join Us on the Next Adventure

We would love to welcome you over here to share this incredible place with you. Come experience the high-mountain adventures, the rapid descents, the fantastic local food, and the warmth of Taiwanese hospitality. For us, there is nothing quite like seeing the smile on a rider's face after a day of world-class cycling.

You can check out all of our upcoming tours and details on our website. We’d love to hear from you and get you set up for your next great ride!

Father and Son

Lee Rodgers