TAIWAN KOM CHALLENGE TOUR 2024

THE PERFECT TOUR FOR RIDING THE TAIWAN KOM CHALLENGE

& EXPLORING THE BEAUTIFUL COASTS OF TAIWAN

KOM ENTRY GUARANTEED

THE ONLY OFFICIAL TAIWAN KOM CHALLENGE TOUR

October 2024 / 19th - 26th

7 Nights / 8 Days

Minimum 6 RIDERS

7 Days Riding

$2960 US Per Person

ORGANISED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TAIWAN CYCLIST FEDERATION

REVIEW

‘Great!! Fantastic!!  Mission Accomplished! My initial objective was to race the Taiwan KOM and finish within the 6.5hr time cut.  Taiwan KOM Cycle Tours offered automatic entry to the Taiwan KOM event, plus gave me the opportunity to experience other amazing places. Lee was phenomenal with managing the tour logistics. 

I was able to take advantage of Lee’s many years’ racing and Taiwan KOM experience, and come away a better rider for it.

Taiwan KOM Cycle Tours 100% delivered.  I obtained my Taiwan KOM goal, but ultimately had an adventure of a lifetime!!’  

Scott Ballinger, Australia

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

• TAIWAN KOM CHALLENGE ENTRY GUARANTEED

• Taiwan KOM Official Jersey & Goodie Bag

• Transport from Taoyuan Airport to hotel in Taipei

• Shuttle bus to Taipei from KOM finish line on Race Day

• 7 nights hotel

• Daily Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

• Ride with the Pros

• Van Support with Mechanic

• Highly Experienced Tour Leader & Support

• $2960 US p.p.

• Non-Cycling Companion Price on request

  
  

TOUR OVERVIEW:

You want to ride the Taiwan KOM Challenge 2024, to line up alongside the professionals and see how you will fare on one of the world’s longest, toughest and most beautiful climbs?

Would you like to have everything taken care of from hotel pick up and drop off, hotels booked, great dining and cultural experiences provided, and get the chance to open up the legs after you arrive on incredible roads amongst some of the best cycling terrain in all of Asia? Well, if so, this is the tour for you.

On this, our 2024 Taiwan KOM Challenge Tour, hosted in conjunction with the Taiwan Cyclist Federation, organisers of the KOM event, not only will we take care of all the entry requirements for the race (with your KOM Challenge entry guaranteed), we will also be on-hand in Taipei to meet you and ensure that the trip from there on in is as hassle-free as it can possibly be.

We’ve planned this tour to provide you with an easy day’s ‘jet-lag’ ride in Taipei, to sample the stunning cycling on offer amongst the extinct volcano range that is Yangmingshan National Park, and with we continue the tour along some of the best roads that Taiwan has to offer as we head eastwards to Yilan City for a stay at an onsen hotel. We will then climb on Day 4 out of Yilan to Li-shan, a beautiful climb that allows you, on Day 5, to ride down the route of the Taiwan KOM Challenge. This provides a wonderful opportunity to see the route in a relaxed manner and take some photos of the outstanding natural beauty that is Taroko Gorge. The same day we arrive in Hualien City, start city of the KOM, to acclimatise and get ready for Friday, race day. We will meet with the race organisers and also have an opportunity to meet and cycle with the invited pro riders on an exclusive VIP ride to recce the start of the Taiwan KOM Challenge, or, alternatively, to ride an easy route out to Liyu Lake. This day’s ride is optional as some may prefer to rest.

We will have a support van with us also, as well as our experienced guides who live and work in Taiwan.

After race day on the Friday, we will head back to Taipei and assist with your departure from the airport and with any hotel bookings for those wishing to extend their trip.

This tour has been designed to be as breathtaking as possible, taking you past glistening ocean, alongside rice paddies and up along the rims of extinct volcanos of Yagmingshan. In Hualien we will experience the local Amis Aboriginal culture, try the local cuisine, and finally ride the Taiwan KOM Challenge.

COST:

$2960 per person

(+$400 single room supplement)

ITINERARY:

DAY 1  /  October 19th

Hotel Location: Taipei

Distance: 35km

Elevation: 0m

Estimated Duration: 2 hours

Route: Hotel to the Bike Path and return  

Grading: Easy

Arrival day in Taiwan. We will pick you up at the airport and aid with check in at the hotel in Taipei. For those arriving in time, we will have a short 35-40km ride along Taipei’s excellent riverside bike path to freshen the legs. In the evening we will visit a local night market.

DAY 2  /  October 20th

Hotel Location: Taipei

Distance: 109km

Elevation: 1850m

Estimated Duration: 5 Hours

Route: Taipei Hotel - Tamsui -  Yangmingshang Park - Baishawan - Balaka - Taipei Hotel

Grading: Moderate / Challenging

Meeting Point / Departure Time: Hotel Lobby 8am

Day 2 of the tour, we will meet in the hotel lobby to ride the locally famous ‘FGZ’ climb, then along the coast on flat roads before turning to ride up a beautiful, fairly gentle climb up to Erziping Visitor Center atop Yangmingshan National Park. After refreshments we will begin the long descent back towards the city.

DAY 3  /  October 21st

Hotel Location: Yilan Hot Springs

Distance: 105km

Elevation: 1433m

Estimated Duration: 4.5 hours

Route: Taipei - Pingxi - Jiufen - Yilan

Grading: Moderate

Meeting Point / Departure Time: Taipei Hotel Lobby at 8am

A winding route will take us into the jungle and on glorious roads that connect up beautiful Jiufen and one of Taiwan’s most spectacular roads, Ruishang Road. From there we will cycle along the coastal road past Waiao Beach and to the hot spring area, located just outside of Yilan City. 

DAY 4 / October 22nd

Hotel Location: Lishan

Distance: 73km

Elevation: 2527m

Estimated Duration: 4.5 hours

Route: Yilan - Lishan

Grading: Moderate

Meeting Point / Departure Time: 7am Yilan Hotel Lobby

A great introduction to the big climbs of Taiwan! This is a relatively moderate climb which can be ridden at an easy pace or faster, it’s up to each individual rider. A quiet road, there are many opportunities to take in the lush views and to take some selfies too. We will arrive at Lishan town, a sleepy mountain spot that offers great views. 

DAY 5  /  October 23rd

Hotel Location: Hualien

Distance: 77km

Elevation: +506m / -3040m

Estimated Duration: 4 hours

Route: Dayuling - Taroko Gorge - Taroko Gate - Hualien

Grading: Easy but be careful on this long descent

Meeting Point / Departure Time: Lishan Guesthouse 8am

A special day on a special route, with almost 73km of descending! Enjoy the spectacular views of Taroko Gorge as you coast down the mountain to Taroko Gate, the entrance to the Gorge. This will be a relaxing day that will live long in the memory. Special care of course is advised on this long descent.

DAY 6 / October 24th

Hotel Location: Park View, Hualien

Distance: 62km

Elevation: 614m

Estimated Duration: 3 hours

Route: Park View Hotel - Liyu Lake - Park View

Grading: Easy

Meeting Point / Departure Time: Park View Hotel 9am

A relaxed ride that takes in the biggest lake on the east coast, Liyu Tan, and a gorgeous rolling road on the way back, followed by a beachside bicycle path cruise. Note: a day off is also possible in preparation for the following day’s KOM event.

DAY 7  /  October 25th

Hotel Location: Hualien

Distance: 105km

Elevation: 3275m

Estimated Duration: 6.5 max

Route: Park View Hotel - Start Point - KOM Summit!

Grading: Very Challenging

Meeting Point / Departure Time: Park View Hotel at 5am, event start at 6am

The Big One! This is the must-do ride in Taiwan. The first 75km are a not-too-bad 4%, the last 8km though are where the effort really kicks in. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime event! After the finish and food, we head back to Taipei.

DAY 8 / October 26th

The final day of the trip. No hotel is provided for this day, if further accommodation is required please let us know and we will book rooms for you.