Premier Elite Women’s Road Cycling Race Concludes On Chongming Island

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 (Bernama) -- The Tour of Chongming Island, a premier elite women’s multi-stage road cycling race, concluded on Oct 11, bringing together elite cyclists, amateur riders and fans for a celebration of sport, sustainability and local culture.

According to a statement, the event also forms part of the qualification pathway for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, with riders competing for valuable qualification points.

The race opened on Oct 9 with the 110.4-kilometre Chongzhong Stage, a city circuit race, followed by the 129.4-kilometre Chongdong Stage on Oct 10. The second stage started at Changxing Island Country Park and passed through the centre of Chenjia Town in Dongpatan, a popular section among riders in previous editions.

The race concluded on Oct 11 with the 108.6-kilometre Chongxi Stage. Across the three stages, professional teams competed for the overall title and distinctive leader’s jerseys, with a stage winner crowned each day. Riders covered more than 100 kilometres per stage, with the competition featuring sprint finishes, breakaways and tactical battles.

The route passed several of Chongming’s landmarks and natural attractions, including the Shanghai Yangtze River Bridge, Dongtan Wetland, Xisha Pearl Lake, Chongming New City Park and Changxing Island Country Park.

The race was jointly organised by the Union Cycliste Internationale, the General Administration of Sport of China and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government. The Chinese Cycling Association, Shanghai Municipal Sports Bureau and Chongming District People’s Government hosted the event, with the Shanghai Cycling Association and Shanghai Wansheng Culture & Sports Industry Co Ltd serving as co-organisers.

Following the Tour of Chongming Island, Olympic medallists and UCI world champions will compete at the 2026 Tissot UCI Track World Championships, scheduled for Oct 14 to 18.

Beyond the sporting events, the venue featured a bazaar of local specialities and a tourism experience centre, while free shuttle buses connected central Shanghai with the venue. Ticket holders and participants were also eligible for discounts at major shopping areas, alongside carnivals and other activities.

Chongming offers visitors a different side of Shanghai, with forested landscapes, waterfront scenery and opportunities for outdoor activities. As more major sporting events come to the island, sport is becoming an increasingly important part of its tourism scene, bringing together cycling, culture, commerce and local life.

-- BERNAMA