On May 26, 2019 L’Etape Zhuji was successfully closed with the witness of more than 2000 riders. Hu Hao and Emilie Rochedy won the championship of the men's and women's Championships in the Race of the L’Etape Zhuji. They together with Oscar Pereiro, the 2006 Tour de France champion, Ji Cheng, first Chinese finished Tour de France, Antoine Berlin and other star riders presented an excellent cycling event.

Hu Hao, champion of the Race, at the finish line

 Oscar Pereiro, former Tour de France champion, gave a pre-match interview

L’Etape Zhuji is not only the first stop of L’Etape Asian Tour in 2019, but also the first appearance of the L’Etape series in the Yangtze River Delta region. As a well-respected cycling event in the world, the Race, 133 kilometers across 12 towns and townships, with "Guyue amorous feelings", adhering to the tradition of the Tour de France, long-distance fully closed track, international specifications of security and services, L’Etape Zhuji will show the characteristics of "Guyue track" incisively and vividly. Amaury Sport Organization (A.S.O.) and Activation, the organizers of the event, have successfully re-carved the ultimate experience of the Tour de France through the continuous polishing of the event, so that the riding culture transcends national boundaries and approaches the Chinese people.

More than 2,000 riders set off at the Huansha Bridge in Xishi's hometown

The event was hosted by the Zhuji Municipal People's Government. Xu Liangping, Standing Committee of the CPC Shaoxing Municipal Committee and the Secretary of the Zhuji Municipal Committee, Gu Tao, vice mayor of Shaoxing, Wang Fenxiang, Vice Secretary and Mayor of Zhuji Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, Yao Hansong, Director of the Standing Committee of the Zhuji People's Congress, Guo Haoliang, Chairman of Zhuji Municipal Consultative Conference, Zhou Baolin, Deputy Secretary-General of Shaoxing Municipal Government, Wu Haiming, Director of Sports Bureau of Shaoxing, Francois Victor Noir, head of the French consulate, Clement GALZY, representative of French Amory Sports Association, and Zhou Qi, general manager of Shanghai Activation Sports Development Co., Ltd. attended the opeining ceremony. Xu Liangping, Standing Committee of the CPC Shaoxing Municipal Committee and Secretary of Zhuji Municipal Party Committee, said that in recent years, Zhuji has been adhering to the development policy of "sports+", aiming at developing sports, promoting national fitness and enriching people's spiritual life. On the basis of the marathon and CBA events, the successful holding of L’Etape Zhuji will deepen the new label of "one belt, one road, one city". and speed up the construction of the "Sports City" in Zhuji and promote the upsurge of "sports + tourism".

Competition and Participation: Sharing Landscape and Feelings

The event is divided into 133 km the Racec and 28.6 km the Ride, which are aimed at different levels of riders. The Ride started from Huansha Bridge in Zhuji City, passed through Zhu Luo East Road and Er Huan Road, and finally came to Shan Xia Lake Town. Cycling enthusiasts can enjoy the pleasure of cycling in the atmosphere of the L’Etape and among the most beautiful scenery.

 Star Riders Share Biking Happiness

The Race rides went through Xishi Hometown, a national tourist scenic spot, bustling roads in Zhuji City, Shan Xia Lake Town, the capital of freshwater pearl, Xiyan Scenic Spot, Dongbaihu Lake and the ancient residential buildings of centurial Si House. Riders completed challenges and surpassed themselves in the integration of human landscape and competition.

The contestants rode on the beautiful mountain road in the woods

On that day, many star riders set off their enthusiasm: Oscar Pereiro, the 2006 Tour de France champion, Ji Cheng, first Chinese finished Tour de France, Antoine Berlin and Emilie Rochedy, rising stars of L’Etape and Angel Team from Thailand, added a heat competitive scene to the beautiful humanistic scenery of L’Etape Zhuji.

The Race scene

The L’Etape Zhuji shows Zhuji's local customs and human feelings to the world again. The enthusiastic audience and strong sports atmosphere all show the city charm of "Sports City". The L’Etape series will also become a landmark high-end sports activity in this city. It will empower the city through top sports events and deepen the new label of Zhuji's "one belt, one road, one city".

The crowd surged in the auditorium at the scene

Pure Tour de France Experience, Pure Riding

The L’Etape series, as the most influential mass-participation cycling race in the world, is the only cycling event in China that uses a fully closed track. There are also three four-level climbing points certified by experts of the Tour de France in L’Etape Zhuji, which brings the riders the experience of the Tour de France level. In the purest cycling competition of the 133 km closed track, the riders not only met the beautiful scenery, but also met better themselves.

Enjoy cycling in the beautiful scenery of Jiangnan

In addition, the top 10% of every age group in L’Etape Zhuji will be eligible to participate in the 2020 L'ETAPE CHAMPIONSHIP, and go to France, the birthplace of the Tour de France, to compete with the world's high-level Tour de France enthusiasts. It is worth mentioning that L’Etape Zhuji is also the first practice of the "Million Forest Program". With the help of many riders, the "China Forest of the Tour de France" in the Tengger Desert of Alashan will usher in the first batch of "Earth Riders". The Tour France events in China is continuously contributing to the protection of the natural environment and combating desertification by advocating a low-carbon cycling lifestyle.

2019 L’Etape Zhuji medals

So far, the 2019 L’Etape Zhuji has come to an end perfectly. The Tour de France event in China will continuously improve its competitiveness, ornamentation and interaction to create China's top international cycling racing brand. The next L’Etape Yunnan, Shanghai Criterium deserve everyone's expectation.