After multiple years of cancellations and races cut short due to unprecedented weather, one of the world’s most challenging climbing races, Taiwan KOM, changed things up for the 2025 edition and ran a 203 kilometer euro style one-day classic road race.

Taking place at the end of October each year, the race is open to pros, elites, amateurs and enthusiasts. The traditional 105 kilometer KOM route climbs from sea level up, up, up to the top of Wuling Pass at 3275 meters in elevation. But until roads and forests recover from recent devastating storms, earthquakes and landslides racing on the traditional KOM route is on hold.

While including “only” 2300 meters of climbing, this year’s race on 27 October was no less demanding due to its 203 kilometer length.

After catching a redeye flight back from Japan the night before, Taiwan’s top ranked rider Feng Jun Kai (ASTEMO UTSUNOMIYA BLITZEN), 36, won the race in 5:11:38 (he also won on the traditional KOM route in 2021). Li Guan-Xian finished second in 5:12:18 and He Yan-Yi rode onto the last podium spot in 5:12:18.

Fresh off of winning one gold, one silver, and one bronze medal at the Yunlin National Games, 31 year-old Hsu Shu-Wei (A+ CYCLING STUDIO) won the women’s category in 5:51:19. Wu Yu-Feng and Cheng Hsiu-Ju battled all the way to the finish, with Wu powering ahead in the final meters to earn second place by a whisker in 6:24:51.

Complete Taiwan KOM results HERE

Photo Credit: Facebook/taiwankom

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