1800 CYCLISTS 650KM 5 BRUTAL STAGES: RIDING GRANFONDO YUNNAN IN CHINA – PRICELESS

The week-long point-to-point Granfondo Yunnan in Southeast China brings together some of the country’s best amateur cyclists (and a few foreigners) to compete for top honors, yellow jerseys and daily prize money from November 1-8.

Just like at European grand tours, riders (1800 this year) are encouraged and cheered on daily by thousands of fans lining the 650 kilometer 5 stage race route.

With one stage remaining the top three riders in the overall general classification are only separated by 5 seconds, setting up what is sure to be an epic battle on the last day – a 133 kilometer mountain stage with 2500 meters of vertical ascent.

Chen Hao (TREK RACING TEAM) leads the overall race with a time of 10:10:53, followed by teammate Wang Jin at 10:10:56 and then Zhou ke Qiang (NSVE) at 10:10:58. Li Peng Cheng 10:19:01 and American Joel Bruner 10:21:26 round out the Top 5.

Li Si (NSVE) has control of the women’s race and is almost certainly assured of winning her third Granfondo Yunnan title. With an overall time of 11:14:50 she is over 40 minutes ahead of Gou Yu Xuan 11:55:02 and Qiu Yin 12:05:36.

Complete Granfondo Yunnan stage and general classification results available HERE

But as the old adage goes, images speak louder than words…