Being a 2-day race, Huadong is a special race in the calendar in Taiwan. For us is a very important race, and also a great excuse to go to the beautiful East coast, Hualien and Taitong.
Here some highlights of the race:
Rick on the attack!
One more year we were at the start line in Hualien ready for the Tour of East Taiwan, 300km, 2-day race up and down between Hualien and Taidong, and back.
As usual, the route profile dictated a race in big groups, where is hard to breakaway but easy to follow. I noticed the groups were really bigger this year (basically both days it was just one big group), it seems the average level has increased, the speed was high as well, and I didn’t see dangerous riders or moves as other times.
“Xin Nian Kuai le!”, happy new year! This is the year of the Tiger, it tells me I have to ride more aggressively this time!
However, today I went for an easy ride, on the eve of our reunion for the customary CNY team training camp. The roads were quieter than usual, and I enjoyed the special atmosphere of this holiday. 
No matter how many lanterns I have seen already in my life, I still love the way they hang, swing and light in all places, like this bridge near Taiping (yellow lanterns instead of the usual red ones).
6:30, the sun is coming out already, and getting ready for another great day on the road on my Cinelli Willin’. The preparation before a sunday morning ride is quite of a routine, but one that we, passionate cyclists, really love.
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It is time for some group riding again! This time we had another wonderful day up and down the roads around Sinshe and Dakeng, with road #21 climb (both sides) as the highlight. Or maybe the highlight was to be all together again doing what we like the most!
This time, as part of my winter training, I am riding my mountain bike (Mtb). Not only it is a lot of fun, but you train different muscles and intensity, the upper body has to work harder and you need to practise short-violent accelerations of just a few pedal strokes to roll over steep hills. It is also good for bike-handling skills, specially when it is muddy and slippery as it is here sometimes.
I am back home in the Basque Country, north of Spain, visiting family and friends for Christmas, as usual. But the Cinelli-Ritchey machine doesn´t stop, and I am training for the new 2010 season here.
Last Sunday I rode 4 hours inland direction to Navarra, then up a small mountain to France, then westbound to the coast to return to Hondarribia.
Yeah, Team Cinelli-Ritchey went off-road, but not out of control, this last weekend at Merida Cup in Baiguo Shan near Shetou. And again it was visible at the (extended) podium, with a 7th position finish, behind some top pro riders.
Today we raced the 7th and last race of the Nacional Cycling Club Series to close the 2009 season, and Team Cinelli Ritchey had another success with podium placements in all categories!
Ray was 1st! in RM20, Inigo was 5th and Tim 8th in Elite30 and Rick was 4th in Elite40.
Team Cinelli Ritchey was 3rd in Team classification!
Hey, this is my time to be back home for a while and catch up with family, friends and the roads where I started pedalling many years ago.
Ah, so hot these days. But still the will to pedal is hard, just need to ride somewhere away from the sun. 40 degree when started riding!
The Cinellis can take ‘em! (both the bikes and the riders, eh!)
As there are a few long climb races ahead, we are focusing on climbing training. This time it was Big Snow mountain 大雪山 that saw the black&red armada go by, in another beautiful day in Taiwan.
The long weekend was just another excuse to put on some long and hard training rides, to prepare the upcoming climbing races. The perfect setting was the climb to Ali-shan, better know to many people for the quality of the tea leaves cultivated in there. (more…)
I am back home in Spain for Christmas with my family, but also training well with an eye on 09, on the next racing season.
The 4th round of the national series was held in the North-East coast, home to some steep climbs, windy coastal roads and rain. Tough conditions for some, but Team Fuji was hoping for them as to show the strength of the team. (more…)
訂閱台灣 Team Cinelli Ritchey 車隊 