Granfondo-style cycling is an integral part of Nordic Ways Beijing's arsenal of sports events and will become increasingly prominent as the road bike scene in China develops. Last year's inaugural Granfondo Yanbian in Jilin was called a superb new experience by many a Chinese and expat cyclist. In a Granfondo event, some riders race each other as in a regular bike race, but most of all the focus is on the individual performance of every participant over a typically long and challenging course.
After the inaugural edition of Vatternrundan China in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in Jilin, preparations are already under way to make next year's edition even more spectactular. To this end, an agreement of intent has been signed by Nordic Ways Vasa (Sweden), the people's government of Yanbian (P.R. China) and People's Committee of Rason City in D.P.R.Korea. A major step for Yanbian and the whole DPRK border region and
China's Feng Kuan Jie attacked at the right time to claim victory in the 2012 Vatternrundan China race over 156 km from Yuantou to Helong. Known for accumulating second and third places, the Team Triace ace left his four break-away companions behind in the outskirts of Helong and was clearly overjoyed as he crossed the finish line under loud applause from the massive crowd. Sweden's Annie Thoren outsprinted Russia's Ekaterina Abrosimova to win the women's race.
Fantastic weather and little wind made the first Granfondo Yanbian a major success and superb experience for all participants. After 183 kilometres from Yanji to Erdao Baihe on the foothills of Changbai Shan, Russian Sergei Palchenko proved the strongest rider of a 13-men breakaway group and ultimately dropped Chinese star Wang Lei to arrive solo at the finish in 5 hours 16'55". Feng Kuan Jie came just too late to snatch second place away from a fading Lei.
The curtain of the Granfondo Yanbian falls to the floor at 4 o'clock 23rd Aug while the petition arrived the Gen hotel in Erdao Baihe.
As the latest statistics, 382 players took part in the first day's race. 289 participatory finished 45km cycling and 37 riders crossed the 100km's finish line, 56 heroes conquered 183km brilliant riding.
After a hiatus of two years, the Vatternrundan brand returns to China with the inaugural event in the Yanbian Korean Prefecture in eatern Jilin Province next week. But what does Vatternrundan stand for exactly? Time to refresh our minds a little.
The preparation for the 2012 Vatternrundan China Cycling and Tourism Festival has entered the final stage. This upcoming Thursday Yanji - the capital of the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in Jilin Province - will launch the festivities and set hundreds of riders on their way, of which many to Erdao Baihe, 185km down south on the foothills of Changbai Shan.
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