2025 Guangyang Island Cycling Open Kicking Off

At 7 a.m., a river breeze swept across Guangyang Island. With the crack of the starting pistol, 1,500 cyclists from China and abroad set off together, racing through scenic landscapes of lush mountains and clear waters. On May 25, the China Cycling Sports Riding Tour Conference (Jiang Series) Aikewin 2025 Guangyang Island Cycling Open was held in Chongqing.

The event was co-hosted by the Trade and Economic Multifunctional Platform for SCO Countries (SCO TEMP), Chinese Cycling Association, and Chongqing Xitou Culture and Tourism Development Co., Ltd. After over 3 hours of intense competition, more than 200 winners emerged across 4 categories: Men’s Elite, Men’s Youth, Men’s Masters, and Women’s Open.

This marked the second time the China Cycling Sports Riding Tour Conference was held in Chongqing, drawing enthusiastic participants from 12 countries. In the Men’s Elite group, the time gap between the top 30 finishers was just 4 minutes and 17 seconds. Retired cycling champion Wang Qiang, watching from the sidelines, remarked, “Today’s new generation of cyclists execute tactics far more precisely than we ever did.”

The 34.8-kilometer island circuit featured hidden challenges like a 3-kilometer uphill section through a bamboo forest with an average gradient of 6.2%, nicknamed the “breathing test.” The flat section across the island’s ecological wetlands included 8 sharp turns to test the riders’ bike-handling skills. The course designers revealed that to protect over 30 species of rare birds on the island, they specially adjusted the curvature of 3 turns—marking the first use of such eco-friendly race design in China.

Notably, in November last year, following online voting and expert panel review by the Chinese Cycling Association, the Guangyang Island Cycling Route was named one of China’s Most Beautiful Boutique Cycling Routes. “Chongqing boasts a stunning island circuit and professional international cycling clubs. The wetlands and forests are a visual treat. The experience here is pure joy and nature at its best,” said Italian cyclist Jacopo Militello after the race.

Besides professional cyclists, the event also drew many amateur riders. In the Recreational Group, participants ranged in age from 6 to 65, with some three-generation families riding together and sharing the joy of cycling.

“Cycling isn’t just for a select few athletes—we want more people to experience the joy of riding,” said a representative of the Aikewin International Cycling Club under the SCO TEMP. Since its trial operation in August last year, the club has welcomed over 30,000 cycling enthusiasts. By actively organizing themed rides, the club enables cyclists to enjoy speed and excitement while taking in the seasonal scenery.

“Sports and cultural events are not only a platform for competition but also a vital bridge for international cooperation and people-to-people exchange,” said Hu Kaiqiang, Director-General of the SCO TEMP. He emphasized that the event aimed to use cycling as a medium to deeply integrate “sports+” with “trade+”. It not only presented a thrilling and high-speed spectacle for athletes and spectators, but also attracted global attention through its internationalized and high-level competition. The event fully showcased Chongqing’s international image of green ecology, openness, inclusiveness, and vibrant dynamism, thus attracting more domestic and international resources in industry, trade, and culture to converge in Chongqing and injecting new momentum and vitality into the city’s high-quality development.