Multiple grand tour stage winner Simon Yates and Colombian climber Jesus David Peña will head to Taiwan to take on the famous KOM Challenge on Friday 27th October.
The event in the Hualien County sees both amateur riders and professionals tackle a gruelling and unique 87km climb that starts at sea level before topping out at 3,275 metres. The punishing ascent has an average gradient of 3.5% and a maximum of 15.7%, making it one of the toughest hill climbs in the world and a real test for all who take on the challenge. The race, which began in 2012, has seen riders from far and wide travel to Taiwan to test themselves, with former pro Vincenzo Nibali holding the current course record of 3:19:54. The KOM Challenge is an important event for Team Jayco AlUla’s bike sponsor Giant, and the team is excited to represent the brand in their home country with both Yates and Peña hoping to try and take home the victory. Yates had an impressive and consistent 2023 season that started with a stage victory at the Tour Down Under in January and included a fourth-place finish overall at the Tour de France. Meanwhile Colombian climber Peña enjoyed a breakout year with his debut victory at the Tour of Slovenia and an eighth-place finish overall at the recent Tour of Guangxi, his debut WorldTour top-10. Simon Yates:“The Taiwan KOM Challenge is a different style of racing to what we are used to with the race starting at sea level and then climbing to over 3000 metres. There are not many climbs like that and doing a race that is basically one big climb will be a really interesting challenge and totally different to anything I’ve done before. Also, lining up alongside riders of all different levels from all over the world will be a unique experience.
Being in Taiwan will be special for us as a team, it is the home of Giant and it will be nice to represent the brand, meet the people who work behind the scenes and also meet some of the fans out there.” Jesus David Peña:“I’m really excited to be taking on this challenge, I think it is a race that suits me, I am a climber and coming from Colombia I am used to climbing at altitude. I think it is a special event and to do a race that is only uphill is something really different and exciting for me. I have a had a good season and it will be good to end it in a nice way at the Taiwan KOM Challenge.”
2023 Taiwan KOM Challenge – Details:Fri, 27th Oct: Qixingtan, Hualian – WuLing, Mt. Hehuan, 103.5km
