Cover Story

You Will Be Captivated by The Hong Kong Cyclothon 2018

November 10, 2018

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How fortunate and grateful we were!

Thanks to Hong Kong Tourism Board, we had an opportunity to taste the merrymaking of cycling with the Sun Hung Kai Properties Hong Kong Cyclothon, together with amateur and professional cyclists from all over the world who took part in leisurely family rides and challenging international races in Hong Kong.

Pedalling through the city along Victoria Harbour

On the 14th October, more than 5,400 cycling professionals and enthusiasts raced through the city of Hong Kong at the annual Sun Hung Kai Properties Hong Kong Cyclothon, organized by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, as the not-to-be-missed event on the international cycling calendar returned for the fourth straight year.

Earlier in the day, thousands of amateur cyclists from Hong Kong and around the world participated in the equally exciting 50km and 30km rides and basked in the breathtaking ride through the diverse cityscape against Hong Kong’s world-famous skyline and fantastic view from three spectacular Hong Kong landmarks: Tsing Ma Bridge, Ting Kau Bridge and Stonecutters Bridge.

Being a spectator, albeit not hopping on a bike, equally felt like an exclusive and unique experience. While patiently and exuberantly waiting for the cyclists to reach the finish line, we promenaded along the waterfront at Victory Harbour as well as Tsim Sha Tsui East Ferry Pier.

Upon the riders’ arrival, we joined the passionate crowds in the Avenue of Stars, Clock Tower, Star Ferry Pier, in the meantime, relishing the fervour of cycling sphere in Hong Kong. All the time, we feel immensely great to have seen how cycling could bond every single individual.

The Hong Kong Cyclothon 2018 brought the first fierce finale of the Hammer Series to Asia

Hammer Series 2018, which kicked off in Stavanger, Norway in May and continued in Limburg, the Netherlands in June, presented the finale in Hong Kong.

This year, 11 UCI WorldTour teams, three Pro Continental teams, and the Hong Kong National Team vied for glory in Hammer Hong Kong, the first and only Asian leg of the revolutionary international professional Hammer Series, a Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Asia Tour Class 1.1 Road Race.

Right after our delectable lunch, we joined up with the bystanders, commentators, and sightseers as the professional cyclists zipped through the downtown in scenic Tsim Sha Tsui, with Victoria Harbour as the backdrop.

Why is Hammer Series different?

It’s all about the team. Traditional cycling races have individual winners, but there are no individual prizes in the Hammer Series.

There will be two team prizes: The Hammer Hong Kong winners on the day, plus the overall Hammer Series 2018 winners. Going into Hammer Hong Kong, Mitchelton-SCOTT led overall, with Quick-Step Floors second and BMC Racing Team third.

How does the Hammer Sprint work?

Ten laps of the 4.3km circuit. Five riders per team. The first 10 riders to cross the start/finish line after each lap earn 100, 81, 66, 53, 43, 35, 28, 23, 19 and 15 points respectively, with double points on laps three, six and 10. The team with the most points wins the Hammer Sprint, with race score determining each team’s starting position for the Hammer Chase.

How does the Hammer Chase work?

This is the decisive race: a team pursuit over five laps totaling 21.5km, with five riders per team. The teams will be split into two groups, the Runner-Up Group, and Finalist Group. The Runner-Up Group consists of teams ranked 15-8 in the earlier Hammer Sprint, setting off at 20-second intervals. The Finalist Group is the top seven teams in the Hammer Sprint, with the winners setting off first, followed at 20-second intervals by their rivals.

Teams in the Finalist Group can challenge for Hammer Chase victory and overall Hammer Hong Kong victory. Teams in the Runner-Up Group can challenge for the Hammer Chase, but not overall victory. The team that completes the course in the fastest time, in either group, will win the Hammer Chase. The team (four riders minimum) first across the finish line in the Finalist Group will be crowned Hammer Hong Kong champions.