The 2024 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau road cycle race and road cycle test event for the 15th National Games were held yesterday morning.
A total of 23 teams from the mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau, comprising 67 professional male cyclists, participated, with three local cyclists in the mix. The race spanned 230 kilometres, including a 13.5-kilometre section in Macau. Setting off at 9 a.m. from Zhuhai Museum, the cyclists reached the Macau-Zhuhai border at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) at 9:23 a.m., accompanied by police vehicles and ambulances.
After traversing the new Macau Bridge linking Macau Peninsula and Taipa Island, the cyclists turned back upon reaching the Taipa Ferry Terminal in Pac On, returning to the Macau Bridge and then back to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge around 9:41 a.m. They proceeded to Lantau Island in Hong Kong, after which they returned via the HZMB to Zhuhai City where they passed through Hengqin before ending their trip at their starting point, i.e., Zhuhai Museum.
Despite encountering light rain and wet roads, all cyclists safely completed the local segment of the race, according to the Preparatory Office for the Organisation of the Macau Competition Zone of the 15th National Games and the 12th National Games for People with Disabilities. They noted that the local race predominantly ran across both bridge sections, leading to the decision not to install spectator stands for the official race next year. Nevertheless, the preparatory office expressed its enthusiasm for spectators to line the route and support the cyclists next year.
Preparatory Office Director Pun Weng Kun cheered on the cyclists at the Zhuhai-Macau border during the rainy test event. Following the local part of the race’s conclusion, he told reporters that the sports authorities of Guangdong Province, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and local governments together invested efforts in coordinating, inspecting on-site, and overcoming various challenges. He underlined the “smooth” progress of the local race section, meeting anticipated objectives.
Regarding the rain at the start of the race, Pun noted that it was actually ideal for testing, as outdoor events need contingency plans for different weather conditions, which would help accumulate experience for the official race next year.
Macau’s cyclists, finished the race in 30th place and 53rd place, while the third did not finish (DNF).
Cyclists cross the Macau-Zhuhai border at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) yesterday morning. – Photo: William Chan
