On October 15, the 2024 Yongda Tianheng·Cuo Ming Island International Women’s Road World Tour kicked off with its first stage, the Chongxi stage, spanning 108.9 kilometers. The race featured 18 teams and 99 professional cyclists vying for supremacy. After more than two hours of intense competition in the rain, Mirlen De Soto of the Team WNT emerged victorious, crossing the finish line first to claim the stage champion title while also donning the yellow jersey for the overall best time. Among Chinese competitors, Qi Wenjia from the Badery Intercontinental Women’s Team achieved the best result, finishing sixth.
The Chongming Island International Women’s Road World Tour has become a hallmark event not just for Shanghai but for the entire country, typically taking place in the second week of October. This year’s roster includes top women’s world tour teams, continental teams, and the national team of China, featuring the 2023 team champion Roland Team and the individual champion UAD Team.
The racecourse showcases the natural environment and ecological advantages of Chongming, with key segments crossing the Yangtze River Bridge, the Chenjia Town Bicycle Theme Park, the Shanghai Sports Training Base, Dongtan Wetland Park, and the Xisha Mingzhu Lake Scenic Area. This route is designed to highlight Chongming’s unique ecological features, presenting a new vision of world-class ecological development to the globe.
The Chongxi stage began at the New Town Park on Chongming Avenue. For this segment, two sprint points were set at 46.3 kilometers (Ruihua Orchard) and 83.2 kilometers (Xisha Village Park), along with a Category 4 climb at the 16.4-kilometer mark (Pigeon Dragon Port Bridge). The stage was primarily flat, with an average elevation between 10 to 15 meters. However, the morning rain created slippery conditions, adding extra challenges for the cyclists.
As the race began, light rain re-appeared, making the roads even slicker, prompting the riders to adopt a cautious approach. Although there were early breakaways, the cyclists soon regrouped within the main pack. The first sprint point saw a flurry of competition, with Mirlen De Soto of Team WNT being the first to reach it, followed closely by teammate Marta Lach in third.
After the first sprint, the riders formed a large group as they approached the second sprint point. Though a 15-member breakaway formed briefly, they were quickly caught by the pack. Once again, Team WNT showcased their strength, with Marta Lach taking the lead at the second sprint point, while teammate Kathrin Schweinberger trailed in third.
As the finish line approached and the rain continued, the riders moved carefully as their teams prepared for a collective sprint. With just 3 kilometers remaining, all the teams were ready to unleash their sprinters.
In a thrilling finish, Mirlen De Soto surged from the right side of her teammate, narrowly claiming victory with a time of 2 hours, 29 minutes, and 7 seconds. Alongside her stage win, she donned the yellow jersey, symbolizing the overall leader, and added the green jersey for the best sprinter, earned through her performance at the first sprint point and the finish. The polka dot jersey for the best climber went to Carolina Kumiyeh of the UAE ADQ Women’s Team, while Sophie Van Ruyan of the VWT Team was awarded the white jersey for the best young rider.
On October 16, the event will continue with the second stage, the Chongdong stage, starting at Changxing Island Wilderness Park and concluding at Chongming New Town Park, covering a distance of 129 kilometers — the longest stage of the competition, featuring two sprint points and one climb.
The event is organized by the International Cycling Union, the National Sports Administration, and the Shanghai Municipal Government, with support from the Chinese Cycling Association, the Shanghai Sports Bureau, and the Chongming District Government, alongside the Shanghai Cycling Sports Association and Shanghai Wansheng Cultural Sports Industry Co., Ltd.
