Cycling: 1,200 riders set to tackle Wuling in the 96 League’s mountain showdown

Around 1,200 cyclists, ranging in age from 12 to 76, will converge on Wuling for the second round of the 2026 96 Cycling League. The field includes about 30 riders from more than 10 countries, including Britain, France, Denmark, Germany and Singapore, turning Taiwan’s best-known cycling climb into the season’s defining mountain battle.

Riders will compete in three categories: the 96 League Wuling round and national-team selection points race, the citizen race, and the 96Heroes Mercedes-Benz Wuling challenge. The format brings elite competition, mass participation and personal challenges together on the same mountain.

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Now the younger riders are performing better, so I will do my best to put them in a better position and focus on helping them.

The selection-points race is drawing particular attention. Nearly 100 UCI riders account for half of the competitive field as they pursue points toward national-team selection. The men’s race could also be unusually open because some of Taiwan’s leading riders are preparing for the Asian Games. Their absence has reshaped the contest and created opportunities for younger riders to challenge for the stage win, selection points and four leaders’ jerseys.

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For the Wuling title, let’s not think about that yet.

Lu Shaoxuan, a former Taiwan representative in the Tour de Taiwan and the first champion of the 96 League, is now dividing his time between racing and coaching. He said his younger teammates are performing better and that his priority is to put them in the best possible position. He is not setting his sights on the Wuling title, joking that he will instead look for chances in the sprint points.

Lu said riders must stay calm and steady over the long climb. The decisive phase could come after Cingjing, roughly 15 kilometers from the finish, when fatigue and team strength become clearer. He has cut his training by more than a third but continues racing while running the King Cycling Club, which offers indoor training, outdoor rides and skills coaching. The league is also expanding its citizen race, with traffic control and professional officials to give riders a safer, more formal racing experience.

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Calmness and stability.