The Taiwan Cycling Festival

Since it debuted in 2010, the Taiwan Cycling Festival has continued to bring together world-renowned cycling teams for a weekend of top-class international racing as they compete for the coveted 'Taiwan Cup.'  Created by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, the festival takes place in the Hualien and Taitung counties in eastern Taiwan and is centered around two main events, the Formosa 900 from November 10 - 18 and the Taiwan KOM Challenge on November 10, with a number of smaller cycling events taking place over the course of the week.

Formosa 900

The Formosa 900 is a round-island cycling tour, with a total of ten teams each starting from a different location along the route. This tour is at a leisurely pace so as to ensure cyclists soak up the stunning landscape on the way, including this year's focus, the East Rift Valley. Running from north to south through the pristine Hualien and Taitung counties, the East Rift Valley is framed by the majestic Central and Coastal Mountain ranges and has side roads and bike paths perfect for cyclists of all abilities. Participants on the Formusa 900 will also get to experience Ruisui Hot Springs, historical architecture such as the Guanshan Railway Station and the stunning scenery along the Country Route No.193.

The Formosa 900 takes place from November10 - 18 2013. Each team has a limit of 30 members, and each biker pays NT$30,000pp (approximately £636) to participate. This includes insurance, accommodation, meals, bike repair/maintenance support.

For more information, visit taiwanbike.tw/bike/event/2013/F2.html

Taiwan KOM Challenge

An international race for experienced cyclists, the KOM Challenge starts in the picturesque Qixingtan area in the east coast city in of Hualien, and directs riders through the infamous Taroko National Park. Beginning at sea level, the race covers 100km with a variety of challenging sections on the way, including the steep climb up the Central Cross Island Highway, with the race finishing at the road's highest point of 3,275 metres.

The Taiwan KOM Challenge attracts numerous cycling pros due to its challenging nature and also the outstanding scenic backdrop throughout the race. British pro, Lee Rodgers comments on his experience of the KOM Challenge back in 2011: 'It was, in the end, breathtakingly beautiful yet incredibly tough... This is a race that more people should know about, because it is absolutely unique...'

The Taiwan KOM Challenge is being run on November 10 2013 and is an international race for advanced cyclists above the age of 16.

For more information, visit taiwanbike.tw/bike/event/2013/F1.html

As well as the two main events, there are also a number of smaller events taking place throughout the country as part of the Cycling Festival:

Bike Tour of Tribal Villages and Xiuguluan River Rafting

With its beautiful coastline, the East Coast of Taiwan provides the perfect environment for leisurely cycling routes. This two day bike tour takes place on November 16-17 and involves cycling the Provincial Highway No11 that connects Hualien County to the Taitung County. Throughout the expedition, cyclists will pass through various tribal villages where there will be the opportunity to do a tribal tour to learn about the Taiwanese aboriginal culture and there will also be a chance to go white water rafting in The Xiuguluan River located in the Central Mountain Range.

For further information on the cycling routes in Taiwan, visit bike2taiwan.net/en/