Hundreds of overseas bikers join round-the-island cycling event

Taipei, Nov. 11 (CNA) The annual round-the-island cycling event kicked off in Taiwan on Saturday, with strong participation by bikers from abroad, according to the Tourism Administration.

At the start of the "Formosa 900" event, some 1,212 cyclists, included 427 from overseas, set off from various Taiwan cities on a 900-kilometer ride around the country, which is expected to take nine days, the tourism agency said.

The starting points for the 1,212 cyclists included Taipei, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, which allow for scenic rides on provincial highways No. 3 in the west and No. 11 in the east, and also the challenging Provincial Highway No. 14A that leads to Wuling mountain, according to the agency.

During the tour Nov. 11-19, it is hoped that the cyclists from countries like Canada, Singapore, Malaysia and Japan would have a chance to explore Taiwan, the tourism agency said, noting that the event had been closed to foreign participants during Taiwan's COVID-19 lockdown, which ended late last year.