Road

A Chinese photo safari for the UCI’s new adventure: The Tour of Beijing

Gregg Bleakney will be photographing October's Tour of Beijing for VeloNews.com. He recently returning from scouting out the race route in China as a guest of the organizers and the UCI.

Gregg Bleakney

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Editor’s Note: Gregg Bleakney will be photographing October’s Tour of Beijing for VeloNews.com. He recently returning from scouting out the race route in China as a guest of the organizers and the UCI.

A view of the road surface from the first of 4 category 1 and 2 climbs along the Tour of Beijing's queen stage - Stage Three, 162km, Shangyu island to Yongning Town via Thirteen Ming Tombs Reservoir Photo: Gregg Bleakney

BEIJING (VN) — Three hours after arriving from Europe to Beijing I was ushered in a white Mercedes van from my hotel to a mystery dinner location in the city center. After edging through 20 kms of traffic, the driver pulled into an alleyway, exited the van, and began gesturing aggressively at a sinewy security official guarding a small gate. The heated exchanges continued for 15 minutes before he hopped back in the driver’s seat, uttered some choice Chinese profanities, rolled the van forward 15 feet, looked over his shoulder and said,”OK, we here now.” The van’s rear passenger door slid open and there it was: the culinary star of Beijing’s foodie scene and my dining establishment for the evening: Chef Dong’s Braised Sea-Cucumber and Roast Duck Restaurant.

Seated in a private dining hall in the restaurant’s second floor was not only the chef himself, but two round tables full of Chinese officials who, over the past six months, have been intensely focused on one objective: organizing the Tour of Beijing.

Over the next few days, I pre-rode the time trial course, photographed sections of stages 2, 3, and 5, and dropped into Beijing’s thriving bike culture scene via @bikebeijing, which includes a growing mass of both fixed gear hipsters and cash-rich Beijingites eager to blow as much RMB as necessary to pick up the latest high-end carbon frames and swag from abroad. I also met with endless layers of race organizing officials who were keen on making one thing clear: the Chinese are taking the Tour of Beijing very seriously.

2011
A group from the ASO and UCI inspect a potential press center location inside the Water Cube building in Olympic Park. Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
The 11.3 km stage one Time Trial circuit will begin in the plaza in front of the Bird’s Nest in Olympic Park – 2011 Tour of Beijing Scouting Photos – Stage 1 Time Trial, Beijing, China. Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
Olympic Park KM 1 straightaway – Journalists and delegates pre-ride the 2011 Tour of Beijing. Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
Black Mercedes will be provided for VIPs throughout the 2011 Tour of Beijing – Stage 1 Time Trial, Beijing, China. Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
Time Trail Course, KM 8-11, the course winds through a wooded park and then back to the Bird’s Nest finish – Journalists and delegates pre-ride the 2011 Tour of Beijing. Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
Bike lane infrastructure near the Olympic Park Time Trial Start – 2011 Tour of Beijing Scouting Photos – Stage 1 Time Trial, Beijing, China. Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
Stage 4 will pass near the The Great Wall – 2011 Tour of Beijing Scouting Photos – Stage 1 Time Trial, Beijing, China. Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
Policemen debate the security details of Stage 2 at the finish line in Mentougou – Stage 2, 133.5km from the Bird’s Nest in Beijing to Mentougou via North Gate of Summer Palace. Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
Stage 2’s organizing committee reviews and amends the organizational structure of Stage two in Mentougou – Stage 2, 133.5km from the Bird’s Nest in Beijing to Mentougou via North Gate of Summer Palace. Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
A sample stage organizational page pulled from one of hundreds just like it made by Stage 2’s organizing committee – Stage 2, 133.5km from the Bird’s Nest in Beijing to Mentougou via North Gate of Summer Palace. Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
A view from the start of a short climb from stage 2 — 133.5km from the Bird’s Nest in Beijing to Mentougou via North Gate of Summer Palace. Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
The road surface from stage 2’s small climb — 133.5km from the Bird’s Nest in Beijing to Mentougou via North Gate of Summer Palace. Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
Miners walking along the roadside of stage 2 — 133.5km from the Bird’s Nest in Beijing to Mentougou via North Gate of Summer Palace. Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
A man uses a bicycle to haul wood along stage 2 — 133.5km from the Bird’s Nest in Beijing to Mentougou via North Gate of Summer Palace. Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
Stage 2’s Dragon Spring Hotel, Chefs have been trained to cook pasta and rice for the athletes in lieu of aquatic delights pulled live from fish tanks adorning the wall — 133.5km from the Bird’s Nest in Beijing to Mentougou via North Gate of Summer Palace. Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
The start of the first of 4 category 1 and 2 climbs along the Tour of Beijing’s queen stage – Stage Three, 162km, Shangyu island to Yongning Town via Thirteen Ming Tombs Reservoir Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
A bridge along the Tour of Beijing’s queen stage – Stage Three, 162km, Shangyu island to Yongning Town via Thirteen Ming Tombs Reservoir Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
A view of the road surface from the first of 4 category 1 and 2 climbs along the Tour of Beijing’s queen stage – Stage Three, 162km, Shangyu island to Yongning Town via Thirteen Ming Tombs Reservoir Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
A view from the first of 4 category 1 and 2 climbs along the Tour of Beijing’s queen stage – Stage Three, 162km, Shangyu island to Yongning Town via Thirteen Ming Tombs Reservoir Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
One of several Ming Dynasty temples and tombs along the Tour of Beijing’s queen stage – Stage Three, 162km, Shangyu island to Yongning Town via Thirteen Ming Tombs Reservoir Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
A view of the road near the summit of the highest of stage 3’s 4 climbs (our Garmin clocked the summit at 770 meters) – Stage Three, 162km, Shangyu island to Yongning Town via Thirteen Ming Tombs Reservoir Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
The church in the center of stage 3’s finish host town, Yongning – Stage Three, 162km, Shangyu island to Yongning Town via Thirteen Ming Tombs Reservoir. Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
A cyclist in old town — stage 3’s finish host town, Yongning – Stage Three, 162km, Shangyu Island to Yongning Town via Thirteen Ming Tombs Reservoir. Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
A bicycle repairman in stage 3’s finish host town, Yongning – Stage Three, 162km, Shangyu island to Yongning Town via Thirteen Ming Tombs Reservoir. Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
The local organizing committee at dinner with international delegates, stage 3’s finish host town, Yongning – Stage Three, 162km, Shangyu island to Yongning Town via Thirteen Ming Tombs Reservoir Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
Ines Brunn, owner of the Natooke Fixed Gear Bike shop in Beijing and co-founder of China’s Smarter than Car project. Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
New Beijing Bike Culture, the Kappa showroom in Beijing’s trendy Gulou district. Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
One of just a few remaining traditional cycling hair cutters along a side road (near the Second Ring Road) popular with cyclists. Photo: Gregg Bleakney
2011
A display in the Holy Brother Bike Shop, Beijing’s highest end bike shop, which sells premium european brands to Chinese enthusiasts. Photo: Gregg Bleakney

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