Lu Xianjing and the rise of Chinese cycling

CGTN Europe

While China has won eight cycling medals in its Olympic history, it had never even qualified a single rider in the road race discipline – until now, with one pioneering cyclist aiming to inspire a nation.  ‌#china #paris2024 #olympics

Transcript

00:00He's made history just by being in Paris.

00:04Lv Xianjing is the first Chinese cyclist ever to qualify for the Olympic road race.

00:11He will come up against some of the biggest names on two wheels.

00:16Hello everyone, I'm Lv Xianjing from Yunnan, China.

00:24I race for the UCI China Glory Mantec Continental cycling team.

00:29I'm feeling both nervous and excited,

00:32because even participating in the Paris Olympics is a breakthrough for Chinese cycling.

00:37So the pressure is definitely on, but I'm feeling confident.

00:41The Olympic road races start right here on the Point Diana Bridge

00:45with a spectacular view of the Eiffel Tower.

00:48After a punishing 273 km cycle for the men, 158 km for the women,

00:54the first to cross the finishing line right here will take gold.

00:59Far from being out of place among the world's elite,

01:03in 2023 Lv became the first Chinese rider to win a UCI Europe Tour race.

01:09He claimed stage 4 of Turkey's Tour of Saqqara.

01:13And this year had the winning run at the Grand Prix Cedra Ancient City in March.

01:19Lv will compete on the road and mountain bike in Paris,

01:23the first rider from China to do that too.

01:26Guys, watch out on the road.

01:28Sporting director Lionel Marie says he's ready to mix it with the best.

01:33Lv is in the team for the last three years, so we know him very well.

01:38He's one of the best riders in China.

01:40When he has a big goal he's focused and he's training very well

01:43and usually he can reach the goal.

01:46For example, he won the Asia championship on the mountain bike,

01:51but I believe also he would do well on the road

01:55because he showed us his victories in Turkey and also in China.

02:01So he's a guy who needs big goals and he's a fighter.

02:05The China Glory Mentech Continental Team was set up in 2021

02:10backed by the Chinese Cycling Federation

02:13with the aim of qualifying a Chinese rider for the Paris Olympics,

02:17a goal they comfortably achieved.

02:20Now a new generation of elite Chinese cyclists is ready to take on the world.

02:26Ken Brown, CGTN, Paris.

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