{"id":18243,"date":"2024-11-25T03:18:44","date_gmt":"2024-11-25T03:18:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.firstcomponents.com\/?p=18243"},"modified":"2024-11-25T03:18:45","modified_gmt":"2024-11-25T03:18:45","slug":"taiwan-kom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.firstcomponents.com\/de\/taiwan-kom\/","title":{"rendered":"The Taiwan KOM\u2014The World&#8217;s Toughest Climbing Event?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Updated yearly<br><em>Last update Nov 25 2024<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since 2012 the cycling event known as the Taiwan KOM has been gaining prominence year after year and is listed as a must-do on many serious cyclist\u2019s schedule of events to attend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Considered by many to be among the hardest cycling climb events, elite cyclists from the pro peloton, serious recreational cyclists and casual cyclists turn up every year in late October to cycle 105km from sea level to a mountain pass\u2014Wuling\u2014that sits astride the Central Mountain Range at an altitude of 3,275m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2><strong>Contents<\/strong><\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#background-to-the-taiwan-kom\">Background to the Taiwan KOM<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#stages-of-the-taiwan-kom\">Stages of the Taiwan KOM<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#key-cyclists-and-rides-across-the-years\">Key Cyclists and Rides Across the Years<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#john-ebsen\">John Ebsen<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#cadell-evans-and-vince-nibali\">Cadell Evans and Vince Nibali<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#benjamin-dyball\">Benjamin Dyball<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#feng-jun-kai\">Feng Jun-kai<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#ultra-cyclist-rides-the-event-4-times-in-a-row\">Ultra Cyclist Rides the Event 4 Times in a Row<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"background-to-the-taiwan-kom\"><strong>Background to the Taiwan KOM<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br>There has been a bit of myth making going on in Taiwan where the island has come to be defined as the \u201ccycling island\u201d. The country has been long known as the \u201cKingdom of Bicycles\u201d due to the prominence of the bicycle components manufacturing and complete bicycle manufacturing and assembly industry, one of the top three industries in Taiwan.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A coexisting image has been the \u2018island of scooters\u2019, which references the popularity of the locally built Sym and Kymco, scooters (Yamaha and a few others fill out the range).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Taiwan\u2019s populace has had a decades-long love affair with the 100cc or 125cc scooters that are cheap to purchase, cheap to run and solve the problem of parking in Taiwan\u2019s compact conurbations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The release of the movie Island Etude in 2006 saw it turn into an unlikely hit in 2007 and 2008. The story focuses on a six-day bicycling trip around the island by a hearing impaired student toting backpack and guitar, no panniers in sight. The narrative thread comprises encounters with various interesting characters along the way and inadvertently presented biking as a romantic escape from worldly cares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Up to this point, cycling in Taiwan was utilitarian. A bike got kids to school and some adults to work. But scooters, cars, and busses ruled the roads. And they still do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The movie set off a cycling boom in Taiwan and May 2008 saw the inaugural cycling festival to celebrate the \u201cKingdom of Bicycles\u201d which would begin to morph into the idea that Taiwan was also a cycling \u201cparadise\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The \u201caround island\u201d bicycle trip of some 1000km, taking it\u2019s cue from Island Etude\u2019s protagonist, became enshrined as a bucket list item. Since then bikeways have been built in various locations around the island seemingly making fact out of the cycling \u201cparadise\u201d fiction\u2014the truth is cars and busses rule the roads everywhere as most consistent sports or recreational cyclists will tell you most of whom have been pushed into the curb by busses pulling into a stop or cars turning right and enforcing their (non) right of way (to name but a few issues).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A further development of this nascent cultural movement resulted in 2010\u2019s inaugural Taiwan Cup. This low key event was followed in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/globalnation.inquirer.net\/17013\/world-class-cycling-teams-compete-at-the-2011-taiwan-cup-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2011 by a complete a pro-am event<\/a>&nbsp;held over several days and culminating in a road race down Route 9 and back up Route 11 on the final Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"610\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/www.firstcomponents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/rabobank-hulien-2011.jpg\" alt=\"Rabobank cycling team\" class=\"wp-image-18241\" style=\"width:646px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.firstcomponents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/rabobank-hulien-2011.jpg 610w, https:\/\/www.firstcomponents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/rabobank-hulien-2011-300x251.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.firstcomponents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/rabobank-hulien-2011-14x12.jpg 14w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was a big day with the star attraction an offshoot of the (then) mighty Rabobank featuring the soon to be disgraced Carlos Barredo and a young Wilco Kelderman, who has gone on to much bigger things in the years since.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"950\" height=\"703\" src=\"https:\/\/www.firstcomponents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/king-liu-cycling.jpg\" alt=\"King Liu Cycling in Dajia\" class=\"wp-image-18242\" style=\"width:663px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.firstcomponents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/king-liu-cycling.jpg 950w, https:\/\/www.firstcomponents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/king-liu-cycling-300x222.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.firstcomponents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/king-liu-cycling-768x568.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.firstcomponents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/king-liu-cycling-16x12.jpg 16w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Giant\u2019s founder and CEO King Liu on a late afternoon ride in 2010<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Articulating his vision of Taiwan as a \u201ccycling island\u201d, founder and then CEO of Giant International, King Liu, had himself become a keen cyclist. He could be seen on the day wandering around mingling with the cyclists, pleased that this element of his vision was shaping up nicely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, if you want to attract international attention, you don\u2019t send cyclists in a circle around the county\u2014you send them up the leg-buckling Route 8 to the pass at Wuling nestled between the three peaks of Mt. He Huan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The \u201cTaiwan KOM\u201d was born in 2012 and, apart from the 2024 washout due to torrential rain and the Covid years prior, it\u2019s been held every year since.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"stages-of-the-taiwan-kom\"><strong>Stages of the Taiwan KOM<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br>The initial rollout commences from the Qixingtan scenic park adjacent to the Airport at Hualien on Taiwan\u2019s central east coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images-archive.giant-bicycles.com\/remote\/www.giant-bicycles.com\/_upload\/news\/2017\/LivCampaigns\/KOMChallenge_route.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:665px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The race really begins with the left turn at the Central Cross Island highway. 85km remain until the top at Wuling pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mountain climb begins at Tianxiang located at the West end of the Gorge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The gradient increases with the road winding up in a series of mild switchbacks along a shallow valley that retreats north then hooks around south at the 158km (from Taichung) mark, the road turns 90 degrees and the direct ascent towards Wuling pass begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can look straight down at Tianxiang far below and the valley only deepens the further you climb the goat track cut into the side of the ridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A key landmark is the Bilu Giant tree located at around the 3\/4 mark and 2000m of elevation of the climb from the entry to the Taraoko Gorge.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/tour-hualien-ws.hl.gov.tw\/001\/Upload\/437\/relpic\/12369\/4255\/64a4cdbe-bfe9-488a-94a4-32275e257fe8.png\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:684px;height:auto\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">At this hairpin, the road aims straight up at the finish<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The road hooks around sharply yet the gradient is still fairly mild especially in comparison to what lies ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Times are recorded for all riders making it this far. Elite cyclists are not yet under a lot of stress, although regular cyclists may choose to drop out at this point. If you are not feeling good here, the likelihood of making the finish at Wuling is slim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you know the route, you know that the really hard kms are just ahead once the Dayuling intersection 15.6km ahead is passed. Dayuling is the point at which the Route 8 road from Taichung (alternate route long closed) and Yilan terminates at the end of a single lane tunnel on the central cross island highway. The turnoff provides a brief level section and marks the point where the final 10.2 km to the finish commences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Times are also recorded at Dayuling since this is where the strongest riders and the top 10 on the day separate themselves from the dwindling peloton containing all the contenders on the front.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">750m from the Dayuling intersection just past the 41km road sign is one of the fiercest ramps in what even the elite cyclists label the most nightmarish section up until that point. 300m @ 27.3% requires total dedication and concentration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is one more ramp ahead although not quite as bad. Yet the overall gradient over the final 10km is reportedly around 17%. (You&#8217;ll want to make sure your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstcomponents.com\/bike-crank-arm\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cranks<\/a> are up to the task [quite apart from your legs]).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.firstcomponents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/dayuling-ramp.png\" alt=\"Dayuling steep section\" class=\"wp-image-18240\" style=\"width:684px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.firstcomponents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/dayuling-ramp.png 640w, https:\/\/www.firstcomponents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/dayuling-ramp-300x234.png 300w, https:\/\/www.firstcomponents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/dayuling-ramp-15x12.png 15w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The aspect you\u2019ll remember halfway through the ascent of this particular ramp are the tires insulating the wall from vehicles experiencing brake failure hurtling down in the opposite direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The view back down the valley along which you\u2019ve traversed in the previous hours provides a sense of achievement and wonder. But nobody&#8217;s in the mood for such daydreams at this stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most non-elite cyclists must walk this initial 1km section that encompasses two hairpin bends. Any cyclist able to ride without dismounting can certainly be classed as exceptional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Watching the top athletes hardly miss a beat through these elevators is a sight to behold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"key-cyclists-and-rides-across-the-years\"><strong>Key Cyclists and Rides Across the Years<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"john-ebsen\"><strong>John Ebsen<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br>John Ebsen is a Danish elite cyclist who burst onto the Taiwan KOM scene with his 2014 win\u2014he went on to dominate the event in the following years, winning the top spot in 2018, 2019, and 2022.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His fastest time was 3:21:00 in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The day of his first win was as brutal as conditions get. A cool, drizzling late Autumn morning . . . cool at sea level anyway since the temperature was in single digits at Wuling\u2019s 3,275m finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wbhktrading.com\/wbhk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/640-1-11.jpeg\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:656px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Light cloud and no rain for the 2019 edition makes for a somewhat easier day at the office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cadell-evans-and-vince-nibali\"><strong>Cadell Evans and Vince Nibali<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br>2017\u2019s event was not only a fine and sunny day but arguably the biggest year for the Taiwan KOM ever, the main drawcard being the 2011 Tour de France winner, Cadell Evans and top pro Vincenzo Nibali.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Siu2yzMB9bsZY2ZhpugLun.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:651px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nibali convincingly won in a time of 3:19:54 with Evans coming in 10th in a time of 3:34:25. John Ebsen also competed but was outclassed by the in-form Nibali, finishing 3rd, clocking 3:24:21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.taiwankom.org\/kom_2019\/upfile\/image\/20190527\/20190527170258665866.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:659px;height:auto\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cadel Evans plods on up\u2014he finshished 10min behind the winner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re going to showcase an event, great weather certainly helps. The organizer&#8217;s play the lottery every year with the weather since cloud and rain will more than likely make a hard day simply miserable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"benjamin-dyball\"><strong>Benjamin Dyball<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He won the event in 2023, smashing Nibbles\u2019 2017 record from the previous year by more than 3 minutes in a time of 03:16:09.65 and can said to be the reigning KOM\u2014for now and into the future.<br><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quibicisport.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Screenshot-2023-10-27-alle-16.03.45.png\"><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ben first had a crack at the mountain back in 2018 but Ebsen edged him out by 11 seconds at the post: 3:26:01 vs 3:26:12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ebsen has dominated up until now with Dyball looking to take over the crown of absolute King of Wuling. Perhaps this will give John a target to aim for, to keep coming back especially on those years Dyball is confirmed in the lineup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"feng-jun-kai\"><strong>Feng Jun-kai<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br>A-kai as he\u2019s known among the local cycling community has consistently been Taiwan\u2019s top elite cyclist. His results for the KOM: 2014 5th (3:44:19), 2015 7th (3:38:19), 2018 16th (3:40:44), 1st place in 2021 recording his best time ever (3:33:21).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scontent.frmq2-2.fna.fbcdn.net\/v\/t39.30808-6\/440420885_1000334361448693_5541944151693708269_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&amp;ccb=1-7&amp;_nc_sid=127cfc&amp;_nc_ohc=5jsuCOSz9HMQ7kNvgFvAKUt&amp;_nc_zt=23&amp;_nc_ht=scontent.frmq2-2.fna&amp;_nc_gid=A7pjSqfABviOcLjgAOOFVzl&amp;oh=00_AYA8uMB6zXTRx3ImJVEVzyhPUISm5TQHAG-CtDE2H2QW6A&amp;oe=6749AEBE\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:651px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ultra-cyclist-rides-the-event-4-times-in-a-row\"><strong>Ultra Cyclist Rides the Event 4 Times in a Row<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br>The Taiwan KOM is a tough event, even if you take it easy. Many cyclists return repeatedly to pit themselves against the mountain. Australian ultra cyclist, Jack Thompson, chose the 2018 event as the backdrop for what for any ultra cyclist would be seen as a hard day at the office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a Perth coffee shop having been told that the even is 3000 meters higher than any climb in Perth he said, \u201cOh, I could do that four times\u2026\u201d Why? For the mental aspect of it. It\u2019s all about the mind\u2014it plays games with you. So for Jack it had all the right ingredients constituting an \u201cepic challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He began suffering obsessive compulsive disorder from the age of 14 which turned into bouts of depression in adulthood. \u201cOut of ten, where if ten was the absolute pits and if you go to ten you are sort of never coming back, I\u2019d say I got to eight or nine, like I was pretty sick.\u201d He stopped working and turned to making a career out of ultimate cycling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The plan was to make four consecutive ascents of the mountain, the fourth and final climb would take place in the actual KOM event on the day. Total hours on the bike were expected to be in the range of 36 to 48 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 1st climb took 4hrs 45 min. An added complication was the ongoing shoring of the canyon walls of the climb just out of Taroko Gorge to reduce rockfalls. The road was closed for 40 minutes to one hour in each direction. The weather was also awful, drizzling rain and cold, although the day of the event was relatively clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 4th and final ascent was the actually the KOM event itself. He came in at No. 107, clocking 4:35:38. The 22:00 to 22:23 minute mark of the video (below) shows you a side of the race you won\u2019t see elsewhere, breakneck speeds and sickening crashes, totally unnecessary since the real competition is each rider with themselves and the final body- and mind-breaking 10km from Dayuling to the finish at Wuling. As Jack said of this final ascent \u201cI just ride at my own rhythm.\u201d Holding back from the main mass of riders and the chaos once he got into his rhythm he began passing hundreds of competitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jack\u2019s words of advice to anyone considering doing the challenge are instructive:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A challenge you set out to complete, the time that it\u2019s going to take you to complete that challenge is a minuscule slice of your life and so even when it feels tough \u2026 as a percentage of your entire life [it\u2019s] nothing. The feeling afterwards having completed it will last forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Exploring The Limit - Taiwan KOM\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dHicPViuGlE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<span hidden class=\"__iawmlf-post-loop-links\" data-iawmlf-links=\"[{&quot;id&quot;:28,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/globalnation.inquirer.net\\\/17013\\\/world-class-cycling-teams-compete-at-the-2011-taiwan-cup-2&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/web-wp.archive.org\\\/web\\\/20250718221607\\\/https:\\\/\\\/globalnation.inquirer.net\\\/17013\\\/world-class-cycling-teams-compete-at-the-2011-taiwan-cup-2&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2026-10-29 02:21:03&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:403},{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2026-11-01 10:54:04&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:403},{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2026-11-08 08:21:01&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:403}],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2026-11-08T08:21:01+00:00&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:403},&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;}]\"><\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Updated yearlyLast update Nov 25 2024 Since 2012 the cycling event known as the Taiwan KOM has been gaining prominence year after year and is listed as a must-do on many serious cyclist\u2019s schedule of events to attend. Considered by many to be among the hardest cycling climb events, elite cyclists from the pro peloton, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":18239,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1128],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-taiwan-kom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.firstcomponents.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18243","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.firstcomponents.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.firstcomponents.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.firstcomponents.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.firstcomponents.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18243"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.firstcomponents.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18243\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.firstcomponents.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18239"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.firstcomponents.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18243"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.firstcomponents.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18243"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.firstcomponents.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}