2008 Tour de Taiwan Stage 7: Kam-po Wong places first for the second time

March 15, 2008 Since the 2008 Tour de Taiwan entered the Taipei-Keelung metropolitan area for a golden-72-hours' final battle, the Taipei World Trade Center Nangang Exhibition Hall (TWTC Nangang) stage raced today from Jing-mao 2nd Road through Nangang Road and Sanchung Road to the TWTC Nangang. With its new setup in the Tour de Taiwan, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Republic of the China respected this stage honorarily.

We [the TAITRA] have cooperated with the Chinese Taipei Cycling Association with a combination of Taipei International Cycle Show (Taipei Cycle) and Tour de Taiwan since 2006 after a success of 2005 Taipei International Elimination Road Race. It's meaningful for this [Taipei Cycle] show and this [Tour de Taiwan] cycling race to enroll the TWTC Nangang into a stage because 761 companies participated in this show with 2842 booths, its scale is larger than past years and it [the show] successfully stood out as the bicycle sourcing center in Asia. In addition, the level of this race will be evidently improved after it was named as the Asian Qualifier of 2008 Summer Olympics. I hope this combination, a first-to-none creation world-wide, can not only rise the bicycle industry but also show the excellence of Taiwan as many world-class cyclists witnessed this effort.

TWTC Nangang is invested with NT$13 billion dollars by Ministry of Economic Affairs, and the TAITRA gained the 10-year operating right for TWTC Nangang. It symbolized the bicycle industry as a must-have industry in Taiwan since the Taipei Cycle was named as the first trade show in the TWTC Nangang with not only innovative products but also completion brands. We [the public] know that the a bicycle has more functions from traditional transporting to sporting, leisure, and environmental after the awareness of global warming. I hope this race can improve the quality of basic sports and its industry after the public take a bicycle as a multi-function tool.

Within 10 laps near the Sanchong Road and Nangang Road, Po-hung Wu, who crashed yesterday after the finish line, crashed again and was forced to quit the race. After some medical aid, he spoke to the Wikinews Reporter Rico Shen: "Even though I crashed frequently in my career...[I was] unable to prevent the crash because you will not know what will happen in [a second]. If possible, just to decrease the possibility of the crash when racing."

But before a brief interview to Po-hung Wu, another crash happened near the 30th lap, not only a Malaysian cyclist was forced to quit this race, but also the referee temporarily suspended and neutralized this race because several cyclists crashed near the finish line. After the officials and referees confirmed the safety of the race lane, this race was firmly reopened. Finally, Kam-po Wong, the 1st Stage Champion, a cyclist form Hong Kong Pro Cycling Team, won this stage champion and helped John Murphy keep his overall leading in this stage.

Results in this stage

 * Stage Champion: Kam-po Wong (Hong Kong Pro Cycling Team)
 * Asian Leader (Blue Jersey): Taiji Nishitani (Aisan Racing Team)
 * Taiwan Leader (White Jersey): Kuan-hua Lai (Giant Asia Racing Team)
 * Sprint Leader (Green Jersey): John Murphy (Health Net Pro Cycling Team)
 * General Leader (Yellow Jersey): John Murphy
 * Group Leader: Giant Asia Racing Team