At 9 a.m. on June 28, the starting gun went off to mark the official launch of the Belt and Road Diplomats' Cycling Series (Henan Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone Station), hosted at Shuanghe Lake Central Park in Henan province. The event brought together nearly 1,000 participants in the Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone (ZAEZ), including 32 diplomatic envoys stationed in China from 17 BRI partner countries, representatives of international students in China, domestic professional road cyclists and cycling enthusiasts.
Since its debut in 2023, the series has evolved into a distinctive national-level sports brand IP. The 2026 season introduces a points-based scoring system for the first time, integrating competitive racing with diplomatic dialogues, industrial matchmaking, and urban culture and tourism integration. The race loop winds around the Shuanghe Lake circuit, with each lap stretching 10.6 kilometers, linking ecological landscapes with the sci-tech innovation corridor. The event features four categories, striking a fine balance between elite competitive races and mass public participation. (Chinese source: Henan Daily Translator: Zhang Yahan Proofreader: Chen Xingjie and Zhao Hanqing)
