Peach blossoms in Pinggu District [Photo via VCG]

On April 22, the Pinggu Race of the 7th "Harmony Cup" Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei International Road Challenge commenced in Beizhai Village, Pinggu District.

The race was participated by about 300 competitors divided into five groups, namely the men's elite road group, senior men's road group, women's elite road group, men's mountain bike group, and public fitness cycling group.

The race this year was a 12-kilometer-long hill-climbing race. The route started from Beizhai Village in Pinggu District and stretched northwards along Xiongnan Road into Lvyou Square in Pinggu Taohuahai (which literally means the "sea of peach blossoms in Pinggu"). The average slope of the route was six percent, with a maximum slope of ten percent. The finish line (also the end of the hiking route) is located ten kilometers away from the starting line, which is the highest part of the race with an altitude of 699 meters. After passing the finish line, the competitors cycled another 1.5 kilometers towards the blossom-filled Lvyou Square in Pinggu Taohuahai to replenish their bodies and collect their awards. The increased difficulty and challenges of this year's race allowed the competitors to not only throw themselves into the competition but also enjoy the beautiful scenery of Pinggu.

Wu Baochao, Liu Yaoguang and Liu Tianbao won the first, second and third places in the men's elite road group. Zhao Yinghua, Dong Renhua and Ma Hongwei won the first, second and third places in the senior men's road group. Ye Zhenchao, Lang Shengzhao and Tian Ruoyang won the first, second and third places in the men's mountain bike group, and Liu Li, Song Chenxi and Zheng Ying won the first, second and third places in the women's elite road group.

(Source: Pinggu District People's Government of Beijing Municipality)