The sun peeked over Zhuhai as over 100 riders set off in the men's individual road race, marking the first time the Chinese mainland's 15th National Games had stitched together three competition zones: Guangdong Province, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR into a single route. This landmark event showcased the Greater Bay Area's push for deeper collaboration through sport.
From the starting line in Zhuhai, athletes pedaled across the iconic Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge into Macao SAR, where cheering crowds lined the streets. The peloton then crossed into Hong Kong SAR, navigating its urban hills before looping back to Zhuhai. Organizers praised the joint efforts of traffic teams, medics and volunteers across all three zones for delivering seamless transitions at each border crossing.
Pun Weng Kun, former president of the Macao Sports Bureau, called the race 'history-making,' celebrating it as a blueprint for future events. He added that he hopes more sporting competitions and cultural exchanges will light up the Pearl River Delta.
Beyond the podium finishes, this race serves as a vivid reminder: when infrastructure, planning and passion come together, the Greater Bay Area's potential for cross-border innovation and community-building is limitless.
Reference(s):
Groundbreaking cycling race highlights joint development of GBA
cgtn.com
