Global Riders to Watch: Tour of Taiwan 2022
Racing is coming back steadily to the Asia Tour. This week, we’ve already had the Tour of Iran and now it’s the return of the Tour of Taiwan - it’s the first time the race has been run since before the pandemic. Over the next few weeks, we have UCI races in Malaysia, Japan and Syria. There are still a number of races to return, but these are encouraging signs.
The usual crop of Asian teams turn up to the race, along with a couple of continental European teams and two national federations. There’s an interesting mix of established names and fresh talent. Here are some riders to be looking out for, starting with a local talent.
Chih Hao Tu
25, Taiwan, Taiwan National Team
You've probably come across Chun Kai Feng, who has been a World Tour rider for the past eight seasons, bringing sponsorship in for a Bahrain and Lampre before that. On the Asia Tour, he's a decent rider, but his talent doesn't measure up in the World Tour.
Chih Hao Tu has also been racing in Europe for the past seven seasons, but at a level which is on a par with his abilities. He has forged a solid career racing for Danish, Spanish, Polish, German and Italian teams. He now rides for Cycling Team Friuli ASD. Tu recently rode solidly at the Tour of Szekerland in a team role. His team-mate Andrea Debiasi finish fourth overall.
It would be great to see Tu given the opportunity to race for himself this week, rather than in the service of Feng. If he's going well, he can put in a good ride and finish in the top-10.
Marcelo Felipe
32, Philippines, 7 Eleven Cliqq-Air21
He's been the top rider from the Philippines for a number of years now. A good climber, he is always one of the protagonists on the Asia Tour when the road goes upwards. He showed this with a solid sixth place on the final stage hilltop finish at the Tour of Thailand this year, in a strong field.
He'd like this race to be a bit harder, but he will have a decent opportunity to attach on the hilly finish of stage 2.
Watch out also for Rench Bondoc, a decent prospect from the Philippines.
Blayde Blas
20, Guam, EuroCyclingTrips Pro Cycling
A big opportunity for this youngster from the pacific island. He's just ridden the u23 TT and road race at the Worlds and will take that experience with him to Taiwan.
Don't expect much in terms of results, this is an experience-growing race for Blas.
Hiu Fung Choy
26, Hong Kong, HKSI Pro Cycling Team
Probably the strongest rider at the moment from Hong Kong. Choy put in a brilliant ride at the recent Tour of Qinghai Lake, finishing in the top-10 on six stages and 7th overall.
He's been top-20 overall here in the past and will look to push for the top-10 this time.
Abdul Azim Aliyas
19, Malaysia, Kuwait Pro Cycling Team
A very young rider who has built up experience racing in Europe and Asia this season. An improving track rider, Aliyas will look to show his fast legs on the flatter stages over the next few days.
Malaysia is producing a number of decent talents, Aliyas may be the best of them. He put in a solid ride at the recent GP Develi, finishing in 24th on the hilly finale.
Yuma Koishi
29, Japan, Team UKYO SAGAMIHARA
2nd in the Tour of Thailand, 11th in the Tour of Japan with four top-10 stage results across those races mean that this has been Koishi's best ever season.
A solid climber who can also infiltrate moves on the flat, Koishi could be an outside contender for this race. His team are very strong. Koishi and Dyball could be an extremely strong duo.
Choon Huat Goh
30, Singapore, Terengganu Polygon CT
Terengganu bring a very diverse team to this race.
Goh has had a number of top GC results in races across the Asia Tour and has ridden this race on multiple occasions, but he'll likely be in a team role in this race.
Youcef Reguigui
32, Algeria, Terengganu Polygon CT
Reguigui is very experienced, a great rider to have on your team. He should be one of the fastest riders in the race, but may find himself working for Mohd Harrif Saleh. He may get his chance in stage 3 which could be too hard for Saleh, but too easy to be a full GC day.
Jambaljamts Sainbayar
26, Mongolia, Terengganu Polygon CT
The top favourite for the GC.
Sainbayar is on an excellent run. He won two UCI races in August. Firstly the uphill sprint at GP Develi, then the opening stage of the Tour of Sakarya - eventually finishing 2nd on GC.
He's going well. He might show that he is levels above the rest in Taiwan. Sainbayar will hope to make the race hard on stage 2, but does he have the team to do it? Terengganu are very well set up for the sprints, but not so much for the hills. Sainbayar will rely heavily on Choon Huat Go and Jeroen Meijers.
Mohd Harrif Saleh
34, Malaysia, Terengganu Polygon CT
The fastest man in Asia.
Now entering the final stages of his career, it's a shame that Saleh never got a good opportunity to race in Europe. It's quite amazing to think that this little-known rider beat the likes of Walscheid, Minali and Lonardi twice in 2020, but never got a call from a bigger team.
He's got two young sprinters to contend with this week in Campbell Pithie and Luke Lamperti. Also Raymond Kreder and Cyrus Monk will contend in the flat finishes. It will be intriguing to see what happens. I think Saleh will be underestimated by the others and will pick up at least one win.
Nattapol Jumchat
26, Thailand, Thailand National Team
A stage winner at this year's Tour of Thailand, Nattapol Jumchat is probably the strongest Thai rider here. The nation's top riders are currently racing the Tour of Iran.
Jumchat surprised the sprinters on stage 5 at the Tour of Thailand, winning a two-up sprint with Mohd Shahrul Mat Amin of Malaysia. It's possible that we see a couple of breakaway wins in this race. Jumchat is a good candidate to seize an opportunity.
