Back in June, 12 young cyclists met in Pamplona to join the Grassroots Program, an initiative launched by Giant Bikes and Liv Cycling in cooperation with Equipo Kern Pharma to offer talented riders from all over the world a chance to make it to the big leagues.
After two weeks of intense training and learning, with a battery of demanding tests and a number of enriching talks, all 12 prospects sat down individually with the performance staff of the Spanish UCI ProTeam. The coaches had run the numbers and assessed the various factors that could reveal each rider’s potential, and were ready to advise them on the right path to develop that potential to the fullest.
One of them, Taiwan’s En Ten Zhang (2006), came to the meeting with a notebook to write down every word. That impressed the coaches, as it showed how interested he was in making the most of the Grassroots Program. His aerobic capacity was already remarkable; he had significant room for improvement in several domains; and his methodical approach really set him apart. Taken together, these qualities earned him a ticket back to Pamplona (Spain) in late summer and join Phase 2 of Giant’s Grassroots Program.
China’s Changhong Du (2006), on the other hand, earned his ticket for Phase 2 uphill. His short climbing efforts were sharp and well-suited to the ever-challenging Spanish U23 scene, where he was set to cut his teeth. Last but not least, Korea’s Kwon ‘David’ Jisung (2008) proved to be both explosive and skillful on the bike, qualities that could prove valuable in the lumpy courses typical of Basque Junior races, which often come down to reduced bunch sprints.
Kwon had a busy schedule in Spain, participating in four one-day events in Ibarra, Beasain, Luquin and Liernia with the support of Equipo Kern Pharma’s coaches Carlos Jiménez and Iosune Murillo. In his very first race, there was a very special guest to help him out: a professional rider from the team, Unai Iribar, came to greet him, brief him on the course and even hand out bidons.
Every race came with a number of lessons for David. “For sure, Phase 1 was amazing with all the training and everything we learnt about nutrition and preparation,” he says. “But Phase 2 has been even more intense. At first I had no idea what it was like to race here, and there have been many ups and downs. But now I know that positioning and tactics are key at this level, and I believe I have improved in every race.”
Du and Zhang, on the other hand, had two opportunities to test alongside Equipo Kern Pharma’s feeder team, Equipo Finisher, in Zegama and Urduliz. Both races are well-known locally for the challenging nature of their courses, featuring twisty roads and steep climbs to tear the peloton apart.
“The racing style is so different compared to China, as we ride extremely fast throughout the races,” sums up Du. “The high pace really highlighted my weakness when it comes to positioning. Back in China, I could rely on my raw power output to make up for my poor positioning skills. Here, I’ve seen my weaknesses—it has been a wake-up call for me!” Just managing to finish the Zegama race was already a success for the Chinese rider.
As for Zhang, he was able to “feel how strong every rider is in Spain,” yet that doesn’t discourage him. Instead, he focuses on how far he has come since joining Giant’s Grassroots Program two months ago. “I am a much better cyclist!” And so finds Du about himself: “My understanding of nutrition and cycling in general has improved significantly. I have lost weight and improved my power output. I’m very grateful to this Grassroots Program.”
All three riders are now back in Asia, relishing an unforgettable experience both on a sporting and a personal level. They hope that one day they can enter a European race again. One alumnus of Giant’s Grassroots Program, Taiwan’s Ho Yen Yi, is already a pro rider with Equipo Kern Pharma. Two others, Hong Kong’s Yip Hon Man ‘Daniel’ and Singapore’s William Mitchell, race with Equipo Finisher. They are the trailblazers whose footsteps Zhang, Du and Kwon are now ready to follow.
