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With our firm belief that innovation makes a difference in everyone's life, Taiwan Excellence Awards, organized by the Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), and implemented by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), has supported the "Tour de Taiwan" for nine consecutive years since 2012. By supporting one of the world’s best competitive cycling events, the spirit of self-improvement and continuous innovation pursued by the Taiwan Excellence enhances the international image of the Taiwanese bicycle industry.

The Tour de Taiwan is an international 2.1 category race approved by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). It is one of the most iconic races in Asia. Despite the new coronavirus epidemic this year’s event is confronted with, the general assembly decided, after careful assessment, not to let the event be affected by it. The event will still be held as planned from March 1st to 5th. According to the latest news from the association, as of February 13th, a total number of 20 teams of well-known athletes and nearly 170 professional cyclists from over 30 countries will partake in this great event, including second-tier teams such as Burgos BH from Spain and Nippo Delko Provence from France. The various stages of the race will lead the competitors though Taipei City, Taoyuan, Romantic Route 3 (Hsinchu County, Miaoli County, Taichung City), Pingtung County, and Kaohsiung City, allowing both the participants and the world to see the beauty of Taiwan and the industrial strength of the “Taiwanese Bicycle Kingdom.”

The Taiwan External Trade Development Council pointed out that Merida, a Taiwan Excellence award-winning company and one of the sponsors of this event, produces bicycles for many of the world’s best professional team athletes. Through practical action, Merida has become an exemplary company in the bicycle industry that has sponsored the Tour de Taiwan for over 20 years, thereby contributing to the international visibility of Taiwan's bicycle industry.

This year’s Tour de Taiwan will be broadcast live on Eurosport, VL Sports Channel, and YouTube, allowing this exciting race to be shared with as many as 240 million viewers in more than 60 countries around the world. By doing so, the international audience’s understanding of Taiwan Excellence and the Taiwanese bicycle industry will be deepened. At the same time, people in Taiwan who are interested in this thrilling race will have the opportunity to watch it safely at home and avoid crowded places during the current coronavirus epidemic.