Photo gallery: The inaugural Hong Kong Challenge UCI race

With busy roads that aren’t particularly hospitable to cyclists, Hong Kong doesn’t necessarily stand out as the ideal location for professional bike racing. But the organisers of the Hong Kong Cyclothon are trying to change that.

Last weekend, as part of the Hong Kong Cyclothon, roughly 90 pro cyclists from around the world converged on Hong Kong for the Sun Hung Kai Properties Hong Kong Challenge. This year, for the first time, the race received a UCI classification (UCI 1.1), and attracted two WorldTour teams: Orica-Scott and UAE Team Emirates, along with 15 other UCI conti and pro-conti registered teams.

The race was contested over 20-laps of a 5.15km closed-road circuit through the city, which featured impressive views over nearby Victoria Harbour. Former U23 world champion Matej Mohoric (UAE Team Emirates) got away late with Australia’s Robbie Hucker (IsoWhey-SwissWellness) for company before going it alone in the closing stages to take victory. Hucker was second, while Yukiya Arishiro (Japan) rounded out the podium.

Alongside the professional race was the the Sun Hung Kai Properties Hong Kong Cyclothon which was organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) the day before. The event saw 4,900 local and international cyclists participate and 1,000 volunteers who got to experience riding the roads of Hong Kong.

Check out the gallery below for a selection of images from the Hong Kong Challenge’s first year as a UCI-classified race.