Brutally windy stage 6 completes

Stage 6 complete. Fangshan Township → Taimali Township, Taitung. 90km. 1,299m of climbing.

Stages 1 through 5 introduced us to Taiwan. Stage 6 introduced us to what Taiwan is actually capable of throwing at two cyclists on a Friday morning. 

Within the first ten minutes, gusts so strong we could barely move forwards and nearly came off the bikes entirely. A sign, as it turned out, of what the next seven hours had in store.

The climbing began to make itself known around 10km, but it was at 18km that it really started to bite, a sustained 5km mountain ascent that carried us from the west coast to the east. 

What followed was a long, sweeping descent that made every upward metre feel worthwhile. The Pacific opened up below us, the views were stunning.

The wind never relented, for 90% of the ride, headwinds, gusts, constant resistance. The kind that doesn’t show up in the climbing numbers but shows up everywhere else. Overall average speed of 12.4km/h tells that story better than anything else could.

The people were awesome. Horns, waves, encouragement throughout the day, at the 7-Eleven lunch stop, a lady came over specifically to raise a toast to us with her drink. 

Taimali Township, Taitung is where stage 6 finished just after 2pm. Hot springs waiting at the end, the first round has already done something for the muscles, though the tiredness is very real. Rest day tomorrow, it is very welcome.

Brutal. But brilliant.






Alex & Adam 

Rusty Rhinos

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