In recent years, major professional cycling events have been frequently held in mainland China, and cycling has entered a period of rapid growth. However, "late start and weak foundation" have become constraints on the professional development of cycling in China. The first stage of the 2013 Tour of China International Road Cycling Race started in Xi'an on the 13th.

　　Twenty-two professional cycling teams from all over the world participated in the competition. Among them, there were 11 European teams, 9 Asian teams, and 2 American teams. The event lasted 18 days, passing through seven provinces and cities: Shaanxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei, Chongqing, and Tianjin, with a total of 12 stages.

　　Once upon a time, bicycles were the main means of transportation for the Chinese people, becoming a cultural symbol of an era. Entering the new century, the transportation function of bicycles gradually faded, and multiple values such as sports, fitness, and low-carbon environmental protection began to emerge. At the same time, the development of cycling in China has entered the "fast lane".

　　In 2002, the Tour of Qinghai Lake International Road Cycling Race was held; in 2006, the Tour of Hainan Island was launched; in 2010, the Tour of China and the Tour of Taihu were born... The number of road cycling races in China is increasing, and the level of the races is also improving. Judging from the results of previous races, the gap between the professional level of Chinese teams and riders and that of European and American riders is gradually narrowing.

　　In recent Olympic Games, Chinese cycling athletes have repeatedly achieved excellent results, with the Chinese team winning medals in the Sydney, Athens, and Beijing Olympic Games. In the 2012 London Olympics, they achieved their best-ever result with 2 silver and 1 bronze medals. Among them, Guo Shuang and Gong Jinjie broke the world record twice in the women's team sprint.

　　China, as the "world champion" in terms of bicycle ownership, currently has only over 2,000 registered riders. In France, the home of the Tour de France, which has a century-long history, this number is over 200,000. The gap in the number of riders is a major obstacle to the development of this sport in China.

　　China is a "bicycle powerhouse", but not a "cycling powerhouse". Wu Weipei, coach of the China Wansheng Sports Cycling Team, told a reporter from China News Service that currently, the establishment of many professional teams in mainland China is mainly to participate in domestic competitions, and most athletes are selected from various provinces. From a professional perspective, the teams are somewhat lacking. Chinese teams and riders should actively integrate into the "international environment", and professionalization is the only way for the development of cycling in China.

　　Pan Zhichen, director of the General Administration of Sport of China's Cycling and Fencing Management Center, once said that the Chinese cycling team still has a gap compared with the world's advanced level, so it should continue to strengthen the construction of a composite team, continue to adhere to the approach of "going out and inviting in", and keep pace with the international community to comprehensively improve the development of cycling.