Ji Cheng set to make Tour de France history
Giant-Shimano rider will become the first Chinese to ride in the Grand Boucle
Ji Cheng is set to make history as the first Chinese rider on the Tour de France after being named in the Team Giant-Shimano for the gruelling event.
The 26-year-old became the first Chinese to ride in a Grand Tour when he completed the Spanish Vuelta in 2012, later going on to compete in the Giro d’Italia a year later, although he failed to finish.
“When we started working with him as a young talented rider back in 2008 we made a long-term plan and this has seen him develop into the highest level of the sport and we see him now playing an important factor in the sprint formations,” Giant-Shimano coach Rudi Kemna said.
“Having Cheng in the team as the first Chinese rider ever to ride the Tour de France will be huge for him and his country and we look forward to seeing the impact this has on the globalisation of the sport.”
