On July 26, nearly 200 athletes from many provinces and cities across the country gathered in the mountainous commune of Muong Bo (Lao Cai) to participate in the "Muong Bo X-Rice - Vut bay tren song lua vang - LCC10" off-road cycling race, creating a festival for tourists and local people.
The highlight of the race is a mixed road about 25km long, taking cyclists across terraced fields turning yellow, following villages, crossing streams, conquering rocky slopes and zigzag turns typical of the highlands.
Not only requiring technique and physical strength, the journey also brings a rare experience when each wheel turns opens up the majestic natural scenery of Muong Bo.
Motorcades lined up to glide through the "sea of golden rice" creating a vivid picture, attracting the cheers of a large number of people and tourists.
For many athletes, Muong Bo is one of the most emotional racetracks they have ever experienced.
Ms. Bui Thi Binh (LCC Lao Cai Cycling Club) shared that although she finished in the top 3, what left the deepest impression was not the achievement but the natural scenery and the enthusiastic cheers of the people along the route.
Meanwhile, Mr. Do Doan Dien, Dong Trieu War Zone Sports Cycling Club (Quang Ninh), assessed that Muong Bo possesses almost all the elements that create an attractive off-road cycling route.
I have participated in many off-road cycling races in Lao Cai, but Muong Bo has a very unique color. Bare roads, rocky roads, steep slopes, narrow bends and technically demanding sections all converge. I am sure to introduce this route to many other clubs so that everyone has the opportunity to experience it," Mr. Dien said after winning the second prize in the age group over 51.
The special thing about the race is that the entire route passes through pristine landscape areas, right at the time when rice is starting to ripen. Golden terraced fields connecting each other like waves stretching across mountains and forests is also the reason why the locality chose the theme "Flying on the waves of golden rice".
Exciting atmosphere spread throughout the villages. Many people stood crowded on both sides of the road cheering for the racing team; children waved flags and cheered, adults smiled friendly to welcome the athletes.
For local people, this is not only a sports tournament but also an opportunity to promote the beauty of the homeland to tourists from near and far.
According to Mr. Nguyen Trung Kien - Secretary of the Party Committee of Muong Bo commune, the locality has carefully surveyed the entire route to both meet professional requirements and ensure safety for athletes.
Our goal is not only to organize a successful tournament but also to promote the natural landscape, cultural identity and typical tourism products of Muong Bo," Mr. Kien said.
From a sports event, Muong Bo is aiming to build a new experiential tourism product associated with the ripe rice season.
Destinations such as Muong Bo 1, Muong Bo 2, Ban Sai, Nam Cang, Nam Than, Nam Nhiu or Sin Chai A are expected to become attractive stops, connecting with homestay systems, OCOP products and local cultural experiences.
