Belgian completes Silk Road bike race in 45 days

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Europe

01:50

From the French city of Lyon all the way to Guangzhou in southern China on a solar-powered bike: cyclists and green energy enthusiasts embarked on a race along the old Silk Road as part of this year’s Sun Trip challenge.

And the winner on Friday was Belgian cyclist Raf Van Hulle, 43, who completed the 12,000-kilometer rally in 45 days.

"Really happy I’ve made it. I’ve made it alive and my bike seems okay. This is definitely a dream come true for me," Van Hulle told CGTN after arriving at Guangzhou’s Renmin Park.

This was the fourth time the Sun Trip race was held, but the first time it traveled along the Silk Road. Previous editions took place in Kazakhstan, Turkey and France.

Taking part in the race for the second time, Van Hulle covered some 300 kilometers every day over the last month and a half, overcoming difficult terrain and equally difficult weather.

Belgian cyclist Raf Van Hulle made the rally in 45 days. /CGTN

"The hardest part was the Gobi Desert, I had to be constantly drinking water. The temperature felt like 50 degrees Celsius," said the cyclist, who built his solar-powered bike to hold more water and stay light and strong throughout the trip.

Florian Bailly, CEO and founder of the Sun Trip, said the project chose to navigate the ancient Silk Road "because we wanted something amazing this year."

"Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, road conditions have really improved from before. That’s one of the reasons Van Hulle made it in such a short time," Bailly told CGTN.

The race started on June 15, and the second place finisher wasn’t expected to reach Guangzhou before the weekend.

Having weathered so much, the solar-powered bikes will head back to Europe on the China Railway Express, the rail link of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.