You know you want to: registration opens for 105 Km hill climb in Taiwan - Emma Pooley to give it a go

Why not just cut the men's prize money to match the women's.

Unless the organiser's think women are lower than men, in that case, boycott the whole event.

JT, I didn't say it was acceptable nor did I say it was OK because the disparity is greater in other races - I merely pointed out that this disparity is not as great as in some other races. I was not sure whether all readers were aware of that. We have to chip away at ingrained attitudes, and this we have begun to do, with the women's prize being doubled from what was originally planned. If this year's event on the women's side is a success in regards to media coverage then we will be able to push for more next year.

No, I am supportive of Lee and his approach. If only 5 ladies turn up is handing out £20k really appropriate?

That said, its a chicken and an egg thing isn't it? Put up the prize money, and I imagine they will come... or women can shut up about a lack of prize money!

However, with Emma down to race I can imagine not many pro women will make the effort to come down to take second place.

Fingers crossed its a great event.

Lee Rogers: While I'm grateful for your comments I think they are disingenuous and undermine your stated aim.
Just because prize money is unequal elsewhere in the sport doesn't make it ok for your event to perpetuate this discrimination.
Likewise just because more men than women participate in your event doesn't make this acceptable either - men and womens athletic achievements are equally impressive and worthy of reward irrespective of whether the number of participants varies.

If you want the KOM to be the most prestigious women's event outside of Europe, go back to your sponsors, get equal prize money (reduce the mens prize if needed) and by your actions show the value you place in women's cycling. Who knows, maybe with an equal prize, the number of female participants may increase.

Hello, I'm the Foreign Media & Rider Director for the Taiwan KOM Challenge. This really is a huge event and an even bigger mountain! It's been growing from strength to strength the past few years and this is the first time we've ever had prize money like this.

It's also the first time we've ever had drug testing, and I believe we are only the 2nd event in the world - after Cape Epic - to deny entry to any rider with a previous doping conviction.

The disparity in prize money is something we are working on. The past few years however, we have seen a disparity in the number of men competing compared to the women. It has usually been a mere handful. This reflects cycling here in Asia but also around the world.

However, we are making a conscious effort to increase not only the number of women racing here but also the quality - hence the efforts we have made to bring in Tiffany Cromwell (2013) and Emma this year. We have two more big name female riders that we are talking to also.

It's our aim to make the Taiwan KOM Challenge not only the biggest KOM race like it in the world, but for it to become the most prestigious women's race outside of Europe, full stop.

Considering that the winner of the women's 2013 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (Tiffany Cromwell) won just 270 euro, whereas the men's winner took home 65,000 euro, you can see that there is an even bigger difference in Europe.

We are getting there. We will get there. Great riders like Emma and Tiffany and others are coming and the word will spread, we will get more sponsors and the money will become more, if not completely, equal. That is our aim.

Thanks for reading,

Lee Rodgers

I think this is the insane climb that CyclingTips covered last year and if so the few people who manage sub 4 hours are pretty much all current pro's.

The views would be incredible but if I did it I can't imagine seeing many of them through the delirium...

Sounds like a great event! has anyone got the ride profile so I can suck air through my teeth and share the pain?

105km - "a handful of the top riders can complete the climb in under four hours"

If our club run does a hilly 105km in the peak district, going under 4 hours means you'll certainly feel it, and that includes descending back to the altitude we started from! Maintaining that average speed for a continuous climb is mental...

It's fairly easy, for about 40-odd miles .. then above 2500m it gets very tough. I'd say from experience it feels like 2x the Cime de la Bonette in the Alps. It's one of the most beautiful roads I've ridden, particularly the east side that the event is on.

DSCN9299 by james*o, on Flickr

DSCN9240 by james*o, on Flickr

A few more pics of the road here -
https://www.flickr.com/photos/67338272@N05/sets/72157632069019481/

It is a shame about the prize money... to me this is exactly the scenario where there should be no disparity between genders.

As a fat, middle aged sprinter, this event is as personally appealing as putting my crown jewels in a blender.

My legs ache just thinking about it!

That sounds hardcore!

This sounds like one hell of a challenge, a pity the prize money isn't more equal for the women.
It'd be good to see a 'world hill climb championship' as a part of the world champs, maybe not on this scale, but something over a few kms run in a time trial style format as something for the climbers to focus on, I'm sure most places the world champs have been held would have something suitable for that kind of event not too far away.

That sounds like one hell of a challenge. Best of luck to her. The only sour note is the disparity in prize money