Son La cycling team conquers terrain to win championship

Born and raised in the mountains of the Northwest, the girls of Son La soon became familiar with the bumpy, winding roads. These factors further sharpened the will, endurance and bravery of the cyclists. The “steel flowers” ​​of Son La sports confidently conquered the terrain races and brought home many prestigious medals.

Son La cycling team won the Gold Medal in the team relay event at the 30th National Youth Road and Mountain Cycling Championship.
Photo: Contributor

At the Son La Province Sports Training and Competition Center, the cycling team's training atmosphere is always exciting. Coach Lo Van Bao said: The team was established in 2008. The early days were very difficult, because the training equipment was of great value, while the Center had not been able to purchase any equipment for the athletes to practice. So we cooperated with the Hanoi team to create conditions for the athletes to practice in Hoa Binh (formerly), now Phu Tho province.

In recent years, the Center has invested in facilities, allowing the athletes to practice in their home province. Currently, the team has 7 athletes, mostly female. The athletes are small, agile and have good physical strength. The coaches have developed a training program to train endurance, climbing and descending techniques - key factors to conquer mountainous terrain.

Son La's terrain is favorable for athletes to practice.

Thanks to persistent training, athletes continuously bring home high achievements, affirming the position of Son La sports. According to statistics, the Son La cycling team has achieved many results in the international arena, such as: Gold Medal at the Asian Youth Championship in 2012, Bronze Medal at the Asian Youth Championship in 2016, Silver Medal at the SEA Games in 2019. Domestic achievements, at the National Sports Festival in 2018, the team won 1 Gold Medal; 3 Silver Medals; 1 Bronze Medal; 3 athletes were awarded national masters. By the 2022 National Sports Festival, despite fierce competition with 15 participating units and 267 athletes, Son La had 2 athletes awarded national level I athletes.

Son La cycling team athletes participate in the off-road event.
Photo: Lo Bao (Contributor)

Most recently, in August 2025, at the 30th National Youth Road and Mountain Cycling Championship in 2025, the Son La team excellently won 10 medals, including: 6 Gold Medals, 2 Silver Medals and 2 Bronze Medals in events such as: individual time trial; team relay; individual and team Olympic mountain... Notably, athlete Lo Thi Yen Nhan, Chieng Sinh ward, excellently won 6 individual and team Gold Medals, affirming the top performance of the female racer from the Northwest highlands.

Athlete Lo Thi Yen Nhan shared: The biggest challenge for us is still the training equipment, there are few standard competition vehicles, many times we have to take turns using, repairing, and maintaining them ourselves to practice. However, everyone encourages each other to try, because of the passion, for the colors of the province.

Coach Lo Van Bao supports athletes competing in the rain and slippery conditions.
Photo by Lo Bao (Contributor)

As a promising young athlete of the Son La cycling team in the off-road category, Quàng Thị Hồng, from Chiềng Lao commune, is assessed by the coaches to have a good physique and fitness and always shows determination on the race track. Sharing about her passion for this challenging sport, Hồng confided: The competition route is very narrow, the trail is steep, there are many sharp turns but still have to be fast, so it requires concentration and quick reflexes, we have to train our physical strength every day, sometimes going down the slippery slopes makes me fall and get bruised, but I am still not discouraged. Every time I compete, I just think about how to do well to assert myself and bring glory to my homeland.

Currently, the province's cycling department has 7 athletes, but only 4 practice bikes, many of the equipment is old, and limited funding means that training and familiarization with the competition terrain before the tournament is not done regularly. Coach Lo Van Bao shared: To achieve high results, in addition to will and endurance, athletes need to practice in conditions close to real competition. If more investment in facilities and equipment is made, I am sure the athletes will reach far into the international arena.

Female athletes of Son La cycling team conquer difficult terrain.

Mr. Ho Minh Son, Director of the Provincial Sports Training and Competition Center, said: The Center has recommended that the province pay more attention to investing in equipment and facilities for the team; wishes to connect with sponsors and businesses to sponsor the team during training and competition; create conditions for athletes to train before the tournament, organize annual friendly tournaments to gain experience for athletes.

With determination, perseverance and love for sports, the female racers are conquering challenges every day, continuing the sports tradition of their home province, determined to record many more impressive achievements.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/the-thao/doi-tuyen-xe-dap-son-la-chinh-phuc-dia-hinh-gianh-ngoi-vo-dich-BSiV2a6NR.html