A bicycle tour which kicked off in the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone in Fujian province on June 7 Sunday set a new record for most participants on a single day, ptnet.cn reports.

Competitors start off during the 2015 Ocean Cup China (Pingtan) International Bicycle Tournament in Pingtan, Fujian province, June 7. [Photo/ptnet.cn]

A total of 1,835 people from 19 countries and regions competed in the 2015 Ocean Cup China (Pingtan) International Bicycle Tournament, according to the event's organizer.

The race was divided into five groups by gender and their skill level. Some come from professional bicycle teams while others are from amateur bike clubs or associations.

Hu Hao from Team Specialized won the men’s road elite. Yang Jiajie from Team Quick, and Zhou Keqiang and Chen Long from Team Alston were crowned men’s mountain elite, men’s road amateur and men’s mountain amateur, respectively. Li Haiyan, an individual rider, raced to No.1 at women’s mountain amateur.

It is the second straight year Pingtan, an island county off the east of Fujian province, has held the race, which integrates marine culture as a way to increase the public’s awareness of marine protection prior to World Oceans Day on June 8.

The bicycle race has become an important sports event in Pingtan, as it not only displays Pingtan’s beautiful landscapes and cultures, but also connects sports and the tourism industry, and will help the development of the Pingtan Free Trade Zone and realize the goal of an international tourist resort, said Li Dejin, director of Pingtan’s administration.