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The world’s most expensive two-day cyclocross event (arguably) is back for its fifth year, and despite an announcement that it would expand to four C1 races in 2017, returns to China starting on Sunday with the same number of C1 events as 2016, two.

Still, China’s Qiansen Trophy cyclocross races represent a great, typically all-expenses paid trip to China to both hunt UCI cyclocross points and play tourist.

Thijs Al surprised himself with a post-retirement victory in China at the 2014 Qiansen Trophy race. © Cyclocross Magazine

Thijs Al surprised himself with a post-retirement victory in China at the 2014 Qiansen Trophy race. © Cyclocross Magazine

For some, especially European pros and top Americans, it’s a chance to grab a bucket of UCI points without battling a deep field. For others, including a handful of unranked Americans who apply and are invited, it can be their sole UCI race of the season and a trip of a lifetime.

Promoter Yanxing Song and his father host racers in hotels, cover all meals with interesting, varied buffets, entertain them with banquets, libations and sightseeing tours, and cover most or all travel expenses. For the nearly 150 riders and staff, it’s certainly a trip that’s hard to turn down, with or without luggage, personal bikes and kit.

Carl Decker had one of the best rides of the day, using borrowed a borrowed helmet, bike, shorts, and cleats (used his own shoes) to finish 5th. © Cyclocross Magazine

Carl Decker had one of the best rides of the day, using borrowed a borrowed helmet, bike, shorts, and cleats (used his own shoes) to finish 5th. © Cyclocross Magazine

This year, the men’s field has shrunken a bit, while the women’s field has expanded by the same amount. Three of the four defending champions from 2016 are back, with Belgian Rob Peeters skipping the trip, but Emily Kachorek, Marcel Wildhaber and Ceylin Del Carmen Alvarado returning.

Qiansen Trophy 2016 Fengtai Changxindian Station Women's Podium: 1. Ceylin Alvarado (Kleur Op Maat - No Drugs, Netherlands )2. Emily Kachorek (Squid Bikes, USA) 3. Bianca Van den Hoek (Rijwielpaleis Bilthoven-Mtb Licht Verzat, Netherlands)

Qiansen Trophy 2016 Fengtai Changxindian Station Women’s Podium: 1. Ceylin Alvarado (Kleur Op Maat – No Drugs, Netherlands )2. Emily Kachorek (Squid Bikes, USA) 3. Bianca Van den Hoek (Rijwielpaleis Bilthoven-Mtb Licht Verzat, Netherlands)

Courses are typically dry, dusty and bumpy, but that’s not the only challenge. Air pollution represents a true health hazard, with air quality indexes routinely sitting at the Unhealthy levels. Heat and humidity are also typically barriers to an easy race.

A hard day at work: Ryan Trebon, second place, exhausted after battling bumps, heat and Thijs Al in China. © Cyclocross Magazine

Not again: Trebon’s back problems sidelined him again this season, but he’ll be at Nationals in Asheville, doing his best. © Cyclocross Magazine

Scanning the start list, Belgian Joyce Vanderbeken (Stevens – Donen-Vondelmolen CX team) represents the top-ranked women, while Swiss Marcel Wildhaber (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing) is the top ranked male.

This year, a quick count reveals 24 Americans, 11 Australians, 3 Canadians, 2 Brits and 1 Kiwi making the trip.

See the full start lists below.

Live stream info is available here.

Stay tuned for more 2017 Qiansen Trophy Coverage and results.

2017 Qiansen Trophy Racer List - Women - China Cyclocross

Full NameTeam NameGenderNatUCI Rank
JOYCE VANDERBEKENSTEVENS Pro Cycling – Donen-Vondelmolen CX teamFBEL34
CEYLIN DEL CARMEN ALVARADOKleuropmaat/BNS technics CyclingteamFNED43
EMILY KACHOREKSQUIDFUSA64
KATHRYN CUMMINGJalapeno Cycling/King KogFUSA71
GERALDINE HOEKE2WCBeuningen – MTB Licht VerzetFNED77
REBECCA LOCKEJBLOOD ADVENTURESFAUS86
NAOMI WILLIAMSJBLOOD ADVENTURESFAUS102
SERENA GORDONGIANT FACTORY OFF ROAD TEAMFUSA106
ASHLEY BARSONJAKROOFCAN115
MIYOKO KARAMIJapan selection teamFJPN143
LAURA WINBERRYTopo DesignsFUSA154
STACEY RIEDELAustralian Cyclocross MagFAUS159
SAMANTHA RUNNELSSQUIDFUSA163
GREETE STEINBURGLatviaFEST174
REBECCA GROSSGillespie EyeFUSA183
CHRISTINE VARDAROSSTEVENS Pro Cycling – Donen-Vondelmolen CX teamFBEL223
REZA HORMES-RAVENSTIJN2WCBeuningen – MTB Licht VerzetFNED235
DANIELLE ARMANTenspeed HeroFUSA236
CHIKA FUKUMOTOJapan selection teamFJPN237
SHANNON MALLORYJAKROOFUSA326
LELDE ARDAVALatviaFLAT354
TINNE VERMEIRENKleuropmaat/BNS technics CyclingteamFBEL374
CAMPBELL STEEERSROCK LOBSTERFUSA381
MEG DE BRUYNEKleuropmaat/BNS technics CyclingteamFBEL413
CHELSEA WEIDINGERJAKROOFUSA414
SARAH GINSBACHTopo DesignsFUSA463
RIKKE SPANGSBERG LØNNEGIANT-ASSOS CX TEAMFDEN#N/A
JOYCE HEYNSKleuropmaat/BNS technics CyclingteamFBEL#N/A
MUTSUMI SUDOHJapan Selection teamFJPN#N/A
DAISY VAN DER AADESTIL-ZZPR.nlFNED#N/A
JOANNE EASSONJBLOOD ADVENTURESFAUS#N/A
FURMANE MADARALatviaFLAT#N/A
KATRINA JAUNSLAVIETELatviaFLAT#N/A
MARY MAROONJAKROOFUSA#N/A
ZEDNIKOVA IVETAStevens Bikes Emilo SportsFCZE#N/A

2017 Qiansen Trophy Racer List - Men - China Cyclocross

Full NameTeam NameGenderNatrank
WILDHABER MARCELSCOTT-SRAM MTB RacingMSWI18
YORBEN VAN TICHELTERA - CircusMBEL56
THIJS VAN AMERONGENDESTIL-ZZPR.nlMNED67
HEKELE EMILStevens Bikes Emilo SportsMCZE73
HIKARU KOSAKAJapan selection teamMJPN83
KENNETH HANSENGIANT-ASSOS CX TEAMMDEN85
ANTHONY CLARKSQUIDMUSA88
MAXX CHANCETenspeed HeroMUSA91
SAMPARISI NICOLASKTM ALCHEMIST SELLE SMP DAMAMITA102
SAMPARISI LORENZOKTM ALCHEMIST SELLE SMP DAMAMITA105
DAVID ERIKSSONArt-V CyclingMSWE110
SCOTT THILTGESTeam G-art LuxembourgMLUX116
HENRIK JANSSONArt-V CyclingMSWE125
RICHEY CRAIGGarneau – Easton CyclingMCAN139
CARL DECKERGIANT FACTORY OFF ROAD TEAMMUSA147
MARTIN ERIKSSONArt-V CyclingMSWE150
WILDHABER MICHAELSCOTT-SRAM MTB RacingMSWI165
TOM CHAPMANJBLOOD ADVENTURESMAUS192
HIJIRI ODAJapan selection teamMJPN207
BRADFORD-PARISH KEVINGillespie EyeMUSA210
MASANORI KOSAKAJapan selection teamMJPN211
YU TAKENOUCHIJapan Selection teamMJPN227
BEN WALKERDENAustralian Cyclocross MagMAUS245
ANDREW JUILIANOROCK LOBSTERMUSA253
NICHOLAS SMITHAustralian Cyclocross MagMAUS296
JANSEN RICHARDTeamNLMNED305
STEPHEN FISHERJAKROOMUSA340
PHILIPP BÜTZOWTeam G-art LuxembourgMLUX434
TOMOHIRO SAITOJapan Selection teamMJPN457
SHAUN LEWISJBLOOD ADVENTURESMAUS480
NILES ISAACGarneau – Easton CyclingMCAN497
ERIC BRUNNEREvol Elite RacingMUSA576
ANDREAS LUND ANDRESENGIANT-ASSOS CX TEAMMDEN#N/A
OLIVER EMIL ERREBOGIANT-ASSOS CX TEAMMDEN#N/A
KEITH GARRISONJalapeno Cycling/King KogMUSA#N/A
GARDNER SAMUELVelovault - Challenge TiresMGBR#N/A
SHARRATT BRENDONVelovault - Challenge TiresMNZL#N/A
KENGO SHIGETAJapan Selection teamMJPN#N/A
MASARU NAKAZATOJapan Selection teamMJPN#N/A
KOJI MUKOYAMAJapan Selection teamMJPN#N/A
MICHEAL HOWSONJBLOOD ADVENTURESMAUS#N/A
ANGUS DICKSONJBLOOD ADVENTURESMAUS#N/A
NICHOLAS NORDONJBLOOD ADVENTURESMAUS#N/A
VAN DER MEER GOSSETeamNLMNED#N/A
SOROKIN DIMITRIYLatviaMRUS#N/A
AARON SNOVELJAKROOMUSA#N/A
RAINIER SCHAEFERJAKROOMUSA#N/A
KOSTAS XIROGIANNISSterling SportsMGRC#N/A
MATTHEW MCNAMARASterling SportsMUSA#N/A
STAUDER BENJAMINEmbrace The WorldMGER#N/A
WEGNER SÖNKEEmbrace The WorldMGER#N/A
TETZLAFF TOBIASEmbrace The WorldMGER#N/A
CARSTENSEN LUCASEmbrace The WorldMGER#N/A
SINDRE REIDAR HOLE MOHRSSKMNOR#N/A
JOHAN ANDREAS HOLE MOHRSSKMNOR#N/A
BRADLEY NELSONBloodwise-QSWMGBR#N/A
IAN SWIFT MCPHERSONEvol Elite RacingMUSA#N/A
NICOLA PARENTIPISTOIESE - VALLERBIKEMITA#N/A
MARCO CAROZZOPISTOIESE - VALLERBIKEMITA#N/A