Olympics stimulates interest in cycling

For most Chinese, cycling conjures up two very different images: on the one hand, a familiar form of transportation; on the other, an esoteric European sport.

All that is about to change, thanks to the Olympic Games. A record-breaking seven Chinese riders were entered in the Games, and public interest in competitive cycling has never been greater.

"The Olympics is a perfect showcase for Chinese cycling," Chinese Cycling Association (CCA) president Jiang Guofeng said. "People are seeing that there is much more to cycling than just transportation."