Le Tour pedaling its way into China's affections

Shanghai got another taste of the Tour de France last weekend as organizers of the iconic race look to harness China's immense pedal potential.

Despite being synonymous with bikes and boasting an estimated 75 million regular cyclists, China takes a back seat to the world's superpowers in competitive road racing.

Last Saturday, the Chinese public got an up-close look at the highest echelon of the sport when riders from seven of the world's best teams and five other squads went wheel to wheel at the Skoda Le Tour de France Shanghai Criterium.