In June 2026, the 2026 FISU World University Championship Cycling officially kicked off in Chongli, Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province. As the flagship event of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), this marked the first time the championship has been hosted in China. The Chinese University Sports Delegation claimed 3 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze medals, securing the best result in the country’s participation history. As core members of the national team competing on home soil, student-athletes from Jianghan University (JHU) delivered a tenacious and outstanding performance, setting a new all-time best for the university at the World University Championship. In addition to regular events, five team demonstration events were specially introduced at this edition, providing a broader exchange platform for collegiate cyclists worldwide.
Emerging from National Selection
In March 2026, the national selection trials for the Chinese delegation were held in Wanning, Hainan Province. Braving high temperatures and humidity, JHU’s cycling team competed against top riders from universities across the country on the Xinglong Circuit. After multiple rounds of contests including the individual time trial, road race and athletics track circuit events, students Li Yiwen, Jia Yuanyuan, Zhuang Yuxin and Zhang Zexu stood out with theiroutstanding performances, earning their places on the Chinese University Sports Delegation and securing their “ticket” to Chongli.
JHU Riders compete in the national selection trials for the FISU World University Championship Cycling in Wanning, Hainan
JHU Riders compete in the national selection trials for the FISU World University Championship Cycling in Wanning, Hainan
Training Across the Mountains in Hubei
Making the national squad was only the first step. To deliver peak performance on the home course in Chongli, head coach Cao Zhikai, who also served as the road cycling coach for the Chinese national university team, led the riders on an arduous “Hubei Training Tour”.The team traveled repeatedly to Huangpao Mountain in Tongcheng, where steep climbs built their cardiovascular endurance; they moved on to Gexian Mountain in Chibi, honing their cornering skills on winding mountain roads; and they trained on Jiangjun Mountain in Xinzhou, refining tactical coordination on long, rolling terrain. Over months of training, their wheels rolled across mountains and valleys throughout the Jingchu region. While maintaining their academic studies, the riders stuck to a high-intensity schedule of five training sessions per week, averaging approximately 150 kilometers of riding per day. Through relentless effort, they turned the mountains of Hubei into stepping stones toward the podium.
The team conducts specialized climbing training at Huangpao Mountain, Tongcheng, Xianning
Early Arrival for Home-Field Adaptation
On June 12, more than ten days before the official competition, JHU’s competing athletes arrived in Chongli with the full national delegation to begin pre-event adaptive training. Faced with Chongli’s cool plateau climate and highly challenging course conditions, Coach Cao developed a targeted training plan, leading the team to repeatedly reconnoiter the route, simulate race rhythms, and make fine adjustments to equipment settings and physicalconditioning. This valuable period of early arrival allowed the team to quickly acclimatize and adapt precisely to the characteristics of the course, laying a solid foundation for the eventual historic breakthrough.
Historic Breakthrough in Chongli
The competition officially kicked off on June 25. Facing strong opponents from 13 countries and regions including traditional cycling powerhouses the Netherlands and Germany, students of JHU selected for the Chinese national team fought side by side and cooperated seamlessly with teammates from universities across China, delivering impressive results for the university.
Li Yiwen, together with teammates from other universities, competed in the Mixed Team Relay and helped China claim the championship. She also finished sixth in both the Women’s Individual Time Trial and the Women’s Road Race, setting a new all-time best for the university in individual events at the World University Championship.
Li Yiwen finishes 6th in the Road Race in 2026 FISU World University Championship Cycling
Zhang Zexu, Jia Yuanyuan and Zhuang Yuxin were named to the Chinese team for the Mixed Team Relay (Athletics Field), helping the team win the silver medal. Jia Yuanyuan also earned a spot on China’s roster for the Women’s Team Sprint (Athletics Field) and contributed to the team’s bronze medal. In addition, Ms. Zhao Jingxiao, a teacher from the School of Physical Education, served as a national-appointed referee for the event, while graduates from the School of Design undertook the visual design work. These efforts showcase the wide-ranging contributions of JHU members to the World University Championship.
Heartfelt Care from JHU
Behind these achievements lies the strong support of the university and the deep concern of its leadership. Vice President Li Weidong traveled to the competition venue in Chongli to visit and encourage the teachers and students participating in the event. Learning that athlete Jia Yuanyuan had missed the on-campus graduation ceremony due to training and competition, Vice President Li held a brief yet warm on-site tassel-turning ceremony for her, personally adjusting her tassel and presenting her with the degree certificate. He also encouraged all team members: “Bring the fighting spirit from the arena back to campus, and be students of Jianghan University who develop in an all-round way morally, intellectually, physically, aesthetically and in work.”
This historic breakthrough at the World University Championship is a concentrated manifestation of the in-depth education and teaching reform achievements of the School of Physical Education. The teaching achievement “Curriculum Innovation, Platform Building, and Cultural Leadership: Exploration and Practice of the Physical Education Model in Local Comprehensive Universities”, led by the School of Physical Education, won the Special Prize of the 2026 Hubei Provincial Teaching Achievement Award. Coach Cao Zhikai, as a core practitioner of this achievement, deeply integrated its concepts into the entire preparation process. Relying on the whole-chain education model of “course instruction -- club-based practice -- competitive athletics”, he effectively broke down the barriers between in-class and out-of-class learning. The brilliant results on the field are a wonderful “public demonstration lesson” of this high-level teaching achievement on the international stage.
From the humid heat of Hainan to the chilly mountains of Hubei, and finally to the sprint in Chongli, students of JHU have measured not only geographical distances with their wheels, but also the trajectory of their growth. This is both a concentrated reflection of the university’s achievements in physical education reform, and a vivid practice of its commitment to comprehensively fostering its students’ all-round moral, intellectual, physical and aesthetic grounding with a hard-working spirit and deepening the integration of sports and education. Going forward, Jianghan University will continue to support its students in pursuing their dreams on broader stages, pedaling forward at “JHU speed” and telling compelling stories of talent cultivation.
ByHe Yabin, Huang Yunya and Li Sha