The snow mountain bike race of the 2023 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) got off to a blistering start in Harbin, the capital city of China's northernmost Heilongjiang province, on Dec 24.
 
As the first international winter sports event under the framework of the SCO, the race attracted nearly 1,000 participants from eight countries, including Iran, Russia, and Kyrgyzstan.
 
Against the backdrop of the winter season along the Songhua River, athletes showed their passion and ramped up people's excitement for the 9th Asian Winter Games in 2025.
 
The participants were divided into eight categories based on their skill level, age, and gender. With the exception of the children's and experience groups, who competed on Dec 25, the other groups all raced on Dec 24.
 
At 11:30 am, as the starting whistle blew, the cyclists set off from Harbin's iconic landmark, the Harbin Grand Theatre, initiating a challenging 24-kilometer race.
 
The organizers said the event enhanced Harbin's status as a city famous for its ice and snow culture, as well as its reputation as a "City of Olympic Champions," creating a vibrant atmosphere leading up to the successful hosting of the 9th Asian Winter Games.