Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) ended his 2017 season with victory at the Taiwan KOM Challenge, finishing more than a minute ahead of Spain´s Oscar Pujol and John Ebsen. Nibali reportedly set a new record for the event with a time of 3:19:54. The 106km event starts at sea level and finishes at an altitude of 3,275 metres atop the Wuling Pass, Taiwan´s highest road. Former Cannondale rider Phil Gaimon finished sixth, 10 minutes back, with 2011 Tour de France winner Cadel Evans 10th. Britain´s Emma Pooley won the women´s race. The Taiwan KOM Challenge brought down the curtain on Nibali`s 2017 season. He raced for a total of 81 days, finishing third at Giro d´Italia, second to Chris Froome at the Vuelta a Espana and winning Il Lombardia for a second time.ADVERTISEMENT `It was a hard race because we went from sea level up to 3,275 metres. I´ve never ridden such a long and hard climb before in my entire life,` Nibali said after posing on the winner´s podium. `I waited until the final 10 kilometres to attack when I saw the other riders tired and suffering. It was my last race of the season and so now its finally time for some holidays.` A total of 600 riders took part in the event. Nibali and Pooley each collect a prize of 500,000 Taiwan dollars - close to 14,000 Euro - for victory. Nibali took part with his brother Antonio and Bahrain-Merida teammate Chun Kai Feng and team manager Brent Copeland.
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