The 2024 Tour de Taiwan concluded with a thrilling final stage in Kaohsiung City. While Israel-Premier Tech’s Itamar Einhorn took the stage win in a bunch sprint, it was teammate Joseph Blackmore who stole the show, securing the overall victory in a dramatic comeback.

Blackmore entered the day trailing race leader Ivan Cobo (Equipo Kern Pharma) by five seconds. The pivotal moment arrived in the final 10 kilometers of the longest stage of the race. A breakaway group of 15 riders, including Cobo, surged ahead on the final climb, dropping the previous leader, Mason Hollyman (Team BikeExchange-Jayco).

Blackmore, however, remained composed. With excellent teamwork from Israel-Premier Tech, he strategically collected bonus seconds throughout the stage, edging closer to the overall lead.

In a display of team strength, Einhorn then delivered a powerful lead-out sprint for Blackmore, who narrowly missed out on a stage win himself. However, the crucial bonus seconds he earned throughout the day were enough to propel him to the top of the general classification.

Joseph Blackmore celebrates his Tour de Taiwan win with teammates.
Joseph Blackmore celebrates his win with teammates

This marks a significant victory for Blackmore, solidifying his status as a rising star in the cycling world. He follows up his recent win at the Tour of Rwanda with a prestigious Tour de Taiwan title. The win also holds special significance for Israel-Premier Tech, pushing their 2024 victory tally to 13, surpassing their entire 2023 season total.

Final Standings:

1st – Joseph Blackmore – 14H 58′ 21″
2nd – Yuma Koishi – +4″
3rd – Carter Bettles – +5″

Full results can be found via the Global Cycling Network, here: Standings for Tour de Taiwan – Elite Men – 10 March – 14 March 2024 | GCN (globalcyclingnetwork.com)

Rewatch the Final Stage, here: 2024 Tour de Taiwan – Stage 5 – Kaohsiung City – Asian Sports Network