From July 11 to 13, 2025, the Xiwuqi “Grassland Route 99” Marathon and Grassland King Challenge were held in Xiwuqi Banner, Inner Mongolia.
This year’s event continued the three-day format introduced in the previous edition, attracting over 1,900 participants from 23 countries and regions.
Day 1: Run-Bike Sprint & Little Grassland King Challenge
The competition kicked off on July 11 with the Run-Bike Sprint—a race added in 2024—and the Little Grassland King Challenge.
Athletes completed a 4.7km course consisting of:
2.2km cycling
1.4km running
ADVERTISEMENT1.1km cycling
Participants competed in four categories based on discipline (mountain bike/road bike) and gender. The top eight finishers from each preliminary round advanced to the finals.
After intense competition, Li Pengcheng won the men’s title, while Chen Yixuan claimed the women’s championship.
Day 2: Grassland Route 99 Marathon & 50km Cycling
On the morning of July 12, the Grassland Route 99 Marathon began, featuring full marathon, half marathon, and 11km fun run categories. All races started at Xiwuqi Cultural Square. Half marathon runners finished at Mongolian Khan City, while full marathon participants continued further along Route 99.
Mongolian runners dominated both the full and half marathon events, sweeping the men’s and women’s titles.
In the afternoon, athletes took on the 50km cycling segment—a unique “double race” challenge within the Grassland King event. The route took riders from Cultural Square across the newly constructed White Horse Bridge, onto Grassland Route 99, and finally to Mongolian Khan City.
Despite fatigue from the morning’s run, cyclists delivered strong performances. Shi Kuan won the men’s road bike category, and Zhang Tingting topped the women’s field. In the mountain bike category, Li Ran and Zheng Ying won the men’s and women’s divisions, respectively.
Day 3: The Ultimate Cycling Challenge
The final day, July 13, featured three cycling races:
125km road bike
81km mountain bike
28km mountain bike
The 125km road race showcased the most stunning landscapes of Xiwuqi. In a thrilling finish, Li Pengcheng broke away in the final 10km and soloed to victory—his second win of the tournament.
Fu Shiqi won the women’s road race after a fiercely contested battle.
In the mountain bike events, Li Ran and Zhao Haiyan were crowned champions in the 81km men’s and women’s categories, while Cai Zhengqing and MARIIA won the 28km titles.
Grassland King Title Winners
Based on cumulative points over the three days, Li Pengcheng earned the men’s Grassland King title with two victories.
The women’s title went to Tang Yucong, who placed third in the Run-Bike Sprint and fifth in the women’s full marathon.
The 2025 Grassland King Challenge concluded successfully, offering all participants an unforgettable racing experience in the beautiful grasslands of Xiwuqi.
