Spokes singing, jerseys flashing, the peloton exploded onto the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge in the men’s road race at the 15th National Games of China. It became the Games’ first-ever cross-border race, carrying riders and fans straight into a milestone moment.

To keep the action blazing through six border checkpoints, organisers rolled out a slick new contactless clearance system. No bottlenecks. No slowdowns. Just pure, uninterrupted racing.

Riders strapped on wristbands fitted with tiny embedded chips, while radio-frequency readers at dedicated pre-checkpoints scanned and logged each pass in real time. The impact was instant: the peloton tore through every crossing at top speed — tight, relentless, and unbroken.

And the tech wasn’t just for show. It cracked a real logistical puzzle: how to move people, goods, and data seamlessly across different systems. The Games doubled as a live test bed for deeper Greater Bay Area integration — and if this pilot is any indication, cross-border travel and cooperation could be on the brink of getting a whole lot smoother.

In the women’s individual race, Hong Kong rider Ceci Lee Sze-wing stormed to victory in 3 hours, 19 minutes and 54 seconds.

Ceci Lee Sze-wing, Women’s Road Race Champion:
The National Games come once every four years and they’re our country’s biggest meet — competing here in the Greater Bay Area made this especially meaningful. 

The event’s appeal has long gone beyond the medal tally: from seamless customs clearance mode to traffic safety, from medical logistics to volunteer services, the three places worked closely together.