Trialer to tackle China's highest building

By Juan B. Estrada

Colombian trials rider Javier Zapata Cuartas, famous in the national sport and international area for climbing on his bicycle several of the highest buildings of Latin America, is preparing intensely to face the most difficult challenge of his life: scaling the highest building in China and the highest fourth skyscraper of the world, the Jin Mao tower.

With the support of "Pantaloncillos Leo" as his main sponsor and accompanied by Indeportes Antioquia and GW Bicycles, Zapata will attempt to scale all 2008 steps of the 88-story tower without putting a foot down on December 31.

In recent years, the Colombian bike trialer climbed the highest buildings in his country and Latin America, such as the Coltejer with 38 floors, and the Copatria with 48. He also scaled the Major Tower in Mexico with 60 floors and the Tower Central Park in Caracas with 55.

The 348 metre high Jin Mao is the highest tower of China and one of the most representative architectural emblems of Asia. Javier Zapata is one of the only three riders invited to do this contest. The other two are Zhang Jincheng, who climbed the Jin Mao last year, and the Andorran Xavi Casas.