Biking enthusiasts take part in Olympic bicycle run
Cyclists posing in front of Eiffel Tower on March 16

(BEIJING, March 17) -- What's the distance between Paris and Beijing? 104 excited bicyclists are on their way to finding out in person. According to Xinhua, they started out from the Eiffel Tower in the French capital on the morning of March 16 with a plan to travel the 12,000 kilometer route by bike, ending up at their final destination -- Beijing -- on August 3.

The crowd in the square in Paris on Sunday morning was greeted with a slight drizzle, but this did nothing to dampen the spirits of the bicyclists, or their fans.

At exactly 9:30 am, upon the command of the bike crew leader, the 2008 Paris-Beijing Olympic bicycle run began. The first batch of 20 cyclists tore away from the square to the overwhelming applause and cheers of onlookers.

According to reports, most of the cyclists involved in this international event are French nationals; however, athletes from other countries were invited to join the fun as well, including, but not limited to, China, America, Great Britain, Belgium, and Canada. A 20-year old student from China's Sun Yat-Sen University is the youngest in the mix.

The 104 cyclists will be divided into five groups, each with its own leader. The entire route will take them through France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan before reaching China. Through Urumqi, Lanzhou, Xi'an, Zhengzhou, and Shijiazhuang they will ride, reaching the foot of Beijing's Great Wall five days before the start of the Olympic Games.