But his first race didn't go well. He fell, and watched others overtake him in dismay.

That failure didn't dampen his determination. He later met his first coach Zhao Yong, who has taken part in every Tour of Sayram Lake, and was given a lot of advice.

"The boy has a gift and works hard," says Zhao, "Compared with others who give up halfway, he is a little bit stubborn."

Burlik didn't approve of his son's choice until the cyclist claimed his first title in an amateur race in Xinjiang. Local media coverage of his champion son encouraged him to lend his approval.

Since entering college, Tursunjan has taken part in races across the country. The dozens of titles under his belt have made him more confident of his chances of becoming a professional athlete.

He has since decided to take a year off school so that he can focus on training.

Tursunjan ended up in eighth place in the just-concluded Tour of Sayram Lake, his best result since he started competing in in the event. But he says that in the long term, he has his sights set on the podium.

"I need to work harder on my sprint and attack," he says.

He says every time when he rides to the lakeside of Sayram, he feels something more than just what comes with having completed a training goal; he also arrives at a most sacred place in his heart, the place where his cycling dream was born.

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