GABE always rode the bus to work. But a few days ago, he suddenly hopped on his dust-covered bike and decided to ride it to work. His colleague, Jason, wanted to know why.
Jason: Gabe, no offence, but what's wrong with you?
Gabe: What do you mean?
Jason: You're working awfully hard to ride a bike across Beijing! Why not just keep taking the bus to work?
Gabe: I've been inspired by the energetic riders of the Tour of Qinghai Lake. Riders were dashing and sweating, making their best efforts to overtake others and win the yellow jersey.
Jason: A yellow jersey? Isn't that a cheap prize?
Gabe: Haven't you ever seen the Tour de France? A yellow jersey is not the final prize, but an honour for a rider who tops the Individual General Classification at the end of each stage. Jersey winners are granted extra points and special privileges.
Jason: Was a Chinese at the top of the overall standings?
Gabe: Unfortunately not.
Jason: Why not? China is a country dubbed "the kingdom of bicycles". And almost everyone rides a bike.
Gabe: But our riders lack professional training and competitive experience.
Jason: Anyway, I think it's a fantastic opportunity for all the riders. Racing around the scenic Qinghai Lake is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Gabe: It's also good preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. I really hope the Chinese can perform well in the Olympic cycling events.
no offence: 无意冒犯。常用在一句对方可能不太受用的话之前，避免对方生气。
the Tour of Qinghai Lake: 或"the Tour de Qinghai Lake"，环青海湖国际公路自行车赛，简称环湖赛，每年7至8月在青海省举行，世界上海拔最高的国际性公路自行车赛。每年有来自五大洲的20支运动队的100多名运动员参加，比赛总距离为1,000多公里，平均海拔3,000多米。
dash: 冲刺，也可以说"sprint"。
overtake: 超车，搭配为"overtake sb." (超过某人)或 "overtake from the left/right side" (从左边/右边超车)。
the yellow jersey: 黄色领骑衫。环湖赛分为9个赛段，前段比赛中个人总成绩(individual general classification)领先的车手将在下一赛段中身穿黄色领骑衫参加比赛。国际自行车赛事中领骑衫还有别的颜色，代表不同的意思，如在世界著名的环法自行车赛上(the Tour de France)，每一赛段中总积分(points general classification)排名第一的车手获得绿色领骑衫，爬坡成绩最佳者(King of the Mountains)穿红白斑点衫，25岁以下成绩最好的车手穿白色领骑衫。凡是获得领骑衫者都将获得加分。
the overall standings: 总排名。"overall winner"即"总冠军"。
dubbed "the kingdom of bicycles": 誉为"自行车王国"。dub: 授予......的称号。
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: 一生难得的好机会。once-in-a-lifetime: 一辈子只有一次的，常被用来形容珍贵的难得的机会(opportunity/chance)。
Olympic cycling events: 奥运会自行车项目。主要包括三种赛制：山地自行车赛(mountain bike)、公路赛(road cycling)以及场地自行车赛(track cycling)。
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