Park Gun-su Earns His Red Shorts: Now an S-Grade Rider

Park Gun-su has officially joined the ranks of K-CYCLE's premier division. On 11 May, he captured the win in the final race of the A-Grade (Excellence Grade) class during Round 20 at Gwangmyeong Velodrome, earning a special promotion to the S-Grade. It was a defining moment for the top graduate of the 29th generation from the K-Cycle Training Center, who has been under a spotlight since his debut.

The final was particularly anticipated, with Gwak Hyeon-myeong (S3) also contending for special promotion. Park launched an early Lead and held off Gwak’s pursuit to clinch victory. Gwak, who finished second, also succeeded in regaining his S-Grade status.

Unlike many top riders, Park has a background in speed skating, not cycling. That distinction has drawn comparisons to Grand Prix winner Park Byeong-ha (A1) and veteran powerhouse In Chi-hwan (SS), both non-cyclist standouts.

However, Park’s debut in January fell short of expectations. In his first race, he attempted a bold Lead but faded to fourth. He claimed his first win the next day with an Overtake, but failed to close out his third race when caught by Kim Hyeon-gyeong (A1). Though rated highly for his Lead potential, his lone early victory came through a tactical move, not power.

Compared to previous top graduates like Son Gyeong-su (S3) and Son Je-yong (S1), who each swept their debut rounds and earned immediate promotion, Park’s path was more turbulent.

Feeling the weight of comparison, Park studied race footage of other top-tier graduates and intensified his training. Still, his lack of race experience showed: in February’s Round 6 final, he hesitated behind Kim Jun-cheol (A1) and was overtaken by Gwak. In the SpeedOn Cup final, he again misjudged positioning and finished seventh.

But starting in April, Park turned a corner. He won the Busan Mayor’s Cup by outlasting teammate Kim Min-ho (A1), then swept three more races in Changwon. In Round 19 at Gwangmyeong, he claimed three straight wins to complete a nine-race winning streak—enough to earn the symbolic red shorts of the S-Grade.

In an interview with K-Cycle Doctor, Park reflected:

“There were times during skating when I wanted to quit, but my coach suggested trying K-Cycle. Thanks to the support of Um Jeong-il (S2), I made the transition. I'm training hard and feeling great. I want to earn my place with Lead strategies. I still have a long way to go, but I believe I can reach the Super Premier level within two to three years. I absolutely want to win the Grand Prix someday.”

Park Jin-su, editor at K-Cycle Doctor, praised his potential:

“Park Gun-su reminds me of Park Byeong-ha’s explosiveness when he won the 2013 Grand Prix as a non-cyclist. If he continues to refine his endurance and race presence, he could become the next Im Chae-bin or Jung Jong-jin.”