Tour of Guangxi 2026: Race Preview, Route and Key Contenders
The Tour of Guangxi has become an important fixture on the professional cycling calendar, providing a final opportunity for riders to secure results and valuable UCI World Tour points before the season concludes.
The 2026 edition takes place from 13 to 18 October in southern China. As the final men’s World Tour stage race of the season, it offers a mixture of sprint opportunities, demanding climbs and tactical racing. The route is particularly important for the general classification, with the uphill finish at Nongla expected to play a decisive role in determining the overall winner.
With the defending champion Paul Double returning to the race, the field also features established contenders and emerging talents. Read on for the schedule, route information, likely starters and riders to watch.
When Is The Tour of Guangxi?
The 2026 Tour of Guangxi runs from Tuesday 13 October to Sunday 18 October. The six-stage race takes place over six consecutive days, concluding with a demanding uphill finish at the Nongla Scenic Area.
The race is part of the UCI World Tour calendar and traditionally brings the men’s professional road season to a close. Its position late in the year gives riders one final opportunity to add a major result to their season, while teams can also target stage victories and World Tour points.
All stages take place in China, using local Chinese Standard Time (UTC+8). UK viewers should account for the seven-hour time difference during British Summer Time, meaning race starts and live coverage will generally fall in the early hours of the morning in the UK.
The final stage is especially important because the general classification can change significantly on the race’s toughest terrain. Although sprint finishes are expected on suitable stages, the riders targeting overall victory will need to remain competitive throughout the week and perform well on the decisive climbs.
Where Does The 2026 Tour of Guangxi Take Place?
The race takes place across the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China. The region is known for its limestone karst landscapes, river valleys and subtropical scenery, providing a distinctive setting for the final men’s World Tour stage race of the season.
The 2026 route begins in Chongzuo and finishes at the Nongla Scenic Area, with the six stages covering approximately 1,036.3 kilometres. The course combines road stages through the region with a demanding uphill finish that should be particularly important for the overall standings.
Unlike a race confined to flat urban circuits, Guangxi tests riders across different types of terrain. Fast roads can provide opportunities for sprinters and their lead-out trains, while rolling sections and climbs give attackers and general classification contenders opportunities to gain time.
Weather conditions may also influence the racing. Heat, humidity and rainfall can affect rider comfort, tyre choice and road conditions, although the impact will depend on the actual conditions during race week.
The varied route requires teams to bring riders with complementary strengths. Sprinters need support to control breakaways and prepare bunch finishes, while climbers and all-rounders must conserve energy and position themselves carefully ahead of the decisive uphill sections.
How Long Is The Tour of Guangxi?
The 2026 Tour of Guangxi covers approximately 1,036.3 kilometres over six stages, making it a compact but demanding stage race. The route combines opportunities for bunch sprints with more selective terrain that can determine the general classification.
The race begins in Chongzuo and concludes at the Nongla Scenic Area on 18 October. The uphill finish at Nongla is a key feature of the route and is likely to be particularly significant for riders seeking overall victory.
Stage distances and routes should be checked against the published 2026 organiser information before being quoted individually. The total distance is approximately 1,036.3 kilometres, rather than the roughly 930 kilometres stated in some preliminary descriptions.
The variation in terrain keeps the contest open to different types of riders. Sprinters can target stages where the peloton is likely to regroup, while puncheurs and climbers can look for opportunities to attack on more demanding roads.
Over six days, small time gaps can prove decisive. Riders seeking the overall title must avoid losing time on less selective stages before the more difficult terrain arrives. Strong team support, careful positioning and consistent performance will all be important.
Who Is Riding In The Tour of Guangxi?
The 2026 field includes leading World Tour teams and riders targeting the final major stage race of the men’s season. The provisional and published start lists include Team Jayco-AlUla, Soudal Quick-Step, UAE Team Emirates-XRG, Team Visma | Lease a Bike, Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe, Movistar Team, Lidl-Trek, EF Education-EasyPost and other professional teams.
The defending champion Paul Double returns with Team Jayco-AlUla. Other notable names listed for the race include Tom Pidcock, riding for Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, and Paul Magnier of Soudal Quick-Step. Olav Kooij, Kaden Groves and Juan Sebastián Molano are among the sprinters associated with the 2026 start list.
These riders bring different strengths to the race. Double will be looking to defend his overall title, while climbers and all-rounders will target the decisive uphill finish. Fast finishers such as Magnier and Groves will be interested in stages that favour a bunch sprint.
It is important to distinguish between a rider appearing on a preliminary start list and being confirmed at the start line. Team selections can change because of illness, injury, recovery needs or adjustments to race programmes. The final start list should therefore be checked close to the opening stage.
The balance between general classification contenders and sprinters should make team tactics particularly important. Some teams will work to control the peloton for a sprint, while others may look to exploit the climbs or establish a breakaway that can survive to the finish.
Who Won The Tour of Guangxi 2025?
Paul Double of Team Jayco-AlUla won the 2025 Tour of Guangxi, securing his first overall victory in a men’s World Tour stage race. The British rider finished the six-stage event in 22 hours, 37 minutes and 12 seconds, beating Victor Lafay into second place by 15 seconds. Jhonatan Narváez finished third, 16 seconds behind Double.
Double’s victory was built on a strong performance across the week, including a win on Stage 5, which finished at Nongla. His result on the climbing stage helped establish his position at the top of the general classification before the final day.
The concluding stage in Nanning provided further drama, as Lafay attempted to challenge Double’s lead. However, Double and his teammates managed the situation successfully, allowing him to retain the overall advantage and claim the title.
Paul Magnier of Soudal Quick-Step was another major performer in 2025. The French sprinter won five of the six stages, demonstrating his speed and consistency throughout the race. His performances highlighted the opportunities available to sprinters even in an event where the overall winner is decided by the climbing stages.
The 2025 results provide a useful reference point for the 2026 edition. Double returns as defending champion, but the new route and the form of his rivals will determine whether he can repeat his success.
Who Is Favourite To Win The Tour of Guangxi?
The 2026 Tour of Guangxi features several riders with the potential to challenge for the overall title. Paul Double is a natural contender following his 2025 victory, while Tom Pidcock, Jhonatan Narváez, Kévin Vauquelin and Maxim Van Gils are among the notable riders to watch, based on the published race entries.
Double’s familiarity with the race and his previous success at Nongla make him an important rider to follow. However, defending a stage-race title is never straightforward, particularly when rivals have different strengths and teams approach the event with contrasting strategies.
Pidcock brings versatility and the ability to perform on demanding terrain, while Narváez has experience of racing at the highest level and can be dangerous on selective stages. Vauquelin and Van Gils are also worth monitoring if the race develops into an aggressive contest on the climbs.
For the sprint stages, Paul Magnier, Olav Kooij and Kaden Groves are among the names to consider. Their chances will depend on the stage profiles, the strength of their lead-out trains and whether breakaways can be caught before the finish.
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