2026 Tour of Guangxi Preview | Pidcock vs Widar on a new mountain stage, plus a decisive finale on Nongla
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Follow us on GoogleWith the Tour of Lombardy now behind us, the European cycling season is all but over, but on the other side of the world, one final WorldTour-level event still awaits. The Tour of Guangxi will take place in China from Tuesday, October 13, through Sunday, October 18. IDL Pro Cycling takes you through the route of this six-day stage race.
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It has to be said: with this starting list, we can’t exactly call the Tour of Guangxi a sure thing. The lineup includes Tom Pidcock, Juan Ayuso, Jhonatan Narváez, Kévin Vauquelin, Jarno Widar, Ilan Van Wilder, and defending champion Paul Double, among others.
Sprinters Olav Kooij, Paul Magnier, Kaden Groves, and Fabio Jakobsen are also on the roster.
Recent Winners of the Tour of Guangxi
2025 Paul Double
2024 Lennert Van Eetvelt
2023 Milan Vader
2022 Not held
2021 Not held
2020 Not held
2019 Enric Mas
2018 Gianni Moscon
2017 Tim Wellens
2024 Lennert Van Eetvelt
2023 Milan Vader
2019 Enric Mas
2018 Gianni Moscon
2017 Tim Wellens
2026 Tour of Guangxi: Route, times & favourites for stage wins
Whereas for years the Guangxi race consisted mainly of bunch sprints, one decisive uphill finish, and then a flat final stage, things will be different in 2026.
For the first time, the race will start inland in Chongzuo, then venture further and further into the hilly and mountainous western part of the region.
The stage doesn't end until the final day on the famous climb to Nongla. As a result, the battle for the red leader's jersey usually remains exciting right up to the final kilometers.
Stage 1, Tuesday, October 13: Chongzuo – Chongzuo (149.2 km)
This year, the Tour of Guangxi does not start on the coast, but with a completely new opening stage around Chongzuo, near the Vietnamese border.
Over 149.4 kilometers, the route climbs only about 750 meters, and the final stretch is flat. So everything points to a first bunch sprint—and with it, the first red leader’s jersey.
Favourites
Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Times
Start: 3:30 a.m GMT
Finish: around 7:00 a.m GMT
Start: 3:30 a.m GMT
Finish: around 7:00 a.m GMT
Stage 2, Wednesday, October 14: Chongzuo - Jingxi (179.5 km)
On day two, we’ll see a route that’s largely familiar from previous editions. The race heads from Chongzuo toward Jingxi, but along the way, the terrain becomes much more challenging than in the opening stage.
The final section includes, among other things, a climb of about 8.5 kilometers at a gradient of just over 3 percent, with the summit less than 40 kilometers from the finish. Too tough for the sprinters, with a deceptively flat finish?
Favourites
Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Times
Start: 4:10 a.m GMT
Finish: around 8:00 a.m GMT
Start: 4:10 a.m GMT
Finish: around 8:00 a.m GMT
Stage 3, Thursday, October 15: Jingxi – Bama (211.9 km)
At over 211 kilometers, the third stage will be the longest day of the race for the riders. Most of the route shouldn’t pose any problems, but the hills start to pile up as they head toward Bama.
In the final hour, the route includes a 2.7-kilometer climb at a 4.7 percent grade, followed by another 800 meters at a 5 percent grade. Once again, it’s all or nothing for the fast riders.
Favourites
Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Marijn van den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost)
Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Marijn van den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost)
Times
Start: 4:00 a.m GMT
Finish: around 8:00 a.m GMT
Start: 4:00 a.m GMT
Finish: around 8:00 a.m GMT
Stage 4, Friday, October 16: Bama - Tian'e (164.6 km)
On Friday, the nature of the Tour of Guangxi really changes. This stage is completely new and features over 2,500 meters of elevation gain. The final 50 kilometers stand out in particular.
First, there’s about 2 kilometers at a 7 percent gradient, followed by another steep climb of 1.7 kilometers at 8.5 percent, approximately 23 kilometers from the finish. From there, the route is mostly downhill toward Tian’e. Time to attack!
Favorites
Léo Bisiaux (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5)
Luke Lamperti (EF Education-EasyPost)
Léo Bisiaux (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5)
Luke Lamperti (EF Education-EasyPost)
Times
Start: 4:00 a.m GMT
Finish: around 8:00 a.m GMT
Start: 4:00 a.m GMT
Finish: around 8:00 a.m GMT
Stage 5, Saturday, October 17: Jinchengjiang – Yizhou (170.6 km)
The fifth stage is also new. On paper, the stage features nearly 2,000 meters of elevation gain and three categorized climbs, but the finish itself is flat, and the toughest sections are far enough from the finish line to allow the peloton to regroup. As a result, this presents one last real opportunity for the sprinters.
Favourites
Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Times
Start: 3:30 a.m GMT
Finish: around 7:30 a.m GMT
Start: 3:30 a.m GMT
Finish: around 7:30 a.m GMT
Stage 6, Sunday, October 18: Yizhou – Nongla (165.9 km)
And then everything will be decided on Sunday. For the first time, the organizers have scheduled the traditional finish at the Nongla Scenic Spot as the final stage of the full loop.
The climb to Nongla is 3.2 kilometers long with an average gradient of 7.3 percent, but in the final kilometer or so, the gradients rise to a maximum of 15 percent. Who is likely to pull off a double victory here?
Favorites
Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5)
Kévin Vauquelin (Netcompany INEOS)
Daniel Felipe Martínez (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5)
Kévin Vauquelin (Netcompany INEOS)
Daniel Felipe Martínez (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Times
Start: 3:00 a.m GMT
Finish: around 7:00 a.m GMT
Start: 3:00 a.m GMT
Finish: around 7:00 a.m GMT
Favourites for the 2026 Tour of Guangxi Overall Classification
The start list for the Tour of Guangxi doesn’t usually feature any big names, but that will be completely different in 2026. The headliner is Tom Pidcock, who still needs to pick up some much-needed UCI points in a WorldTour race for Pinarello-Q36.5. The Brit has been in good form all fall, but a victory has eluded him. Will he find that victory—or those victories—in China?
On paper, Jarno Widar seems to be the other logical top favorite for the overall victory. The race is usually decided on the short, extremely steep final climb to Nongla, and that terrain suits Widar perfectly. The Belgian rider from Lotto-Intermarché proved that by beating Pidcock in Tre Valli Varesine. It wasn’t until the race got longer and tougher that Pidcock gained the upper hand in the Tour of Lombardy.
Read more below the photo
Widar won the Tre Valli Varesine.
Behind them, the group of contenders is deep. Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek), Kévin Vauquelin ( Netcompany INEOS), Jhonatan Narváez ( UAE Emirates-XRG), Maxim Van Gils (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) and Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step) all have what it takes to contend for the overall victory at Nongla, although their form is harder to gauge this late in the season.
Léo Bisiaux (Decathlon CMA CGM) and Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious) are also highly rated, and defending champion Paul Double, riding for Jayco AlUla, is a force to be reckoned with. The Briton hasn’t been nearly as impressive this season as he was in 2025. Outsiders for the win include riders like Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) and Marc Soler (UAE), as both could still be fresh after a year marred by injuries.
In addition to Van Gils, Red Bull has two other interesting options in Daniel Felipe Martínez and Emil Herzog (seventh at the European Championships). XDS Astana is hoping for a resurgence from the somewhat underperforming Clément Champoussin, and Visma | Lease a Bike will be hoping that Louis Barré has regained his August form after a broken wrist. If so, the Frenchman will be able to compete. The same goes for Marco Brenner at Tudor.
IDL Pro Cycling top picks, 2026 Tour of Guangxi GC
Top Favourites: Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5) and Jarno Widar (Lotto-Intermarché)
Dark horses: Kévin Vauquelin (Netcompany INEOS), Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost), Maxim Van Gils (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), and Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step)
Long shots: Jhonatan Narváez, Marc Soler (UAE Emirates-XRG), Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek), Léo Bisiaux (Decathlon CMA CGM), Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious), Paul Double (Jayco AlUla), Daniel Felipe Martínez and Emil Herzog (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Clément Champoussin (XDS Astana), Louis Barré (Visma | Lease a Bike), and Marco Brenner (Tudor)
Dark horses: Kévin Vauquelin (Netcompany INEOS), Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost), Maxim Van Gils (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), and Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step)
Long shots: Jhonatan Narváez, Marc Soler (UAE Emirates-XRG), Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek), Léo Bisiaux (Decathlon CMA CGM), Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious), Paul Double (Jayco AlUla), Daniel Felipe Martínez and Emil Herzog (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Clément Champoussin (XDS Astana), Louis Barré (Visma | Lease a Bike), and Marco Brenner (Tudor)
How to watch the 2026 Tour of Guangxi on TV
The 2026 Tour of Guangxi can be watched on TNT Sports in the UK and on HBO Max in the USA.
David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
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Latest Comments
- The “king is dead” line feels premature. Pogačar has dominated this race for years, and one brilliant Seixas win doesn’t mean his reign is over. The article leans a bit too hard into the hype.patriciaw12-10-2026
- How does Seixas’s win compare with Gerbi’s in 1905? Was the race anything like the Lombardia riders face today?michael5412-10-2026
- Evenepoel finishing fourth while apparently struggling is still a solid result, though it’s surprising he couldn’t carry his European title form into the race.bikebuffj12-10-2026
- Nibali’s point about Del Toro racing Gran Piemonte makes sense. UAE needed him fresh for Lombardia, especially with Pogačar absent.jeremya12-10-2026
- Seixas looked completely in control on Civiglio. Winning Lombardia at that age is extraordinary; the comparisons with Pogačar are inevitable, but he deserves to be judged on his own ride.tourdeforce912-10-2026
- How can he race a mountain-bike event just 15 hours after Lombardia? Does that mean he had to recover on the way there? I’m still figuring out how these races fit together!sprocketspiny12-10-2026
- Winning Lombardia without Pogačar there is still a huge achievement, though the headline makes it sound like Seixas is already chasing him personally. Is there any indication he’s actually considering UAE for 2028?andrewf12-10-2026
- The UAE interest is worth watching, but he’s under contract through 2027 and Decathlon clearly have a major talent to build around. No need to rush the transfer speculation.samanthak12-10-2026
- He’s right to keep Pogačar as the benchmark rather than claiming he’s already there. Second at Strade and Liège, plus fourth on his Tour debut at 19, is an incredible platform.robert6512-10-2026
- Seixas attacking on the Civiglio and then lining up at Roc d’Azur the next day is wild. The win matters, but that appetite to race says a lot about him.julien12-10-2026
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