Tour of Guangxi 2026: preview and favourites of the Chinese race

Tour of Guangxi 2026: the WorldTour grand finale On 13 October 2026, the Tour of Guangxi will kick off, a WorldTour category race held in the Guangxi region of China. The event ideally closes the international road season, attracting a field of 154 riders ready to battle on roads that historically alternate between sprints and more selective finishes. The expected protagonists Among the entrants, several top names stand out. Decathlon CMA CGM Team fields sprinter Olav Kooij, while Lotto Intermarché relies on Jarno Widar, coming off a high-level season. Lidl-Trek presents a lineup with Juan Ayuso, Andrea Bagioli, and Lennard Kämna. EF Education-EasyPost counters with Neilson Powless, Vincenzo Albanese, and Mikkel Frølich Honoré. Also present are Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Alexey Lutsenko and Yevgeniy Fedorov (Astana), Jhonatan Narváez (UAE Team Emirates), Marco Brenner (Tudor Pro Cycling), and Florian Vermeersch (Lotto Intermarché). The favourites' season Olav Kooij arrives in China with a solid recent palmarès: he won the Sparkassen Münsterland Giro and the Grand Prix d'Isbergues, plus second place in stage 4 of the Renewi Tour and third in stage 3. His fast finish makes him the man to beat on sprint stages. Jarno Widar won the Tre Valli Varesine, a semi-classic with a hilly route, and took second place in stage 4 of the Vuelta a España. His resilient profile makes him a candidate for the tougher finishes. Kévin Vauquelin (Netcompany INEOS) won a stage of the Giro d'Abruzzo and shone at the Tour de France with two sixth places (stages 4 and 13). His ability to hold on mixed terrain makes him dangerous in a race like the Guangxi. Alexey Lutsenko triumphed in the road race at the Asian Games and narrowly missed the podium at the Vuelta (fourth in stage 12). His experience will be a valuable asset. Andrea Bagioli won a stage at the Tour of Austria and took fifth in stage 1 of the Tour de Suisse. He is a rider for explosive finishes. Possible surprises Among the outsiders, Andrew August (Netcompany INEOS) has collected three notable placings at the Czech Tour, including two stage wins. Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) won the Binche-Chimay-Binche and a stage of the CRO Race. Milan Fretin (Cofidis) triumphed in a stage of the TPC en Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Lionel Taminiaux (Lotto Intermarché) is second at Paris-Chauny and third at Binche. Marco Brenner (Tudor) won a stage at the Vuelta, while Florian Vermeersch (Lotto Intermarché) podiumed at the Flandrien 0.0 Classic and E3 Saxo Classic. Tactical analysis and favourites The Tour of Guangxi unfolds on a route that traditionally offers opportunities for both sprinters and attackers. Sprinters' teams — Decathlon with Kooij, Alpecin with Groves, Lotto with Taminiaux — will try to control the flat stages. On hillier courses, however, teams like INEOS (Vauquelin, August) and Lidl-Trek (Bagioli, Ayuso) will attempt to force a selection. Beware of long-range breakaways, where riders like Widar or Lutsenko can find fertile ground. Based on seasonal results, the favourites for overall victory are: Olav Kooij: the most successful sprinter in the field, with recent wins in one-day races and stage sprint placings. Jarno Widar: winner of Tre Valli Varesine and second in a Vuelta stage, suited to tough finishes. Kévin Vauquelin: consistency and kick on mixed terrain, with stage wins and Tour placings. The race promises to be open, with many riders capable of making their mark. The Tour of Guangxi is the only WorldTour race held in China — source: official race data.