After Saturday’s queen stage, Sunday marks the final stage of the 2024 Tour of Guangxi. Usually, the last stage is a relaxed local circuit, perfect for the sprinters. But in China, that’s not a guarantee. The sixth stage presents a challenge, with a tough climb in a circuit through Nanning. Can Lennert Van Eetvelt defend his leader’s jersey? IDLProCycling.com tells you everything you need to know!
The final stage of the Tour of Guangxi is the shortest, but by no means the easiest. Riders will start and finish in Nanning, tackling a 27-kilometer circuit that they will complete five times, covering a total distance of 134.3 kilometers. Most of the route is as flat as a pancake, but the climb in the middle of the circuit promises to make it a challenging race.
The climb to Qingxiu Mountain is short but extremely steep. At 1.4 kilometers with an average gradient of 11.6 percent, it’s a real leg burner, with the steepest section reaching nearly 17 percent! The last time the riders tackle this climb will be 19 kilometers from the finish. On three out of the five climbs, there are mountain points up for grabs, but Pepijn Reinderink (Soudal Quick-Step) seems to have already secured the mountain classification. There are also two intermediate sprints offering bonus seconds, which could play a crucial role with the overall standings still so close.
Climbing
Qingxiu Mountain (59.5 km): 1.4 km at 11.6%
Qingxiu Mountain (114 km): 1.4 km at 11.6%
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Weather for Stage 5 of the 2024 Tour of Guangxi
Just like the rest of the week, it will be very hot in China. Temperatures will rise to nearly 30 degrees. In the concrete jungle of Nanning, it will feel even hotter, and the wind is not expected to play a role.
Favorites stage 5 Tour of Guangxi 2024
Saturday was certainly a day for the general classification contenders, but whether Sunday will be as well depends on how the race unfolds. The top six in the standings are all within half a minute of the leader. Oscar Onley (dsm-firmenich PostNL) is the closest, and he will definitely want to try something. But he’ll have to deal with Lennert Van Eetvelt first. The Lotto Dstny leader is also strong on these short, steep climbs and has a good sprint in his legs.
Victor Lafay (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) looked to be on his way to victory on Saturday but may seek redemption on Sunday. His team could also deploy Alex Baudin. Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) is one of the most aggressive riders, and this course suits him perfectly. Then there's Giovanni Aleotti (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe). The Italian won the Tour of Slovenia by cleverly exploiting the infighting among the top favorites. Can he do it again? Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates) also has the race insight to make a move like that.
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Besides the GC contenders, there are sprinters with good climbing legs. Ethan Vernon (Israel - Premier Tech) has already won twice and can rely on a strong team. Marijn van den Berg (EF Education - EasyPost) hasn’t had as much luck, but who knows—he might hit the mark this time. Max Kanter (Astana Qazaqstan) could also survive the hills. Visma | Lease a Bike has seen Mick van Dijke improve throughout the race and climb strongly. Could he end his time with a victory?
Favorites stage 5 Tour of Guangxi 2024, according to IDLProCycling.com
Top favorites: Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) and Lennert Van Eetvel (Lotto Dstny)
Outsiders: Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates), Oscar Onley (dsm-firmenich PostNL), Marijn van den Berg (EF Education - EasyPost), Victor Lafay and Alex Baudin (both Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale)
Longshots: Mick van dijke (Visma | lease a Bike), Max Kanter (Astana Qazaqstan), Ethan Vernon (Israel - Premier Tech) and Giovanni Aleotti (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
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