For many cycling enthusiasts, the 2023 season may seem over following the conclusion of the Tour of Lombardy and Paris-Tours. However, there is one more significant WorldTour race on the horizon: the Tour of Guangxi in China, where the world's top teams will compete once more. IDLProCycling.com keeps you updated!
This marks the first time since 2019 that the final race of the WorldTour season returns to Guangxi. The reason, as you may recall, is the COVID-19 pandemic, which originated in China and disrupted events in the region for several years. With the virus now under control, the world's premier cyclists can once again participate in this race.
Enric Mas was the last champion of this stage race in 2019 when he rode for Quick Step. Gianni Moscon claimed victory in 2018, while the inaugural edition in 2017 was won by Belgian rider Tim Wellens.
Latest winners Tour of Guangxi
2022 Not ridden
2021 Not ridden
2020 Not ridden
2019 Enric Mas
2018 Gianni Moscon
2017 Tim Wellens
Tour of Guangxi: Course, climbs, times and stage favorites
Stage 1, Thursday, Oct. 12: Beihai - Behai (135.6 km)
The Tour of Guangxi begins with a 135-kilometer stage set in and around the coastal town of Beihai. Riders will navigate through three local laps during this stage, each featuring a categorized climb of 1.5 kilometers at a 4.7 percent gradient. However, the primary focus for the stage finale remains on a sprint finish.
Climbs
74.0 km: 1.5 km a 4.7%
120.3 km: 1.5 km a 4.7%
Times
Start: 11:20 a.m. (05:20 a.m. Dutch time)
Finish: 2:30 p.m. (08:30 a.m. Dutch time)
Favorites
Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma)
Sam Welsford (DSM-firmenich)
Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Dstny)
Stage 2, Friday, Oct. 13: Beihai - Qinzhou (149.6 km)
On the second day, we depart from the same location as Thursday, Beihai. The stage takes us towards Qinzhou, and it's a relatively flat route with minimal elevation changes, totaling only 619 meters. This suggests that, for the second consecutive day, we can anticipate a bunch sprint finish.
Climbs
No.
Times
Start: 10:55 am (04:55 Dutch time)
Finish: 2:30 pm (08:30 Dutch time)
Favorites
Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma)
Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Dstny)
Arvid de Kleijn (Tudor)
Stage 3, Saturday, Oct. 14: Nanning - Nanning (134.3 km)
In the third stage, we follow a course similar to stage one, navigating through the city of Nanning. Here, we will complete five laps of a 27.5-kilometer circuit, which includes a significant challenge: a 1.4-kilometer climb with an average gradient of a daunting 11.5 percent. The summit of this climb must be conquered one last time, just twenty kilometers from the finish.
Climbs
5.9 km: 1.4 km a 11.5%
60.5 km: 1.4 km a 11.5%
115.1 km: 1.4 km 1 11.5%
Times
Start: 11:15 am (05:15 Dutch time)
Finish: 2:30 pm (08:30 Dutch time)
Favorites
Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Dstny)
Ethan Hayter (INEOS Grenadiers)
Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis)
Stage 4, Sunday, Oct. 15: Nanning - Nongla (161.4 km)
On day four, we encounter the queen stage of the Tour of Guangxi. Departing from Nanning, we embark on a stage that concludes with an uphill finish in Nongla. During the final 3.3 kilometers, the road ascends at an average gradient of 6.6 percent, making this stage well-suited for punchy climbers.
Climbs
31.3 km: 1.7 km a 5.2%
161.4 km: 3.3 km a 6.6%
Times
Start: 10:35 am (04:35 Dutch time)
Finish: 2:30 pm (08:30 Dutch time)
Favorites
Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar)
Felix Grossschartner (UAE-Team Emirates)
Oscar Onley (DSM-firmenich)
Stage 5, Monday, Oct. 16: Luizhou - Giulin (209.6 km)
Suddenly, a stage of more than two hundred kilometers emerges. The route from Liuzhou to Guilin will likely keep the riders in the saddle for around five hours. The most challenging sections come into play at approximately forty kilometers from the finish. Two climbs await the riders at that point, although a sprint finish remains the most likely scenario. The obstacles are not particularly demanding.
Climbs
70.4 km: 1.5 km a 5.8%
169.2 km: 5 km a 3.3%
176.2 km: 4.5 km a 4.6%
Times
Start: 10:50 am (04:55 Dutch time)
Finish: 3:50 pm (09:30 Dutch time)
Favorites
Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma)
Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty)
Juan Sebastian Molano (UAE-Team Emirates)
Stage 6, Tuesday, Oct. 17: Giulin - Giulin (168.3 km)
We conclude this race in Guilin, featuring a 168.3-kilometer stage on the program. This stage is expected to culminate in another sprint finish, with two climbs to be tackled in the second half.
Climbs
115.8 km: 2.7 km a 5.0%
127.8 km: 4.2 km a 4.6%
Times
Start: 11:00 am (05:00 Dutch time)
Finish: 3:00 pm (09:00 Dutch time)
Favorites
Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Dstny)
Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma)
Jonathan Milan (Bahrain Victorious)
Favorites final classification Tour of Guangxi 2023
Please note that the participant list is not yet complete, so this preview is subject to change.
Such a long journey to China at the end of a demanding season may not be eagerly anticipated by everyone in the peloton. Nonetheless, there will always be motivated riders at the start. For example, former winner Tim Wellens and his UAE Team Emirates teammates, including Felix Grossschartner and George Bennett, are expected to be competitive and have a chance to secure the top spot in the UCI World Ranking in China.
They will face strong competition from Jumbo-Visma, represented by Olav Kooij. Milan Vader and Steven Kruijswijk may also contend for a good position in the general classification, with Vader expected to excel in the punchy finishes. Future Jumbo-Visma rider Matteo Jorgenson will be participating in his final race for Movistar, alongside climbers Ivan Ramiro Sosa and Oscar Rodriguez.
There are also a few teams that have strong overall depth, including INEOS Grenadiers with riders like Ethan Hayter, Luke Plapp, and those returning from injury, Leo Hayter and Jhonathan Narváez, for example. Additionally, the DSM-Firmenich team boasts talents like Andreas Leknessund and Oscar Onley. Climbing specialist Sylvain Moniquet represents Lotto-Dstny, and don't underestimate Arnaud De Lie, who has already demonstrated his climbing abilities this year in Bessèges.
Other potential outsiders to watch include Giovanni Aleotti and the recovering Max Schachmann of BORA-hansgrohe, the Cofidis duo of Benjamin Thomas and Ruben Fernandez, Arkea-Samsic rider Cristian Rodriguez, and Hugo David Pena of Jayco AlUla. And what can we expect from Antwan Tolhoek, representing Lidl-Trek?
Favorites final classification Tour of Guangxi, according to IDLProCycling.com
Top favorites: Felix Grossschartner (UAE-Team Emirates) and Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar)
Outsiders: Oscar Onley (DSM-firmenich), Tim Wellens (UAE-Team Emirates), Ethan Hayter (INEOS Grenadiers) and Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Dstny)
Long shots: George Bennett (UAE-Team Emirates), Andreas Leknessund (DSM-firmenich), Milan Vader (Jumbo-Visma), Ivan Ramiro Sosa (Movistar), Giovanni Aleotti (BORA-hansgrohe), Cristian Rodriguez (Arkéa Samsic), Luke Plapp and Jhonatan Narváez (INEOS Grenadiers)
TV Tour of Guangxi 2023
Eurosport owns the broadcast rights to the Tour of Guangxi, but will only screen the Chinese stage race on Eurosport.com, GCN+ andDiscovery+. This will be in the morning hours each day, starting around 7 a.m. due to the time difference. The arrivals of the stages are expected - except for stage five, which finishes around 09:30 - at around 08:30 in the Dutch morning.
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