CYCLING – Team Bahrain Victorious are set to take part in the sixth edition of the Tour of Guangxi, which gets underway today and continues until Sunday next week in China, starting from the city of Fangchenggang.
As the final UCI World Tour race of the season, the event will once again bring down the curtain on an action-packed year.
Following a sprinter-friendly opening three days, Friday’s parcours looks to be the most testing of the six. With four categorised climbs on the way, Victorious can expect either a successful breakaway or a reduced bunch sprint to the line in Jinchengjiang.
Stage five remains the signature ‘Queen’ stage of the tour – its mountain-top finish to Nongla ends with a punishing final 3.2km at 7.3 per cent, including 1.2km at 14.8 per cent that will play a decisive role in the final general classification (GC) standings.
Sunday’s conclusion in Nanning is another challenging loop, with the category two Qingxiushan (1.4km at 11.7 per cent) to be crested five times.
On this same circuit 12 months ago, Matevz Govekar claimed stage victory for Bahrain Victorious in a hard-fought reduced bunch sprint.
In 2025, the kingdom’s team return with one of our strongest line-ups yet, with a clear dual focus. Phil Bauhaus will lead the squad as the designated sprinter, aiming to seize any of the five sprint opportunities.
The German achieved two top-five finishes in his first Tour of Guangxi appearance back in 2019, and returns to face this redesigned course.
He will be supported by Andrea Pasqualon and Daniel Skerl in the lead-out, making up a formidable trident ready to contest stage victories.
On the other hand, Pello Bilbao will spearhead the team’s GC ambitions. The Basque rider makes his Tour of Guangxi debut, looking to round off a consistent 2025 which has been characterised by a string of strong World Tour results.
“We are going to China with a mixed team of experienced and young guys,” said Bahrain Victorious sports director Borut Bozic.
“For the GC, the leader will be Pello, and for the sprint, Phil.”
“We also have other guys who can perform strongly. I expect we will be able to fight for the GC, with the first three stages likely being bunch sprints and the final one a reduced bunch sprint.”
The line-up is completed by key support riders Mathijs Paasschens, Roman Ermakov, and Max van der Meulen.
Paasschens returns for a third consecutive appearance, while Ermakov and van der Meulen will make their debuts.
Ermakov could be a key card to play in a breakaway on the rolling stages.
The selection is a blend of experience, sprinting firepower, and GC focus that gives Victorious a chance to end on a high.
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