WorldTour season finale under threat as Tour of Guangxi faces uncertain future

The men’s event is secure for both 2026 and 2027 under the current agreement between organiser Wanda Sports China and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Beyond that, however, no new deal is in place.

The uncertainty has already had consequences for the women’s race. The Tour of Guangxi Women’s WorldTour event, which was scheduled for October 18 this year, has been cancelled and removed from the UCI calendar. There are currently no plans for it to return in 2027.

According to Escape Collective, race organiser Wanda Sports China had attempted to keep the women’s event alive for 2026, but the regional government ultimately withdrew its support as part of wider spending cuts.

Race director Olivier Senn told Escape Collective that negotiations are continuing over the future of the men’s race, which remains secured under the existing contract for the next two editions.

The uncertainty surrounding the event could eventually leave a gap on the WorldTour calendar. Since its launch in 2017, the Tour of Guangxi has become the final stage race of the men’s WorldTour season, taking place in October after the main European racing calendar has concluded.

The race joined the WorldTour immediately upon its introduction, with Tim Wellens winning the inaugural edition. Gianni Moscon followed in 2018, before Enric Mas claimed the overall title in 2019.

Guangxi then disappeared from the calendar for three seasons during the Covid pandemic. The race returned in 2023, when Milan Vader took overall victory, before Lennert Van Eetvelt won in 2024 and Paul Double became the sixth different winner in six editions last year.

The women’s race also dates back to 2017 and joined the Women’s WorldTour in 2018. Arlenis Sierra and Chloe Hosking were among its early winners, while Daria Pikulik won following its return in 2023. Sandra Alonso succeeded her in 2024 before Anna Henderson took victory in 2025.

Henderson’s win could now prove to have been the final edition of the women’s event unless new funding is found in the future.

The pressure surrounding the race comes against a difficult financial backdrop for local governments across China. High debt levels and falling revenues from land sales have placed increasing strain on regional budgets, forcing authorities to reassess spending priorities.

For Guangxi, government backing has been central to the race since it joined the international calendar.

The men’s Tour of Guangxi is still scheduled to run from October 13 to 18 this year, while the 2027 edition is also set to go ahead.

That means its position as the WorldTour season finale remains intact for now. Whether that continues beyond 2027 will depend on the outcome of negotiations between Wanda Sports China and the regional government.