In the fifth stage of the Tour of Guangxi, six riders quickly formed the traditional early breakaway. The leading group built up an advantage of more than two minutes, but the peloton kept the escapees under control, leaving them out of contention for the stage win.

Inside the final ten kilometres, Team Visma | Lease a Bike moved to the front as a group and began to take control of the peloton. The riders did a good job of positioning Jakobsen near the front, but the Dutchman found himself boxed in during the hectic final kilometre. As a result, he was unable to contest the stage victory. Milan Fretin proved the strongest in the sprint.

“The plan today was to sprint with Fabio,” sports director Gaëtan Pons said after the stage. “The guys did a good job. Fabio managed to get through the climbs well, and we were well positioned at the front in the closing kilometres. Fabio was able to take part in the sprint, but he is still lacking a little confidence. Nevertheless, it is great to see the progress he has made this week. We are pleased with that.”

Tomorrow, the Chinese stage race concludes with its queen stage. Pons is looking ahead with confidence. “We hope to fight for the best possible result with Louis on the final climb tomorrow. A place on the final podium could be within reach. Louis is feeling strong, and the climb suits him well. Hopefully, we can bring the week to a successful conclusion.”