UAE Team Emirates-XRG has named a seven-rider squad for the Tour of Guangxi that will bring the 2026 UCI WorldTour season to a close next week in China, according to an announcement reported by the Emirates News Agency. The selection includes the return of Marc Soler after an injury that has kept him out of competition since a crash at the Giro d’Italia in May. Florian Vermeersch will make his debut in the event while the team seeks to exploit both sprint and general classification possibilities across the six stages.
The full roster, as detailed in the team’s statement, comprises Rui Oliveira, Rune Herregodts, Julius Johansen, Juan Sebastián Molano, Jhonatan Narváez, Marc Soler and Florian Vermeersch. Oliveira will support Molano in the sprints after the pair combined successfully for a stage victory at the recent CRO Race. Narváez, who secured third place overall in the 2025 edition, returns with experience of the demanding Guangxi terrain that mixes flat roads and testing climbs.
The Tour of Guangxi has served as the traditional finale on the men’s UCI WorldTour calendar since its launch in 2017, a ProCyclingUK review of the race history found. This year’s edition will run from October 13 to 18 and conclude with a summit finish at the Nongla Scenic Area after covering more than 1,000 kilometres through southern China. Organisers expect all 18 WorldTeams to participate alongside three invited ProTeams in a field that typically rewards versatile riders capable of performing on varied profiles.
Results from the 2025 race show Britain’s Paul Double taking the general classification ahead of Victor Lafay, with Narváez completing the podium for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, according to official tallies. The 2026 route introduces new inland stages through the region’s karst landscapes before the decisive climb on the final day, leaving no opportunity for recovery afterward. Such characteristics have made the event a key late-season target for teams looking to end the campaign on a positive note.
Marc Soler will use the race to rebuild his form after also missing the Vuelta a España due to the consequences of his earlier injury, the team announcement explained. His presence adds depth to a squad that can contest both breakaways and support duties in the GC battle. The Spanish rider’s stage-racing pedigree is expected to prove useful in navigating the demanding conditions far from the European calendar.
Juan Sebastián Molano, for whom this will be the last race in UAE Team Emirates-XRG colours after eight seasons and 20 victories, will target the flat stages that offer multiple bunch-sprint opportunities. The Colombian highlighted the squad’s versatility ahead of the trip. “I’m hoping to end the year on a high note here in Guangxi. There are many sprint opportunities and we also have a strong team for the GC, so we go in full of options and aim to do our best,” he said.
The race holds added importance as the final WorldTour opportunity of the year for accumulating points and providing experience to emerging riders, a pattern noted in coverage from cycling analysts since the event’s inception. UAE Team Emirates-XRG enters the week with clear objectives across classifications while contributing to what has become an established fixture on the global calendar. Organisers have prepared a course that tests versatility, with the karst landscapes of the region providing a scenic but challenging backdrop.
