Results Tour of Guangxi 2026 Stage 3: Chaotic sprint as Milan Fretin takes huge win after Paul Magnier comes out of his pedal
Cycling
Milan Fretin has won stage 3 of the 2026 Tour of Guangxi after a sprint finish for the third day in a row. In another surprise winner, favourite Paul Magnier suffered a mishap in the sprint as he accidentally pulled his foot off the pedal.
Stage 3 of the Tour of Guangxi definitively moved up a gear on Thursday as a mammoth 212.3 kilometre stage sees the peloton take in the first major climbs of the race. However, the sprinter's were still the favourites to contest the win for the third day in a row.
The climbs weren't the most difficult that the race will take on over the weekend, but both the distance and over 1500 metres of climbing offered an opportunity for attackers to potentially compete for stage honours and challenge the general classification favourites.
The breakaway established itself quickly, gaining over six minutes of a time gap on the peloton with 120 kilometres to go as Jasha Sutterlin, Tobias Bayer and Ruidong Wang went out on their own.
Tobias Bayer
Breakaway reeled in gradually
Their advantage gradually wound down as the kilometres rolled by. However, as their gap went down to a minute, Bayer dropped his breakaway compatriots on the penultimate climb of the day as the peloton loomed large. Chines national team rider Wang battled hard to re-join Bayer at the front.
In fact, Wang was the last rider standing from the break before he was caught by the peloton with 19 kilometres to go and the bunch on the verge of the day's final climb. With the peloton coming over the climb together with 13 kilometres to go, it seemed like a bunch sprint was on the cards.
As the kilometres rolled in the bunch prepared for a bunch sprint as the peloton reduced and the battle for position intensified. Riding through the technical city streets, XDS Astana led out through the flamme rouge for Max Kanter, but Paul Magnier loomed just behind.
In the final 200 metres, Magnier dramatically came out of his pedals as Milan Fretin capitalised to take a huge victory for Cofidis.
Frit Biesterbos came second in another strong sprint while Jordi Meeus took third. Fabio Jakobsen's fourth place was also an encouraging sign for Visma | Lease a Bike.
Results Tour of Guangxi 2026 Stage 3
| 1 | FRETIN Milan | Cofidis | 4:32:45 |
| 2 | BIESTERBOS Frits | Team Picnic PostNL | ,, |
| 3 | MEEUS Jordi | Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe | ,, |
| 4 | JAKOBSEN Fabio | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | ,, |
| 5 | DE KLEIJN Arvid | Tudor Pro Cycling Team | ,, |
| 6 | MOLANO Juan Sebastián | UAE Team Emirates - XRG | ,, |
| 7 | GIDDINGS Joshua | Lotto Intermarché | ,, |
| 8 | BLIKRA Erlend | Uno-X Mobility | ,, |
| 9 | GILMORE Brady | NSN Cycling Team | ,, |
| 10 | BARTHE Cyril | Groupama - FDJ United | ,, |
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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