2026 Xizang cycling tour ends with international riders claiming top honors

The China Xizang Trans-Himalaya International Cycling Race concluded Thursday in Shigatse, a city in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, with the final 90.18-kilometer stage taking riders from Gyantse County to the city center.

The route wove through the Gyantse area and the Nyangchu River Valley before arriving in downtown Shigatse, offering a spectacular blend of cultural heritage sites and iconic plateau landscapes.

China Anta-Mentech rider Willem Jakobus Smit won the fifth and final stage in 1 hour 42 minutes 15 seconds, with Australia's Cameron Nicholas Scott second and Italy's Davide Persico third.

Raman Tsishkou of Li Ning Star secured the overall crown in 11 hours 6 minutes 50 seconds to take the yellow jersey, awarded to the rider leading the general classification across all stages.

Italy's Alexander Konychev claimed the green jersey, given to the sprint classification leader based on points earned in stage finishes and intermediate sprints.

"I was born at a really high altitude of about 1,600 meters.On top of that I live now, I come from South Africa, but I live in Andorra, which is also at an altitude of 1,500 meters already, so I already have a big benefit. But before linking with the team we're doing a lot of altitude camps in preparation for tour of king AI and tour of Himalaya. And all the hard work and the preparation paid off. Our whole team is actually really good at altitude. But as you said, today is the highest day, 4,000 meters above sea level and I was just feeling really good,” said Smit.

Across five stages and 570.68 kilometres, 18 teams and more than 120 riders finish the trip from Nyingchi to Lhasa, Shannan, and Shigatse, to bring the race to an end.

The event kicked off on Aug 1 with an opening ceremony in Lhasa, capital of Xizang.

This year's edition carries the theme of strengthening connectivity with South Asia, supporting the Belt and Road Initiative, and promoting sports tourism and outdoor development.

2026 Xizang cycling tour ends with international riders claiming top honors

Beijing marked China's 18th National Fitness Day on Saturday with a range of sporting activities, including the launch of a series of sports events and a three-day sports carnival, showcasing the capital's enduring sports legacy as the host of both the 2008 Summer and 2022 Winter Olympics.

China's 18th National Fitness Day, which falls on Saturday this year, saw numerous sports events taking place simultaneously across the metropolis.

The opening of the 17th Beijing Municipal Games, a sports carnival, and the 17th Beijing Olympic City Sports and Culture Festival are taking center stage one after another, fully unleashing the sporting vitality through a diverse array of sporting events, consumer activities, and cultural experiences.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Beijing's successful bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games, and the city has launched a sports consumption season.

Nearly 60 sports brands have gathered in Beijing's Olympic center area, bringing more than a dozen top-tier international sports event IPs.

The three-day sports carnival seamlessly integrates match watching, interactive experiences, and shopping.

"The National Fitness Day is taking on a variety of forms. We can experience GT racing, racing culture, trendy sports culture, and even related merchandise in person," said Lin Yue, an Olympic champion.

The 17th Beijing Municipal Games and the Third Beijing Winter Games also opened Saturday at the National Stadium.

Featuring three categories of youth, college and general public, the event has set new records for both the number of participants and the range of sports, catering to sports enthusiasts of all ages and providing ordinary citizens with a professional platform to showcase their athletic abilities.

On the same day, the 17th Beijing Olympic City Sports and Culture Festival kicked off at the Beijing Olympic Museum.

Beijing marks National Fitness Day with sports carnivals, various games