Human Powered Health Cycling concludes the 2026 Women’s WorldTour season in China, competing in the three-day Tour of Chongming Island stage race from October 9 through 11.
A race for sprinters, the three pan-flat stages on the world’s largest estuarine alluvial island are the traditional curtain call for the WorldTour season and encourage some of the best sprinting action of the year. The general classification usually comes right down to the wire, with mid-stage bonus points almost as important as the final sprints themselves.
The team heads to Asia with a strong squad to reflect the parcours. Canadian champion Maggie Coles-Lyster will hope to put a bow on an extraordinary comeback season and is joined by fellow sprinters Kathrin Schweinberger and Silvia Zanardi. Marta Jaskulska, Jente Koops and Katia Ragusa will be crucial rouleurs out on the road, coming together to create what should be one of the strongest lead-out trains in the race.
Tour of Chongming Island Stage by Stage
10/9
Stage 1
Route: Chongming (New City Park) – Chongming (New City Park)
Distance: 110.4 km
Parcours: Flat
Look out for: The intermediate sprints early on that will already shape the GC race
What matters: Negotiating a slight curve in the finale and launching just in time
A contained route for the opening day as the 2026 edition flips the stage 1 and 3 routes from 2025. The sprinters will recognise this parcours as the one they usually finish the race on, with its handful of tight corners compared to the other stages. The finish straight here is the longest of the week though, with a three-kilometer arrow-straight highway run to the line.
10/10
Stage 2
Route: Shanghai – Chongming
Distance: 129.4 km
Parcours: Flat
Look out for: A tight right-hand corner with one kilometer to go
What matters: Being well positioned and having an intact lead-out after the final corner
Stage 2 tours east of Chongming Island, finishing the opposite way on the same wide finish straight as Stage 3. The final right-hand corner will be decisive for lead-out trains to get into position.
10/11
Stage 3
Route: Chongming (New City Park) – Chongming (New City Park)
Distance: 108.6 km
Parcours: Flat
Look out for: This time, a left-hand corner with one kilometer to race
What matters: Taking time at the intermediate sprints but still having energy in reserve for the final
Humid conditions could play as much of a factor as the flat parcours on the final day. The sprinters’ teams will face a straight final 800 meters on a wide highway, with space enough for a classic field sprint to end the three-day race.
How to watch
USA
HBO Max
(MDT & PDT – broadcasts begin in the evening of the 8th, 9th, 10th)
Stage 1– 3 from 1:00 am EDT / 12:00 am CDT / 11:00 pm MDT / 10:00 pm PDT
Europe
Eurosport/Discovery+/HBO Max (territory dependent)
Stage 1 – 3 from 7:00 CET
UK
HBO Max/TNT Sports
Stage 1 – 3 from 6:00 BST
Times are correct as of the date of publication
What our athletes think
Maggie Coles-Lyster
It’s a very exciting race. I began the season with a win, so it would be really sick to close out the season with a win. Mine and the team’s hopes are to chase a win and podiums over the three days of racing. We’ve been there in a lot of the sprint finishes this year, and after some bad luck at the finish in the Philadelphia Cycling Classic and a subsequent concussion, I’m looking to finish the season on a high. For the GC, the bonus seconds can change everything. Many riders in the past have made it high up the overall by just being in a lucky break and getting those seconds, so they’re pretty crucial to go for when looking for a top placing overall.
Kathrin Schweinberger
I’m really looking forward to three sprint stages. Of course, the focus in training the past weeks was more on getting the speed and doing some sprints, so I had lots of fun. The season was long, but I’m still really motivated to give my best there. Maybe the race courses don’t seem really exciting, but there are also always teams attacking, so as a team we need to stay sharp. In general, the atmosphere is always really nice; you can feel it’s the last race of the season, but we still take it very seriously in the race; it’s the perfect mix. The bonus seconds are very important. It has a big impact on the GC, so we have to go for every second. It really shows how well we are working together. Personally, I hope for a better outcome than last year, but I had so many people telling me that I was capable of doing it once, so that gives me a lot of confidence.
Photos: GettySport, Human Powered Health, Tour of Chongming Island
