Stage 2 of the 2026 Tour of Shanghai·New Town: Tarozzi wins the championship and tops the overall list

China News Service, Shanghai, September 5th (Reporter Miao Lu) The second stage of the 2026 Tour of Shanghai·New Town Cycling Race ushered in the second stage on the 5th. Each team encountered a rainy battle. Although the road was slippery, the riders still attacked with all their strength, were both offensive and defensive, and fought wit and courage. In the end, Manuele Tarozzi of the Badiani-CSF7 Saber professional team won the first place in this stage, Zeb Kefen of the Malaysian Terengganu Intercontinental Team, and Alexander Sarbi of the Li-Ning Star Intercontinental Team won the second and third places.

On September 5, the 2026 Tour of Shanghai·New Town Cycling Race ushered in the Songjiang-Qingpu stage competition. (Photo courtesy of the organizer)

On that day, 118 riders from 21 of the world's top professional cycling teams competed fiercely. The Songjiang-Qingpu track is 94.8 kilometers long, starting from Shanghai Happy Valley in Songjiang and finishing at Qingxi Country Park in Qingpu. With his outstanding performance in this stage, Tarozzi topped the personal total score and put on the purple-red jersey. Qiao Liyao of Pingtan International Tourism Island Intercontinental Team won the two honors of Asia's Best Driver and Best Driver of Greater China, taking the blue jersey and white jersey. Kurt Iser of Australia's Triumph Badiri Intercontinental Team won the sprint king title of this stage.

As a well-established European team, the Italian Badiani-CSF7 Saber professional team, founded in 1982, has demonstrated strong competitive strength. The team competes in top international cycling events all year round and has attracted much attention from domestic fans. The Asian teams also performed well. The Malaysian Terengganu Intercontinental Team and the Li-Ning Star Intercontinental Team, which have been awarded the UCI World's Best Intercontinental Team for many times, brought a high-level speed feast to the audience.

On September 5, the 2026 Tour of Shanghai·New Town Cycling Race ushered in the Songjiang-Qingpu stage competition. (Photo courtesy of the organizer)

"The final sprint was very intense. Due to the heavy wind and rain, visibility was blocked, and it was a test of my skills when cornering." Qiao Liyao recalled, "At that time, a foreign rider fell beside me. Fortunately, I controlled myself and continued to ride smoothly." Looking forward to the last competition day, Qiao Liyao hopes to continue today's good results, "Our goal is still to pursue the overall team score."

The Songjiang-Qingpu stage connects many urban landmarks and cultural tourism landscapes along the way, passing through core points such as Shanghai Happy Valley, Guangfulin Cultural Heritage Park, Chenshan Botanical Garden, Yuehu Sculpture Park, Sheshan National Forest Park, Songze Heritage Museum, Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, Dianshan Lake Scenic Area, Huawei Lianqiu Lake R&D Center, and Qingxi Country Park.

Today and tomorrow, Lingang Dishui Lake will simultaneously open its annual cycling carnival. It will set up multiple functional sections such as special check-in points, virtual cycling experience areas, and trendy markets on site. It will innovatively launch a day and night dual-session model to comprehensively upgrade citizens' integrated experience of watching races, leisure, and consumption.

On September 6, the 2026 Tour of Shanghai Xincheng Road Cycling Race will usher in the final battle, starting with the Fengxian-Nanhui stage competition. The total length of this stage is 100.2 kilometers, an increase of 5.7 kilometers compared with last year. Along the track, it not only covers Shanghai Fish, Nine Trees Future Art Center, Fengxian District Museum, Yanzi Academy, Spring Flowers and Autumn Colors Park, Seawall Avenue, Dishui Lake and other landscapes, but also newly incorporates the Dishui Lake IC Innovation Port Science and Technology Community, enriching the track landscape and urban business dimensions. (over)