The 2026 Tour de Taiwan concluded with Stage 5 along the scenic east coast on the “Blissful Route 9,” where Lucas Carstensen (KINAN Racing Team) powered to victory in a high-speed bunch sprint, while Matys Grisel (Lotto–Intermarché) successfully defended his lead to claim the overall general classification (GC) title.
The 153.71 km stage, held under cloudy conditions, featured an active and tactical race as teams carefully controlled the pace throughout the day. Despite several attempts to animate the race, the peloton remained largely intact heading into the final kilometers, setting up a fast and tightly contested sprint finish at Liyu Lake.
In the final sprint, Carstensen launched a perfectly timed acceleration to take the win in 3:24:47. Liam Walsh (CCACHE x Bodywrap) secured second place, while Yoshiki Terada (Team Ukyo) finished third, with all 77 riders recording the same finishing time.
Intermediate Sprints and KOM Battles
The intermediate sprints and King of the Mountains (KOM) points once again played a key role in shaping the dynamics of Stage 5, with riders from multiple teams contesting valuable points throughout the stage.
At the first intermediate sprint (23.97 km), Dusan Rajovic (Solution Tech Nippo Rali) took maximum points, ahead of Jordi Lopez Caravaca (Euskaltel–Euskadi) in second and Paul Hennequin (Euskaltel–Euskadi) in third, as the fast men were active early in the race.
On the first KOM point (67.78 km), Ivan Cobo Cayon (Equipo Kern Pharma) claimed top honors, followed by Dusan Rajovic and Adne Van Engelen (Terengganu Cycling Team), highlighting a mix of sprinters and climbers competing for valuable points.
The second intermediate sprint (87.31 km) was won by Nil Gimeno Ferrer (Equipo Kern Pharma), with Dylan Hopkins (Roojai Insurance Winspace) finishing second and LoĂŻc Bettendorff (Hrinkow Advarics) in third.
At the final KOM point, Fergus Browning (Terengganu Cycling Team) secured maximum points, followed by Ronnilan Quita (7Eleven Cliqq Roadbike Philippines) and Ismael Grospe Jr. (Victoria Sports Pro Cycling), as the race remained animated ahead of the final sprint.
General Classification Decided in Seconds
Despite the bunch sprint finish, the overall classification remained extremely tight, with only seconds separating the top contenders.
Matys Grisel (Lotto–Intermarché) secured the yellow jersey with a total time of 13:37:18, finishing just four seconds ahead of teammate Matthew Fox, while Jordi López (Euskaltel–Euskadi) completed the GC podium with another one seconds behind. Lotto–Intermarché demonstrated strong teamwork throughout the race, successfully controlling key moments and protecting their leader in a week defined by high intensity and minimal time gaps.
Jersey Winners
Paul Hennequin (Euskaltel–Euskadi) won the Green Jersey (Points Classification) with 52 points, ahead of Dusan Rajovic (49 points) and Liam Walsh (46 points).
Yuhi Todome (Aisan Racing Team) claimed the Polka Dot Jersey (King of the Mountains) with 21 points, narrowly ahead of Adne Van Engelen (20 points), with Lorenzo Quartucci (12 points) in third.
Yuma Koishi (KINAN Racing Team) secured the Blue Jersey (Best Asian Rider), marking his third Best Asian title at the Tour de Taiwan.
In the team classification, Euskaltel–Euskadi finished first overall, tied on time with Equipo Kern Pharma, while Terengganu Cycling Team secured third place.
A Memorable Finish on Taiwan’s East Coast
The return to eastern Taiwan provided a spectacular backdrop for the final stage, with wide roads, mountainous scenery, and excellent racing conditions contributing to an exciting conclusion to the race.
The 2026 Tour de Taiwan once again showcased competitive racing across diverse terrain, with aggressive riding, tight time gaps, and strong international participation delivering a thrilling five-day event.
TOUR DE TAIWAN 2026 – STAGE 5 RESULTS
Stage Classification
- Lucas Carstensen (KINAN RACING TEAM) – 3:24:47
- Liam Walsh (CCACHE X BODYWRAP) – s.t
- Yoshiki Terada (TEAM UKYO) – same time
Jersey Standings
Yellow Jersey (General Classification Leader): Matys Grisel (LOTTO-INTERMARCHÉ)
Green Jersey (Points Classification Leader): Paul Hennequin (EUSKALTEL–EUSKADI)
Polka Dot Jersey (Mountains Leader): Yuhi Todome (AISAN RACING TEAM)
Blue Jersey (Best Asian Rider): Yuma Koishi (KINAN RACING TEAM)
Team General Classification
- EUSKALTEL–EUSKADI (ESP) – 40:52:42
- EQUIPO KERN PHARMA (ESP) – same time
- TERENGGANU CYCLING TEAM (MAS) – +0:45
