Tour de Gyeongnam 2026 cycling race kicks off along Admiral Yi Sun-sin's historic routes

The 'Tour de Gyeongnam 2026,' an international road cycling race, commenced Tuesday with an opening ceremony at the Geoje City Jise포 Cruise Terminal in South Korea. The five-day event will span across five coastal cities and counties in the Gyeongnam Province: Geoje, Tongyeong, Sacheon, Namhae, and Changwon.

This race, sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) as part of the Asian Tour, has attracted approximately 230 cyclists from 19 different countries. Participants will compete daily over routes averaging 110 kilometers. Awards will be given for each stage, with an overall champion determined by cumulative times across all stages.

A unique aspect of the 'Tour de Gyeongnam' is its route, which follows the historic battle sites of Admiral Yi Sun-sin during the Imjin War. The course will take riders through locations of key naval victories, including the Battle of Geoje, the Battle of Hansan Island, the Battle of Sacheon, the Battle of Noryang, and the Battle of Hapcheon.

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Tour de Gyeongnam is an international road cycling race that promotes the beautiful scenery of the Gyeongnam southern coast and the historical significance of Yi Sun-sin's victory routes to the world.

The daily stages are structured as follows: Day one covers 116.2 km from Geoje City Jise포 Cruise Terminal to Geoje First High School. Day two features a 104.8 km loop starting and ending at Tongyeong Triathlon Square, traversing the Sanyang Coastal Road and Dosan Coastal Road. Day three spans 126.1 km from Sacheon Aerospace Science Museum to Sacheon General Industrial Complex 2. Day four involves a 118.7 km ride from Namhae Sports Park to Hae-dori Rest Area. The final day consists of a 44.6 km urban coastal route around Masan Bay, including the 3·15 Marine Nuripark and Masan Artificial Island, where the closing ceremony will also be held.

Officials highlighted the race's role in promoting Gyeongnam's scenic beauty and the historical significance of Admiral Yi Sun-sin's battle sites to a global audience. The dynamic competition against the backdrop of the beautiful southern coast aims to showcase the region's natural landscapes and tourism resources internationally.

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We will vividly broadcast the dynamic competition scenes of the athletes unfolding against the backdrop of the beautiful southern coast to domestic and foreign audiences, thereby publicizing Gyeongnam's nature and tourism resources to the world.