The fifth and final stage of the 2026 Tour de Taiwan was held on March 19 at the Blissful Route 9. Ku Hsiu-Fei, Minister of the Hakka Affairs Council (HAC), said that the Tour of Taiwan is returning to Hualien and Taitung after a 15-year hiatus. The fifth and final stage of the Tour of Taiwan and the only one of the five stages that crosses county and city boundaries between Taitung and Hualien, this longest route in the entire race spans 153.71 kilometers. The race starts from Luye in Taitung and heads north, passing through Guanshan and Chishang, then enters Fuli, Yuli and Ruisui in Hualien. It reaches important Hakka settlements in Hualien and Taitung such as Guangfu, Fenglin, Shoufeng, and Ji’an, finally arriving at the Liyu Lake Visitor Center. This puts in full display the most beautiful natural scenery and cultural landscapes of Provincial Highway 9.
The East Rift Valley has long nurtured diverse ethnic groups. Fenglin Township became the first town in Taiwan to obtain Cittaslow certification, bearing witness to the leisurely and simple lifestyle of Hakka villages in eastern Taiwan and the beauty of slow life. The race route offers views of vast rice paddies, winding mountain ridges, and pristine river valleys, making it an unforgettable course that combines natural scenery with human settlements.
Continuing its tradition, HAC called on local schools and associations to form energetic cheering squads. Lined in 18 creative cheering stations along the route, community members, students, and locals raised the spirits of contestants with Hakka slogans, open-mouth lion dances, and imaginative designs, conveying the spirit of Hakka solidarity and hospitality. Especially when passing through Guangfu in Hualien, the unique Guangfu Heroes and Shovel Heroes stood to represent Guangfu residents back on their feet after recovering from the disaster, ready to welcome contestants from all over the world with the greatest enthusiasm.
The closing ceremony took place in the afternoon at the Liyu Lake Visitor Center. After the final sprint, the stage champion was Lucas Carstensen of Japan’s KINAN Racing Team; Matys Grisel of Belgium’s Lotto–Intermarché secured the Yellow Jersey (General Classification Leader); Yuma Koishi of Japan’s KINAN Racing Team won the Blue Jersey (Best Asian Rider); Paul Hennequin of Spain’s Euskaltel–Euskadi earned the Green Jersey (Points Classification); and Yuhi Todome of Japan’s Aisan Racing Team claimed the Polka Dot Jersey (King of the Mountains). The awards were presented by Minister Gu, Secretary-General Lee Kai-chih, and CEO Hung Tsung-kai, bringing this year's Tour of Taiwan to a perfect conclusion.
