The province staged a warm welcome for the riders, many of whom immediately began familiarising themselves with the course, reports the Bangkok Post.
The event, held under the patronage of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, is jointly hosted by Nong Khai and Udon Thani and will cover a total distance of 1,113.7 kilometres.
Gen Decha Hemkrasri, president of the Thai Cycling Association and deputy president of the Asian Cycling Council, said: “This year the Tour of Thailand will feature six stages for the men’s elite event, covering 816.6kms across Nong Khai and Udon Thani.
“Twenty teams from 12 countries are competing, including Malaysia, China, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Australia, the Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Estonia and Thailand. Each team has already trained on the routes to adapt to the conditions, and all are determined to challenge for the trophy.”
The opening ceremony took place this morning at the HRH Princess Sirindhorn 60th Anniversary Plaza, presided over by Nong Khai governor Saransak Srikrueneth.
The first stage, a 108.6km circuit through Tha Bo and Mueang districts, is being broadcast live on Facebook and ThaiPBS’s YouTube channel.
Thailand’s national coach, Wisut Kasiyapat, expressed confidence in the home riders. “Both the Thailand Continental Cycling Team and the national squad are fully prepared. We have trained extensively on the race routes, particularly the third stage, which finishes at Phu Foi Lom National Park in Udon Thani. We hope Sarawut Sirironnachai, the SEA Games gold medallist, can deliver a strong result there. Overall, we aim to finish within the top ten despite the presence of several UCI Continental-level teams.”
The women’s elite event will comprise three stages, totalling 297.1 kilometres, all within Nong Khai province. With international representation and challenging terrain, organisers expect fierce competition across both categories.
The Tour of Thailand, now firmly established on the Asian cycling calendar, continues to grow in stature, offering local fans a rare opportunity to witness world-class riders competing on home soil.