On 7 and 8 November, some of the fastest men on two wheels will turn Singapore’s city centre into their own high-speed playground around the Padang and Marina Bay street circuit.
The Tour de France (TDF) has tested man and machine limits since 1903. In the early days, it was a French national attraction, but now it is the world’s largest annual multi-day sporting event with billions of spectators.
The TDF EFGH Singapore Criterium made cycling history in October 2022 as the first Southeast Asian TDF Criterium event, drawing cycling communities from Singapore and other parts of the world.
This year’s line-up promises more than sprinting supremacy. Jasper Philipsen of Belgium and Biniam Girmay from Eritrea in northeast Africa are returning to Singapore to race each other. Mexican cyclist Isaac Del Toro and Paul Seixas of France, two of the most compelling young riders in the peloton, will be joining them.
The quartet offers Singapore cycling fans a snapshot of the sport today as it pairs established sprint stars with a rising generation already challenging cycling’s hierarchy. In addition, Singapore National Cycling Team members will also be participating.
Rivalry Reignited
Having won the Singapore Criterium in 2023 and returning to the podium in 2025, when he finished third behind Jonathan Milan and Girmay after a rain-affected sprint through the city, Philipsen knows what it takes to win here. As for Girmay, he has become one of the most recognisable figures in cycling.
The 2026 Tour de France has also added another dimension to the Singapore schedule. Philipsen finished second in this year’s points classification, and Del Toro and Seixas spent July establishing themselves among the best general-classification riders. Del Toro finished third overall, while Seixas came in fourth, becoming the youngest top five finisher.
With that close finish, their Singapore appearance gains an edge. Over three weeks in France, their rivalry was fought out over long stages and punishing climbs, requiring endurance and consistency. They will face off in a very different race here.
In contrast to the TDF, the Criterium course is shorter, with corners arriving quickly, and attacks unfolding almost as soon as the previous one is neutralised. Spectators and cyclists have little time to switch off.
Del Toro and Seixas are known primarily for their prowess in stage races. However, Singapore offers fans a chance to see how the duo respond when their rivalry is condensed into a fast, aggressive city-centre contest.
Against Singapore’s Skyline
Unlike the TDF, the Singapore Criterium takes professional cycling out of the mountains and country roads and onto the streets. The city-centre circuit winds past the Padang, Anderson Bridge, and Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, offering an unusual sight of TDF riders racing flat-out against some of Singapore’s most recognisable landmarks.
This year’s route remains unchanged from 2025. The Padang stays part of the start-finish straight, while the 2.45km circuit will take riders past some of Singapore’s most recognisable landmarks, such as the Merlion, Esplanade, Anderson Bridge, and the CBD.
Its compact nature allows spectators to experience the rhythm of criterium racing, where the peloton disappears around a corner, the noise briefly subsides, and then the riders come hurtling back into view.
On 8 November, the professional programme builds towards a Pro Team Time Trial from 2.30pm, followed by the Opening Parade at 3.30pm. A much-loved TDF tradition, the parade brings a colourful mobile convoy of vehicles and bicycles around the circuit ahead of the main race. With giveaways and surprises along the route, it brings some of the Tour’s festive spirit to the Singapore crowd as anticipation builds for the racing action.
The Festival Village is free for the public, with spectators able to watch the racing from multiple vantage points around the circuit, including Anderson Bridge and the Esplanade. For an up-close experience along the start-finish straight, trackside viewing tickets are available at $72.
Building on last year’s encounter with rainy weather, organisers have strengthened their wet-weather preparations. Additional tentage will be provided at the Festival Village to shelter spectators, and ponchos for those tracksiders who choose to brave the weather and continue watching the action.
More Than Just A Race To Watch
Increasingly, the Singapore Criterium is becoming as much about getting onto the course as watching the professionals race.
Returning this year is the À l’Attaque, the Singapore Criterium’s own racing concept, which was introduced in 2025. After debuting with 200 amateur entrants across four segments, the programme expands to six this year, creating more opportunities for cyclists of different ages, abilities, and riding backgrounds to experience racing on the official criterium circuit.
The expanded programme introduces a Youth segment and Team Time Trial alongside the existing race formats. Men’s racing includes Under-19, Open Competitive for riders aged 19 to 34, and Masters for those aged 35 and above, together with Women’s and Foldies categories.
The Team Time Trial adds another dimension to the programme, with mixed-gender teams of four racing against the clock. Unlike an individual contest, success depends heavily on how efficiently riders work together, with coordination and aerodynamics becoming as important as individual strength. Competitors race on the 2.45km closed circuit, beginning with a neutral lap.
Beyond competition, Sunday also features the ASEAN Community Ride, an exclusive leisure ride bringing together event partners, cycling communities, and invited guests from across the region.
There is also plenty of action before Sunday’s headline race. The seventh is structured more like the opening act to the sporting spectacle. The Saturday Social runs from 10am to noon and includes a ticketed meet-and-greet with professional cyclists. In addition to viewing areas, F&B options, and fan-focused activities, the Festival Village at the Singapore Recreation Club serves as the weekend’s spectator hub. The idea of bringing the TDF closer has become the centrepiece of the Singapore edition.
From Paris To The Padang
Since its inauguration, the Singapore Criterium’s winners list reads like a roll call of modern cycling: Jonas Vingegaard in 2022, Jasper Philipsen in 2023, Mark Cavendish in 2024, and Jonathan Milan in 2025.
Its future is also more certain this year. As part of a three-year title sponsorship deal, Singapore-based Embed Financial Group Holdings (EFGH) will cover the next three editions. The agreement aims to boost the event’s visibility within Singapore’s sports calendar and support its growth.
According to the organisers, this is the only Tour de France-affiliated event currently held in Southeast Asia. While the skyline remains unmistakably Singaporean, the racing is just as dramatic as the TDF.
