Guide to the 2026 Tour de France
Those lazy days of summer have returned, and on the horizon — just a few weeks away — is the start of the Tour de France in Barcelona.
Many years ago, I was there as a driver for Cevelo's VIPs when the race arrived for Stage 6 of the 2009 Tdf. After checking in I fought my way up Montjuïc and was instantly captivated: the sudden surge of the peloton with their focused grim faces, and the unmistakable smell of muscle rub hanging in the air like F1 exhaust fumes. They were all fighting top speed for the sprint finish which was won by Cervelo's Thor Hushovd before Óscar Freire and José Joaquín Rojas! Bit of party that night!
I even got close enough to see Jan Ullrich being interviewed and managed to shake the massive hand of Miguel Induráin as he passed. Yes, I’m that big of a Fred fan!
Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to work as a driver for Cervélo VIPs on other TdFs and my enthusiasm and love for this great event hasn’t diminished one bit.
This year, I’m watching it from right here in Gran Canaria with HBO Sports for just €5 extra per month. It delivers all the stages live, English commentary, and highlights — a very welcome upgrade after the GCN debacle and several missed Tours. (Fuming!!)
The 2026 Tour de France (113th Edition)
The race runs from 4 to 26 July 2026, covering 21 stages and 3,333 km (approximately 2,071 miles). It begins with a Grand Départ in Barcelona, Spain — only the third time the Tour has started in Spain — and finishes traditionally on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
Key Route Highlights:
- Grand Départ in Barcelona: Stage 1 is a 19.7 km team time trial in and around Barcelona (the first TTT since 1971). Stage 2 is a hilly stage from Tarragona back to Barcelona. Stage 3 heads from Granollers to Les Angles (France) as a mountain stage.
- Terrain Breakdown: 7 flat stages, 4 hilly stages, 8 mountain stages (including 5 summit finishes: Gavarnie-Gèdre, Plateau de Solaison, Orcières-Merlette, and Alpe d’Huez twice), 1 team time trial, and 1 individual time trial (26.1 km on Stage 16). Total elevation gain is approximately 54,450 metres.
- Mountain Highlights: The route takes in the Pyrenees, Massif Central, Vosges, Jura, and Alps. Standout climbs include the Montée de Gavarnie-Gèdre, Plateau de Solaison, Col du Galibier (the “roof” of the Tour at 2,642 m), and the Col de Sarenne approach to Alpe d’Huez. The difficulty builds in a crescendo toward the decisive Alpine stages.
- Rest Days: 13 July (Cantal) and 20 July (Haute-Savoie).
- Other Notes: Time bonuses at stage finishes (10-6-4 seconds) and several new stage towns. Some stages feature multiple intermediate sprints.
The full official route and stage details are available on letour.fr.
Main Contenders (as of mid-2026)
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) is the overwhelming favourite, chasing a potential fifth Tour victory. He has been in dominant form across classics and stage races.
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) remains his primary challenger, known for his exceptional climbing prowess in the high mountains.
Other podium contenders include:
- Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-BORA-Hansgrohe)
- Rising talents such as Paul Seixas
- Veterans like Primož Roglič and Florian Lipowitz
The mountainous route, with a double ascent of Alpe d’Huez and limited time trialling, strongly favours powerful all-round climbers like Pogačar.
Teams: 23 teams in total (18 UCI WorldTeams + 5 wildcards/ProTeams, including Caja Rural–Seguros RGA).
The 2026 Tour promises plenty of excitement with early Spanish stages, classic French landscapes, and decisive Alpine battles in the final week. Coverage will be widely available via official broadcasters, and buzz is already building around spectator tours, Fantasy games, and video games.
For the latest updates, visit the official site or trusted cycling news sources as the race approaches.
Enjoy the Tour!