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Tour de France 2026

The 2026 Tour, stage by stage — the route, the favorites, the yellow jersey.

1 chapterupdated July 2026sources linked in every chapter

The story so far

The 2026 Tour de France heads to Spain for the Grand Départ in Barcelona on July 4, starting with a team time trial—the first opening TTT since 1971. The race runs through July 26 over 3,333 km across 21 stages, taking in the Pyrenees, the Alps, a decisive time trial, and a double ascent of Alpe d'Huez. Defending champion Tadej Pogačar leads a field that includes two-time winner Jonas Vingegaard, Juan Ayuso, Remco Evenepoel and a debuting Paul Seixas.

As of early July the race hasn't begun. Stage 1 is the Barcelona TTT on July 4.

Chapter 1 · July 2026

2026 Tour de France: route, contenders, and the preview

Grand Départ and route

The 2026 Tour begins in Barcelona on July 4 with a 19.6 km team time trial—the first TTT opening stage since 1971.

Cyclingnews
The race spans 21 stages and 3,333 km through July 26. Key days include a Pyrenean stage 3 (Granollers to Les Angles), successive Alpine finishes on the Plateau de Solaison and Orcières-Merlette, a 26.1 km individual time trial from Évian to Thonon-les-Bains, and an unusual double use of Alpe d'Huez across stages 19 and 20 before the finish in Paris.

The favorites

Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) enters as defending champion chasing a fifth title, with Jonas Vingegaard (Visma–Lease a Bike) his primary rival.

Cyclingnews
Other contenders include Juan Ayuso, Remco Evenepoel, Egan Bernal and Mathieu van der Poel, alongside French prospect Paul Seixas making his Tour debut.
Cyclingnews

Pre-race news

Notable absences shape the race: Wout van Aert is out of the Visma squad, thinning Vingegaard's support, and Oscar Onley is sidelined too.

Cyclingnews
The opening TTT means a team, not a lone rider, will likely put the first yellow jersey on its leader. Stage 1 results land after July 4.

A living book: chapters are dated and grow as the story develops. Nothing is deleted — the record just gets longer.