Right here we go! July is right here and subsequently it is time for the Tour de France, the largest race of our sport, an enormous second for Cyclingnews and an opportunity to witness probably the most intense, most prestigious and most emotional racing of the season.
I at all times take into account it a privilege to be on the Tour de France as a journalist for Cyclingnews and I am pleased to already be in Barcelona for the Grand Départ countdown earlier than the race begins on Saturday.
I will be with James Moultrie for the primary half of the Tour, earlier than handing over to Deputy Editor Patrick Fletcher and Alasdair Fotheringham. Tech writers Josh Croxton and Tom Wieckowski are additionally right here in Barcelona for Cyclingnews, reporting on all the most recent bikes and tools that will likely be used.
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I’ve coated some historic editions of the Tour over time and cherish some particular reminiscences. We all know the race route and the staff rosters however the 2026 Tour continues to be a e book to be written, empty pages and chapters to be stuffed day after day with the narrative of the racing, the drama, polemics and feelings of every stage.
We all know that Tadej Pogačar is the large favorite to win a record-equalling fifth Tour. Fortuitously for us, the Tour by no means seems as predicted, somebody at all times rips up the script, excels or fails dramatically. That’s the great thing about elite sport.
I can not wait to stand up so near the riders and racing to attempt to query, seize and analyse each second, each element and each emotion for the Cyclingnews readers and subscribers.
It’s possible you’ll like
That is what I hope to witness on the 2026 Tour de France.
Can anybody problem and even cease Pogačar’s greatness?
Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard have dominated the GC battle within the 5 editions of the Tour however my biking sixth sense, which I’ve learnt to hearken to fastidiously, is telling me that issues might be totally different this yr.
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If Pogačar dominates but once more, we must recognise his greatness. He appears in nice kind, even after racing comparatively little because the Classics, however I sense that he must struggle like by no means earlier than to tug on the ultimate yellow jersey in Paris.
I feel Vingegaard and Visma-Lease a Bike will discover some chinks in Pogačar’s armour and maybe be capable of reap the benefits of them. Isaac del Toro must play an important function serving to Pogačar, as he additionally learns easy methods to change into a Tour chief in his personal proper.
If Pogačar and Vingegaard focus an excessive amount of on one another, then any of Paul Seixas, Juan Ayuso, Remco Evenpeoel and Florian Lipowitz may have an opportunity to struggle for greater than third place on the rostrum. I hope they’re bold sufficient to understand each alternative.
What to learn subsequent
Allez Paul Seixas!
The presence of 19-year-old Paul Seixas adjustments every thing at this yr’s Tour and permits the French, and so anybody who loves the race, an opportunity to dream.
Seixas seems to have the expertise to win the Tour. It may not be this yr however it appears destined to occur eventually, maybe within the post-Pogačar period or maybe even sooner.
Seixas‘ debut Tour will likely be a journey of discovery for the French teenager and a journey of expectation for all of us. He stated he hopes to be an element within the race, to proceed bettering and to take pleasure in himself. That final objective is unquestionably crucial. If Seixas enjoys himself, embraces the stress and struggling of the Tour, his race will likely be a hit.
Fearing the wrath of Remco
I’ve felt the wrath of Remco Evenepoel a number of occasions, when he vents his frustration in the direction of the Tour media past the end line, however I really like his intelligence, depth and self perception. He provides his absolute all and so rightly calls for the identical from his staff and anybody that comes near him.
Can he ever win the Tour de France? Maybe not however that’s not going to cease him making an attempt and so it’ll be fascinating to observe him do that yr.
The battle for stage victories and the early yellow jersey
The Pogačar-Vingegaard dominance of the Tour GC has compelled loads of different groups to pivot away from using for the yellow jersey and as an alternative chase stage victories, different classifications and maybe an early spell in yellow. EF Training-EasyPost executed that technique nicely in 2025, with Ben Healy carrying yellow for 2 days and profitable a stage. It was sufficient to justify their sponsorship for the entire season.
A stage victory has change into a acknowledged objective, with rider picks and race methods constructed round it. Tour stage wins will be as prestigious and as troublesome as profitable a significant Basic. Win one and a staff’s tour is deemed a hit, fail and the staff supervisor won’t be pleased.
This yr Ben Healy, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious), new French nationwide champion Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ United), Filippo Ganna (Netcompany Ineos), Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), Michael Matthews (Jayco AlUla), Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor) and Fred Wright (Pinarello-Q36.5) will all battle for stage on hilly phases, with the same high quality of riders for extra mountainous phases.
Each stage will begin with an intense battle to get within the break, increase the common pace and depth, with an opportunity of taking the yellow day for an early spell as an additional incentive.
Personally, I would like to see a French rider put on yellow when the Tour crosses the Pyrénées from Spain into France or on Bastille Day on July 14.
Spare a thought for the forgotten sprinters
With so many riders and groups chasing dash victories and the likes of Pogačar hogging the highlight, the sprinters have change into the forgotten riders of the Tour de France. I hope that may change at this yr’s Tour.
The sprinters must endure in silence within the opening staff time trial and even on Sunday’s hilly end on Montjuïc. They are going to in all probability have to attend till stage 5 to Pau for an opportunity to dash for victory however in concept there are 5 dash probabilities plus the final stage to Paris if the sprinters can digest the climbs of Montmartre.
Dash phases will be lengthy days within the saddle and so make for boring tv however I consider the thrills of the ultimate kilometres are at all times definitely worth the wait.
My stand-out phases
Every of the 21 phases will provide some drama and nice racing however these are the phases that I am particularly enthusiastic about.
Stage 1: Barcelona TTT – The brand new TT format makes this a GC day and so we will count on time gaps, surprises and disappointment.
I will be watching to see if Evenepoel drops Lipowitz, how a lot time Pogačar features on Vingegaard and Kévin Vauquelin’s sizzling take response about his teammates past the end line.
Stage 6: Pau-Gavarnie-Gèdre – The Pyrenees come early this yr and keep away from among the legendary climbs however stage 6 consists of the Col du Tourmalet and a climb to the end.
Stage 9: Aurillac-Le Lioran – Levels by means of the Massif Central are by no means simple. With the canicule warmth anticipated to return to France subsequent week, this stage may see some GC motion in addition to an enormous breakaway.
Levels 19 and 20 – The ultimate mountain phases within the Alps climb to L’Alpe d’Huez twice, first through the long-lasting hairpins after which through the steeper, lesser recognized Col de Sarenne.
I would like to be a fan staying in L’Alpe d’Huez for a number of days, using the excessive mountains after which watching the riders shut up from the roadside as they race for general victory or simply survival contained in the time restrict.
In spite of everything, the Tour de France is the final word free sporting present. Vive le Tour!
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