Even though the 2025 Tour de France is still months away, the organization officially announced the Grand Départ and the first two stages of the 2026 Tour de France on Tuesday evening viaX. The race will begin in Spain, where sunshine is almost guaranteed.
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We still have to wait about 500 days, but cycling fans now know that they should head to Barcelona next year to witness the start of the Tour de France. The Catalan capital will host the opening stage entirely within the city, featuring a team time trial on day one. This marks a historic first—never before has the Tour de France started with a team time trial.
The 19.7-kilometer course won’t be completely flat, as riders will have to tackle two climbs: Côte de Montjuïc (1.1 km at 5.1%) and Côte du Stade Olympique (800m at 7%). These hills appear in the latter part of the time trial, with the finish line set atop the climb to the Olympic Stadium. The first 16 kilometers of the route will be almost entirely flat.
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Read more below the photo!
Tour de France Femmes
Stage two of the 2026 Tour de France promises a great spectacle in the streets of Barcelona
On day two, riders will immediately face a challenging hilly stage. The second stage will start in Tarragona, with the first 80 kilometers being relatively flat. However, from that point onward, the final 100 kilometers will be anything but easy, featuring eight climbs. The peloton will complete three local laps through the streets of Barcelona, adding to the excitement.
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These laps include the same climbs as stage one, but this time, the riders will tackle Montjuïc from its steeper side (1.6 km at 9.3%). The climb to the Olympic Stadium also returns, with the finish line once again placed at the top.
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
💛 #TDF2026 Stage 1
🗓️ July 4. 2026
🚩 Barcelone - Barcelone 🏁
📏 19.7km
⏱️ The team time trial returns to the Tour! And it will be in the same format as at #ParisNice for the last 3 years: stage classification based on the first rider in each team, but individual time
💛 #TDF2026 Stage 2
🗓️ July 5. 2026
🚩 Tarragone - Barcelone 🏁
📏 178km
💪 A coastal warm-up before a tough second part and a finish on a circuit laid out around Montjuïc. The favorites will aready fight shoulder to shoulder!
💪 Une mise en jambe littorale avant un final