Route and stages
The Grand Départ will take place in Barcelona. [2] Both stage 1 and 2 will finish on the Montjuïc hill above Barcelona, next to the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys used for the 1992 Summer Olympics. [3] The team time trial will return to the Tour for the first time since 2019, and will use new rules first tested at the 2023 Paris–Nice. In this format, each rider is given an individual finish time, rather than all riders who finish together getting the same time. This format allows tactics by general classifications contenders – whether to ride as a team, or ride solo to achieve a better time. [3]
Rumours regarding the rest of the route included a return to Alpe d'Huez for the first time since 2022, a time trial on Plateau de Solaison and a final stage on Montmartre in Paris. [4] As with previous editions of the race, the remainder of the 2026 route will be announced in October 2025. [4]
Following protests against the Gaza war at the 2025 Vuelta a España that led to the abandonment of the final stage, the City Council of Barcelona expressed a desire to host the Grand Départ without the Israel–Premier Tech team taking part. However, Israel–Premier Tech is likely to have an automatic invitation to the Tour. [5] [6] Protesters noted that if Israel–Premier Tech are present, protests in Barcelona were "very likely". [6]
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 July | Barcelona (Spain) | 19.7 km (12.2 mi) |  | Team time trial | |
| 2 | 5 July | Tarragona (Spain) to Barcelona (Spain) | 178 km (111 mi) |  | Hilly stage | |
| 3 | 6 July | Granollers (Spain) to (France) |  | Flat stage | ||
| 4 | July | |||||
| 5 | July | |||||
| 6 | July | |||||
| 7 | July | |||||
| 8 | July | |||||
| 9 | July | |||||
| 10 | July | |||||
| 11 | July | |||||
| 12 | July | |||||
| 13 | July | |||||
| 14 | July | |||||
| 15 | July | |||||
| 16 | July | |||||
| 17 | July | |||||
| 18 | July | |||||
| 19 | July | |||||
| 20 | July | |||||
| 21 | 26 July | |||||
| Total | ||||||
