The countdown to the Tour de France 2026 is on, and this week we are joined by cycling legend Jens Voigt to break down everything ahead of the biggest race of the year.
Jens gives his thoughts on the latest chapter of the sport’s greatest rivalry as Jonas Vingegaard prepares to challenge Tadej Pogačar once again. Is anyone capable of stopping the world champion, or are we witnessing the strongest version of Pogačar yet?
We also discuss the rapid rise of French wonderkid Paul Seixas and whether the teenager can live up to the enormous expectations already being placed upon him.
Plus, we take a deep dive into the 2026 Tour de France route, analysing the decisive mountain stages, key tactical battlegrounds, and which riders are best suited to this year’s course.
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00:00 Intro Matching Jerseys
00:20 Jens Voigt and the Tour de France
08:37 Tour de France 2026 Route Analysis
26:05 The Toughest Stages of the Tour de France 2026?
31:40 Return of the Alpe d’Huez Twice
42:31 Will it Be Tadej Pogacar vs Jonas Vingegaard For Yellow?
46:44 Can Florian Lipowitz Repeat his podium?
49:35 Is Paul Seixas A Serious Tour de France Contender This Year?
52:48 Can Isaac del Toro Feature in the GC race?
56:00 Jens Voigt’s Final Thoughts and Tour de France Podium Prediction
20 Comments
Jennsy!!
Shut up legs!
The "General Classification Rider"
A GC rider is the primary contender on a team built to win the entire race.
It's a stacked field this year, can't wait.
Excellent preview.
I hope Jens had a good time in Waterloo, Wisconsin for Trek's 50th anniversary celebration. I had known about it sooner, I would have driven down for the day. It's only 2 hours south of me.
Looking forward to Scott's play by play during the tour.
Is Lidl Trek bringing Jens back from retirement to send him up the road? Looking race fit…
And millions of fans living vicariously the extasis of a probable victory for his people. And millions more living it as sport enthusiasts . In the middle of it all an individual enjoying the win. Leave aside the profiteers of our enthusiasm. Heroes born and heroes remaining in memory.
I agree with Jens' podium: Pogacar, Jonas, Lipowitz.
I like Jens as a man, but I don't get his dismissal of Pog as a phenomenom
JV seems a different person this year. Calm, mature, focused, but also happy – having a good time, proud to be holding his kid on the GC podium. Physically Tadej is another level, but the tour is long. So long that even Tadej needs to use his team.
Que bela entrevista e podcast! Muitas colocações muito, muito inteligentes e lúcidas. Traga Jens Voigt mais vezes.
The organizers designed a route unworthy of the Tour de France's grandeur so that the Pogačar wouldn't kill spectator interest in the first week. The Tourmalet stage, for example, is a joke.
Seixas, despiste his age, will be top 3.
So nice to hear Jens again . I was sad when he left the USA coverage alongside Phil and Bob . Jens your insight and commentary made that coverage special bud . I miss it . God Bless
And I appreciate this host pronouncing Jens name correctly . It aggravated me that he told them how to pronounce it and they ignored him .
Tadej is to much
It will be good for Tadej Pogačar if he lose.
I think in your analyses you forgot that Poggy goes to the tour 😂
I get rooting for your fellow countryman Lipowitz, but the numbers indicate he'll be battling for 5th place with Ayuso. Seixas and Del Toro are just better currently.