The 113th edition of the Tour de France is finally here, kicking off with an explosive start in Barcelona! In this full preview, we break down all 21 stages of the 2026 route, including the brutal Alpe d’Huez double-header and the high-stakes Team Time Trial. We also take a deep dive into the start list to see if Jonas Vingegaard or rising star Paul Seixas can topple the reigning champion, Tadej Pogačar.
Chapters: ⏱️
00:00 – The 2026 Tour de France is Here!
01:48 – The 3,333km Route Overview
02:51 – Week 1: Barcelona & The Pyrenees
08:25 – The Col du Tourmalet
12:04 – Week 2: Massif Central & Jura
16:52 – The Individual Time Trial
19:15 – Week 3: Alpe d’Huez Double-Header
22:24 – The Grand Finale in Paris
24:38 – Yellow Jersey Contenders
39:44 – Green Sprint Jersey
45:32 – GCN’s predictions
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Metal in the Night – Def Lev
📸 Photos – © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Sirotti Images
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36 Comments
Are we all ready?! This time next week the Tour de France will be starting in Barcelona.
Since this preview was recorded, there have been a couple of updates. Eduardo Affini had a nasty crash in the Italian national TT champs, so he might not be fit to start for Visma. Rumours suggest Bart Lemmen would replace him.
Also, Mikel Landa won't be starting for Soudal Quickstep. He has been unable to get into good enough shape after fracturing his pelvis in April.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy our preview show! Let us know who you think will win each jersey. Dan
uae will win almost everything… They would also win the "lance armstrong award" (WINK, WINK, NUDGE, NUDGE) if there was one…hehehe
tadel , del toro , lipowitz, jonas , remco , seixas ,ayuso, ,
Foix is one of Geraint Thomas’ favourite places to ride as well. At least, he mentions it in pretty much every interview he does 😜
Looking forward to double Alpe DH stages and Pog vs JV! And of course I'm bummed Wout isn't able to make it this year. I just hope everyone makes it through without any big crashes.
Commenting before watching…this years Tour is gonna be F#$king Epic😎🫡🤗
Doesn't need a 40 minute video to answer that question.
Pogacars could even start alone, the rest on relatively rest instead off riding their balls off! Everybody’s knows who’s going to win, their will be a other gap in the winners off the tour du France!, fake shit!
Forty one years since the French won, not fifty one
1. Pogi 2. Sexias 3. Del Toro My take 😉
After 40 years, the prospect of another Tour where Pogacar will dominate has discouraged me from feeling any desire to watch the Tour anymore. This year’s Giro, in contrast, was far more interesting. The Tour is becoming very boring and predictable.
It puzzles me why people keep mispronouncing Vingegaard with an “OH” or “OR” sound at the end. And, it aggravates my that ALL of the US NBS Sports crew intentionally mispronounce Jonas’ last name with a hard “GORE” sound as “Vin-ge-GORE.”
Crazy prediction: Pog will win 4-5 stages and will go into stage 20 with a 2 min lead and then, with 17,800 ft of climbing, Jonas will win his only stage of the Tour, cracking Pog and taking the yellow jersey. You read it here first. 😅
🔥ai thumbnail looks like the Village People of cycling…🤘🏽not a heavy metal sport, more like carbon fiber at this point‼️
36:23 Dan scratching Seixas' backside 🤣
I’m rooting for Vingegaard. Actually, I’d like a complete upset to stun everyone and make the Tour more exciting and unpredictable. Ayuso could shock.
Piddcock
This is a great field for the TDF. I don’t think the GC is a wrap until the stage 19. Jonas, Pogi, Ayuso.
Can we get Primoz Roglic back on a Bianche for the ‘27 TDF?
Unfortunately I think more than a few riders will be defeated by the heat dome this time around.
As someone who races TTT’s, and has won a couple of natty champs in the discipline, I can assure you ‘triple t’ is not a thing. Not sure who you spoke to, but feel free to not say it. 😅
Triple t is sometimes associated with triple tri events.
France is currently suffering from a heatwave with temperatures exceeding 42 degrees Celsius. Cycling 3,333 km over three weeks in such weather is extremely dangerous.
Sorry not interested while the UCIs golden boy is notor doping
Like this question deserves more than 5seconds to get answered …
LOVE the repartee between you Sy and Dan!
Looking forward to seeing what Ben Healey can do this year.
Thank you so much for still just calling it the dauphiné, everytime some one says Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes I honestly don't know what they're talking about, just sounds like jibberish to me in whatever accent and I'm completely lost
I’ll give you a hint. It stars with a P and rhymes with ogacar
It might be the biggest but i dont call it the best when its not competitive in the GC. I dont get as excited as i used to .I was over the sky train but have no time for Pog and UAE so there.
Damn, Remco didn't even make the cut for the thumbnail 😂
I dont think tue Pantani record will be broken. Tadej was ovee 30sec of the Riis record on Hautacam. The Alp d'huez record is another level. Id say hes a minute off
Some kind of chaos will happen in the first week because of course.
Imagine if there's an unexpected stuff happening early in the race so that nobody can guess who will win anymore. That will be fun
But I don't respect Pogy. He still acts like a big kid and I just like Jonas better. He is a family man and well he takes this more seriously.
Looking forward to the race. Thanks for the stage reviews.
Just call it the Dauphine! Maybe the organizers will change the name back instead of the stupid name it is now!😂
I’ve raced in Australia for over 30 years and I have NEVER heard anyone refer to a Team Time Trial as a Triple T.