Tour de France Starts 113th Edition in Barcelona With First Team Time Trial Since 1971
Updated
Updated · NBC News · Jul 3
Tour de France Starts 113th Edition in Barcelona With First Team Time Trial Since 1971
3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Jul 3
Summary
Barcelona hosts the Tour de France Grand Départ for the first time on Saturday, launching the 113th edition in sweltering heat.
The race opens with the Tour’s first team time trial since 1971, giving the start an unusual format as a young, star-studded field begins the 21-stage contest.
Paris will stage the finish on July 26, with Tadej Pogacar starting as the favorite to win a fifth Tour title after victories in 2020, 2021, 2024 and 2025.
Can a returning champion or a teenage prodigy truly challenge Tadej Pogacar's seemingly inevitable march to a historic fifth Tour victory?
With riders faster than in the doping era, can new technology prove their legitimacy or will suspicion always taint cycling's greatest champions?
As cycling's business model is called 'broken,' can new initiatives finally free teams from their reliance on controversial fossil fuel sponsors?
2026 Tour de France: Historic Barcelona Grand Départ, Route Analysis, and the Battle for Cycling Supremacy
Overview
The 113th Tour de France begins on July 4, 2026, with Barcelona hosting the opening stages for the first time. The race starts with a unique Team Time Trial, providing an early test of team strength and strategy that could shape the general classification from the outset. After an initial weekend in Spain, the peloton moves into France, continuing a challenging journey that will end in Paris. This historic start sets the stage for a demanding and exciting race, where early teamwork and tactics are expected to play a crucial role in determining the leaders.