2026 Tour de France to start with team time trial in Barcelona

BARCELONA – Barcelona will host the start of the Tour de France in 2026 with three days of racing unveiled by organisers and local officials on Feb 25, showing off the Catalan region at its best.

The world’s greatest bike race will speed past the crowds of Spain’s most vaunted avenue the Ramblas and take in some of Barcelona’s architectural wonders such as Antoni Gaudi’s modernist cathedral the Sagrada Familia.

Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni said the city was honoured to welcome the July 4 “Grand Depart” after previously hosting the Olympics, men’s World Cup and the America’s Cup.

“Today we fulfil a dream, the dream of seeing the Grand Depart of the Tour de France become a reality, a dream that Barcelona has pursued for years,” he told gathered press in Catalan.

The motto for the Catalan city’s most famous football team is “More than a club” and the organisers latched onto this by calling their Grand Depart “Mes que una Cursa” (More than a race).

A fierce struggle for the first yellow jersey will be decided in the form of a 19.7km team time-trial passing by the Olmypic port, the Sagrada Familia and ending at the Olympic stadium.

This type of challenge would on paper at least suit Jonas Vingegaard’s Visma outfit, rather than defending champion Tadej Pogacar’s Team UAE Emirates.

Stage 2 starts along the coast at Tarragona and runs back to the Barcelona Olympic stadium over 178km while Stage 3 starts at Granollers and runs towards France to a finish which will be revealed in October with the rest of the 21 stage route.

Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme mentioned former Spanish cycling greats Miguel Indurain and Luis Ocana, and described Barcelona as a shining city.

He said he could hardly wait to “see the fervour