Confirmed Top GC Contender Rosters

UAE Team Emirates-XRG (Tadej Pogačar)

Pogačar leads a squad that is half-renewed from 2025. The eight riders are: Pogačar, Adam Yates, Tim Wellens, Nils Politt, Brandon McNulty, Felix Großschartner, Isaac del Toro, and Florian Vermeersch . Notably, four riders are new to the Tour lineup, including the highly touted 22-year-old Mexican Isaac del Toro, who has already recorded three WorldTour stage race wins in 2026 . Pogačar is aiming for his fifth Tour victory, which would tie the modern-era record .

Visma | Lease a Bike (Jonas Vingegaard)

Vingegaard is supported by Matteo Jorgenson, Sepp Kuss, Victor Campenaerts, Bruno Armirail, Per Strand Hagenes, Edoardo Affini, and Davide Piganzoli . The biggest headline is the absence of Wout van Aert. His spot was filled by 23-year-old Italian Davide Piganzoli, a surprise call-up over several more experienced candidates .

Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe (Remco Evenepoel)

Remco Evenepoel will race for Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, having signed with the team over the winter. The Olympic champion and 2025 Tour third-place finisher (along with Florian Lipowitz) adds a third strong GC contender to the mix, aiming to rival Pogačar and Vingegaard .

Soudal Quick-Step

A provisional six-man core was named: Tim Merlier (sprint), Mikel Landa (GC/support), Valentin Paret-Peintre, Jasper Stuyven, Ilan Van Wilder, and Louis Vervaeke. Merlier will arrive with fewer race days than usual due to a knee injury .

Decathlon CMA CGM Team

The French team will back home sensation Paul Seixas in his Grand Tour debut, with a stated aim for the overall podium .

Major Storylines

Pogačar vs. Vingegaard, Round 3+

The defining rivalry of modern cycling continues. Pogačar arrives dominant after a stellar spring and a Tour de Suisse win, aiming for a fifth yellow jersey . Vingegaard, who has stated "this year it's my turn," is trying to dethrone him for a third consecutive year .

Three-time Tour winner Alberto Contador has identified the high-mountain stages and summit finishes—including the double ascent of Alpe d'Huez—as Vingegaard's best hunting ground, noting it's where he has already put Pogačar under pressure .

Team Time Trial Returns with New Rules

Stage 1 is the first TTT at the Tour since 2019, but with a game-changing twist. Instead of the traditional format where the team's time is based on the fourth or fifth rider, individual times are now recorded for each rider at the finish . This format, first tested at Paris-Nice in 2023, allows GC contenders to make individual tactical decisions within the team effort, creating potential early gaps between the favorites before the mountains .

Wildcard Drama

ASO's team announcement on January 30, 2026, created controversy by snubbing fan-favorites Unibet Rose Rockets, instead inviting Caja Rural-Seguros RGA and TotalEnergies. Tudor Pro Cycling and Pinarello-Q36.5 earned their spots directly via UCI ProTeam ranking .

Route Profile

The 21-stage route includes: 7 flat stages, 4 hilly stages, 8 mountain stages (with 5 summit finishes at Gavarnie-Gèdre, Plateau de Solaison, Orcières-Merlette, and Alpe d'Huez twice), plus the opening TTT and one individual time trial . The first three stages take place in Spain before the race crosses into France .

Confirmed Top GC Contender Rosters

UAE Team Emirates-XRG (Tadej Pogačar)

Pogačar leads a squad that is half-renewed from 2025. The eight riders are: Pogačar, Adam Yates, Tim Wellens, Nils Politt, Brandon McNulty, Felix Großschartner, Isaac del Toro, and Florian Vermeersch . Notably, four riders are new to the Tour lineup, including the highly touted 22-year-old Mexican Isaac del Toro, who has already recorded three WorldTour stage race wins in 2026 . Pogačar is aiming for his fifth Tour victory, which would tie the modern-era record .

Visma | Lease a Bike (Jonas Vingegaard)

Vingegaard is supported by Matteo Jorgenson, Sepp Kuss, Victor Campenaerts, Bruno Armirail, Per Strand Hagenes, Edoardo Affini, and Davide Piganzoli . The biggest headline is the absence of Wout van Aert. His spot was filled by 23-year-old Italian Davide Piganzoli, a surprise call-up over several more experienced candidates .

Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe (Remco Evenepoel)

Remco Evenepoel will race for Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, having signed with the team over the winter. The Olympic champion and 2025 Tour third-place finisher (along with Florian Lipowitz) adds a third strong GC contender to the mix, aiming to rival Pogačar and Vingegaard .

Soudal Quick-Step

A provisional six-man core was named: Tim Merlier (sprint), Mikel Landa (GC/support), Valentin Paret-Peintre, Jasper Stuyven, Ilan Van Wilder, and Louis Vervaeke. Merlier will arrive with fewer race days than usual due to a knee injury .

Decathlon CMA CGM Team

The French team will back home sensation Paul Seixas in his Grand Tour debut, with a stated aim for the overall podium .

Major Storylines

Pogačar vs. Vingegaard, Round 3+

The defining rivalry of modern cycling continues. Pogačar arrives dominant after a stellar spring and a Tour de Suisse win, aiming for a fifth yellow jersey . Vingegaard, who has stated "this year it's my turn," is trying to dethrone him for a third consecutive year .

Three-time Tour winner Alberto Contador has identified the high-mountain stages and summit finishes—including the double ascent of Alpe d'Huez—as Vingegaard's best hunting ground, noting it's where he has already put Pogačar under pressure .

Team Time Trial Returns with New Rules

Stage 1 is the first TTT at the Tour since 2019, but with a game-changing twist. Instead of the traditional format where the team's time is based on the fourth or fifth rider, individual times are now recorded for each rider at the finish . This format, first tested at Paris-Nice in 2023, allows GC contenders to make individual tactical decisions within the team effort, creating potential early gaps between the favorites before the mountains .

Wildcard Drama

ASO's team announcement on January 30, 2026, created controversy by snubbing fan-favorites Unibet Rose Rockets, instead inviting Caja Rural-Seguros RGA and TotalEnergies. Tudor Pro Cycling and Pinarello-Q36.5 earned their spots directly via UCI ProTeam ranking .

Route Profile

The 21-stage route includes: 7 flat stages, 4 hilly stages, 8 mountain stages (with 5 summit finishes at Gavarnie-Gèdre, Plateau de Solaison, Orcières-Merlette, and Alpe d'Huez twice), plus the opening TTT and one individual time trial . The first three stages take place in Spain before the race crosses into France .