Tour de France 2026 Favourites stage 1: Looking for the best finisher

fotobureau Cor VosThe yellow jersey awaits the rider who posts the fastest time on the team time trial course. Given the 7% gradient over the final 800 metres, the punchy climbers will almost certainly drop their team-mates in the finale in an attempt to ride into yellow. (Slideshow route/profile)

First published on 17 June - last update 4 July: weather forecast updated

Unlike an oldschool team time trial, where the time of the fifth rider across the line counts, each rider will be credited with his own individual time. The formula for taking the yellow jersey therefore appears straightforward: blast around the Barcelona course as quickly as possible as a team, before the designated leader goes clear in the finale to set the fastest time. To make that work, you need a squad full of strong time trialists who are willing to work for one another, and a leader with a punchy finishing kick.

Seamless teamwork will be crucial during the flat opening section, and that remains largely the case on the first of the two climbs in the finale. It rises for 1.1 kilometres at an average gradient of 5.1%, so some teams may choose to continue from this point with only their strongest climbers. After a short flat section, the road dips slightly before the explosive final ascent of 800 metres at 7%.

Visma | Lease a Bike recently won a team time trial run under the same format at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, with Netcompany-INEOS finishing a close second. Comparisons are difficult, however, as the teams will not be lining up at the Tour with exactly the same riders.

Special mention should also go to Van der Poel’s individual time trial at the Tour de Suisse. He matched Pogacar’s time to finish second, but what really stood out was the determination with which he attacked the course on his time trial bike – hardly his weapon of choice. It raised the question: could he be targeting Barcelona?

Favourites 1st stage - 2026 Tour de France

*** UAE Emirates (Pogacar), Visma | Lease a Bike (Vingegaard)
** Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe (Evenepoel), Netcompany-INEOS (Arensman, Vauquelin)
* Lidl-Trek (Ayuso, Skjelmose), Decathlon CMA CGM (Seixas), Alpecin Premier Tech (Van der Poel), EF Education-EasyPost (Carapaz)

Weather forecast:
Sunny summer conditions greet the Tour start in Barcelona. The teams starting later will face a slight disadvantage due to the wind. Along the 7-kilometre straight through the city, the early starters will have a cross-headwind, whereas the later starters will be riding into a direct headwind. The surrounding buildings will reduce its effect to some extent, but it could still make a small difference.

Start: 29°C, sunny, southerly wind (19 km/h)
Finish: 29°C, sunny, southwesterly wind (18 km/h)

Another interesting read: route 1st stage 2026 Tour de France.