The opening stage of the Tour de France, starting in Barcelona next year, will feature a team time trial – a first in the race's history. The cyclists will cover 19.7 km, finishing near the stadium built for the 1992 Olympic Games on Montjuïc hill.
Organizers announced that the team time trial will use the same timing rule as the 2023 Paris-Nice, meaning each rider's time will count. The previous tradition was to count the time of the fourth rider to finish. This gives faster riders the option to go their own way or stay with the team.
Barcelona last saw a team time trial in 2023, when it served as the start of the Vuelta.
The 2026 Tour will begin with three stages in Spain. The second day will start in the city of Tarragona, which will become the southernmost city in Tour history, and finish in Barcelona. The third stage will start in Granollers, with the destination in France yet to be announced.
💛 #TDF2026, it all starts in Barcelona!
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) February 25, 2025
💛 #TDF2026, tout commence à Barcelone ! pic.twitter.com/o43i3hJHmp
Barcelona x Le Tour 🙌
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) February 25, 2025
See you in July 2026! Rendez-vous en juillet 2026 ! pic.twitter.com/3KJaf1th6S
📍 Montjuïc
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) February 26, 2025
🔜 #TDF2026 pic.twitter.com/zeW6ISQBZF
