The 113th edition of the Tour de France gets underway Saturday with a historic opening stage — the first team time trial to open the race since 1971. The 19.6-kilometer test through the streets of Barcelona will set the early pecking order for a three-week battle that pits defending champion Tadej Pogacar against a loaded field of challengers.
Stage 1 starts and finishes in the Catalan capital, taking the peloton past landmarks including the Sagrada Familia before a punchy uphill finish atop Montjuïc. The winner of the three-week battle in Paris on July 26 will need to overcome 3,321 kilometers and 54,450 meters of vertical gain across 21 stages, including eight high-mountain days, a double ascent of Alpe d'Huez in the final weekend, and a closing sprint on the Champs-Élysées.
The Route: Barcelona TTT Sets the Stage
Stage 1 is a short but technical team time trial that demands precision, power, and timing. Each of the 23 teams will roll down the start ramp in Barcelona and navigate a 19.6km course that crosses intermediate time checks at Carrer de Llull (5.1km), Sagrada Familia (10.5km), and Passeig de Santa Madrona (15.9km) before hitting the two decisive climbs.
The Côte de Montjuïc measures 1.1km at 5.1%, a manageable gradient that still punishes any team that goes out too hard. The final climb up the Côte du Stade Olympique is shorter — just 800 meters — but kicks up to 7%, making it the kind of sharp ramp that can separate teams and create gaps between GC contenders. The finish line sits atop this second climb near the Olympic Stadium, and with each rider receiving their own individual time, teams will likely shelter their leader as long as possible before delivering a full lead-out to the line.
UAE Team Emirates-XRG, with Pogacar, starts last at 18:55 CEST as the defending champion's squad. Visma-Lease a Bike follows at 18:50, Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe at 18:45, and Decathlon CMA CGM at 18:30. The early starters include Caja Rural-Seguros RGA at 17:05 and continue through the evening in 90-second intervals.
The Main Characters: Pogacar, Vingegaard, and the Chasing Pack
Tadej Pogacar enters as the heavy favorite for the yellow jersey in Paris, and for good reason. The Slovenian has won four of the last five Tours and arrives in Barcelona with 13 victories this season, including Milan-Sanremo, the Tour of Flanders, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and the Tour de Suisse. His spring campaign was arguably the greatest in modern cycling history, and he has the UAE team built entirely around supporting his bid for a fifth title.
Jonas Vingegaard is Pogacar's primary rival and the only man to beat him in a Grand Tour since 2022. The Dane won the Giro d'Italia by more than five minutes this spring, completing a dominant performance that confirmed his form is fully back after injury-plagued seasons. Vingegaard is attempting the Giro-Tour double, an achievement only Pogacar has pulled off in the modern era. His Visma-Lease a Bike squad is one of the strongest TTT teams in the peloton, and Stage 1 offers a real opportunity to put early time into Pogacar.
Remco Evenepoel arrives as the world and Olympic time trial champion, making him a legitimate threat in the TTT and the individual time trial later in the race. His Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe squad is loaded with talent including Florian Lipowitz, Jai Hindley, and Maxim Van Gils, giving him the deepest support of any contender outside the top two teams.
The wildcard is 19-year-old Paul Seixas, the French prodigy riding for Decathlon CMA CGM. Seixas has been tipped as France's next great Tour hope, and his performances this season have backed up the hype. A strong TTT showing would put him in podium contention early, though the question remains whether he can sustain three weeks at the front.
Isaac Del Toro, Pogacar's teammate at UAE, is the luxury domestique who could easily be a team leader elsewhere. The Mexican won the UAE Tour and Tirreno-Adriatico this season and looks like a near-lock for a top-five overall finish, potentially even the podium if circumstances allow.
Sprinters and Secondary Battles
The green jersey competition features a deep field. Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling) won the green jersey in 2024 and has the consistency to challenge again. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) is the fastest pure sprinter in the peloton and won green in 2023. Olav Kooij (Decathlon), Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step), and Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) all have stage-win potential across the flat and rolling stages in the first week.
Stage 1 won't decide the green jersey, but it will establish which teams have their lead-out trains functioning well. The first true sprint opportunity comes on Stage 2, a 168.5km hilly run from Tarragona back to Barcelona that should finish in a reduced bunch kick.
Seven British riders are in the race, with Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5) the best hope for stage wins in the hilly and medium-mountain stages. Adam Yates (UAE) provides another domestic option for Pogacar and could target a high GC finish himself.
Betting Analysis: Stage 1 and Overall
The TTT opening stage creates an unusual betting dynamic. Visma-Lease a Bike has traditionally been the strongest TTT squad in the sport, and they enter as narrow favorites to win Stage 1. However, UAE Team Emirates is deeper than ever, and Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe's collection of TT specialists makes them a live outsider.
For overall victory, Pogacar is the clear favorite at odds reflecting his four titles and dominant season. Vingegaard provides the most credible opposition at longer prices, given his Giro victory and proven ability to beat Pogacar in a three-week race. Evenepoel at further odds represents value if the race takes unexpected twists, and Seixas at longer odds is the sentimental pick for French fans desperate for a home winner.
The first week features tricky terrain, including the Pyrenees from Stage 3 onward. The stage to Les Angles on Monday will be the first real GC test, and any time gaps from the TTT will set the narrative heading into the mountains.
The Verdict: Prediction and Best Bet
Stage 1 won't decide the Tour, but it will set the tone. Visma's TTT pedigree and Vingegaard's desire to put time into Pogacar early make them the team to beat on Saturday. UAE will be close, and Evenepoel's squad could spring a surprise, but the smart money is on the discipline and organization of the Danish-led squad.
Prediction: Visma-Lease a Bike wins Stage 1, Jonas Vingegaard takes the first yellow jersey — A narrow victory over UAE and Red Bull sets Vingegaard up with a small early lead heading into the Pyrenees.
Best Bet: Tadej Pogacar to win the 2026 Tour de France overall — The TTT might give Vingegaard a few seconds, but Pogacar's climbing, time trialing, and team support are a class above over three weeks. The long-term play on the Slovenian is the sharpest bet available at the start.
Ethan Brooks
Ethan Brooks covers sports betting and analysis with a focus on form, matchups, team trends, and the factors that shape competitive events.