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Grand Départ 2026: why Barcelona is perfect
10 June 2026·5 min read
The 2026 Tour de France opens in Barcelona with a team time trial and two Catalan stages. A guide to the Spanish start.
Three days of Catalonia
The first three stages take place in Catalonia: a team time trial in Barcelona, a hilly stage from Tarragona back to the city, and a mountain stage climbing into the Pyrenees toward Les Angles. Rarely has a Grand Départ been so varied.
A city built for racing
With icons like the Sagrada Família, Montjuïc and its wide avenues, Barcelona is a dream setting for a team time trial. Expect huge crowds and a spectacle on television.
Racing from the gun
With the summit finish at Les Angles already on day three, the GC riders get no gentle warm-up. A bad start could cost the Tour in the opening weekend.
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