The route plan for the Tour de France 2026 was presented on Thursday. Afterwards, team boss Richard Plugge from Visma-Leasa a Bike was optimistic that his top rider Jonas Vingegaard can beat bike dominator Tadej Pogacar.
The Tour de France route next year is tough. 3,333 kilometers, climbs await on the second day and on the penultimate day we go to L’Alpe d’Huez twice. The tour begins for the first time in Barcelona on July 4th with a 19-kilometer team time trial. On the third day, after starting in Spain, the riders reach France for the first time. The stage destination is Les Anges in the Pyrenees, with almost 4,000 meters of altitude to overcome
Is this a profile for Jonas Vingegaard? After his titles in 2022 and 2023, he had to admit defeat to Tadej Pogacar from UAE Team Emirates-XRG in the last two years. The Slovenian was simply too strong: on the mountain and in the time trial.
“We still believe that we can fight for victory,” Plugge told “Het Laatste Nieuws” after the course presentation at the Palais des Congrès in Paris.
“We’re very confident. There are some great stages that should suit Jonas very well, and the team time trial and time trial certainly won’t be a disadvantage. But I think several riders in our team see potential on this route.”
Will Vingegaard also ride the Giro before the Tour?
The sprinters will have five opportunities in 2026, and there will also be an individual time trial. Striking: Only one stage covers more than 200 kilometers – section 13, which ends in Belfort after 205 kilometers.
Vingegaard recently hinted that he might also ride the Giro d’Italia before the Tour. It is questionable whether this will really be the plan with the many mountain stages.
Plugge hopes Visma-Lease a Bike can challenge Dominator Pogacar in the final crucial stages to L’Alpe d’Huez.
Video: Pogacar overtaken again
“It’s a beautiful track. The last week is really tough. The organizers obviously want to keep the excitement going for a long time and I think they’ve designed a good track to achieve that,” he said.