Tour of Catalonia 2026: The most important facts in brief
- Date: 23-29 March 2026
- Distance~ 1081 kilometres, ~ 20,800 metres in altitude, 7 stages
- StartSant Feliu de Guíxols
- GoalBarcelona
- Profile: three mountain finishes, four hilly stages
- UCI category: WorldTour
- Premiere: 1911, 105th edition
- Last year's winner: Primož Roglič
With Florian Lipowitz and Remco Evenepoel, Team Red Bull - Bora - hansgrohe have two riders in the line-up for the overall classification. This should also make it clear that last year's winner Primož Roglič will not be riding the Tour of Catalonia this year. However, there is no shortage of other stars. Tour runner-up Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) will use the Tour of Catalunya after Paris-Nice as preparation for his planned Giro-Tour programme. For Lipowitz, Evenepoel and Vingegaard, the start of the season only went according to plan to a limited extent, with all three riders experiencing teething problems, even though it was still very early in the season. In addition to the top riders already mentioned, João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) will also be at the start. Oscar Onley (INEOS Grenadiers) and Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) are also taking part.
As usual, the Tour of the Pyrenees is a real test for the stars' mountain legs. With an average elevation gain of almost 3000 metres per stage, sprinters really have no place here. This makes the first big clash between the riders all the more exciting for the overall classification, which will provide the first clues for the big tours.
Tour of Catalonia 2026: All stages at a glance
The seven stages are really tough, and anyone who is not yet in shape will be mercilessly left standing. We show you what the stages look like in detail here.
Stage 1 | 23 March 2026 | Sant Feliu de Guíxols - Sant Feliu de Guíxols | 172.7 kilometres | 2129 vertical metres
As usual, the opening stage leads along a course around Sant Feliu de Guíxols. With three sprint classifications and two mountain classifications, there are plenty of points up for grabs along the way, which should fuel the competition for a place in the breakaway. After 171.7 kilometres and almost 3,000 metres of climbing, the favourites could face their first test of strength at the end: On the last kilometre, the course picks up significantly until it flattens out again in the final metres.
Stage 2 | 24 March 2026 | Figueres - Banyoles | 167.4 kilometres | 2108 vertical metres
A third-category mountain classification at the beginning of the stage suggests that the second stage is a flat section. With over 2,000 metres of climbing, it may be one of the easier stages, but the second half in particular - first up and then down - is peppered with plenty of metres of climbing. A group could try their luck here. However, the stage is again not for fast legs, as the last kilometre is even steeper than the day before.
Stage 3 | 25 March 2026 | Mont-roig del Camp - Vila-seca | 159.4 kilometres | 2252 vertical metres
On the third day of the Tour of Catalonia, the difficult challenges are on the agenda right at the start. The Alt de la Mussara (1st category) and the Coll de Capafons (2nd category) have to be mastered one after the other, with only the Coll Roig, a 3rd category mountain, in the way for the remaining 110 kilometres. The positive news for the fast men remaining in the peloton: from here it's mostly downhill for around 45 kilometres to the finish. Although there is also a small stitch just before the finish this time, it is only short and the route even runs downhill for the last kilometre.
Stage 4 | 26 March 2026 | Mataró - Vallter | 173 kilometres | 3995 vertical metres
On day 4, the riders are in demand for the overall classification. Two early mountain classifications in the third and second category are just a small foretaste of what lies ahead for the peloton at the end of the stage. From 60 kilometres before the finish, the road slowly climbs and really picks up speed from 11.4 kilometres before the finish line. On these last 11.4 kilometres, the contenders for overall victory fight it out with an average gradient of 7.6 per cent and ramps with gradients of up to 18 per cent. In a normal seven-day tour, this would definitely be the queen stage - but not in the Tour of Catalonia.
Stage 5 | 27 March 2026 | La Seu d'Urgell - Coll de Pal | 155.3 kilometres | 4455 vertical metres
With an elevation gain of 4455 metres, day 5 is the queen stage. Although there are only 155.3 kilometres to cover, the route is constantly uphill or downhill. Three category one mountains, a category two climb and, as if that wasn't enough, the final ascent to the Coll de Pal, the highest of all mountain classifications. The 18.9 kilometre climb with an average gradient of 7 percent leads to the finish in Coll de Pal. But the tour is not yet won here either.
Stage 6 | 28 March 2026 | Berga - Queralt | 158.2 kilometres | 4064 vertical metres
Because on the penultimate day, stage 6, there are again over 4000 metres of climbing on the menu. With 15.1 kilometres and an average of 6.5 per cent, the Coll de Pradell is no more of a lightweight than the mountain finish in Queralt. With the heavy legs of the last few days, 5.9 kilometres at 7 per cent should decide who wins the stage.
Stage 7 | 39 March 2025 | Barcelona - Barcelona | 95.1 kilometres | 1781 vertical metres
Traditionally, the Tour of Catalonia ends with the final stage in Barcelona. The Alt del Castell de Montjuïc is crossed six times in quick succession on a circular route. Although the classic final climb of previous years is short, its steepness is a real challenge. Whether it's a sprint by a small group, the success of a breakaway or an attempt to make a difference in the overall classification - almost anything is possible on this course.
The TV and livestream broadcast of the Tour of Catalonia 2026
The 2026 Tour of Catalonia will be shown on television in Germany on Eurosport 1 and 2 transferred. With Discovery Plus there is a paid live stream of all stages.
Leon Weidner
Working student
