For the 24th year in succession, I head to the Tour de France. This year, however, things will be very different. There will be no big TV truck, nor accreditation hanging around my neck. No Gary Imlach and his polo shirts, nor Chris Boardman, with his easy-dry non-iron performance leisurewear. No Matt Rendell, nor Daniel Friebe, none of my many friends and colleagues whose names you cannot be expected to know, but whose work you might have been watching if you happened upon the ITV coverage of the last quarter century. There will, however, be David Millar. David, along with Pete Kennaugh, Lizzie Deignan and myself have got together with Crowd Network, the team behind Watts Occurring and many other huge sports podcasts, and launched For The Love of Cycling. It is, for those of you who may have been listeners, a natural evolution of the much-loved Never Strays Far podcast, which often strayed so far from the subject as to not mention cycling at all! But FTLoC will have the Tour de France (Hommes and Femmes) at its very heart. And not just the Tour, but all cycling , all year round. Like ITV, it will of course be free to listen to, and to watch on YouTube.We had initially hoped to be able this year to live stream a form of watch-along commentary. But, at least for now, the commercial, technical and legal hurdles were too high a bar in the first year. Instead, David and I, plus Lizzie and Pete when they can, will be at the roadsides of the Tour every day, catching the race as the fans that we are, watching it on French TV from cafs and bars, before producing a daily podcast as quickly as we can after the end of each stage. This way, we will reflect on the race, as well as bring you a flavour of our own journeys of discovery around the country we all love so dearly. I do hope you sign up and subscribe for free in your thousands!It will be strange for both David and for me not to be commentating. I have no doubt that, from time to time, well fall back into old habits and start getting excitable in bunch sprints, drawing puzzled looks from our fellow afternoon Tour watchers in whichever little French village we have turned up in. But, equally, we are both thrilled by the sudden freedoms we can enjoy now we are fully in charge of our own content, free from the constraints of a mainstream broadcaster, and able to express ourselves more fully and naturally. The same will be true for both races, as well. Lizzie will join us briefly during the mens race, but will accompany me all the way around the womens race. Pete will pop up from time to time, when his Astana commitments allow, and already we are building a list of other exciting potential guests. Last year I was involved in some early conversations about continuing to work for TV, but honestly my heart was no longer in it. This feels to me like a whole new adventure and I actually cannot wait to get going. Vive le Tour!SPECIAL CW x Road Book offer. Snap up a copy of The Road Book cycling almanack - Neds annual love letter to road cycling - for just 35 (up to 40% off) using the code CW2026 at www.theroadbook.co.uk

You may have not heard yet of Robbe Dhondt, and there's a reason for that. The Belgian has turned professional with Team Picnic PostNL last year, but called it a season in May and has only returned to racing this April. Since then, the 22-year-old has been quite a pleasant surprise. So much that he...

The Tour de France is a colorful kaleidoscope of jerseys and team kits, emblazoned with names like CMA CGM and Visma. But have you ever wondered what half of these companies actually do? Me too, so heres a breakdown of every major team sponsor on every jersey in the 2026 men's Tour de France peloton. Some of them might even surprise you. Alpecin-Premier Tech(Image credit: Getty Images)Alpecin is a German-based, caffeine-infused shampoo, marketed as helping reduce hair loss. Does it work? Perhaps the focus of a different article. Premier Tech is a Canadian industrial and agricultural technology company that manufactures industrial automation equipment, agricultural and horticultural products. They joined as a new co-title sponsor for 2026. Former co-sponsor Deceuninck (a window and door manufacturer) has stayed on but dropped from the team name. Bahrain Victorious(Image credit: Getty Images)Bahrain Victorious is sponsored by the Government of Bahrain. The team was founded in 2016 with support from the royal family, and has faced criticism in the past over Bahrain's human rights record. If youre wondering where this place is, Bahrain is an island country in the Middle East, situated in the Persian Gulf between the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia and the Qatari peninsula.Caja Rural-Seguros RGA(Image credit: Getty Images)This team snagged one of the wild card invitations to this years Tour (TotalEnergies got the other). This Spanish-based team is officially called Grupo Caja Rural. It is a conglomerate of 29 Spanish credit cooperatives. Their focus is on serving retail customers, agricultural workers, and small- to medium-sized enterprises across Spain. Seguros RGA, which means Insurance RGA, is the insurance subsidiary of Caja Rural. The team is making its Tour debut in 2026, fittingly for a Spanish-sponsored team, with the Grand Dpart in Barcelona.Cofidis(Image credit: Getty Images)This team is one of the longest-running sponsorships in cycling, dating back to 1997, when it was founded, and its backed by a French consumer credit company owned by Crdit Mutuel Alliance Fdrale. Their main focus is personal loans, revolving credit, and business financing. Unfortunately, in 2026, the team was relegated, losing its former WorldTour status.Decathlon CMA CGM(Image credit: Getty Images)Decathlon is a go-to sporting goods chain in France, with shops in over 80 countries worldwide. They also own the team outright and supply the squad with bikes, kit, helmet, sunglasses, nearly everything a rider needs through their in-house brand Van Rysel. CMA CGM is a French shipping and logistics giant. In fact, they are one of the largest container shipping companies in the world. EF Education-EasyPost(Image credit: Getty Images)EF Education First is an education and experiential travel company, focused on language learning, study abroad programs, and cultural exchange. EasyPost is the team's other namesake, a software company that helps businesses streamline their shipping and logistics. Together, theyre funding one of the most distinctive-looking teams in the peloton.Groupama-FDJ United(Image credit: Getty Images)Groupama is a French insurance company. It stands for Groupe des Assurances Mutuelles Agricoles. FDJ, an acronym for Franais des Jeux. Its now rebranded as FDJ United and is France's national lottery operator. They also sponsor FDJ United-Suez on the UCI Womens WorldTour. Lidl-Trek(Image credit: Getty Images)Most folks in Europe are already familiar with Lidl. If not, its a German discount supermarket chain, a big rival to Aldi. This year, Lidl moved beyond title sponsorship to take majority ownership of the team, shifting its registration from the USA to Germany. Trek is probably familiar to most. Its an American bike manufacturer and remains a co-owner of the team.Intermarch-Lotto(Image credit: Getty Images)Lotto is Belgium's state-owned national lottery and has been a long-time supporter of professional cycling since its first sponsorship in 1985. Intermarch is a French-based supermarket and convenience store chain, owned by the larger Les Mousquetaires retail group. The team was formed in 2026 through a merger of Lotto's previous squad with Intermarch- Wanty. For the Tour, they've swapped their name around.Jayco AlUla(Image credit: Jayco AlUla/MAAP)Jayco is an American manufacturer of recreational vehicles and campers, headquartered in Middlebury, Indiana. However, the teams financial backing comes from the Australian businessman Gerry Ryan, who owns Jayco Australia. The co-sponsor is AlUla (the correct spelling), an ancient oasis city in Saudi Arabia. Their sponsorship goal is to help promote the location as a tourism destination an initiative driven by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), a Saudi Arabian government agency chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.Movistar(Image credit: Getty Images)Movistar is a telecommunications giant offering telecom services such as mobile and landline services. Plus, movie and entertainment streaming through their Movistar Plus+ the largest subscription TV provider in Spain. All of this falls under Telefnica, the Spanish telecoms giant, which operates across Spain and Latin America. Founded in 1980, Movistar is considered the oldest continuously operated pro team in the WorldTour.Netcompany-Ineos(Image credit: Getty Images)Ineos is a massive multinational company based in London. Most consumers will know the name from the Ineos Grenadier off-road SUV, but the conglomerate is the world's ninth-largest chemical company. Netcompany is new to the peloton; its their first year of sponsorship. They are a Danish IT consultancy focused on developing and maintaining IT operations for companies throughout Europe.NSN Cycling(Image credit: Getty Images)NSN stands for "Never Say Never." The team is funded by two backers: Andrs Iniesta, a retired Spanish footballer, and the Swiss investment firm Stoneweg (which is part of an even larger investment firm called SWI Group). Despite its blended DNA, the team races under a Swiss flag and is based in Spain.Picnic PostNL(Image credit: Getty Images)Picnic is an online Dutch grocery delivery company. There are no physical stores, just an app and a fleet of delivery vehicles across the Netherlands, Germany, and France. PostNL is the Dutch national mail and parcel delivery service. A grocery app and a postal service, both in the business of getting things to your door.Pinarello Q36.5(Image credit: Q36.5)Pinarello is the legendary Italian bike manufacturer, and this year theyre stepping up as title sponsor and bike supplier for the squad. Co-sponsors are Q36.5 a Swiss-based, high-end, performance cycling kit brand. The team is owned by Ivan Glasenberg, a South African-Swiss billionaire and former CEO of Glencore, one of the worlds largest natural resources companies.Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe(Image credit: Getty Images)If youve seen any professional sports, youve seen Red Bull. Considered to be the third-largest soft drink brand in the world (just behind Coke and Pepsi). Bora Hansgrohe is actually two different companies. Bora is a German kitchen appliance company known for making cooktops, ovens, and refrigerators. Hansgrohe is a German manufacturer of showerheads, taps, kitchen faucets, and bathroom fittings.Soudal Quick-Step(Image credit: Getty Images)Soudal is a Belgian manufacturer of silicone, caulk, polyurethane foam, and adhesives. Essentially, if you take on any construction or DIY, chances are youve used Soudal products. Quick-Step is a global flooring manufacturer known for producing high-quality laminate, vinyl, and hardwood flooring owned by the global company Unilin. Between the two of them, you could renovate an entire house.TotalEnergies(Image credit: Getty Images)If youve driven a car around France, chances are youve seen a Total Energies petrol station. However, theyre much more than just gas. This multinational, France-based company produces and markets oil, gas, biofuels, and renewable energy. In fact, theyre one of the largest energy companies in the world. Sadly, 2026 is the last year TotalEnergies will be sponsoring the team.Tudor Pro Cycling(Image credit: Getty Images)Tudor is a Swiss luxury watch brand and a sister company of Rolex. But the team is really owned by former cycling pro, and double Olympic Champion, Fabian Cancellara. He won two Olympic gold medals in the Men's Individual Time Trial (Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016). The team is now in its second year and already at the start of numerous WorldTour races, so definitely more to come from this young squad.Visma-Lease a Bike(Image credit: Getty Images)If you need some HR help, Visma is the answer. This company makes cloud ERP systems, HR management platforms, and financial reporting software. Based in Oslo, Norway, they serve over 2.5 million customers worldwide. Lease a Bike, the other sponsor, is a Dutch-based bike-leasing operation focused on offering bike leases to employees as a company perk.The team is currently looking for a new title sponsor, trying to keep up with the deep pockets of some of the other world tour teams.UAE Team Emirates-XRG(Image credit: Getty Images)One of the juggernauts of the peloton. The team has been backed by the government of the United Arab Emirates since 2017. XRG is an international energy investment company, owned by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. Emirates is the worlds largest long-haul airline and the largest airline in the Middle East. Its also owned by the government of Dubai. Finally, XRG is an international energy investment company wholly owned by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). Essentially, state money is funding the team behind Tadej Pogaar, which has faced criticism from human rights groups.Uno-X Mobility(Image credit: Getty Images)Uno-X runs a network of self-service petrol stations across Norway and Denmark. They also offer EV charging stations operated as the low-cost arm of YX Energi. The team is fully owned by Reitan AS, a Norwegian retail conglomerate that also owns the Rema 1000 supermarket chain and 7-Eleven franchises in the region both of which also appear on the team kit.XDS Astana(Image credit: Getty Images)XDS is making big moves in the cycling world. Fans might know them better as X-LAB the consumer-facing, Chinese-based bike brand and the team's new title sponsor. Astana remains in the team name as its the capital city of Kazakhstan. The team has been backed by the Kazakh state and sponsored by Samruk-Kazyna, a coalition of state-owned companies from Kazakhstan, since 2008.

The Tour de France 2026 is set to get underway on Saturday afternoon as fans look forward to three weeks of action including a Barcelona Grand Depart, sprint finishes, punchy hills and high mountains. We've just launched CyclingUpToDate'sFREE Tour de France Managerto give you a chance to construct...

The Tour de France gets underway tomorrow in Barcelona, Spain, and the race is preparing itself for extreme heat. High temperatures are set to continue in Spain and France, after Europes record-breaking heatwave in June, and now the worlds biggest bicycle race is grappling with how to protect its riders. The temperature is set to hit 33C in Barcelona tomorrow, and high temperatures look likely to continue. Stage 4, on Tuesday, from Carcassonne to Foix, could see the peloton cycling through 40C heat with only a slight drop in temperature on stage 5. "The watchword is adaptation" Christian Prudhomme: "The watchword is adaptation". Anne-Christine Poujoulat / Getty Images In the lead up to the Tour de France, race director Christian Prudhomme has been busy speaking to the press about the extreme heat. He has said the organisers are ready to adapt the race amid the extreme weather. We will obviously experience high temperatures during the Tour de France. Protecting the riders and the public is paramount for us. The watchword is adaptation," Prudhomme told AFP. Prudhomme pointed to the UCIs high temperature protocol, which was introduced before the 2024 season. The protocol considers temperature, humidity, wind and rider speed. The highest risk (red zone), of temperatures above 28C, can lead to modification of race times, neutralisation and cancellation. Speaking to LEquipe, Prudhomme said: We ourselves are going to deploy an additional cooling motorcycle. Weve requested extra ice. There are all sorts of things involved, and we are in constant contact with the UCI, the riders' representatives, and the team representatives. Were doing things to cool down the body, but we should do things to cool down the planet" New Zealand's George Bennett wearing an ice vest at the 2019 Tour de France. Jeff Pachoud / Getty Images Prudhomme has also said riders are used to riding in extreme heat, with temperatures hitting 42C at the Tour Down Under in January. However, that might bring little comfort. Only recently did Elisa Borghini lose 10 minutes on the final stage of the Tour de Suisse after suffering from heat stroke. Following the incident, XDS Astanas Dr Emilio Magni warned against the severity of heat stroke and pointed to the changing climate. We have to accept that climate change is no longer just something people talk about, Magni told bici.pro. It is a reality, and sporting events have to respond. There are protocols for extreme weather, but in some places extreme conditions are becoming normal. Team Cofidis sports director, Bignen Fernndez, told BikeRadar at the Grand Dpart in Barcelona that the team will use ice packs before and after the Tour de France stages in a bid to keep its riders cool. "Its the only thing we can do in this situation," he said. But, like Magni, he added that this is a climate problem. We need to think as humans. We are creating this. Were burning petrol. Climate change is here, Fernndez said. Were doing things to cool down the body, but we should do things to cool down the planet. Last year, GroupamaFDJ Uniteds Guillaume Martin told BikeRadar about his experiences at the scorching 2024 Vuelta a Espaa. At the Vuelta last year, the first week was over 40C, and for three or four consecutive days, there was a rider that finished the race in an ambulance. I was close to being endangered and having health issues, but I never went to the point where it was too much or that I had to go to hospital, he said. Martin added he believes the UCIs weather protocols are enforced properly. During the Vuelta, we were really at the limit of what the human body could do. I think if there is a real problem, or someone dies because of conditions, then things will change. But I hope we can find a solution before, he said. A recent study in Scientific Reports looked at 50 years of data and found the level of risk of heat stress had increased steadily over the time period. It found the largest number of extreme-heat events occurred in the last 10 years. But it concluded that the Tour has so far avoided the conditions of maximum health risk, if only by a few days. More on the 2026 Tour de France We weighed Tadej Pogaars 2026 Tour de France bike and its heavier than you might think Jonas Vingegaards Cervlo S5 for the 2026 Tour de France is bang on the UCIs 6.8kg weight limit Spotted! Remco Evenepoel will ride this prototype Specialized Shiv time trial bike at the Tour de France Can the Tour de France ever be Pogaar-proof? The race organisers face a near-impossible task From a rare team time trial to a brutal Alpe dHuez finale: 8 questions answered about the 2026 Tour de France route Live Tour de France coverage to be broadcast on S4C and BBC iPlayer

Defending Tour de France champion Tadej Pogaar goes into Stage 1's 19.6km team time trial on a new Colnago time trial bike, code-named the TT2. The Slovenien was spotted using it during the Tour de Romandie prologue in April already - no doubt a move to get some race-effort miles on it in preparations for July.According to Colnago, complete bikes, including a solid-disc rear, can be built to the UCI weight limit of 6.8kg, which is an incredible feat. The TT2 is some 580g lighter than the model it replaces, with savings said to come from across the bike for improved stability and weight distribution, and to aid better performance on modern WorldTour TT courses and uphill finishes. Of course, it's faster, too, thanks to a new-fangled front end with a conventional steerer (no bayonet here) that is claimed to save 2 watts over the TT1 and cull weight.The new bike is also bang-on trend to accommodate wider tyre clearances up from 28mm to 30mm. Based on what we examined, that might be considered overkill, as Tadej's bike was fitted with 25mm Continental GP5000 TT TR tyres.Pogaar's Colnago TT2 is fitted with a 64T Carbon-Ti 1x chainring (Image credit: Aaron Borrill)The bike is built with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 components and adorned with Carbon-Ti trim here and there. Up front is a one-by-specific 64T Carbon-Ti chainring with an 11-30T cassette out back, driven by 160mm cranks a balanced gearing configuration for the flats but something that will pose a notable challenge for the double-kick ascent up Montjuc hill to the Olympic Stadium.Despite the narrow-wide profiling of the Carbon-Ti chainring, Pogaar is using a UAE-branded K-Edge chainkeeper to ensure retention across all terrain types.Mark of the best this bike belongs to Tadej PogaarAaron BorrillColnago-developed TT bidon designed to work with the frame profilingAaron BorrillAn interesting move was the fitment of 25mm Continental GP5000 TT TR tyres the narrowest size we've seen across all the teams we visited at the Grand Depart weekend in Barcelona. Despite the 22mm internal rim width of the Enve SES Pro wheels, the tyres will - at the most - inflate to between 26-27mm, which suggests it's been employed as an aerodynamic move. UAE Team Emirates-XRG have also been running 28mm tyres on their Colnago Y1Rs and V5Rs road bikes, again an aerodynamic ploy, according to the mechanics.Pog's Colnago TT2 rolls on a pair of Enve SES Pro wheels with a 100mm depth up front and a solid disc at the rear.The Enve SES Disc Pro has an internal rim width of 22mm (Image credit: Aaron Borrill)The touchpoints come compliments of Enve and Fizik. The Slovenien's cockpit is a custom one-piece Enve solution that mounts directly to the basebar via dual risers. For extra support, there's a bridge near the top that doubles as a Wahoo computer mount.After parting ways with Prologo at the end of the 2024 season, UAE Team Emirates-XRG are now using Fizik saddles, with Tadej opting for the 192g 3D-printed Aeris 1.0 TT model.Custom one-piece Enve solution that mounts directly to the basebar via dual risersAaron BorrillCups are mounted for forearm support and to meet the UCI's time trial laws Pogaar falls in Category 1 for UCI time trial handlebar height and extension lengthAaron BorrillUAE-branded K-Edge chain keeperAaron BorrillAn extra set of shifter buttons has been hot-glued onto the brake levers for index finger actuation when in the basebar (Image credit: Aaron Borrill)We spotted some interesting hacks on the Colnago TT2. For hand retention during cornering, the base bar has grip tape mounted over a layer of black electrical tape not the prettiest solution, but these rudimentary solutions have become part of the discipline.Closer examination of the front end reveals an extra shifter button that has been hot-glued onto the Dura-Ace Di2 ST-R9180 STI TT brake levers. Given that these levers already have a remote shifter button, the extra shifter offers an alternative for shifting with the index finger rather than the thumb.A 192g 3D-printed Fizik Aeris 1.0 TT saddle (Image credit: Aaron Borrill)Other details worth noting are the gold Bikone ceramic bottom bracket, gold Carbon-Ti UDH-compatible dropout and axles, 140mm front/rear disc rotors, and Shimano Dura-Ace pedals. Sadly, no baby Hulk sticker was to be found.160mm cranks for a better aero position and optimal hip angle for power production (Image credit: Aaron Borrill)Colnago TT2 bike specsFrameset: Colnago Carbon monocoqueFork: Colnago Carbon fork with 25mm steererCockpit: Custom Enve bar and extensionsSeatpost: Colnago AeroGroupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2: 64T, 11-30TWheelset: Enve SES Pro front, SES Disc Pro rearTyres: Continental GP5000 TTTR 25mmSaddle: Fizik Aeris 1.0 TT

The young Frenchman lines out in the worlds biggest race despite being just 19 and a grand tour debutant. Could the move damage his long-term progression? We talked to some of the people who know Seixas and the demands of racing the Tour best to find out