Key events
I think it’s worth answering the obvious question: why is the Tour de France starting in Spain?
Well, the organisers can charge a larger fee for foreign grand départs, the quid pro quo being a boost for tourism and the local economy. I’m not sure Barcelona needs the exposure or visitors – residents are not so happy about that, but anyway…
At least Barcelona is conveniently close to the French border. The same cannot be said for Edinburgh, hosting the 2027 Tour start, but I am sure they will put on a great show.
That also means, oddly, that cycling’s most prestigious race will only have gotten underway in its home nation twice in seven years.
While yesterday’s TTT was predominantly a team effort, it was interesting to see who went up the last climb to Montjuïc fastest once shorn of helpers.
Hardly something to make headlines or draw too much from, but confirms that Pogacar is the man to beat today. Five seconds quicker than Vingegaard too, blimey…
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The 2026 Tour de France has its first abandon. Groupama-FDJ United rider Clément Berthet crashed with teammate Guillaume Martin and he will be a DNS today.
His race lasted 19.4 kilometres. Rotten luck for the Frenchman. At least his squad acquitted themselves well, finishing eighth.
Jonas Vingegaard can be rather understated in character, but the performance yesterday visibly meant a lot to the Dane. A consummate team performance has got the 2022 and 2023 winner off to a flyer.
Relive Visma-Lease a Bike’s TTT victory with Jeremy Whittle’s report.
Preamble
¡Hola! The Tour gets moving today and the finale will be a lively one. Stage two should will be Jekyll and Hyde: comparative pootling along the Mediterranean for the bunch for two hours before several short hills in the final couple of hours, namely the sharp ascent up Montjuïc (1.6km at 9.3%) three times in the last 25 kilometres, finishing at the Olympic Stadium like yesterday.
Pain in Spain guaranteed. Wearing the King of the Mountains jersey, Tadej Pogacar will surely be looking to strike back after his main rival Jonas Vingegaard’s “perfect start” yesterday, emerging in the yellow jersey after Visma-Lease a Bike’s TTT victory.
This is one for puncheurs who can keep up with Pogacar’s expected explosive attacks (easier said than done). Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) will fancy his chances and this also has Tom Pidcock written all over it. You can bet Vingegaard will be adhered to his long-time adversary’s wheel like a yellow Post-It note too.
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I expect a small group sprint of several champions, but it could alternatively be a larger, still-select group sprint of hardy hitters who can keep up over the hills. The likes of Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) have a faint chance, but fast finishers will do well to stay in contention under likely heavy artillery from the defending champion or other contenders.
Temperatures approaching 35 degrees Celsius will not deter big crowds in and around Barcelona and on the fan-packed final hill. There will be agitation as well as perspiration for the peloton. Nerves are always Galibier-high for competitors on the first road stage of the Tour.
There were a few fallers in yesterday’s team time trial (the most painful way to start the race) and there will probably be a crash or three from inattention, but hopefully no Opi-Omi omnishambles relating to fans intruding in the road.
Grab some snacks (maybe some Spanish or Catalan ones if you are feeling fancy/want to be particularly Tour-adjacent) and settle in for the ride. Stage two roll-out is 12:45pm BST, expected finish time is 4:36pm.
Who will win today? Which competitors have already impressed or depressed you? Anyone there on the streets of Barcelona? Drop me thoughts, witterings and Tour hopes here or on andy.mcgrath.casual@theguardian.co.uk.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/jul/05/tour-de-france-2026-stage-two-in-catalonia-cycling-live-updates
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