Cycling clubs take advantage of Tour de France to promote participation 

Tarragona and Granollers are getting ready to host two of the three stages of the Grand Départ for the 2026 Tour de France on July 5 and 6. 

The cycling clubs of Tarragona and Granollers are looking forward to the start of the race and are hopeful the fanfare can leave a positive impact on their organizations. 

On Sunday, July 5, Tarragona will host a stage of the Tour for the first time, in a stage that will finish once again in Barcelona. The Club Ciclista Camp Clar (Camp Clar Cycling Club) in Tarragona is particularly excited. 

The organization has almost 350 members and 40 years of experience, making it one of the most important training teams in Catalonia. 

One rider from the club made the jump to professional racing and will be competing in the Tour. Joel Nicolau's team, Caja Rural, confirmed on Monday, June 29 that he will race in the Tour.

"There are people from Tarragona who have gone to France to watch the Tour, and now it’s happening here at home, it’s unbelievable," said Diego Boss, president of the Campclar Cycling Club. 

Meanwhile, Granollers will host the third stage of the Tour on Monday, July 6, with the riders finishing the day over the French border in Les Angles, nearly 200km away.

Though the race has been held there three times before, this is the first time a stage will start in the city. Members of the Club Ciclista Granollers (Granollers Cycling Club) say that having the race start there is incomparable. 

The Granollers Cycling Club wants to capitalize on the opportunity to promote cycling during the event. 

"There will be more interest in cycling and we should take advantage of the initial boom," said Toni Dorse, a member of the club. 

Granollers Cycling Club will also be celebrating its 100th anniversary next year, and with only 110 members, they’re looking to rejuvenate the organization, incorporating a women's section and combat the rise of mountain biking. 

To celebrate their 100th anniversary and hosting a stage of the Grande Boucle, the club has created special jerseys commemorating the milestone, the designs of which will be presented on July 6.