Barcelona promises 'most spectacular' Grand Départ in Tour de France history

The Grand Départ of the 2026 Tour de France from Barcelona will be "the most spectacular ever," Barcelona's sports councilor David Escudé said.

With just one year to go before the cycling race kicks off from the Catalan capital, a delegation from the city council visited this year’s Grand Départ in Lille to observe preparations and operations firsthand.

“After experiencing the team presentation and the first stage in Lille, we are convinced that Barcelona will write a new chapter in the history of the Tour,” Escudé said.

Barcelona will host both the official team presentation and the first stage of the race, a 19.7 km team time trial starting at Parc del Fòrum and finishing at the Olympic Stadium in Montjuïc.

“Without a doubt, the team presentation in the city will be the most spectacular, the most important, and the most memorable in the history of the Tour,” Escudé added.

The exact location and details of the presentation ceremony have yet to be revealed, and the announcement is expected in October.

Escudé noted that the proposed site is a "very special" location in the city, though it remains to be seen whether it will meet all the necessary security requirements.

In addition to the influx of tourists and spectators, a large number of attendees will come from the Tour’s organization itself.

Around 6,000 people connected to the race are expected to arrive in Barcelona, along with more than 2,000 accredited journalists.

The participating teams will be based in Castelldefels, while the main operations and logistics headquarters for the Tour are likely to be located at Fira de Barcelona in Montjuïc.

“We want this to be a huge celebration,” Escudé said. “We want the race to be a success, but also to leave a lasting legacy.”

Logistical challenge

The second stage of the Tour will begin in Tarragona and end in Barcelona. The 178-kilometer route will head north through Sitges before concluding with three laps around Montjuïc.

This stage will pose one of the biggest organizational challenges, as it will pass through more than 40 towns in the province of Barcelona and around a dozen in Tarragona.

According to the city council, it will be the event involving the highest number of municipalities and security personnel ever mobilized in Catalonia.

“This has never happened before in Catalonia, not for any event, sporting or otherwise,” said Escudé.

The third stage will also begin in Catalonia, departing from Granollers. However, the full route details have not yet been announced and are expected to be revealed in October.