2026 Tour de France Debutants - 50 riders start first-ever Tour including Paul Seixas, Isaac del Toro, Josh Tarling and Olav Kooij
CyclingFriday, 03 July 2026 at 12:39
The 2026 Tour de France startlist is locked in, with 184 riders set to do battle across 21 stages, cycling's greatest show welcome 50 new riders to the world's most prestigious race - including teenage superstar Paul Seixas, established riders hitting their peak and veterans enjoying their twilight years.
The greatest stage of them all awaits and the chosen arena on Saturday will be the streets of Barcelona as part of the Grand Depart. A team time trial over a 19 kilometer route is a baptism of fire for some, with the race's hierarchy set to be decided right from the off.
Debuts are often associated with young riders for the future. However, if you're Decathlon CMA CGM, the future is now as they bring Paul Seixas to the Grand Boucle with sky-high ambitions to challenge for the yellow jersey and light up the race as the next French hope of re-capturing general classification glory.
There are plenty more young guns set to make their first appearances in the race. Josh Tarling recovered from a broken collarbone just less than three weeks ago to make the Team Presentation, Isaac del Toro is Tadej Pogacar's not-so-secret weapon in the high mountains while the likes of Cian Uijtdebroeks, Davide Piganzoli and Matthew Riccitello are expected to become synonymous with general classification duels.
Kooij makes long-awaited debut
Some riders debuting will be surprise to some. Olav Kooij has yet to ride the race as he finally makes his bow, despite winning stages already at the Giro d'Italia in recent seasons. His teammate Daan Hoole is also one of four Decathlon CMA CGM riders debuting. Other notable first-timers include Mathias Vacek, Antonio Tiberi, milan Fretin and Jeferson Cepeda.
Aaron Gate is the oldest of those debuting, he'll form part of an experienced lead-out for Max Kanter - another also debuting - at the ripe age of 35-years-old.
Tour de France 2026 Debutants
| 1 | SEIXAS Paul | Decathlon CMA CGM Team | 19y + 283d |
| 2 | DHONDT Robbe | Team Picnic PostNL | 22y + 9d |
| 3 | VAN MECHELEN Vlad | Bahrain - Victorious | 22y + 32d |
| 4 | TARLING Joshua | Netcompany INEOS | 22y + 139d |
| 5 | DEL TORO Isaac | UAE Team Emirates - XRG | 22y + 219d |
| 6 | HAGENES Per Strand | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | 22y + 359d |
| 7 | UIJTDEBROEKS Cian | Movistar Team | 23y + 126d |
| 8 | DEBRUYNE Ramses | Alpecin - Premier Tech | 23y + 307d |
| 9 | PIGANZOLI Davide | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | 23y + 361d |
| 10 | VINOKUROV Nicolas | XDS Astana Team | 23y + 362d |
| 11 | VACEK Mathias | Lidl - Trek | 24y + 22d |
| 12 | ARTZ Huub | Lotto Intermarché | 24y + 51d |
| 13 | RICCITELLO Matthew | Decathlon CMA CGM Team | 24y + 121d |
| 14 | GERMANI Lorenzo | Groupama - FDJ United | 24y + 123d |
| 15 | BIESTERBOS Frits | Team Picnic PostNL | 24y + 140d |
| 16 | STEINHAUSER Georg | EF Education - EasyPost | 24y + 256d |
| 17 | CRAPS Lars | Lotto Intermarché | 24y + 260d |
| 18 | KOOIJ Olav | Decathlon CMA CGM Team | 24y + 260d |
| 19 | WALKER Max | EF Education - EasyPost | 24y + 357d |
| 20 | TIBERI Antonio | Bahrain - Victorious | 25y + 10d |
| 21 | HESSMANN Michel | Movistar Team | 25y + 89d |
| 22 | FRETIN Milan | Cofidis | 25y + 107d |
| 23 | PLUIMERS Rick | Tudor Pro Cycling Team | 25y + 209d |
| 24 | MARSMAN Tim | Alpecin - Premier Tech | 25y + 273d |
| 25 | SLOCK Liam | Lotto Intermarché | 25y + 289d |
| 26 | ENGELHARDT Felix | Team Jayco AlUla | 25y + 319d |
| 27 | DELBOVE Joris | TotalEnergies | 25y + 354d |
| 28 | BALDERSTONE Abel | Caja Rural - Seguros RGA | 25y + 362d |
| 29 | VEISTROFFER Baptiste | Lotto Intermarché | 26y + 36d |
| 30 | VAN DIJKE Tim | Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe | 26y + 111d |
| 31 | BREUILLARD Nicolas | TotalEnergies | 26y + 113d |
| 32 | FRIGO Marco | NSN Cycling Team | 26y + 124d |
| 33 | BERWICK Sebastian | Caja Rural - Seguros RGA | 26y + 201d |
| 34 | BRAZ AFONSO Clément | Groupama - FDJ United | 26y + 238d |
| 35 | MOLENAAR Alex | Caja Rural - Seguros RGA | 26y + 356d |
| 36 | AZPARREN Xabier Mikel | Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team | 27y + 129d |
| 37 | HOOLE Daan | Decathlon CMA CGM Team | 27y + 132d |
| 38 | VOISARD Yannis | Tudor Pro Cycling Team | 27y + 343d |
| 39 | O'BRIEN Kelland | Team Jayco AlUla | 28y + 43d |
| 40 | OTRUBA Jakub | Caja Rural - Seguros RGA | 28y + 155d |
| 41 | OLDANI Stefano | Caja Rural - Seguros RGA | 28y + 175d |
| 42 | NICOLAU Joel | Caja Rural - Seguros RGA | 28y + 193d |
| 43 | KANTER Max | XDS Astana Team | 28y + 255d |
| 44 | GUERNALEC Thibault | TotalEnergies | 28y + 338d |
| 45 | PARRA José Félix | Caja Rural - Seguros RGA | 29y + 169d |
| 46 | VAN DEN BERG Julius | Team Picnic PostNL | 29y + 254d |
| 47 | CEPEDA Jefferson Alveiro | Movistar Team | 30y + 124d |
| 48 | SKAARSETH Anders | Uno-X Mobility | 31y + 58d |
| 49 | DE KLEIJN Arvid | Tudor Pro Cycling Team | 32y + 105d |
| 50 | GATE Aaron | XDS Astana Team | 35y + 220d |
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- I want to see all the main contenders and their top lieutenants remain healthy through this tour. if that happens I think the podium is Pogi, Jonas, IsaacsweetishChef03-07-2026
- The man has always given a charming interview, and he continues here. He doesn’t disrespect anyone, praises every place he goes and every win, refuses to talk badly of past teams, and keeps a positive tone toward everyone. Plus he sees del Toro as his successor (did he ever say the same about Ayuso, Almeida, Yates? Don’t think so). Let’s hope he keeps this going during the Tour - we know from last year that when his tone shifts maybe he’s hurt. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.RidesHills03-07-2026
- My username is a play on his. Perhaps, it's also time for me to move on from cycling news.
KerisVroom03-07-2026 - Can't blame him for hanging on. Those sweet, sweet $$$ are too enticing.KerisVroom03-07-2026
- What a slightly ignominious finish for a rider so dominant. He should've either seen the writing on the wall, or had someone in his inner circle with the guts to tell him - but then again, he was on a massive contract so who would turn down millions? At least he's finally acknowledged it. Leaving it hanging was deeply awkward and weird.antipodeanpedalfan03-07-2026
- Vino should use Horner's tactics: relocate to an obscure hotel at the last minute so doping controls can't find him to test. Then dope to the gills and go on to win the hardest mountain stage and the overall.Santiago03-07-2026
- Well knock me down with a feather!Lozza02-07-2026
- Go Pogi! ❤️Lozza02-07-2026
- I’ve always wondered if Chris Froome doped. He looked superhuman in some of his TdF races. But the new man on the throne is even better. The new Terminator !! I’m ready to be amazed at this year’s TdF again.
PogiFan2Day02-07-2026 - the king of mue'swhkman02-07-2026
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