"Anything is possible in mass sprints" - Max Kanter embracing the Tour de France uncertainty in his bid for stage win
CyclingWednesday, 01 July 2026 at 11:32
Uncertainty can be Max Kanter's best friend on French roads this month. The German sprinter makes his Tour de France debut as he bids to turn consistency into a winning touch on cycling's greatest stage - the Tour de France.
The XDS Astana rider has not only never ridden the Tour, but he's never even been at it as a spectator. His Grand Boucle experience comes mainly from the TV at home. Marking a big career milestone, he doesn't want to get ahead of himself.
“I’m looking forward to the Tour, but I don’t want to get too carried away,” Kanter told Cycling Magazine ahead of the Tour.
Kanter knows the importance of the Tour, as do his family - especially his uncle and grandfather: “The Tour de France is synonymous with cycling. Here in Germany, it’s the only race people know. I’ve actually never been to the Tour before, not even as a spectator, although I’ve always meant to."
He added: But of course, the Tour was always on TV at home. My grandfather and my uncle have always been huge cycling fans, and through them, cycling has kind of permeated the whole family."
Kanter to ride first Tour de France
The 28-year-old arrives with plenty of Grand Tour experience. He'll complete the set after riding the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana in recent seasons.
“Of course, you want to ride the Tour, especially as a sprinter. But in the end, the preparation is the same as for any other race. We're going to the Tour with a strong team and, of course, we have big goals that we want to achieve in the best possible way.”
2026 has marked a definitive step-up for Kanter. Partnered with lead-out man Mike Teunissen, he has picked up ten top five finishes, including multiple podiums throughout the season. However, his big win came at Paris-Nice as he took stage 2 victory - his first-ever at WorldTour level.
Paris-Nice win gives him confidence
"The win at Paris-Nice was great, but it didn't change all that much. I didn't get carried away with it. We knew it could work if everything came together. That was the case that day, and Mike (Teunissen, lead-out man) did an outstanding job.
"As a team, we showed that we work very well together and what's possible when everything clicks. That's exactly the attitude we're taking to the Tour."
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He'll be considered by some a dark horse to compete for a sprint stage over the three weeks, but has all the ingredients to upset the odds. With the nature of sprinting, things can be unpredictable when it comes to crashes, positioning in sprints and timing of opening up the legs - Kanter believes he has a fighting chance.
"Of course it's tough, but anything is possible in mass sprints. Tim Merlier probably has the greatest top speed and can win from positions where others can't. But that's not all. So many things come into play in a sprint; anything can happen."
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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- Let's hope he something, wasted himself under Lefervre towards the end..as he missed tours due to him
leedorney01-07-2026 - Errr how can you shape the race when you do not even have a team leader. Thomas fab rider but is like a director sportif from the 80's. Come on instead od spouting jargon just say we are going for stage winspaultryan200201-07-2026
- Despite the headline this piece had nothing to to with Vins wife. Clickbait at it''s worst and more than a bit pathetic cyclinguptodate.Cyclingsbestfan01-07-2026
- I believe that the relentless emphasis on Jonas' family affairs is exhausting and oversimplifies his athletic career.
vannpelt01-07-2026 - I watched that Tour, and I agree with Clement's summary of it. Pog was steadily taking back time on Jonas after Stage 5, and at the end of week 2 Jonas looked as tired as Pog. But his uncompromised preparation blazed out in week 3. Pog still soundly beat everyone else in that time trial, but Jonas was on fire.Hills3301-07-2026
- yeah, boy, cyclo-cross.
KerisVroom01-07-2026 - lolmij01-07-2026
- Leave the wives and families out of the scrum. Personally would rather see Van Aert win a few stages than watch Vingegaard try to stay on Pogacar's wheel for 3 weeks.JM01-07-2026
- 2 things to disprove your point: Vingegaard has won the Drôme classic, which is hilly, not mountainous Pogačar does not win or even take part in Schjeldeprijs, Brugge, Copenhagen etc.
Rafionain-Glas01-07-2026 - Pretty sure everyone here knows thatJumpyjohn01-07-2026
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