Czech Tour 2026 GC & stage 1 preview, stages, favourites & predictions - INEOS versus Mikel Landa
CyclingWednesday, 12 August 2026 at 12:05
The 2026 Czech Tour will be taking place from the 13th to the 16th of August this year. During the very busy month of August, the Czech Republic's top event provides a stage for plenty riders to showcase their sprinting and climbing skills at a key period of the year. We take a look at its profiles.
The race was first held in 2010, at the time as a lower-rank event, won by one of the country's best to ever do it: Leopold König. Four Czech winners began the race's history before Martin Mortensen broke the streak in 2014. The race's level raised over the past decade and became a frequent path for World Tour teams to follow.
The likes of Daryl Impey, Filippo Zana, Florian Lipowitz and Marc Hirschi were all past winners here, all of them riders who have achieved a lot throughout their career. In 2025, it was William Lecerf Junior who won the overall classification in a battle against Cian Uijtdebroeks.
| Stage | Date | Start Town | Finish Town | Distance (km) | Stage Type |
| 1 | 13 Aug 2026 | Prague | Karlovy Vary | 163 | Flat |
| 2 | 14 Aug 2026 | Mladá Boleslav | Liberec (Ještěd) | 155 | Mountainous |
| 3 | 15 Aug 2026 | Pardubice | Dlouhé stráně | 171 | Mountainous |
| 4 | 16 Aug 2026 | Kroměříž | Pustevny | 160 | Mountainous |
Preview Czech Tour 2026 overall classification
The fight for the overall classification will be decided throughout the three hilly/mountainous days of the race. It is quite open too, with a modest field providing the opportunity for plenty riders to succeed - whilst the form on several is far from stable.
Mikel Landa is the biggest name at the start, but not the rider in his best form. Quick-Step will have Mauri Vansevenant as a co-leader; INEOS will have Andrew August and Embret Svestad-Bardseng; NSN will have Jan Hirt and Marco Frigo...
But the win may not come from the World Tour contingent, but otherwise from other teams. TotalEnergies will have both Jordan Jegat and Nicolas Breuillard at the start and both are contenders for victory; adding to the likes of Jan Castellon, Alsseandro Fancellu, Kamiel Bonneu, Domenico Pozzovivo and Luca Covili.
Prediction Czech Tour 2026 overall classification:
*** Jordan Jegat, Andrew August
** Nicolas Breuillard, Jan Hirt, Embret Svestad-Bardsenf
* Mikel Landa, Mauri Vansevenant, Marco Frigo, Jan Castellon, Alessandro Fancellu, Domenico Pozzovivo, Kamiel Bonneu
Pick: Jordan Jegat
Preview Czech Tour 2026 Stage 1
The sole sprint stage of the race, it will favour those with a fast finish. Ben Turner is the ultimate favourite to take the stage win and the first leader's jersey of the race, having an overwhelming advantage over his rivals.
Prediction Czech Tour 2026 stage 1:
*** Ben Turner
** Thomas Pesenti, Scott McGill
* Dominik Neuman, Sergi Darder, Romet Pajurm, Riley Sheehan
Pick: Ben Turner
Profile stage 1: Prague - Karlovy Vary
Prague - Karlovy Vary, 163 kilometers
The race begins in its capital of Prague and has, on its opening day, the 'easiest' stage. By no means is it an easy day, but it is the sole out of the four days that does not end in a summit finish or does not feature a long climb.
That makes it possible for the sprinters to succeed, but a breakaway or late attack can also lead to a victory in Karlovy Vary. Whichever the scenario, the first stage of the race varies quite dramatically from the remaining.
Profile stage 2: Mladá Boleslav - Jested
Mladá Boleslav - Jested, 155 kilometers
The second day of the race is perhaps its queen stage. It begins a three-day sequence in the mountains of the Czech Republic, all three stages with a similar format. The first of which begins in Mladá Boleslav, before a hilly finaly that leads to the race's first summit finish.
The final climb to Jested is, in total, 15 kilometers long at 4.1%. Not a steep ascent, but one that is also misleading. The climb has a few sections that are not overly difficult, whilst its finale is definitely the hardest part. There are a few steeper sections in the ascent's second half and the final 2 kilometers average 7%, gradients in which making the difference is quite viable.
Profile stage 3: Pardubice - Dlouhé Stráne
Pardubice - Dlouhé Stráne, 171 kilometers
The third day of racing begins in Pardubice and follows a similar path to that of the previous stage. This time around however, there will be less climbing en route to Dlouhé Stráne.
The final climb is more consistent, and in total a little steeper. It is just over 13 kilometers long at 5.4%, with the gradients also slowly ramping up towards the top.
The climb has a finale that is quite technical with a few switchbacks and the gradients ramp up quite a bit. It can also be a decisive day in the fight for the overall win.
Profile stage 4: Kromeriz - Pustevny
Kromeriz - Pustevny, 160 kilometers
The final day of racing is 160 kilometers long and takes the riders from Kromeriz to Pustevny. The format is the same as the previous stages, with very little climbing before the final ascent.
This time around, slightly shorter and slightly steeper. The race ends atop the Pustevny climb, which is 7.9 kilometers long at 6.6%.
List of winners Czech Tour 2026
| Year | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| 2025 | Junior Lecerf | Cian Uijtdebroeks | Alessandro Fancellu |
| 2024 | Marc Hirschi | Diego Ulissi | Lorenzo Fortunato |
| 2023 | Damien Howson | Lukas Nerurkar | Jakub Otruba |
| 2022 | Luke Plapp | Jan Hirt | Lorenzo Rota |
| 2021 | Filippo Zana | Ethan Hayter | Markus Hoelgaard |
| 2020 | Damien Howson | Jay Vine | Michael Storer |
| 2019 | Daryl Impey | Rohan Dennis | James Knox |
| 2018 | Riccardo Zoidl | Pavel Sivakov | Nikolay Cherkasov |
| 2017 | Josef Černý | Daniel Turek | Michal Schlegel |
| 2016 | Diego Ulissi | Fabio Felline | Mauro Finetto |
| 2015 | Petr Vakoč | Leopold König | Jan Bárta |
| 2014 | Martin Mortensen | Jesper Hansen | André Looij |
| 2013 | Leopold König | Jan Bárta | Roman Kreuziger |
| 2012 | František Paďour | Jan Bárta | Leopold König |
| 2011 | Stanislav Kozubek | Dariusz Baranowski | Jiří Hudeček |
| 2010 | Leopold König | Tomáš Bucháček | Michal Kadlec |
| 2009 | Martin Hebík | Petr Benčík | Jiří Nesveda |
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- "I don't think it's too controversial to say that the women's Tour is much better view than the men's." ... WHY???: 1) Because Demi Vollering is Dutch? 2) Because Jonas is a Dane, but keeps constantly losing to Pogi, a Slovenian? 3) Because Pogi is beating everyone with his "left foot"? 4)Because you can't handle the losses anymore? Just asking...for a friend.PogiSloFans12-08-2026
- "Pogacar will do what he wants" ... That's right... and there is noting anyone can do about it !!!PogiSloFans12-08-2026
- Pogi is a cycling superstar, an extremely famous talented cyclist, but yet a normal down to earth person. He's so normal because he's from Slovenia, a former almost Balkan country, where most people are down to earth and normal. Unlike the Americans, who always think they are No.1, which is far from the truth. They are becoming the most hated people in the world. The EU hates them, the Middle East hates them, Canada hates them, South America hates them, China hates them ... all because of Trump, his MAGA republican politicians and his MAGA voters. Thank god Pogi isn't American.PogiSloFans12-08-2026
- from a racing fans point of view of cause as a spectacle for some good racing and various winners of stages the womens TDF was great. Ok the womens peloton certainly doesnt have the depth of talent compared to the mens they do some great racing. Demi moving to FDJ after being dudded by SD worx and Reusser going to Movistar has been good for the sport . SD worx still get results thru their sprinter weibes and breggen. Breggen has done well after not racing for a few years. I follow the womens tour,MTB,'cross as much as the mens for the competitiveness actually more for MTB and 'cross. the womens racers appear to be a more even riding field whereas the mens in some races just plain boring and just dont look right.
Davide12-08-2026 - i'd like to see her get out of UAE, not sure about Movistar as they have Reusser ...Davide12-08-2026
- This team are trying very hard to become 2nd rate. Thomas and co are killing them. He must go, clueless off of the bike.
Senna196012-08-2026 - Why do they need to be compared? Why can’t they both just be great?mij12-08-2026
- An 8 second differential on the final day isn’t more exciting than an almost 8 minute differential? The women’s race was spectacular.mij12-08-2026
- I love the way carapaz rides as an attacker. He reminds me a bit of Claudio chiapucci- damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.mij12-08-2026
- And here I thought 'Mouse' was Tadeg's partner!frieders312-08-2026
Loading
Write a comment