The Tour de France 2026 is set to get underway on Saturday afternoon as fans look forward to three weeks of action, including a Barcelona Grand Depart, sprint finishes, punchy hills and high mountains.
We've just launched CyclingUpToDate's FREE Tour de France Manager to give you a chance to construct a team of Tour de France contenders, pick your team for every stage, and rack up points - then compare it to all players or join sub-leagues with friends, colleagues, and family.
Here's how the game works
This game is simple: You have a budget of 400 million euros to select 25 riders for your main team. With every stage, you are able to select 8 riders and put your substitutions in order. Only the riders in your stage team will score points during that stage.
You are able to select your stage team till the start of a stage, meaning that savvy players will be able to log in and update their selections before each stage - giving them the best chances to tailor their team and score more points.
When a rider drops out before the stage start, he will be replaced by the next substitute still in the race. The top 25 of every stage score points. Also the top 25 of the Final Classifcation of the race score points.
These General Classification points are awarded at the end of the final stage. All 25 riders of your main team will score points if they end up in the top 25.
Go directly to the FREE Tour de France Manager! Starts Sunday with stage 2!!
Here's some of our top picks:
Tadej Pogacar (€60 million)
It's no secret that Tadej Pogacar is the favourite to win the 2026 Tour de France, and should rack up a considerable amount of points over the next three weeks.
So much so that he's the most expensive rider in the game and is chosen by an incredible 99.3% of players already.
Tim Merlier (€18.8 million)
One of the green jersey favourites and fancied to be a top contender in every bunch sprint, Tim Merlier could rack up swathes of points throughout the race. Although a top sprinter, his value is a little lower than some others - making him an attractive pick. 89.6% of players agree as they put him in their teams.
Quinn Simmons (€5.1 million)
Simmons' dream is to win a stage of the Tour de France, and he knows exactly where to do it - in the breakaway. The US national champion was synonymous with the break last year and should be finding his way into plenty this time around.
If you pick him and he scores a breakaway win, you'll stick out from the bunch. For a cheap price tag and just 27.7% of players choosing him, it's worth a punt.
Jonas Vingegaard (€47.8 million)
The second most expensive in the game and also fans' second favourite to win the yellow jersey. Jonas Vingegaard comes to La Grand Boucle in form and the Giro d'Italia champion.
Pogacar may be favourite but Vingegaard will always be at least in his shadow over the next three weeks and bound to pick up points. 91.5% of players agree.
Luke Plapp (€5 million)
Another rider that won't set you back much in the game, but is set to be on TV screens plenty over the next three weeks. The Australian's versatility make him a potential candidate for many stages.
At just €5 million, he's a good rider to bulk out any team and could offer plenty of points over three weeks.
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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- this is just stupid. you already have 23%, gravel is over the topabstractengineer03-11-2026
- There was once a time when Lance was supremely popular and he used his artificial "It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life" persona to lead his mob in going after Greg. There was no one Lance did not abuse in protecting his phony hero image. Lance promoted himself as a divine megastar and he let down millions of cancer victims and gullible devotees who clung far too long to the charade. Lance is the epitome of a corrupt person and because of his power, many around him, including business enterprises, succumbed to the evil. All who got in Armstrong's way were mercilessly attacked by him and his minions. This remarkably continues today with a new generation. LeMond was a number one enemy and paid a huge price. Who do you think slandered who?Yepperoni03-11-2026
- You despise him because he calls out the truth....OK clown !frieders303-11-2026
- JV is really slighting himself with not doing the 1 dayers.. 🤷
leedorney02-11-2026 - Watch the interview on youtube. I don't speak French. I do speak English and Spanish and you can hear it in his voice. Years ago LeMond had real personal problems I imagine in no small part because of Armstrong. then Armstrong goes round "full blast" re: LeMond having drinking and drug problems. The same way Andreu was expelled from mainstream cycling so was LeMond. On the positive side the clips of the ride and chatting with old teammates and was good. To seemed like a fun day and experience and good reason brush up his French.atom02-11-2026
- and another no-news article around the ‚2 tokyo jogging rounds‘ headline, this time spiced with some days old ‚news‘ that the LA and japan vacation trips come during or after the tdf route release. i am getting more and more annoyed by this time-stealing no-news crap. but who am i to complain? nobody forces me to come back for more ‚news‘ day after day …Ketterechts02-11-2026
- It would likely be a very steep section of 4.1 km, not changing the average gradient considerably, with the climb remaining 10.1 km at 11.8%. It would reach 20% on the gravel. It would start 1.6 km in, and finish with 4.2 km left to climb (before the short final descent)
Rafionain-Glas02-11-2026 - Welcome to the off-season.
santiagobenites02-11-2026 - guillaume martin in this list is quite a surprise as a gc rider.Ketterechts02-11-2026
- Who cares what Bruyneel thinks. He and his best mate Lance, the biggest fraud in the history of sport, have no place commenting on anything but how to lie and cheat!whit2pet02-11-2026
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