Tour de France 2026 Green Jersey favourites | Tim Merlier, Jasper Philipsen, Mads Pedersen and the outsiders as the sprinters to battle

The 2026 Tour de France is going to be an edition with plenty to offer for the sprinters after organisers made a crucial change to the green jersey competition. With the points classification set to return to the sprinters, many of the best fast men in the world are lining up.

The 2026 Tour will feature increased points for sprinters to win at stages that should favour a bunch sprint, while this year's intermediate sprints also carry more weight when it comes to the prestigious green jersey - including their placement on the stages also bringing the battle closer to the fast men.

While the threat of general classification riders accidentally hoovering up crucial points has subsided, the contenders for the green jersey has seemingly never been more competitive as many of the world's best sprinters take to the line for Saturday's Grand Depart. We've analysed the big favourites, those in the mix and some real outsiders to watch:

There's one rider many fans expect to be synonymous with sprint finishes at the 2026 Tour de France - Tim Merlier. The Belgian veteran won two stages last year and arrives in good form after missing out on much of the early parts of the season with injury. When it comes to bunch sprints, Merlier is the favourite to win.

His main rival in bunch and intermediate sprints could well come in the form of former teammate Jasper Philipsen. The Alpecin - Premier Tech rider has blown hot and cold in sprints this season but has tasted victory in more difficult days. While bunch sprints are important in the fight for green, philipsen has the credentials to chase points on hillier terrain compared to Merlier.

A step above that is Mads Pedersen, who will be one of Lidl-Trek's big leaders. Pedersen has never won the green jersey and will hope that his strength across versatile hills and fast finishes can be enough to see him edge out the pure sprinters. He comes in off the back of a long training block that saw him only race Boucles de la Mayenne and Danish National Championships in the near three months since Paris Roubaix

2024 Green jersey winner Biniam Girmay simply cannot be overlooked since his coming of age summer - taking three stage victories. Certainly one to watch despite not showing his top form this season, he comes with a strong NSN team built around him. Another in with a shot is one Olav Kooij.

Kooij makes his Tour debut after taking wins at the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana in recent seasons. Moving to Decathlon CMA CGM, the Dutchman can complete the set, and in doing so, would put himself firmly in the green picture. Arnaud De Lie is another searching for a first Tour win. He has endured disappointment at the Giro but showed glimpses of real top form at Tour de Wallonie. However, he had to skip Thursday's Team Presentation over stomach problems, and will be hoping to recovery quickly and find his form.

One thing that can't be underestimated when it comes to the green jersey is consistency. One stage win and few placings often isn't enough if other rivals are consistently reaching stage podiums and fighting for intermediate sprints - racking up modest but regular points tallies. While needing fortune to win a stage, Max Kanter and Pavel Bittner are two riders with lead-outs and teams built around them to get them high up in flat stages at the Grand Boucle.

Other outsiders for the green jersey could find themselves in with a real chance of the podium in Paris. Netcompany INEOS' team of stage hunters includes Dorian Godon. The former French champion has Pippo Ganna and Josh Tarling as engines to control breakaways and lead him out, but he can offer more on hilly stages with his fast finish.

Other names that spring to mind when it comes to fast men who could impress and place high in the classification include Magnus Cort, Pascal Ackermann, Milan Fretin and Phil Bauhaus. Lead-out experts such as Davide Ballerini and Cees Bol by default put themselves in with a shout of the green jersey.