"Without the new rule, we'd never have a team time trial" - Christian Prudhomme admits his interest in the new model
CyclingSaturday, 04 July 2026 at 01:00
Christian Prudhomme rounds off his two decades in charge of Tour de France this Friday with a Grand Départ in Barcelona. And the 2026 edition could be massive for the French cycling fans with the debut of their dauphin Paul Seixas.
The edition kicks off with a 20-kilometer team time trial in Barcelona, a first appearance of this discipline at Grande Boucle since 2019 in Brussels. It is not a debut for Barcelona to host a Grand Tour debut in form of a team time trial though, as has been the case at the 2023 Vuelta a Espana won by Remco Evenepoel.
Three years ago, the event saw a major backlash from riders and whole community due to challenging light conditions as dawn put many teams (including Remco's Quick-Step) in a disadvantage. And the Jayco train even crashed in final corner. That is why Prudhomme was hesitant at first, before being introduced to a new concept we'll see on Friday:
"Without the new rule, namely that it's the time of the first rider that counts, we would never have had a team time trial," Prudhomme reveals to media including Cyclism'Actu from the site in Barcelona.
Montjuïc will be a key
Not only does the first rider's time count for result, allowing teams to make sacrifice towards their leaders, or towards stage victory, the finish is placed atop iconic Montjuïc hill. A proper test for those who aim to succeed the next stage with a final circuit on the same roads.
"Since we have an uphill finish, and in this case the uphill is Montjuïc, it's a decisive advantage of the Grand Départ. For the teams, some of them may have to choose between a possible stage victory or the general classification, favoring their leader or the rider who is strongest in this type of discipline. So it adds extra suspense."
Brady Gilmore won the 2026 Volta a Catalunya stage 7 on the Montjuïc circuit
Seixas is ready
Paul Seixas is a major talking point among fans and experts, and Prudhomme could not escape a question about French crown jewel. Prudhomme admits that his debut comes early, but not too early, as evidenced by his 2026 exploits.
"Cycling has always been considered a sport where maturity comes late. With him, that's no longer the case, but he's not an isolated case. His performance in the Ardèche, in the French Cup in February, his 42-kilometer solo breakaway, his victories at the Itzulia Basque Country, in La Flèche Wallonne... have changed my mind."
But Prudhomme does not expect a massive upset from Seixas, rather a controlled Pogacar victory with an interesting battle to be seen further down the rankings. "Tadej Pogacar is the undisputed favorite, without a doubt. Will Jonas Vingegaard be at his level? Will there be a third man named Evenepoel or Seixas? We'll see."
Heat is a major issue
It's a part of cycling in the summer, but extreme heat is still an obstacle the organizers have to take into account. The opening week prognosis in particular sees the temperatures reach as high as 40°C.
"The very job of cycling race organizers, and of the Tour de France organizers, is to adapt. As for the champions, you know there's a climate protocol put in place by the UCI. We will be providing the teams with more ice. We can adjust the feeding stations; they can be open much more frequently, even continuously. We can also adjust the elimination time limits to ensure the champions don't have to exert themselves excessively to stay in the race."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- Just a thought, but with Ben O'Connor leaving Jayco and the team seeking increased investment from the UAE, he may be a standout leader with complete team focus and support. It would see Jayco return to the days of the Yates boys.whit2pet04-07-2026
- I don't think Jayco will be upset. His form over the past two seasons has been below par. The team will probably cease to exist after 2027 anyway.whit2pet04-07-2026
- The same thing as Cian for Movistar, who seems to get a headline a week with zero accomplishmentsmij04-07-2026
- Remind me again what Ben has done lately to warrant all this hype?frieders303-07-2026
- Even with Onley they’d be fortunate to get in the top 5, hate to say it but it saves them embarrassment not to have to try for GCJumpyjohn03-07-2026
- A team that can afford his salaryJumpyjohn03-07-2026
- You always manage to make me laugh. You are such a funny man.MajorPayne03-07-2026
- And this is relevant to the article in what way?
Rafionain-Glas03-07-2026 - But it was the strongest field since 2008, and the riders who battled for the podium are GC riders at the TourRafionain-Glas03-07-2026
- I am so glad the tour starts tomorrow because I cannot stomach another article trying to sell JV as Pogacar's equal. These writers keep referencing 2023 as if it has any bearing to 2026. Since the start of the 2024 racing year, Pogacar has been virtually unbeatable. Fast forward to 2026, evidence points that he is still improving. No matter how much JV has improved or his confidence grown, there is little to suggest that he has either closed the gap or leapfrogged Pogacar.Survivor-quest03-07-2026
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