Yellow Jersey Won’t Be a Sure Win 48 Hours Before Finish," Tour Boss Prudhomme Aims for Exciting Finale

There is an important idea behind the route for the Tour de France 2026, which ASO presented this afternoon in Paris. The organizers are terrified that Tadej Pogacar will decisively seal the race too early again.

That’s why the decisive moments of the race are deliberately placed in the final three days. "We’ve made the finale in the Alps very challenging, so the yellow jersey won’t be certain with 48 hours to go. Something can still happen until the last mountain stage, no matter the leader’s advantage," says Tour director Christian Prudhomme in an interview with Sporza.

But does that mean Pogacar will wear yellow later than usual? "That’s hard to predict, because he’s already proven he can gain time on all terrains. But the route is designed so that the tension will build up crescendo," the organizer adds.

Another point that raised many questions after the presentation was the start in Barcelona, where Catalan fans might cause unrest with protests, similar to what happened in the Vuelta.

"But since then, the international situation has changed somewhat, and they are moving towards peace. Israel-Premier Tech has also responded to requests to change its name and license. And the mayor of Barcelona has said he will do everything possible to make the Grand Départ in Barcelona the biggest ever in the history of the Tour," Prudhomme reassures.