Bahrain Victorious Ready for Tour de France 2026

Team combines general classification ambitions with a hunt for stage victories across three weeks

Bahrain Victorious will enter the 2026 Tour de France with a strong and balanced squad aiming to secure stage victories throughout cycling’s biggest race, while also challenging for a top-ten finish in the general classification with Italian rider Antonio Tiberi.

The 113th edition of the Tour de France will begin in Barcelona with a 19.7-kilometre team time trial, marking the return of the discipline to the race for the first time since 2019. The opening three stages will take place in Catalunya before the peloton crosses into France, with the first major challenges arriving in the mountains.

Tiberi will spearhead Bahrain Victorious’ overall classification hopes as he targets a place among the top ten riders. He will be supported in the mountains by experienced climber Damiano Caruso, who will compete in his final Tour de France appearance.

Caruso will aim to complete a remarkable achievement by winning a stage at all three Grand Tours — the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España — while continuing his role as a key mountain support rider.

The team will also rely on multiple riders capable of chasing stage victories. Three-time Tour de France stage winner Matej Mohorič returns with ambitions of adding another win to his record, while French climber Lenny Martinez arrives as one of Bahrain Victorious’ strongest threats in the mountain stages.

Martinez, who joined the team in 2025, has already secured WorldTour victories at Paris-Nice, the Tour de Romandie and the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Alongside chasing stage success, he will target the prestigious polka dot jersey awarded to the Tour’s best climber.

For the sprint stages, Phil Bauhaus will lead the team’s fast-finishing ambitions as he looks to claim his first-ever Tour de France stage victory.

Belgian youngster Vlad Van Mechelen will make his Tour debut after impressing with an attacking performance at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, where he finished third on Stage 2 after a breakaway effort.

Completing the Bahrain Victorious line-up are experienced road captain Kamil Gradek and Australian rider Rob Stannard, who will provide valuable support across the three-week race.

The 2026 Tour de France will cover 3,319 kilometres across 21 stages, featuring six flat stages, five intermediate stages, eight mountain stages, one individual time trial and one team time trial.

The race will feature several decisive mountain battles, including Stage 6 from Pau to Gavarnie-Gèdre, which includes the legendary Col du Tourmalet and more than 4,000 metres of climbing.

After the first rest day, riders will face another demanding test on Stage 10 from Aurillac to Le Lioran, before the race reaches its only individual time trial — a 26-kilometre challenge from Évian-les-Bains.

The final week will be dominated by the Alps, with Stages 19 and 20 both finishing at the iconic Alpe d’Huez. The Queen Stage will feature 5,432 metres of elevation, including the return of the Col de Sarenne before the final climb to Alpe d’Huez.

The race will conclude in Paris with a revamped final stage featuring the climbs of Montmartre, keeping the fight for victory alive until the final moments.

Lenny Martinez said the team’s focus will be on winning stages while also competing for the polka dot jersey.

“Our goal is to bring home a stage victory and fight for the polka dot jersey. We have a really strong team with several riders capable of winning stages, and we will look for the right opportunities throughout the race,” Martinez said.

Bahrain Victorious Sports Director Roman Kreuziger said the team believes Tiberi has the ability to challenge for a top-ten overall finish.

“We’re coming into the Tour with a really balanced team. Our main objective is to fight for stage victories while supporting Antonio Tiberi in the general classification,” Kreuziger said.

He added that Caruso will play a crucial role in supporting both Tiberi and Martinez in the mountains, while also pursuing his own stage victory ambitions.

The 2026 Tour de France will mark another major challenge for Bahrain Victorious as the team combines general classification ambitions with a strong push for stage wins across the race.