Prudhomme reveals brutal 2026 Tour finale designed to stop another Pogacar stranglehold

“We made the finish as difficult as possible so that the yellow jersey won’t be secure 48 hours before the end,” Prudhomme said confidently after presenting the route to Sporza and other media. “Anything can still happen in the final mountain stage, whatever the leader’s advantage.”

Asked whether the design would make it harder for Pogačar to dominate the Tour from the opening week, Prudhomme smiled. “That’s difficult to predict, because he’s already shown he can gain time on every kind of terrain,” he said. “But the course has been drawn to build gradually, stage after stage, with tension that keeps growing.”

The 2026 race will close with back-to-back summit finishes on Alpe d’Huez, a first in Tour history, and includes several other mountain tests in the final week. Prudhomme believes this design will ensure suspense deep into the race. “Until the last mountain stage, anything is possible.”

The 2026 Tour will begin in Barcelona with a team time trial, and while there were concerns about the start due to recent protests in Spain, Prudhomme dismissed fears of disruption. “The international situation has changed and there’s progress toward peace,” he said, referring to the unrest that affected last year’s Vuelta.

He also confirmed that team Israel-Premier Tech has responded to calls to change its name and licence, and praised the enthusiasm of the host city. “The mayor of Barcelona told us he wants to make this Grand Départ the biggest in Tour history,” Prudhomme said with a grin.

For the Tour director, the message is clear: 2026 should not be a procession, but a slow-burning battle that stays alive until the very last climb.