Tour de France: Catalonia & the Grand Départ

Rolling hills meet Tour de France thrills

In 2026, the Tour de France begins in Barcelona for the first time ever—and you’ll experience the Grand Départ from the inside. You’ll start in Girona, the adopted home of professional cyclists from around the world, riding roads that have drawn cycling’s elite for generations—tackling challenging climbs like Els Àngels and Mare de Déu del Mont, circling the serene shores of Lake Banyoles, and getting rare access to the EF Pro Cycling Service Course, the World Tour team’s operations hub where race bikes are prepped and logistics are coordinated. From there, you’ll head to the L’Escala region on the Mediterranean coast, descending into the medieval coastal town of Tossa de Mar along Costa Brava’s dramatic cliffs. Then it’s on to Barcelona for two unforgettable days of Tour de France experiences. First, you’ll get exclusive access to the Stage 1 Starting Village, where you can tour the EF Pro Cycling Team bus and watch the world’s greatest riders prepare for cycling’s most prestigious race. The next day, you’ll ride the official Stage 2 course up Montjuïc—the same roads, the same gradients, the same switchbacks the pros will tackle hours later—before crossing the actual finish line and watching the stage finale from VIP grandstand seating. Between rides, you’ll explore medieval villages, tour Salvador Dalí’s castle in Púbol, taste wines from family vineyards, and discover why Catalonia has become the training ground for pro riders. This is where your passion for cycling meets the spectacle of the Tour de France.