The start of the 2026 Tour de France will turn Catalonia into a global showcase of cycling and tourism. Barcelona will open the competition with a route that combines the sea, the Olympic legacy and modernism; Tarragona, the Costa Daurada and the Costa Barcelona will display the Mediterranean essence, among Roman heritage, beaches, vineyards and wines; and Granollers will be the gateway to the Pyrenees, with landscapes such as the Vic plain, the Ripollès or the Cerdanya along the way. But beyond the event, Catalonia has much to offer cycling enthusiasts: the Pyrenees of Lleida and the Val d’Aran invite you to climb legendary mountain passes and explore green valleys with the family, while the Terres de Lleida and the Terres de l’Ebre offer relaxed rides through vast plains, rivers, olive groves and rice fields. Culture and gastronomy complete an experience that makes Catalonia the perfect destination to enjoy cycling. The Barcelona Grand Départ Barcelona will host the start of the first stage, with a team time trial of almost 20 kilometers crossing emblematic neighborhoods and monuments. The sea and the Olympic legacy, Gaudí’s modernism and the cultural heritage of Montjuïc will be the backdrop for a stage that presents Barcelona as an open, creative and vibrant city. The route will pass through maritime Barcelona, represented by the Parc del Fòrum and the Port Olímpic, with modern architecture and Mediterranean gastronomy taking center stage. It will cross modernist heritage and pass in front of Gaudí’s masterpieces such as the Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló and La Pedrera, which in 2026 will have a special prominence, as it coincides with the Gaudí Year and the World Capital of Architecture. And it will finally reach Montjuïc, a magical mountain full of culture, heritage and renowned in the history of sport. From the Costa Daurada to the Costa Barcelona: the most Mediterranean stage The next stage will start in Tarragona, a UNESCO World Heritage city thanks to its Roman heritage and with a seafaring district where local gastronomy is still experienced by the harbor. 2026 is a good year to visit if you are interested in culture and tradition, as it will be recognized as the Capital of Catalan Culture 2026, with an intense agenda of cultural and artistic events. The route will follow the Costa Daurada and pass through towns such as Torredembarra or El Vendrell, the birthplace of Pau Casals, where next year the 150th anniversary of his birth will be commemorated with the Pau Casals Year. It will then head into the Costa Barcelona, crossing Sitges, a great combination of beaches, modernism and bohemian spirit. It will also pass along the Garraf coast, where the wine culture and wine tourism take center stage. From there, the race will move inland, crossing vineyards and Mediterranean forests before returning to Barcelona through the Parc Natural de Collserola. The stage is a good summary of what Catalonia is: sea and mountains, tradition and modernity, sport and gastronomy... On the way to the Catalan Pyrenees from Granollers The third stage marks the beginning of the Pyrenean challenge. Granollers is known for its sporting and cultural tradition, with emblematic places such as the 16th-century Porxada and its connection to handball. The starting point will be located near the hermitage of Santa Justa and Santa Rufina, a small Romanesque temple surrounded by nature that connects the competition with the history of the territory. A few kilometers away, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya reinforces this sporting identity. The route will head towards Osona, with the agricultural plain and the city of Vic as the main highlights. The weekly market in the Plaça Major, the cathedral with Sert’s paintings and the local cured sausage are some of its emblems. The race will continue towards the Ripollès, passing by Montesquiu Castle and Ripoll, where the monastery of Santa Maria tells more than a thousand years of history. From there, the landscape becomes more mountainous and the Vall de Ribes heralds the most authentic Pyrenees. After crossing high mountain forests and many curves, the stage ends in the Cerdanya, with Puigcerdà and its lake as the last setting before crossing into France. Beyond the Tour: cycling destinations you can’t miss The Tour is just a taste of everything Catalonia can offer cycling lovers. The Pyrenees – Pyrenees of Barcelona, Pyrenees of Lleida and the Val d’Aran –, for example, are a demanding but very rewarding cycling reference: legendary mountain passes such as the Bonaigua, Eth Portilhon, Port de Cantó or Coll de Pradell coexist with family routes such as the Garona, the Greenway of the Llobregat or the Camin Reiau, among cinematic landscapes. Cycling here means discovering stone villages, green valleys and a mountain cuisine perfect for regaining strength, with star dishes such as olla aranesa or trinxat. In the Terres de Lleida and the Terres de l’Ebre, on the other hand, cycle tourism is experienced among olive groves and rice fields. The route of the Canal d’Urgell or that of the Castles of the Segarra allow you to explore the heritage and charm of the landscapes and villages of Lleida. Meanwhile, the Greenway of the Val de Zafán, the climbs to Mont Caro and the paths of the Ebro Delta showcase a very different environment, located between sea and mountains and where flora and fauna prevail. All this is paired with typical dishes, such as snails “a la llauna” or Delta rice, and with a glass of wine from the DO Costers del Segre or Terra Alta, depending on where you are.