CYCLING – Team Bahrain Victorious have announced a balanced squad for the 2026 Tour de France.
The roster has been built around a primary objective of hunting stage victories across the three weeks while also keeping an eye on the general classification (GC) with Antonio Tiberi, who will target a place inside the overall top 10.
The 113th edition of the Tour de France gets underway tomorrow in Barcelona, Spain with a 19.7-kilometre team time trial (TTT), marking the first TTT at the Tour de France since 2019.
The opening three days then remain in Catalunya, where stage three provides the first demanding test for the peloton before the race crosses into France.
Supporting Tiberi in the mountains is Damiano Caruso, who heads an experienced climbing group.
In what will be his final Tour de France, Caruso will look to complete the rare feat of winning a stage at all three grand tours, while once again playing a pivotal role in the mountains after his outstanding support of Afonso Eulalio throughout this year’s Giro d’Italia.
Bahrain Victorious also arrive with multiple stage-winning options.
Three-time Tour de France stage winner Matej Mohoric returns looking to add to his impressive tally, while Lenny Martinez has established himself as one of the peloton’s top climbers since joining Bahrain Victorious in 2025.
The Frenchman has already claimed UCI World Tour stage victories at Paris-Nice (two), the Tour de Romandie, and the Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, making him one of the team’s biggest stage-winning threats in the mountains, while also targeting the polka dot jersey.
On the flatter stages, Phil Bauhaus will spearhead the team’s sprint ambitions as he looks to challenge for his first Tour de France stage victory.
Making his Tour de France debut is Vlad Van Mechelen.
The young Belgian impressed with an attacking ride at this year’s Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, where he finished third on stage two from the breakaway, and will be looking to showcase his talent on cycling’s biggest stage.
Completing the line-up are experienced road captain Kamil Gradek and Australian Rob Stannard, both of whom will provide invaluable support throughout the three weeks.
The 2026 Tour de France covers 3,319km and 54,303m of elevation across 21 stages, featuring six flat stages, five intermediate stages, eight mountain stages, one individual time trial, and one TTT.
The race concludes in Paris with a revised final stage that once again incorporates the climbs of Montmartre, ensuring the battle for one of cycling’s most iconic stage victories continues all the way to the finish.
“My goal for this Tour de France is to try and bring home a stage victory, while also fighting for the polka dot jersey, so those are my two main objectives,” said Martinez.
“Antonio will be looking after our GC ambitions, while the rest of us will be looking for the right opportunities to go for stage wins.”
“Overall, I think my shape is good this year. I crashed before the Tour de Suisse, but day by day during the race I felt better and better. I’m feeling good now and hopefully I can carry those sensations into the Tour de France.”
“It’s not just about me. We have a really strong team with several riders capable of winning stages, and I’m sure we’ll find the right moments throughout the race to take our opportunities.”
Bahrain Victorious sports director Roman Kreuziger commented: “We’re coming into the tour with a really balanced team.”
“Our main objective is to fight for stage victories, while also supporting Antonio Tiberi in the GC. We believe he can challenge for a top 10. He had an excellent start to the season at the UAE Tour before some mixed form, but we feel he’s back on track. He showed what he is capable of at the Giro two years ago.”
“The tour is a different race and it’s his first appearance, but he has a strong group of experienced riders around him to support him throughout the three weeks.”
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