{"id":254928,"date":"2026-07-27T16:34:18","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T16:34:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/27\/rating-every-tour-de-france-teams-performance-the-good-the-great-and-the-downright-disappointing\/"},"modified":"2026-07-27T16:34:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T16:34:18","slug":"rating-every-tour-de-france-teams-performance-the-good-the-great-and-the-downright-disappointing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/27\/rating-every-tour-de-france-teams-performance-the-good-the-great-and-the-downright-disappointing\/","title":{"rendered":"Rating every Tour de France team&#8217;s performance \u2013 The good, the great and the downright disappointing"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<p id=\"elk-19c52520-89c8-11f1-8b3b-551baef1d395\">The <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/tour-de-france\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/tour-de-france\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/tour-de-france\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tour de France <\/a>is done, we&#8217;ve heard from all the protagonists, <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/eight-conclusions-from-the-tour-de-france-a-new-pogacar-evenepoels-next-challenge-and-questions-over-racing-in-july\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/eight-conclusions-from-the-tour-de-france-a-new-pogacar-evenepoels-next-challenge-and-questions-over-racing-in-july\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/eight-conclusions-from-the-tour-de-france-a-new-pogacar-evenepoels-next-challenge-and-questions-over-racing-in-july\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">we&#8217;ve made our conclusions<\/a>, and we&#8217;ve dissected plenty of what happened \u2013 but we&#8217;re not quite finished yet.<\/p>\n<p>With all 21 stages wrapped up, it&#8217;s time to look at each team one by one, and review exactly how their Tour went. What did they achieve? Did they meet their stated aims? How can they improve for next year?<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\"\/><\/p>\n<aside data-article-category=\"pro-cycling\" data-block-type=\"embed\" data-render-type=\"fte\" data-skip=\"dealsy\" data-widget-type=\"seasonal\" class=\"hawk-root\"\/>\n<p id=\"elk-19c52520-89c8-11f1-8b3b-551baef1d395-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Of course, there are teams we&#8217;ve heard tons about, the ones who won stages and jerseys, but of the 23 teams that lined up at this year&#8217;s Tour de France, a surprising number are coming away with not all that much to talk about.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel=\"\" data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\\\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\\\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header=\"\">\n<p><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-mobile\"\/><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand\">Cyclingnews<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-04e457f8-89cc-11f1-b048-910574d2ead0\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">For some, modest achievements matched their modest ambitions, but for others, the Tour fell dramatically short of what they, their riders, and their sponsors would have been hoping for. Of course, there are a couple of overachievers too, who had an even better race than they could have hoped for.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Here, we&#8217;ve ranked the teams according to the teams classification \u2013 which in itself tells you something about their <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/tag\/performance\/\" data-auto-tag-linker=\"true\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/tag\/performance\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/tag\/performance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">performance<\/a>, though not everything \u2013 and rated exactly how they performed this July.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet=\"\" class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\">\n        <span class=\"&#10;            flex&#10;            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold&#10;        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p><a id=\"elk-e02fd06e-89ca-11f1-9326-afb3453bb88d\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><a id=\"elk-lidl-trek\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-body__section kiosq-b\" id=\"section-lidl-trek\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span>Lidl-Trek<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-e02fd0fa-89ca-11f1-9b3c-bbe398fd5d32\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:7632px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.67%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/mNeRuyDXEHS8EkosBz4vLF-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/mNeRuyDXEHS8EkosBz4vLF-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/mNeRuyDXEHS8EkosBz4vLF-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/mNeRuyDXEHS8EkosBz4vLF-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/mNeRuyDXEHS8EkosBz4vLF-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/mNeRuyDXEHS8EkosBz4vLF-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Lidl-Trek celebrate in Paris as the best team of the Tour <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul id=\"elk-158eb0f0-89c5-11f1-be7c-3d2ec987e13c\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<li><strong>One-word review: <\/strong>Accomplished<\/li>\n<li><strong>Achievements: <\/strong>Green jersey, a stage win, sixth and seventh on GC, team classification<\/li>\n<li><strong>Room to improve: <\/strong>They\u2019ll surely be aiming for a future GC podium with Juan Ayuso<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"elk-158eb172-89c5-11f1-88d0-73c2dbad2294\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Aside from UAE, that have the best rider in history and the strongest, best-funded support squad in history at their disposal, few other teams in the peloton can be as happy with their lot as <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/road\/teams\/uci-worldtour\/2026\/lidl-trek\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/road\/teams\/uci-worldtour\/2026\/lidl-trek\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/road\/teams\/uci-worldtour\/2026\/lidl-trek\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lidl-Trek<\/a>. The German team enjoyed a near-perfect three weeks in France.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/riders\/mads-pedersen\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/riders\/mads-pedersen\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/riders\/mads-pedersen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mads Pedersen<\/a> wasn\u2019t the best sprinter of the Tour, but the green jersey isn\u2019t just about sprinting, and once he got hold of it, he never looked like giving it up. He took a memorable breakaway stage win, to boot, and Lidl also beat UAE for the team prize. Juan Ayuso was in contention for white and the podium at one point, and the only real imperfection in the team\u2019s campaign is that he and Mattias Skjelmose might\u2019ve finished a place or two higher in the final GC.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-ajioNnqg2VxbWZVn9DDkq5\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-ajioNnqg2VxbWZVn9DDkq5 slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\"\/>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a id=\"elk-uae-team-emirates-xrg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-body__section kiosq-b\" id=\"section-uae-team-emirates-xrg\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span>UAE Team Emirates-XRG<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-e02fd190-89ca-11f1-b87d-a7c9f2f6aed0\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:1024px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/yBhgk5JEybxzQv4xXLzDTd-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/yBhgk5JEybxzQv4xXLzDTd-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/yBhgk5JEybxzQv4xXLzDTd-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/yBhgk5JEybxzQv4xXLzDTd-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/yBhgk5JEybxzQv4xXLzDTd-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/yBhgk5JEybxzQv4xXLzDTd-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Slovenian Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates XRG and his team are pictured during stage 21 of the 2026 Tour de France cycling race, a stage of 130km from Thoiry to Paris Champs-Elysees , on Sunday 26 July 2026. The 113th edition of the Tour de France starts on Saturday 4 July in Barcelona, Spain, and will finish in Paris, France on the 26th of July. BELGA PHOTO POOL ETIENNE GARNIER (Photo by POOL ETIENNE GARNIER \/ BELGA MAG \/ Belga via AFP)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/yBhgk5JEybxzQv4xXLzDTd-1024-80.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/yBhgk5JEybxzQv4xXLzDTd-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/yBhgk5JEybxzQv4xXLzDTd-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/yBhgk5JEybxzQv4xXLzDTd-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/yBhgk5JEybxzQv4xXLzDTd-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/yBhgk5JEybxzQv4xXLzDTd-320-80.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/yBhgk5JEybxzQv4xXLzDTd.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/yBhgk5JEybxzQv4xXLzDTd.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">UAE Team Emirates-XRG did everything they set out to do <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul id=\"elk-158eb258-89c5-11f1-9bbe-5b4fa3e91fcc\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<li><strong>One-word review: <\/strong>Peerless<\/li>\n<li><strong>Achievements: <\/strong>Overall victory, six stage wins, third overall and youth classification<\/li>\n<li><strong>Room to improve: <\/strong>A GC one-two? The team classification? Poga\u010dar probably could\u2019ve won a few more stages\u2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"elk-158eb2c6-89c5-11f1-a274-332c4d63dbcb\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The Tour de France went as expected for UAE Team Emirates-XRG. As with almost every race <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/riders\/tadej-pogacar\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/riders\/tadej-pogacar\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/riders\/tadej-pogacar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tadej Poga\u010dar<\/a> starts these days, the result was a basically foregone conclusion. The Slovenian, more and more likely the best rider in history, won five stages (and could\u2019ve won more), <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/tadej-pogacar-beats-nearly-30-year-old-alpe-dhuez-climbing-record-set-by-marco-pantani\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/tadej-pogacar-beats-nearly-30-year-old-alpe-dhuez-climbing-record-set-by-marco-pantani\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/tadej-pogacar-beats-nearly-30-year-old-alpe-dhuez-climbing-record-set-by-marco-pantani\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">set the Alpe d\u2019Huez record<\/a>, and finished in Paris with a chasm of time separating himself and second place \u2013 and it would\u2019ve been the same whether Jonas Vingegaard had crashed out or not.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">His teammate, Isaac del Toro, held off a challenge from Paul Seixas to grab third overall and the white jersey in addition to that early stage win in Barcelona. There really wasn\u2019t much else the team could\u2019ve done better, even if this dominant performance was more or less only what was expected of them to begin with.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-red-bull-bora-hansgrohe\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-body__section kiosq-b\" id=\"section-red-bull-bora-hansgrohe\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span>Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-e02fd21c-89ca-11f1-9084-1569a9b9c0e5\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:1024px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/REAZKvVmVgYktG83nPiDbD-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/REAZKvVmVgYktG83nPiDbD-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/REAZKvVmVgYktG83nPiDbD-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/REAZKvVmVgYktG83nPiDbD-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/REAZKvVmVgYktG83nPiDbD-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/REAZKvVmVgYktG83nPiDbD-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 26: Second place of the Tour Remco Evenepoel of Belgium and Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe during the podium ceremony following Stage 21 of the 113th Tour de France 2026, final stage of 88,7 km between Paris Champs Elysees and Paris Champs Elysees on July 26, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe\/Getty Images)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/REAZKvVmVgYktG83nPiDbD-1024-80.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/REAZKvVmVgYktG83nPiDbD-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/REAZKvVmVgYktG83nPiDbD-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/REAZKvVmVgYktG83nPiDbD-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/REAZKvVmVgYktG83nPiDbD-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/REAZKvVmVgYktG83nPiDbD-320-80.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/REAZKvVmVgYktG83nPiDbD.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/REAZKvVmVgYktG83nPiDbD.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">It couldn&#8217;t really get much better for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe leader Remco Evenepoel <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul id=\"elk-158eb3a2-89c5-11f1-b39e-b5f086b8731b\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<li><strong>One-word review: <\/strong>Dreamland<\/li>\n<li><strong>Achievements: <\/strong>Second on GC and two stage wins with Remco Evenepoel<\/li>\n<li><strong>Room to improve: <\/strong>It really isn\u2019t going to get much better for Evenepoel when Tadej Poga\u010dar is around<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"elk-158eb410-89c5-11f1-b4da-ebc8a9e7d985\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">After finishing second in Paris, <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/riders\/remco-evenepoel\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/riders\/remco-evenepoel\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/riders\/remco-evenepoel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Remco Evenepoel<\/a> said, &#8220;I&#8217;ve shown I deserve to dream&#8221;, and the Belgian is rightfully in dreamland after a Tour where he finished second and took two stage victories. It\u2019s as good a Tour outcome as he could\u2019ve hoped for before starting in Barcelona.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet=\"\" class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\">\n        <span class=\"&#10;            flex&#10;            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold&#10;        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">A battle for second against Jonas Vingegaard would\u2019ve been intriguing, but the Belgian got the better of everyone remaining in the Tour\u2019s final week, barring Poga\u010dar, of course (though he did beat him in the time trial and on the Plateau de Solaison).<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Evenepoel\u2019s great success aside, Red Bull will look back at Florian Lipowitz\u2019s stage 16 crash and abandon with regret. The German was in the podium mix at the time, and who knows whether he might\u2019ve overhauled Paul Seixas and Isaac del Toro for third had he stayed upright and in the race.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-decathlon-cma-cgm\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-body__section kiosq-b\" id=\"section-decathlon-cma-cgm\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span>Decathlon CMA CGM<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-e02fe540-89ca-11f1-ace7-3d5a5f42ef92\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:1024px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pDbfVdpcFjHJdvQ6stHLVK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pDbfVdpcFjHJdvQ6stHLVK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pDbfVdpcFjHJdvQ6stHLVK-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pDbfVdpcFjHJdvQ6stHLVK-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pDbfVdpcFjHJdvQ6stHLVK-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pDbfVdpcFjHJdvQ6stHLVK-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Decathlon CMA CGM Team&amp;#039;s French rider Paul Seixas (C) cycles to the finish line of the 21st stage of the 113th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 88,7 km starting and finishing in Paris, on July 26, 2026. (Photo by Jeff PACHOUD \/ AFP)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pDbfVdpcFjHJdvQ6stHLVK-1024-80.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pDbfVdpcFjHJdvQ6stHLVK-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pDbfVdpcFjHJdvQ6stHLVK-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pDbfVdpcFjHJdvQ6stHLVK-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pDbfVdpcFjHJdvQ6stHLVK-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pDbfVdpcFjHJdvQ6stHLVK-320-80.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pDbfVdpcFjHJdvQ6stHLVK.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pDbfVdpcFjHJdvQ6stHLVK.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Tour debutant Paul Seixas met the dreams of a nation at the head of Decathlon CMA CGM <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul id=\"elk-158eb4f6-89c5-11f1-b1fc-4ff1631eb557\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<li><strong>One-word review: <\/strong>Prodigious<\/li>\n<li><strong>Achievements: <\/strong>Fourth on GC with Paul Seixas, stage win with Olav Kooij<\/li>\n<li><strong>Room to improve: <\/strong>A Seixas stage win wouldn\u2019t have gone amiss, but you can\u2019t ask for much more from your teenage leader<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"elk-158eb564-89c5-11f1-818b-c15db09fc545\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Few riders have elicited such excitement on their Tour de France debut as 19-year-old <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/riders\/paul-seixas\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/riders\/paul-seixas\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/riders\/paul-seixas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Paul Seixas<\/a>, and the great hope of French cycling more than delivered with a fourth-place finish in Paris. Any wild hopes that he may already be able to challenge Tadej Poga\u010dar and Jonas Vingegaard were misplaced, but a final placing just two minutes off the podium and white jersey are a tremendous outcome.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Amid the Seixas-mania, it\u2019s perhaps easy to forget that the team won a stage early on as Olav Kooij sprinted to success in Pau on his own Tour debut. Four more podium finishes, including two second places, saw him cement himself as the second-best sprinter of July. Elsewhere, the support squad \u2013 headed up by Nicolas Prodhomme (16th on GC), Tiesj Benoot (17th), and Matthew Riccitello (24th) \u2013 were an impressive force on multiple terrains.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-visma-lease-a-bike\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-body__section kiosq-b\" id=\"section-visma-lease-a-bike\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span>Visma-Lease a Bike<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-e02ff198-89ca-11f1-8498-e1ba62e6f3de\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:1024px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q7mAFvddcir2JGettbYrsK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q7mAFvddcir2JGettbYrsK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q7mAFvddcir2JGettbYrsK-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q7mAFvddcir2JGettbYrsK-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q7mAFvddcir2JGettbYrsK-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q7mAFvddcir2JGettbYrsK-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"BARCELONA, SPAIN - JULY 4: Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark, Edoardo Affini of Italy, Bruno Armirail of France, Victor Campenaerts of Belgium, Per Strand Hagenes of Norway, Matteo Jorgenson of United States, Sepp Kuss of United States, Davide Piganzoli of Italy and Team Visma | Lease a Bike celebrate at podium as stage winners during the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 1 a 19.6km team time trial stage from Barcelona to Barcelona \/ #UCIWT \/ on July 04, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alberto Gardin\/Eurasia Sport Images\/Getty Images)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q7mAFvddcir2JGettbYrsK-1024-80.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q7mAFvddcir2JGettbYrsK-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q7mAFvddcir2JGettbYrsK-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q7mAFvddcir2JGettbYrsK-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q7mAFvddcir2JGettbYrsK-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q7mAFvddcir2JGettbYrsK-320-80.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q7mAFvddcir2JGettbYrsK.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q7mAFvddcir2JGettbYrsK.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Visma-Lease a Bike won the opening TTT but found themselves leaderless in the final week <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul id=\"elk-158eb640-89c5-11f1-99d8-21504b010ba3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<li><strong>One-word review: <\/strong>Unlucky<\/li>\n<li><strong>Achievements: <\/strong>A TTT stage win, 13th and 14th on GC<\/li>\n<li><strong>Room to improve: <\/strong>It\u2019s not something that can be controlled, but you have to stay upright to stay on the podium<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"elk-158eb6ae-89c5-11f1-82f2-57f38669a8a9\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Visma-Lease a Bike understandably put all their eggs in Jonas Vingegaard\u2019s basket this summer, and their ambitions vaporised in seconds once their leader hit the deck on stage 15. It was a cruel end to his Tour, and the team tried to refocus on stage wins, but chances at that point were few and far between.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Realistically, Vingegaard was only going to finish a distant second this July, but hey, that\u2019s still better than Visma\u2019s final result. They can at least look back on that opening day TTT victory, though they couldn\u2019t add another after Vingegaard\u2019s abandon, despite the best efforts of Sepp Kuss and Matteo Jorgenson. Were they missing a Plan B, like the injured Wout van Aert and Christophe Laporte? Perhaps.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-ef-education-easypost\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-body__section kiosq-b\" id=\"section-ef-education-easypost\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span>EF Education-EasyPost<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-e02ff22e-89ca-11f1-90a0-71d74a73ef6d\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:1024px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ke84N4EhuU6mBdSg7MDZnK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ke84N4EhuU6mBdSg7MDZnK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ke84N4EhuU6mBdSg7MDZnK-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ke84N4EhuU6mBdSg7MDZnK-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ke84N4EhuU6mBdSg7MDZnK-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ke84N4EhuU6mBdSg7MDZnK-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 26: Richard Carapaz of Ecuador and Team EF Education - EasyPost - Polka Dot Mountain Jersey reacts after the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 21 a 89km stage from Paris to Paris \/ #UCIWT \/ on July 26, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele\/Getty Images)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ke84N4EhuU6mBdSg7MDZnK-1024-80.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ke84N4EhuU6mBdSg7MDZnK-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ke84N4EhuU6mBdSg7MDZnK-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ke84N4EhuU6mBdSg7MDZnK-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ke84N4EhuU6mBdSg7MDZnK-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ke84N4EhuU6mBdSg7MDZnK-320-80.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ke84N4EhuU6mBdSg7MDZnK.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ke84N4EhuU6mBdSg7MDZnK.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">EF Education-EasyPost owed their success to <em>El Jaguar de Tulcan<\/em>, Richard Carapaz <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul id=\"elk-158eb78a-89c5-11f1-9d64-1bdad7bffc11\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<li><strong>One-word review: <\/strong>Jaguar<\/li>\n<li><strong>Achievements: <\/strong>Two stage wins, mountain classification, eighth on GC, super combativity prize with Richard Carapaz<\/li>\n<li><strong>Room to improve: <\/strong>A bit more breakaway luck from a rider not named Richard Carapaz<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"elk-158eb802-89c5-11f1-9082-15652d9a53d7\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Cycling may be a team sport, but EF Education-EasyPost have their leader, <em>El Jaguar de Tulcan,<\/em> Richard Carapaz, to thank for their successful three weeks in France. The Ecuadorian climber lit up the final week of the race to soar to two stage wins and the polka dot jersey. His efforts also took him from 18th to eighth in the final standings and a second super combativity prize in three years.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">There weren\u2019t any big results from elsewhere, though it wasn\u2019t for lack of trying. Alex Baudin (seven days in the break) and Ben Healy (six) were breakaway fixtures, while Michael Valgren, Sean Quinn, and Georg Steinhauser were also in the move on multiple stages. Baudin\u2019s fourth place was the best result, while Healy wasn\u2019t at his swashbuckling best.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-netcompany-ineos\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-body__section kiosq-b\" id=\"section-netcompany-ineos\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span>Netcompany Ineos<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-e02ff2ba-89ca-11f1-9d30-e7e7a7dc8f5e\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:1024px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.60%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FGoDqatM98uDGGmypF9RDL-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FGoDqatM98uDGGmypF9RDL-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FGoDqatM98uDGGmypF9RDL-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FGoDqatM98uDGGmypF9RDL-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FGoDqatM98uDGGmypF9RDL-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FGoDqatM98uDGGmypF9RDL-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 26: Egan Bernal of Colombia, Thymen Arensman of Netherlands, Tobias Foss of Norway, Filippo Ganna of Italy, Dorian Godon of France, Michal Kwiatkowski of Poland, Joshua Tarling of Great Britain, Kevin Vauquelin of France and Netcompany INEOS Cycling Team react after the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 21 a 89km stage from Paris to Paris \/ #UCIWT \/ on July 26, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele\/Getty Images)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FGoDqatM98uDGGmypF9RDL-1024-80.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FGoDqatM98uDGGmypF9RDL-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FGoDqatM98uDGGmypF9RDL-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FGoDqatM98uDGGmypF9RDL-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FGoDqatM98uDGGmypF9RDL-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FGoDqatM98uDGGmypF9RDL-320-80.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FGoDqatM98uDGGmypF9RDL.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FGoDqatM98uDGGmypF9RDL.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">All smiles in Paris for Netcompany Ineos, but this wasn&#8217;t a stellar Tour for the British team <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul id=\"elk-158eb8de-89c5-11f1-8109-37c6a4d87f86\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<li><strong>One-word review:<\/strong> Disappointing<\/li>\n<li><strong>Achievements: <\/strong>Second in the TTT, 20th on GC with Egan Bernal<\/li>\n<li><strong>Room to improve: <\/strong>Well, everywhere<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"elk-158eb94c-89c5-11f1-b821-954b771240d8\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Netcompany Ineos, once invincible at the Tour, continued their Ratcliffe era of disappointment with a relatively anonymous display despite their big budget and a team full of big names.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">They came armed with three possible GC options, with former winner Egan Bernal \u2013 at one point a top-10 challenger, fading to a team-best 20th in the final week \u2013 Thymen Arensman and K\u00e9vin Vauquelin, but none particularly delivered, with the Dutchman not quite able to repeat his highs from last year and win a stage to save the team in the final week. There was little to shout about elsewhere, either, as Filippo Ganna scored the team\u2019s best result on day one with second in the team time trial, though Josh Tarling did have some impressive breakaway rides.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-bahrain-victorious\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-body__section kiosq-b\" id=\"section-bahrain-victorious\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span>Bahrain Victorious<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-e02ff346-89ca-11f1-9b39-79bea4315a3c\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:1024px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayosJbXo3Zqu7fYqexMDMK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayosJbXo3Zqu7fYqexMDMK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayosJbXo3Zqu7fYqexMDMK-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayosJbXo3Zqu7fYqexMDMK-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayosJbXo3Zqu7fYqexMDMK-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayosJbXo3Zqu7fYqexMDMK-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"BORDEAUX, FRANCE - JULY 10: Matej Mohoric of Slovenia and Team Bahrain - Victorious competes during the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 7 a 175.1km stage from Hagetmau to Bordeaux \/ #UCIWT \/ on July 10, 2026 in Bordeaux, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele\/Getty Images)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayosJbXo3Zqu7fYqexMDMK-1024-80.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayosJbXo3Zqu7fYqexMDMK-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayosJbXo3Zqu7fYqexMDMK-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayosJbXo3Zqu7fYqexMDMK-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayosJbXo3Zqu7fYqexMDMK-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayosJbXo3Zqu7fYqexMDMK-320-80.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayosJbXo3Zqu7fYqexMDMK.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayosJbXo3Zqu7fYqexMDMK.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Bahrain Victorious can be very happy with their fifth on GC thanks to Lenny Martinez <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul id=\"elk-158eba28-89c5-11f1-bf58-0706fe74c431\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<li><strong>One-word review: <\/strong>Flourishing<\/li>\n<li><strong>Achievements: <\/strong>Fifth on GC and six top-10 placings with Lenny Martinez<\/li>\n<li><strong>Room to improve: <\/strong>A stage win would\u2019ve made it a perfect race, whether from Martinez or his quieter teammates<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"elk-04e459ce-89cc-11f1-bc48-b5068f8359e6\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/tour-de-france-concludes-without-a-french-stage-win-for-only-the-third-time-in-history\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/tour-de-france-concludes-without-a-french-stage-win-for-only-the-third-time-in-history\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/tour-de-france-concludes-without-a-french-stage-win-for-only-the-third-time-in-history\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The French public may not have witnessed a home stage winner this year<\/a>, but they can be very pleased with their rider\u2019s GC efforts as Lenny Martinez joined Paul Seixas and Jordan Jegat in the top 10. Bahrain\u2019s 23-year-old climber Martinez improved as the race went on, eventually making the break on L\u2019Alpe d\u2019Huez and working his way into the top five.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Martinez was close to joining Hinault, Rolland, Riblon, and Pinot as a French stage winner on the Tour\u2019s most famous mountain, too, only for the record-shattering Tadej Poga\u010dar to sweep past in the final kilometre and triumph.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Elsewhere, Antonio Tiberi and Phil Bauhaus toiled in anonymity (the Italian\u2019s lack of presence was strange after his strong start to the year), and Damiano Caruso enjoyed his last-ever Tour with a couple of days in the break. Matej Mohori\u010d was in a few breakaways, too, but he was far from his attacking, lip-zipping best. Still, with Martinez flying high on GC, Bahrain\u2019s Tour was a success.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-totalenergies\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-body__section kiosq-b\" id=\"section-totalenergies\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span>TotalEnergies<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-e02ffc1a-89ca-11f1-9129-ab63e98d3cee\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:1024px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qPx56ekLQxZ9F7rjgsCK9L-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qPx56ekLQxZ9F7rjgsCK9L-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qPx56ekLQxZ9F7rjgsCK9L-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qPx56ekLQxZ9F7rjgsCK9L-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qPx56ekLQxZ9F7rjgsCK9L-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qPx56ekLQxZ9F7rjgsCK9L-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 26: Jordan Jegat of France and Team TotalEnergies competes passing close to Arc de Triomphe during the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 21 a 89km stage from Paris to Paris \/ #UCIWT \/ on July 26, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dario Belingheri\/Getty Images)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qPx56ekLQxZ9F7rjgsCK9L-1024-80.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qPx56ekLQxZ9F7rjgsCK9L-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qPx56ekLQxZ9F7rjgsCK9L-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qPx56ekLQxZ9F7rjgsCK9L-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qPx56ekLQxZ9F7rjgsCK9L-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qPx56ekLQxZ9F7rjgsCK9L-320-80.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qPx56ekLQxZ9F7rjgsCK9L.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qPx56ekLQxZ9F7rjgsCK9L.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Minnows TotalEnergies raced to a top 10 once again with Jordan Jegat <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul id=\"elk-158ebb04-89c5-11f1-8d56-fbf7b5ffe41d\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<li><strong>One-word review: <\/strong>Overcoming<\/li>\n<li><strong>Achievements: <\/strong>10th on GC with Jordan Jegat<\/li>\n<li><strong>Room to improve: <\/strong>They won a stage with Anthony Turgis two years ago, and another wouldn\u2019t have gone amiss as they search for a new title sponsor<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"elk-158ebb90-89c5-11f1-bbdd-69185ca89a74\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">It\u2019s hard to fault TotalEnergies\u2019 Tour de France campaign after the all-French squad, with one of the smallest budgets in the race, overcame the odds to land a GC top 10 with Jordan Jegat. The 27-year-old Frenchman rode consistently throughout July, gaining time in breaks and improving in the Tour\u2019s final week, and so repeated his 2025 result.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The team only has two wins this season, and another one would\u2019ve certainly been welcome as they search for a new sponsor for next season as TotalEnergies depart. Jegat\u2019s top 10 was achieved quietly, with seventh on the road to Belfort his best result. He and 2024 stage winner Anthony Turgis were their only real shots at success there, with the latter coming away with four top-10 placings.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-pinarello-q36-5\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-body__section kiosq-b\" id=\"section-pinarello-q36-5\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span>Pinarello-Q36.5<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-e02ffcce-89ca-11f1-b88c-ff2622ecdf21\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:1024px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.60%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9bSTtDeiu3HgKBUFav3yDK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9bSTtDeiu3HgKBUFav3yDK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9bSTtDeiu3HgKBUFav3yDK-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9bSTtDeiu3HgKBUFav3yDK-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9bSTtDeiu3HgKBUFav3yDK-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9bSTtDeiu3HgKBUFav3yDK-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Belgian Brent Van Moer (L) of Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team and British Tom Pidcock (C) of Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team pictured during stage 15 of the 2026 Tour de France cycling race, a stage of 184km from Champagnole to Plateau de Solaison, on Sunday 19 July 2026. The 113th edition of the Tour de France starts on Saturday 4 July in Barcelona, Spain, and will finish in Paris, France on the 26th of July. BELGA PHOTO POOL LUCA BETTINI (Photo by POOL LUCA BETTINI \/ BELGA MAG \/ Belga via AFP)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9bSTtDeiu3HgKBUFav3yDK-1024-80.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9bSTtDeiu3HgKBUFav3yDK-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9bSTtDeiu3HgKBUFav3yDK-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9bSTtDeiu3HgKBUFav3yDK-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9bSTtDeiu3HgKBUFav3yDK-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9bSTtDeiu3HgKBUFav3yDK-320-80.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9bSTtDeiu3HgKBUFav3yDK.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9bSTtDeiu3HgKBUFav3yDK.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Tom Pidcock was the man for Pinarello-Q36.5 during this year&#8217;s Tour <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul id=\"elk-158ebc80-89c5-11f1-b4f6-75fb0e7fca01\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<li><strong>One-word review: <\/strong>Singular<\/li>\n<li><strong>Achievements: <\/strong>Ninth on GC and two stage third-places with Tom Pidcock<\/li>\n<li><strong>Room to improve:<\/strong> It wasn\u2019t a bad Tour by any means, but a stage win would\u2019ve made it an unqualified success<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"elk-158ebcf8-89c5-11f1-b369-9f6757b8eeba\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Pinarello-Q36.5 owes much of where they are right now to Tom Pidcock&#8217;s decision to make the switch from Ineos ahead of last season. This year\u2019s Tour didn\u2019t do much to dispel the notion that, at the highest level, they\u2019re a one-man team as Pidcock basically did it all for them in France.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The Briton\u2019s ninth place is his best Tour GC result, though it didn\u2019t match up to his Vuelta podium from last season. He also collected four top-10 placings along the way, including third places in Ussel and Belfort. Fred Wright\u2019s effort off the front on the Montmartre in Paris was a brief reminder that the team had seven other riders at this race, too.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-movistar\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-body__section kiosq-b\" id=\"section-movistar\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span>Movistar<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-e03006f6-89ca-11f1-8f24-299efee57d47\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:1024px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:71.58%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XYTy5dbDfnEdnHdi2FvU6K-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XYTy5dbDfnEdnHdi2FvU6K-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XYTy5dbDfnEdnHdi2FvU6K-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XYTy5dbDfnEdnHdi2FvU6K-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XYTy5dbDfnEdnHdi2FvU6K-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XYTy5dbDfnEdnHdi2FvU6K-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XYTy5dbDfnEdnHdi2FvU6K-1024-80.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XYTy5dbDfnEdnHdi2FvU6K-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XYTy5dbDfnEdnHdi2FvU6K-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XYTy5dbDfnEdnHdi2FvU6K-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XYTy5dbDfnEdnHdi2FvU6K-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XYTy5dbDfnEdnHdi2FvU6K-320-80.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XYTy5dbDfnEdnHdi2FvU6K.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XYTy5dbDfnEdnHdi2FvU6K.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Ra\u00fal Garc\u00eda Pierna was among the riders trying to pick up the slack after Movistar lost their leader early on <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul id=\"elk-158ebdd4-89c5-11f1-a207-87bc415dd9af\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<li><strong>One-word review: <\/strong>Stalled<\/li>\n<li><strong>Achievements: <\/strong>Four top-10 placings<\/li>\n<li><strong>Room to improve: <\/strong>Much like Visma-Lease a Bike, avoid your leader crashing out or falling ill if you can. And come with a better Plan B in case he does<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"elk-158ebe92-89c5-11f1-ba8e-63b47de142c4\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The Spanish squad lined up for their umpteenth Tour de France with hopes of supporting Belgian racer Cian Uijtdebroeks to a high GC placing. Unfortunately, Movistar\u2019s days of the trident of success (think Valverde, Quintana, Landa) are long gone, and so there didn\u2019t seem to be much in the way of a Plan B once Uijtdebroeks left the race with a fever and stomach problems on stage 6.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">They attempted to recalibrate, sending the likes of Javier Romo, Pablo Castrillo, and Ra\u00fal Garc\u00eda Pierna in breakaways. That strategy brought modest results in the form of a handful of top 10s, but that, plus 11th place in the team classification they won five times in recent history, isn\u2019t much to shout about.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-tudor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-body__section kiosq-b\" id=\"section-tudor\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span>Tudor<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-e0300778-89ca-11f1-b866-015f1bd76ff4\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:1024px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Ja88Er5atqj75fHissJtwK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Ja88Er5atqj75fHissJtwK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Ja88Er5atqj75fHissJtwK-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Ja88Er5atqj75fHissJtwK-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Ja88Er5atqj75fHissJtwK-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Ja88Er5atqj75fHissJtwK-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Tudor Pro Cycling Team&amp;#039;s French rider Julian Alaphilippe cycles past the Sacre Coeur basilica during the 21st stage of the 113th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 88,7 km starting and finishing in Paris, on July 26, 2026. (Photo by Loic VENANCE \/ AFP)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Ja88Er5atqj75fHissJtwK-1024-80.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Ja88Er5atqj75fHissJtwK-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Ja88Er5atqj75fHissJtwK-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Ja88Er5atqj75fHissJtwK-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Ja88Er5atqj75fHissJtwK-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Ja88Er5atqj75fHissJtwK-320-80.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Ja88Er5atqj75fHissJtwK.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Ja88Er5atqj75fHissJtwK.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Tudor leader Julian Alaphilippe waves to the crowd on what looks to be his final Tour outing <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul id=\"elk-158ebf78-89c5-11f1-8dc0-a703156bb98c\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<li><strong>One-word review: <\/strong>Decent<\/li>\n<li><strong>Achievements: <\/strong>11th on GC with Yannis Voisard, three top-10 placings with Rick Pluimers<\/li>\n<li><strong>Room to improve: <\/strong>Forget declining stars and invest their leadership budget more wisely in future<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"elk-158ebfd2-89c5-11f1-9e0a-a78b76fb5488\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The headline names on Tudor\u2019s Tour de France team were Julian Alaphilippe and Marc Hirschi. Neither lived up to the billing, though nobody really expected them to \u2013 Alaphilippe has declined with age, falling off a cliff after his 2021 Worlds win, while Hirschi\u2019s abilities seem to have deserted him since leaving UAE.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Largely unknown Swiss racer Yannis Voisard wasn\u2019t particularly visible in France, and <em>Zubeldia\u2019d<\/em> his way to 11th on the GC come Paris, while Rick Pluimers scored a handful of bunch sprint top 10s. Australian climber Michael Storer wasn\u2019t at his best, but he had just raced to seventh at the Giro d\u2019Italia, so his performance does have an explanation.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-uno-x-mobility\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-body__section kiosq-b\" id=\"section-uno-x-mobility\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span>Uno-X Mobility<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-e0300804-89ca-11f1-b686-2975d3efa4f2\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:1024px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.60%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ViPxQQ3w9nGqNAPpGS4tzK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ViPxQQ3w9nGqNAPpGS4tzK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ViPxQQ3w9nGqNAPpGS4tzK-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ViPxQQ3w9nGqNAPpGS4tzK-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ViPxQQ3w9nGqNAPpGS4tzK-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ViPxQQ3w9nGqNAPpGS4tzK-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 26: Tobias Halland Johannessen of Norway, Jonas Abrahamsen of Norway, Magnus Cort of Denmark, Anders Halland Johannessen of Norway, Anders Skaarseth of Norway, Soren Waerenskjold of Norway and Team Uno-X Mobility react after the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 21 a 89km stage from Paris to Paris \/ #UCIWT \/ on July 26, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele\/Getty Images)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ViPxQQ3w9nGqNAPpGS4tzK-1024-80.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ViPxQQ3w9nGqNAPpGS4tzK-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ViPxQQ3w9nGqNAPpGS4tzK-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ViPxQQ3w9nGqNAPpGS4tzK-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ViPxQQ3w9nGqNAPpGS4tzK-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ViPxQQ3w9nGqNAPpGS4tzK-320-80.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ViPxQQ3w9nGqNAPpGS4tzK.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ViPxQQ3w9nGqNAPpGS4tzK.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">It was another strong outing for Scandinavian squad Uno-X Mobility <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul id=\"elk-158ec086-89c5-11f1-a174-2d0cb39069ab\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<li><strong>One-word review: <\/strong>Efficient<\/li>\n<li><strong>Achievements: <\/strong>Stage win with S\u00f8ren W\u00e6renskjold, 12th on GC with Tobias Halland Johannessen<\/li>\n<li><strong>Room to improve: <\/strong>Johannessen didn\u2019t live up to his 2025 GC challenge, which was slightly disappointing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"elk-04e45b54-89cc-11f1-a5e2-5b58e1fd5f1c\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">A year from their first stage win at their second Tour de France outing, Scandi squad Uno-X Mobility once again efficiently achieved what they set out to, scoring another stage win and delivering a solid GC result. <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/tour-de-france-soren-waerenskjold-goes-from-distance-to-hold-off-olav-kooij-and-jasper-philipsen-for-victory-in-furiously-fast-stage-11\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/tour-de-france-soren-waerenskjold-goes-from-distance-to-hold-off-olav-kooij-and-jasper-philipsen-for-victory-in-furiously-fast-stage-11\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/tour-de-france-soren-waerenskjold-goes-from-distance-to-hold-off-olav-kooij-and-jasper-philipsen-for-victory-in-furiously-fast-stage-11\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">S\u00f8ren W\u00e6renskjold was the class of the field in Nevers<\/a>, and the Norwegian \u2013 not often thought of among the very fastest sprinters \u2013 beat the best of the best to score his team\u2019s second Tour stage win in as many years.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">2025 stage winner Jonas Abrahamsen was quieter this time around, with one breakaway effort his race highlight. Magnus Cort also made three breaks. But, W\u00e6renskjold aside, the team\u2019s highlight was Tobias Halland Johannessen, even if he didn\u2019t replicate last July\u2019s GC sixth place. Still 12th place after five breakaways, six top 10s and a second place behind Van der Poel in Ussel is nothing to sniff at.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-groupama-fdj-united\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-body__section kiosq-b\" id=\"section-groupama-fdj-united\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span>Groupama-FDJ United<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-e030087c-89ca-11f1-924a-3f57da9bbc37\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:1024px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vDdPXaHvGfkET2sXSVuRjK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vDdPXaHvGfkET2sXSVuRjK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vDdPXaHvGfkET2sXSVuRjK-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vDdPXaHvGfkET2sXSVuRjK-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vDdPXaHvGfkET2sXSVuRjK-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vDdPXaHvGfkET2sXSVuRjK-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"VOIRON, FRANCE - JULY 23: A general view of Romain Gregoire of France, Clement Braz Afonso of France, Ewen Costiou of France, Lorenzo Germani of Italy, Guillaume Martin of France, Quentin Pacher of France, Clement Russo of France and Team Groupama - FDJ United prior to the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 18 a 185.2km stage from Voiron to Orcieres-Merlette 1825m \/ #UCIWT \/ on July 23, 2026 in Orcieres, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele\/Getty Images)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vDdPXaHvGfkET2sXSVuRjK-1024-80.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vDdPXaHvGfkET2sXSVuRjK-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vDdPXaHvGfkET2sXSVuRjK-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vDdPXaHvGfkET2sXSVuRjK-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vDdPXaHvGfkET2sXSVuRjK-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vDdPXaHvGfkET2sXSVuRjK-320-80.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vDdPXaHvGfkET2sXSVuRjK.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vDdPXaHvGfkET2sXSVuRjK.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Groupama-FDJ United will have to have a rethink after a poor campaign <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul id=\"elk-158ec13a-89c5-11f1-bdac-d57b7d275e13\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<li><strong>One-word review: <\/strong>Lacklustre<\/li>\n<li><strong>Achievements: <\/strong>Seven top-10 placings<\/li>\n<li><strong>Room to improve: <\/strong>They need a better GC rider or a top-five sprinter, as there just aren&#8217;t enough punchy stages for Gr\u00e9goire these days<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"elk-158ec194-89c5-11f1-b5d7-67cd2bd9979e\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">There are a few teams on this list that we really had to rack our brains to remember what they even did in this race, and Groupama unfortunately falls into this category. The French team has sadly been on the decline at their home race for some time now, unable to match the big budgets and ambitions of other WorldTour teams or their compatriots Decathlon, and this year was particularly lacklustre.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Cl\u00e9ment Russo was solid in the sprints with a handful of top 10s, and Romain Gr\u00e9goire got stuck in a few times, particularly doing well on stage 2. Guillaume Martin was nowhere, and top 10s seemed to be their limit, but that&#8217;s not really the kind of performance that cuts through all that much. This Tour certainly wasn&#8217;t a failure, and perhaps it was the upper limit of their abilities, but it wasn&#8217;t a notable success, either.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-soudal-quickstep\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-body__section kiosq-b\" id=\"section-soudal-quickstep\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span>Soudal-QuickStep<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-e03008fe-89ca-11f1-b142-21ce1de3f992\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:1024px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/diyK88Z9X9BE6Em2WdbFYK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/diyK88Z9X9BE6Em2WdbFYK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/diyK88Z9X9BE6Em2WdbFYK-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/diyK88Z9X9BE6Em2WdbFYK-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/diyK88Z9X9BE6Em2WdbFYK-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/diyK88Z9X9BE6Em2WdbFYK-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"CHALON-SUR-SAONE, FRANCE - JULY 16: Stage winner Tim Merlier of Belgium and Team Soudal Quick-Step reacts after the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 12 a 179.1km stage from Circuit Nevers Magny-Cours to Chalon-sur-Saone \/ #UCIWT \/ on July 16, 2026 in Chalon-sur-Saone, France. (Photo by Stephanie Lecocq - Pool\/Getty Images)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/diyK88Z9X9BE6Em2WdbFYK-1024-80.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/diyK88Z9X9BE6Em2WdbFYK-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/diyK88Z9X9BE6Em2WdbFYK-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/diyK88Z9X9BE6Em2WdbFYK-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/diyK88Z9X9BE6Em2WdbFYK-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/diyK88Z9X9BE6Em2WdbFYK-320-80.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/diyK88Z9X9BE6Em2WdbFYK.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/diyK88Z9X9BE6Em2WdbFYK.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">With Tim Merlier delivering three wins, Soudal-QuickStep are once again the sprint force to be reckoned with <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul id=\"elk-158ec248-89c5-11f1-a80b-6f8a489b0325\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<li><strong>One-word review: <\/strong>Swift<\/li>\n<li><strong>Achievements: <\/strong>Three stage wins with Tim Merlier<\/li>\n<li><strong>Room to improve: <\/strong>Merlier and Valentin Paret-Peintre couldn\u2019t match others in the battles for green and polka dots<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"elk-158ec2a2-89c5-11f1-be06-872bb74ed981\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">He may not have come away with the green jersey, but there\u2019s little doubt that Tim Merlier was the best sprinter of this year\u2019s Tour de France. Perhaps only his own teammate Paul Magnier can rival him for best sprinter of the year, and with the team racking up six sprint wins across the Giro and Tour, they\u2019re once again the pre-eminent sprint force in the world.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Merlier was in the battle for green before fading away, while the team\u2019s hopes for the polka dot jersey with Valentin Paret-Peintre faded in the final five mountains of the race as Richard Carapaz and Tadej Poga\u010dar sped off up the road.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Elsewhere, Ilan Van Wilder was in with a shout of a GC top 10 heading into the Alps. The Belgian climber slid away on L\u2019Alpe d\u2019Huez, however, and he was unlucky to crash out of the race on the penultimate stage.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-jayco-alula\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-body__section kiosq-b\" id=\"section-jayco-alula\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span>Jayco-AlUla<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-e0300980-89ca-11f1-8374-2d3588b5144b\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:1024px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VsHasMN23E3NsGttYoBH9K-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VsHasMN23E3NsGttYoBH9K-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VsHasMN23E3NsGttYoBH9K-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VsHasMN23E3NsGttYoBH9K-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VsHasMN23E3NsGttYoBH9K-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VsHasMN23E3NsGttYoBH9K-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VsHasMN23E3NsGttYoBH9K-1024-80.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VsHasMN23E3NsGttYoBH9K-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VsHasMN23E3NsGttYoBH9K-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VsHasMN23E3NsGttYoBH9K-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VsHasMN23E3NsGttYoBH9K-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VsHasMN23E3NsGttYoBH9K-320-80.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VsHasMN23E3NsGttYoBH9K.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VsHasMN23E3NsGttYoBH9K.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">A win for Mauro Schmid meant Jayco-AlUla did what they set out to do <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul id=\"elk-158ec356-89c5-11f1-a6ce-8b4c8150c307\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<li><strong>One-word review: <\/strong>Focussed<\/li>\n<li><strong>Achievements: <\/strong>A stage win with Schmid, multiple top 10s<\/li>\n<li><strong>Room to improve: <\/strong>More of a GC focus or a win in the mountains could take their Tour from good to great<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"elk-158ec3b0-89c5-11f1-aefa-b932b65d2310\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Jayco AlUla went into this Tour wanting to win stages, and in a race where a few teams won most of the stages, they came home with a win, so there&#8217;s not much to complain about, in all honesty. Sure, you could argue that they didn&#8217;t do much on GC, but that wasn&#8217;t really their aim, with Ben O&#8217;Connor choosing the Giro as his overall aim this year.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Instead, they had Mauro Schmid emerge as one of the strongest riders in the whole race, on the attack multiple times and winning a stage, Pascal Ackermann up there in the sprints, and Michael Matthews delivering some top-10s too. O&#8217;Connor&#8217;s results don&#8217;t look like much on paper, but he was in four different breakaways, and Luke Plapp was key to setting up the team&#8217;s best results. Another GC option or a mountains win would have been nice, but the Australian team had a good three weeks.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-xds-astana\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-body__section kiosq-b\" id=\"section-xds-astana\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span>XDS-Astana<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-e0300a0c-89ca-11f1-aaaa-cd15e3740056\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:1024px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CNuwvfvF2KxMWii9i6TNbK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CNuwvfvF2KxMWii9i6TNbK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CNuwvfvF2KxMWii9i6TNbK-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CNuwvfvF2KxMWii9i6TNbK-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CNuwvfvF2KxMWii9i6TNbK-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CNuwvfvF2KxMWii9i6TNbK-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"ALPE D&amp;amp;amp;apos;HUEZ, FRANCE - JULY 25: Harold Tejada of Colombia and Team XDS Astana competes during the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 20 a 170.9km stage from Le Bourg d&amp;amp;amp;apos;Oisans to Alpe d&amp;amp;amp;apos;Huez 1842m \/ #UCIWT \/ on July 25, 2026 in Alpe d&amp;amp;amp;apos;Huez, France. (Photo by Dario Belingheri\/Getty Images)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CNuwvfvF2KxMWii9i6TNbK-1024-80.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CNuwvfvF2KxMWii9i6TNbK-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CNuwvfvF2KxMWii9i6TNbK-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CNuwvfvF2KxMWii9i6TNbK-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CNuwvfvF2KxMWii9i6TNbK-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CNuwvfvF2KxMWii9i6TNbK-320-80.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CNuwvfvF2KxMWii9i6TNbK.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CNuwvfvF2KxMWii9i6TNbK.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">XDS-Astana didn&#8217;t get a big result, but they weren&#8217;t anonymous either <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul id=\"elk-158ec464-89c5-11f1-a6e0-178e985c3e21\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<li><strong>One-word review: <\/strong>Fine<\/li>\n<li><strong>Achievements: <\/strong>Two second-place finishes with Max Kanter and Harold Tejada<\/li>\n<li><strong>Room to improve: <\/strong>We would have liked to have seen XDS-Astana try to take more opportunities in breakaways<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"elk-158ec4be-89c5-11f1-b21e-27f7f05cd474\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">After the highs of the Giro d\u2019Italia, where they wore pink and won multiple stages, XDS-Astana&#8217;s Tour was a little bit of a disappointment, to be honest. Perhaps it was a return to usual form, but after Italy it felt like a decline.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Max Kanter was good in the sprints, that&#8217;s for sure, but Harold Tejada arguably could have delivered more than one second place from a break, along with Sergio Higuita. Aaron Gate had a good crack at his first Tour, but a lot of their other riders didn&#8217;t do much, so it wasn&#8217;t a vintage race for the team. At least they&#8217;ll always have the Giro.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-caja-rural-seguros-rga\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-body__section kiosq-b\" id=\"section-caja-rural-seguros-rga\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span>Caja Rural-Seguros RGA<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-e0300a84-89ca-11f1-a57b-8d101fd68c97\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:1024px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.60%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VnuRu5rLAHpEgFbiRe9SBL-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VnuRu5rLAHpEgFbiRe9SBL-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VnuRu5rLAHpEgFbiRe9SBL-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VnuRu5rLAHpEgFbiRe9SBL-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VnuRu5rLAHpEgFbiRe9SBL-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VnuRu5rLAHpEgFbiRe9SBL-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 26: Abel Balderstone of Spain, Sebastian Berwick of Australia, Joel Nicolau of Spain, Stefano Oldani of Italy, Jakub Otruba of Czech Republic and Team Caja Rural - Seguros RGA react after the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 21 a 89km stage from Paris to Paris \/ #UCIWT \/ on July 26, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele\/Getty Images)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VnuRu5rLAHpEgFbiRe9SBL-1024-80.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VnuRu5rLAHpEgFbiRe9SBL-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VnuRu5rLAHpEgFbiRe9SBL-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VnuRu5rLAHpEgFbiRe9SBL-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VnuRu5rLAHpEgFbiRe9SBL-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VnuRu5rLAHpEgFbiRe9SBL-320-80.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VnuRu5rLAHpEgFbiRe9SBL.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VnuRu5rLAHpEgFbiRe9SBL.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Caja Rural-Seguros RGA were a surprise wildcard selection and the Spanish team did largely what was expected of them <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul id=\"elk-158ec572-89c5-11f1-a7b2-f17612a604ac\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<li><strong>One-word review: <\/strong>Fulfilling<\/li>\n<li><strong>Achievements: <\/strong>Ninth on one stage with Fernando Gaviria and a day in polka dots with Alex Molenaar<\/li>\n<li><strong>Room to improve: <\/strong>Not a lot \u2013 Caja Rural did what was expected of them and what they were capable of<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"elk-158ec5ea-89c5-11f1-984e-cbb7d175c898\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">In their Tour de France debut, I&#8217;d say Caja Rural-Seguros RGA fulfilled their obligation as a wildcard team pretty perfectly. They wore a distinct jersey in the opening days with Alex Molenaar&#8217;s efforts to claim the polka dot jersey; they got in plenty of breaks, and they even had a go in the sprints with Fernando Gaviria.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The Colombian crashing out obviously limited their results in that region, and ultimately he&#8217;s not really at the level these days to win a stage, but when you&#8217;re Caja Rural and a wildcard team, the expectations on you are lower, and the Spanish squad certainly met them. They should end their debut Tour happy.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-lotto-intermarche\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-body__section kiosq-b\" id=\"section-lotto-intermarche\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span>Lotto Intermarch\u00e9<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-e0300afc-89ca-11f1-881e-195587e9a5d8\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:1024px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YEdfMV9KSpkk9KqeEXhJDL-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YEdfMV9KSpkk9KqeEXhJDL-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YEdfMV9KSpkk9KqeEXhJDL-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YEdfMV9KSpkk9KqeEXhJDL-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YEdfMV9KSpkk9KqeEXhJDL-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YEdfMV9KSpkk9KqeEXhJDL-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 26: Baptiste Veistroffer of France and Team Lotto Intermarche competes passing through the Cote de la butte Montmartre during the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 21 a 89km stage from Paris to Paris \/ #UCIWT \/ on July 26, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele\/Getty Images)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YEdfMV9KSpkk9KqeEXhJDL-1024-80.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YEdfMV9KSpkk9KqeEXhJDL-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YEdfMV9KSpkk9KqeEXhJDL-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YEdfMV9KSpkk9KqeEXhJDL-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YEdfMV9KSpkk9KqeEXhJDL-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YEdfMV9KSpkk9KqeEXhJDL-320-80.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YEdfMV9KSpkk9KqeEXhJDL.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YEdfMV9KSpkk9KqeEXhJDL.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Baptiste Veistroffer emerged as a new Tour hero for Lotto-Intermarch\u00e9 <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul id=\"elk-158ec69e-89c5-11f1-9b87-35c027413521\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<li><strong>One-word review: <\/strong>Unexpected<\/li>\n<li><strong>Achievements: <\/strong>Five top-10 placings for Huub Artz and Lennert Van Eetvelt<\/li>\n<li><strong>Room to improve: <\/strong>Arguably, Lotto should have left Arnaud De Lie at home and come into this race with a clearer strategy for their other riders, rather than having to readapt on the fly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"elk-158ec6f8-89c5-11f1-a446-d5390f5f85e0\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Like at the Giro d&#8217;Italia, Lotto-Intermarch\u00e9 had a pretty rubbish start to the race when Arnaud De Lie had to pull out of yet another Grand Tour on stage 3, but boy did they turn it around. They didn&#8217;t win a stage, but they became fan favourites with underdog attacks from Baptiste Veistroffer and Liam Slock, who dutifully kept the race alive on some otherwise pretty boring days, and Huub Artz was something of a revelation with his strength in sprints, breaks and TTs.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">He showed that he can basically do it all, and that his recent TT title was far from a fluke. Lennert Van Eetvelt didn&#8217;t really deliver anything to write home about on the GC, but Lotto can go home from this race knowing that they left their mark and have some really motivated, exciting riders in their midst.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-alpecin-premier-tech\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-body__section kiosq-b\" id=\"section-alpecin-premier-tech\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span>Alpecin-Premier Tech<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-e0300b7e-89ca-11f1-a4f3-15fa307a6a2e\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:1024px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bbJPU5spPYXNaC26zVimdK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bbJPU5spPYXNaC26zVimdK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bbJPU5spPYXNaC26zVimdK-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bbJPU5spPYXNaC26zVimdK-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bbJPU5spPYXNaC26zVimdK-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bbJPU5spPYXNaC26zVimdK-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 26: Mathieu van der Poel of Netherlands and Team Alpecin-Premier Tech reacts at finish line as stage winner during the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 21 a 89km stage from Paris to Paris \/ #UCIWT \/ on July 26, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dario Belingheri\/Getty Images)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bbJPU5spPYXNaC26zVimdK-1024-80.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bbJPU5spPYXNaC26zVimdK-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bbJPU5spPYXNaC26zVimdK-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bbJPU5spPYXNaC26zVimdK-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bbJPU5spPYXNaC26zVimdK-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bbJPU5spPYXNaC26zVimdK-320-80.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bbJPU5spPYXNaC26zVimdK.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bbJPU5spPYXNaC26zVimdK.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Who else but Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen for Alpecin-Premier Tech? <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul id=\"elk-158ec7b6-89c5-11f1-aa7d-dd4d6545dd17\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<li><strong>One-word review: <\/strong>Duopoly<\/li>\n<li><strong>Achievements: <\/strong>Three stage wins with Jasper Philipsen and Mathieu van der Poel<\/li>\n<li><strong>Room to improve: <\/strong>More stage wins and green for Philipsen; Debruyne\u2019s abandon robbed them of a solid performer in the mountains<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"elk-158ec810-89c5-11f1-8e40-617f7196b204\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Alpecin are one of several teams whose position on this list doesn&#8217;t really reflect their performance \u2013 just because they didn&#8217;t have riders ranking highly overall for the teams classification does not mean they were in the lower-performing half of teams.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Far from it. Alpecin started this race with some frustrations as Mathieu van der Poel couldn&#8217;t get himself in contention for an early yellow jersey and Jasper Philipsen struggled in the early sprints, but things turned with Van der Poel winning a stage from the break, Philipsen getting his win and then it was capped off with arguably the best result yet: Van der Poel leading home a thrilling 1-2 on the Champs-Elys\u00e9es on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Perhaps the only thing that would have made their Tour better \u2013 aside from another win or two and green for Philipsen, but that&#8217;s a bigger issue \u2013 would be if Ramses Debruyne hadn&#8217;t had to abandon. The 23-year-old climber was really impressing, and we would have loved to see how far he could go.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-cofidis\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-body__section kiosq-b\" id=\"section-cofidis\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span>Cofidis<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-e0300bf6-89ca-11f1-9d74-b13d00329c8a\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:1024px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.60%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Fjc6LaUHEpxhzvtzf4gmjK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Fjc6LaUHEpxhzvtzf4gmjK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Fjc6LaUHEpxhzvtzf4gmjK-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Fjc6LaUHEpxhzvtzf4gmjK-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Fjc6LaUHEpxhzvtzf4gmjK-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Fjc6LaUHEpxhzvtzf4gmjK-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"ORCIERES, FRANCE - JULY 23: (L-R) Milan Fretin of Belgium and Alex Kirsch of Luxembourg and Team Cofidis cross the finish line during the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 18 a 185.2km stage from Voiron to Orcieres-Merlette 1825m \/ #UCIWT \/ on July 23, 2026 in Orcieres, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele\/Getty Images)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Fjc6LaUHEpxhzvtzf4gmjK-1024-80.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Fjc6LaUHEpxhzvtzf4gmjK-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Fjc6LaUHEpxhzvtzf4gmjK-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Fjc6LaUHEpxhzvtzf4gmjK-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Fjc6LaUHEpxhzvtzf4gmjK-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Fjc6LaUHEpxhzvtzf4gmjK-320-80.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Fjc6LaUHEpxhzvtzf4gmjK.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Fjc6LaUHEpxhzvtzf4gmjK.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Cofidis weren&#8217;t the most visible team at the Tour de France this year <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul id=\"elk-158ec8c4-89c5-11f1-8137-f9a0095e0587\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<li><strong>One-word review: <\/strong>Forgettable<\/li>\n<li><strong>Achievements: <\/strong>Four top-10 placings for underrated Milan Fretin<\/li>\n<li><strong>Room to improve: <\/strong>Find a way to take Fretin up a step and into the upper echelon of sprinters<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"elk-158ec91e-89c5-11f1-9a8f-173911c65bc6\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Cofidis came to this race with most of their eggs in the basket of sprinter Milan Fretin, and whilst he did well in the sprints, sprinting is a strange discipline where we quite quickly forget everyone except the winner, so his string of top-fives actually didn&#8217;t make for a particularly memorable race for Cofidis, even if it may be a success internally. Alex Kirsch was active in breaks, but riders like Alex Aranburu, Benjamin Thomas and Ion Izagirre arguably underdelivered for the French squad.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-nsn\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-body__section kiosq-b\" id=\"section-nsn\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span>NSN<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-e0300c6e-89ca-11f1-901c-d111282a68dd\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:1024px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/S938vtH2FoZEstXvDYhXHK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/S938vtH2FoZEstXvDYhXHK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/S938vtH2FoZEstXvDYhXHK-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/S938vtH2FoZEstXvDYhXHK-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/S938vtH2FoZEstXvDYhXHK-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/S938vtH2FoZEstXvDYhXHK-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cyclist Biniam Girmay of the NSN Cycling Team is pictured in the center during the presentation of the cycling teams for Stage 17 of the 2026 Tour de France, from Chambery to Voiron, in Chambery, France, on July 22, 2026. (Photo by Romain Doucelin\/NurPhoto)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/S938vtH2FoZEstXvDYhXHK-1024-80.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/S938vtH2FoZEstXvDYhXHK-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/S938vtH2FoZEstXvDYhXHK-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/S938vtH2FoZEstXvDYhXHK-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/S938vtH2FoZEstXvDYhXHK-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/S938vtH2FoZEstXvDYhXHK-320-80.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/S938vtH2FoZEstXvDYhXHK.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/S938vtH2FoZEstXvDYhXHK.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Biniam Girmay didn&#8217;t hit the heights of two years ago for NSN <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul id=\"elk-158ec9d2-89c5-11f1-9fcf-359058ff6175\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<li><strong>One-word review: <\/strong>Solid<\/li>\n<li><strong>Achievements: <\/strong>Consistently top sprint results for Girmay, two fourth places for Frigo and Askey<\/li>\n<li><strong>Room to improve: <\/strong>Turn breakaway aggression into a top result, perhaps have one rider focusing on GC<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"elk-158eca2c-89c5-11f1-8271-dbbec45c52fa\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">It was actually quite surprising to see NSN so far down the final team rankings, because it felt like they were visible and active all race \u2013 the lack of GC riders hurts their team classification standings, but doesn&#8217;t reflect their efforts accurately. The team didn&#8217;t get a stage win, but raced really well, not just in the expected way of setting up Biniam Girmay in the sprints, but George Bennet and Marco Frigo were really impressive on the harder stages, too, and the colourful NSN jerseys were always visible on the breakaway stages.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-picnic-postnl\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-body__section kiosq-b\" id=\"section-picnic-postnl\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span>Picnic-PostNL<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-e0300cf0-89ca-11f1-bbc0-c7e7905a1d72\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:1024px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VF387X44NrEpMnJiHcw9SK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VF387X44NrEpMnJiHcw9SK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VF387X44NrEpMnJiHcw9SK-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VF387X44NrEpMnJiHcw9SK-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VF387X44NrEpMnJiHcw9SK-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VF387X44NrEpMnJiHcw9SK-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cyclist Pavel Bittner of Team Picnic PostNL is pictured in the center during the presentation of the cycling teams for Stage 17 of the 2026 Tour de France, from Chambery to Voiron, in Chambery, France, on July 22, 2026. (Photo by Romain Doucelin\/NurPhoto)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VF387X44NrEpMnJiHcw9SK-1024-80.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VF387X44NrEpMnJiHcw9SK-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VF387X44NrEpMnJiHcw9SK-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VF387X44NrEpMnJiHcw9SK-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VF387X44NrEpMnJiHcw9SK-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VF387X44NrEpMnJiHcw9SK-320-80.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VF387X44NrEpMnJiHcw9SK.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VF387X44NrEpMnJiHcw9SK.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">It was far from a good Tour for struggling squad Picnic-PostNL <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul id=\"elk-158ecaf4-89c5-11f1-bc2d-05e331ce29c4\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<li><strong>One-word review: <\/strong>Invisible<\/li>\n<li><strong>Achievements: <\/strong>Fifth on one sprint stage with Pavel Bittner<\/li>\n<li><strong>Room to improve: <\/strong>Every area could improve for Picnic PostNL, but fundamentally a lot of it comes down to budget and riders, which is not something the current roster could do much about<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"elk-158ecb58-89c5-11f1-8874-f7027ec7d330\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Can you actually remember anything Picnic-PostNL did during this Tour de France? I remember seeing Warren Barguil cross the line with Julian Alaphilippe on one stage, and Pavel Bittner crashing on stage 21, and that&#8217;s about it.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The Czech rider&#8217;s fifth place on stage 8 was their best result, and they only managed to place a rider in the top 20 on three other occasions. We know they haven&#8217;t had a great year, but the team seems to be in a downward spiral right now, with motivation low among their riders. They need a miracle to turn this season around.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/rating-every-tour-de-france-teams-performance-the-good-the-great-and-the-downright-disappointing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Tour de France is done, we&#8217;ve heard from all the protagonists, we&#8217;ve made our conclusions, and we&#8217;ve dissected plenty of what happened \u2013 but we&#8217;re not quite finished yet. With all 21 stages wrapped up, it&#8217;s time to look at each team one by one, and review exactly how their Tour went. What did [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":254929,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6804],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-254928","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cycling"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/254928","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=254928"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/254928\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/254929"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=254928"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=254928"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=254928"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}