Tour of the Alps raises its flags in Innsbruck and Tirol

Among the defining features of a prestigious stage race like the Tour of the Alps is its ability to unite two countries — Italy and Austria — within a single event each year. In 2026, this identity gains even greater significance with the presence of both national teams, a true one-off to mark the tenth anniversary of the cross-border cooperation project uniting Tirol, Südtirol/Alto Adige and Trentino under the Euro-regional protocol signed in 2016.

This was the standout announcement made today, February 26th, 2026, in Innsbruck, where organizers officially unveiled the list of participating teams. Numerous institutional representatives attended the press conference, including Tirol Deputy Governor Philip Wohlgemuth, Tirol Werbung CEO Karin Seiler, Innsbruck Tourismus President Peter Paul Mölk, Telfs Mayor Christian Härting, and Austrian Cycling Federation President Harald Mayer.

TOTA REKINDLES THE MAGIC OF THE 2018 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 2026 Tour of the Alps (April 20th-24th) raises its flags prouder than ever — those of Italy and Austria, which have built a shared identity around this project, united under the third flag of the Euregio. A partnership that celebrates landscapes, organizational know-how, hospitality excellence and the lifestyle of the territories involved.

For the fourth time, the Tour of the Alps will start from Tirol, following previous editions in 2017 and 2019 (both from Kufstein) and in 2023 (Alpbachtal). This time it is the turn of Innsbruck, the capital city still vividly linked to the 2018 UCI Road World Championships. Not by coincidence, the finish of Stage 1 will replicate the iconic Rennweg finale that crowned Alejandro Valverde World Champion.

Over the past decade, the Austrian Land of Tirol has developed an increasingly strong bond with elite international cycling. From hosting the 2018 UCI Road World Championships to earning recognition as a UCI Bike Region, Tirol has firmly established itself as a premier destination for cycling — at professional, amateur and tourism levels alike.

The three Tirol days promise an intense program for fans. Sunday, April 19th will host preliminary operations and teams presentation; Monday, April 20th features the opening stage in Innsbruck; and Tuesday, April 21st sees the start from Telfs, where Tirol will bid farewell to the peloton as it heads towards Südtirol/Alto Adige and specifically Martell/Val Martello. The race will then continue towards Lake Garda (Arco), before the decisive final days in Trento and Bozen/Bolzano, the other two capitals of the Euro-region.

STORER EYES BACK-TO-BACK VICTORY, BUT WORLD TOUR HEAVYWEIGHTS STAND IN HIS WAY

Despite an increasingly congested international calendar, the Tour of the Alps confirms its strong positioning and enduring appeal. The 2026 edition will feature defending champion Michael Storer alongside seven UCI WorldTour teams — Bahrain Victorious, EF Education-EasyPost, INEOS Grenadiers, Lidl-Trek, Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe, Team Jayco AlUla and Team Picnic PostNL — all ready to challenge him.

Lidl-Trek, overall winner in 2024 with Juan Pedro López and a major protagonist again last year with Giulio Ciccone, will rely on new signing Derek Gee. The Canadian impressed with third overall at the 2025 Tour of the Alps before finishing fourth at the Giro d’Italia.

Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe is expected to field a particularly competitive line-up with strong Italian flair, led by Giulio Pellizzari — sixth overall at both Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España — and rising star Lorenzo Finn, U23 World Champion in Rwanda and one of Italy’s brightest young talents. In what promises to be a rematch of last season’s U23 battles, Finn will face Slovenia’s Jakob Omrzel of Bahrain Victorious, winner of the 2025 Giro Next Gen. Both will attempt to follow in the footsteps of Paul Seixas, who revealed his immense talent at last year’s Tour of the Alps.

Among the GC contenders, Australian climber Ben O’Connor also stands out. The Team Jayco AlUla leader claimed his first major professional victory at the 2018 Tour of the Alps and returned to the final podium with second place overall in 2024. INEOS Grenadiers are once again expected to use #TotA as a key build-up race for the Giro d’Italia, while EF Education-EasyPost and Team Picnic PostNL also have strong ambitions towards the Corsa Rosa.

Alongside the WorldTour formations, Tudor Pro Cycling Team will be highly motivated. The Swiss squad boasts a structure comparable to top-tier teams and possesses the depth required to support Storer in his title defense.

Equally ambitious is Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team. From Hungary — albeit with Italian structure — comes MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort (formerly Team Colpack). The Italian trio Bardiani CSF 7 Saber, Solution Tech NIPPO Rali and Team Polti VisitMalta bring solid experience to the start list. Japanese outfit Team Ukyo, founded by former Formula 1 driver Ukyo Katayama, and Austrian Team Vorarlberg will also return to the Tour of the Alps.

Further details regarding the main contenders will emerge in the coming weeks. As usual with the Tour of the Alps, last-minute surprises can’t be ruled out.

INNSBRUCK AND TELFS PREPARE THE GRAND DEPART

Stage 1, Innsbruck-Innsbruck (144.3 km), on April 20th, features a fast opening through the Inn Valley before entering a 24 km circuit to be covered twice, including the gradual climb towards the Mieminger Plateau. After exiting the loop, the race returns to Innsbruck for a second 18 km circuit — also repeated twice — featuring the ascent to Götzens and the punchy Axams climb, location of the bonus sprint. The final 20 km lead to the finish on Rennweg, scene of the 2018 World Championships finish.

On Tuesday, April 21st, the peloton departs from Telfs towards Südtirol/Alto Adige, finishing after 147.5 km in Martell/Val Martello. Riders will tackle the first-category Piller Höhe (9.2 km at 6%) and the long Reschenpass/Passo Resia (15.8 km at 3.4%). Shortly after crossing Nauders, the race leaves Tirol and enters Südtirol/Alto Adige, continuing its journey through the Euregio.

Innsbruck will host two intense days concentrated around the start-finish area, enriched by a wide program of side events for spectators. The same atmosphere is expected in Telfs, where the historic town square — marked by its distinctive large canopy — will provide a vibrant setting for fans to experience the passion of Tirol.