Tour de France 2026 start list: Belgium overtakes France as 27 nations line up

Belgium will provide the largest national contingent at the 2026 Tour de France, with 31 riders on the start list. The Belgian total has risen from 29 in 2025, helped by strong representation across teams including Alpecin-Premier Tech, Lotto-Intermarché and Soudal Quick-Step.

France follows with 30 riders, eight fewer than the 38 who started the 2025 edition. The decline largely reflects the absence of Arkéa B&B Hotels, which was one of five French teams in last year’s race. Groupama-FDJ United, Decathlon CMA CGM, Cofidis and TotalEnergies will represent the host nation in 2026.

The Netherlands completes the top three with 17 riders. That is four more than in 2025 and the largest increase of any nation on this year’s start list. Team Picnic PostNL contributes three Dutch riders, while Decathlon CMA CGM also selects three: Daan Hoole, Olav Kooij and Cees Bol.

Australia leads the way outside Europe with 11 riders, one more than in 2025. Team Jayco AlUla provides the largest share of that contingent, with five Australians in its eight rider line up.

Germany and Italy each have 12 riders, while Spain joins Australia on 11. Norway retains the same eight rider contingent as in 2025, with six of those riders selected by Uno-X Mobility.

Great Britain and Denmark will both start with seven riders. Britain’s total has fallen from 11 last year, while Denmark has gained one. The United States rises from five to six riders, while Colombia increases from four to five.

Switzerland has four riders, one fewer than in 2025. Although Tudor Pro Cycling Team and Pinarello-Q36.5 are both registered in Switzerland, only Tudor has selected Swiss riders, with Marc Hirschi and Yannis Voisard included in its squad.

In total, 27 nations will be represented in the 184 rider peloton. Seven countries have just one rider on the start line: Canada, Eritrea, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Mexico and Portugal.

Mexico and Luxembourg are represented after having no riders in the 2025 edition. Isaac del Toro will fly the flag for Mexico as part of UAE Team Emirates-XRG, while Alex Kirsch is Luxembourg’s sole representative with Cofidis.