The start list for Czech Tour 2026 has gained another hugely attractive name. Team Netcompany INEOS, one of the most successful squads in modern world cycling, has confirmed its participation in the biggest stage race in the Czech Republic. The British WorldTeam will return to Czech roads after making its debut at the race in 2024.
With the return of Netcompany INEOS, Czech Tour gains even greater international stature — and fans have plenty to look forward to this summer. “The arrival of INEOS is further proof that moving the race up to UCI ProSeries opens the door to truly exceptional teams. We are talking about a squad that has written the history of the Tour de France, the Giro and the Vuelta, and one of the biggest brands in world cycling. It is great news for the fans and another motivation for us to deliver a race that will be outstanding in every respect,” says Czech Tour race director Leopold König.
Netcompany INEOS belongs among the absolute elite of the world peloton. Since its launch in 2010 as Team Sky, the team has claimed victories at the Tour de France with Bradley Wiggins (2012), Chris Froome (2013, 2015–2017), Geraint Thomas (2018) and Egan Bernal (2019), at the Giro d’Italia with Chris Froome (2018), Tao Geoghegan Hart (2020) and Egan Bernal (2021), and at the Vuelta a España with Chris Froome (2011, 2017). Riders who have shone in its colours also include Mark Cavendish, owner of a record 35 Tour de France stage wins, Richard Carapaz and Tom Pidcock. Leopold König himself also raced in the Sky jersey in the past.
The current line-up is equally packed with big names. The team’s extended roster includes, among others, Tour and Giro winner Egan Bernal, world-class time trial star Filippo Ganna, experienced classics specialist Michał Kwiatkowski, climber Carlos Rodríguez, young time trial expert Joshua Tarling and sprinter Sam Welsford. The final line-up for Czech Tour will be announced later, but it is already clear that fans can start dreaming about seeing one of the British team’s stars racing in the Czech Republic this August.
Czech Tour 2026 will take place from 13 to 16 August and, for the first time in its history, will be part of the UCI ProSeries, the second-highest tier of professional races under the International Cycling Union. This year’s route promises the toughest edition in the race’s history: nearly 650 kilometres and almost 10,000 metres of climbing over four days. “Three summit finishes and one sprint — what more can you say? The riders will face world-class routes and quite simply the hardest edition we have ever had,” adds Leopold König.
As last year, the opening stage will take the peloton from Prague to Karlovy Vary, where a bunch sprint is expected to decide the outcome. After that, however, it will be the climbers’ turn. Stage two is a completely new addition, linking Mladá Boleslav with the iconic summit of Ještěd in the Jizera Mountains. On the third day, the riders will face a demanding route from Pardubice to Dlouhé Stráně in the Jeseníky Mountains, while the final stage will once again run from Kroměříž to the summit of Pustevny in the Beskydy Mountains.
Photo: netcompanyineos.com
