French rider Jordan Jegat of TotalEnergies, who has finished inside the top 10 overall at the Tour de France in each of the past two years, is ready to make his Czech Tour debut in 2026. After a demanding spell of racing followed by some well-earned recovery, he says the legs are coming back. On the Czech Tour’s tough, climbing-heavy parcours, he is aiming for a top-five finish on GC and a shot at stage wins.
After a hugely successful but physically draining Tour de France, Jegat knew he needed to switch off for a while. “It was a bit difficult for me after the Tour de France. I took eight days off and then started training again. Getting going wasn’t easy at all – I could really feel the fatigue,” he admits. Now, though, he is ready to pin a number on again. “Over the last few days I’ve been feeling really good. The form is coming back and I hope I can get some good results. The Czech Tour is the perfect opportunity to see exactly where I’m at.”
It will be the Frenchman’s first time racing in the Czech Republic and he is looking forward to discovering both the country and the race. “I’m really happy to have the chance to discover the Czech Republic and the Czech Tour. I’m looking forward to it, even though I don’t know the mountains or the landscape here yet,” he says. The current summer temperatures should suit TotalEnergies too. “For our team, this is really good weather. It’s going to be very hot, which I’m really happy about,” he adds, with the heat likely to provide an extra test for many of his rivals.
Jegat approaches the Czech Tour with respect, but also with the confidence gained from his recent results. The hilly and demanding route should play to his strengths. “The climbs are hard, but as a team we want to get a result. Personally, I feel my condition is pretty good, so maybe a top five is realistic,” he says, setting his sights high.
He intends to race aggressively from the very start. “We’ll take it stage by stage and see where we are at the end. I definitely think I have a chance to get a result. Whether that means winning a stage or doing something in the overall, I’ll be happy,” the Frenchman adds.
Photo: @TeamTotalEnergies
