Stage 1 - 27th June 2026

The Journey to the Start Line — They say the hardest part of the Tour is just getting to the start line, and for me, that was literally true. After a 2:00 am arrival in Barcelona and finally checking into my hotel at 3:00 am, I managed only a few hours of restless sleep. A morning of “real world” work followed before I rushed to our 12:00 noon briefing.

The atmosphere was electric. Our organisers gave those of us attempting the Grand Loop — all 21 stages — a serious talk on the responsibility we carry. We are here to lead by example: practising perfect lane etiquette, respecting every red light, and setting the tone for the hundreds of riders who will join us over the next three weeks.

After missing breakfast in the rush, I had to “ram some food down” just to fuel up for our 2:00 pm roll-out.

A Sight-Seeing Time Trial — While the professional peloton will eventually tackle this 19.7 km route as a high-speed Team Time Trial, our version was a bit more expansive. The official race distance is short, but by the time we factored in the ride from our hotel and the départ fictif sections, my computer showed 31.2 miles (50.2 km).

I’ll admit to a bit of early-tour nerves; seeing 30 miles on the clock for what was meant to be a 10-mile day is a wake-up call, especially knowing the first rest day isn't until we've completed nine full stages.

City Sights and Survival Stories — We set off in a sweltering 29°C heat, navigating the stop-start traffic and red lights of Barcelona. Despite the technical nature of riding through a major city, it was a “Hello Barcelona” moment I won't forget. We cruised past the port and beaches, caught glimpses of the Sagrada Família, and made the final ascent to the Montjuïc Olympic park complex.

The slow pace was a blessing, allowing us to swap stories. The "Start Line Dramas" were legendary: one rider had their bike stolen at the airport (the police miraculously found it!), and a couple from the US had their luggage and bikes mistakenly sent to London! They were out there today in borrowed kit and on borrowed bikes, still smiling. It puts my lack of sleep into perspective.

Looking Ahead — Overall, it was a pleasant, social introduction to the Tour, and I feel incredibly blessed to have made it to this start line. But the honeymoon ends tomorrow. We face a 117.6-mile (189.3 km) trek from Tarragona back to Barcelona in predicted 31°C heat. My legs are about to get their first real taste of what 3,333 km truly feels like.