StageDateStart TownFinish TownDistance (km)Stage Type113 Aug 2026PragueKarlovy Vary163Flat214 Aug 2026Mladá BoleslavLiberec (Ještěd)155Mountainous315 Aug 2026PardubiceDlouhé stráně171Mountainous416 Aug 2026KroměřížPustevny160MountainousPreview Czech Tour 2026 overall classification
The fight for the overall classification will be decided throughout the three hilly/mountainous days of the race. It is quite open too, with a modest field providing the opportunity for plenty riders to succeed – whilst the form on several is far from stable.
Mikel Landa is the biggest name at the start, but not the rider in his best form. Quick-Step will have Mauri Vansevenant as a co-leader; INEOS will have Andrew August and Embret Svestad-Bardseng; NSN will have Jan Hirt and Marco Frigo…
But the win may not come from the World Tour contingent, but otherwise from other teams. TotalEnergies will have both Jordan Jegat and Nicolas Breuillard at the start and both are contenders for victory; adding to the likes of Jan Castellon, Alsseandro Fancellu, Kamiel Bonneu, Domenico Pozzovivo and Luca Covili.
Prediction Czech Tour 2026 overall classification:
*** Jordan Jegat, Andrew August
** Nicolas Breuillard, Jan Hirt, Embret Svestad-Bardsenf
* Mikel Landa, Mauri Vansevenant, Marco Frigo, Jan Castellon, Alessandro Fancellu, Domenico Pozzovivo, Kamiel Bonneu
Pick: Jordan Jegat
Preview Czech Tour 2026 Stage 2The first real GC test of the Czech Tour arrives at Jested, with the race moving straight from its only sprint-friendly stage into the first of three consecutive summit finishes.
The final climb is 15 kilometres at around 4%, but that average disguises where the stage can be won. The harder gradients come later, with steeper sections in the second half and the final two kilometres around 7%, giving the stronger climbers a proper opportunity to make the difference.
Jordan Jegat looks the most convincing option after finishing 10th at the Tour de France and should be well suited to a long, controlled climb followed by a harder finale. Andrew August is another major threat despite conceding 13 seconds on Stage 1, while Jan Hirt, Mikel Landa and Mauri Vansevenant all have the pedigree to come into play as the race finally reaches the mountains.
Prediction Czech Tour 2026 Stage 2:
*** Jordan Jegat
** Andrew August, Jan Hirt
* Mikel Landa, Mauri Vansevenant, Nicolas Breuillard, Alessandro Fancellu, Marco Frigo
Pick: Jordan Jegat
Profile stage 1: Prague – Karlovy Vary
Prague – Karlovy Vary, 163 kilometers
The race begins in its capital of Prague and has, on its opening day, the ‘easiest’ stage. By no means is it an easy day, but it is the sole out of the four days that does not end in a summit finish or does not feature a long climb.
That makes it possible for the sprinters to succeed, but a breakaway or late attack can also lead to a victory in Karlovy Vary. Whichever the scenario, the first stage of the race varies quite dramatically from the remaining.
Profile stage 2: Mladá Boleslav – Jested
Mladá Boleslav – Jested, 155 kilometers
The second day of the race is perhaps its queen stage. It begins a three-day sequence in the mountains of the Czech Republic, all three stages with a similar format. The first of which begins in Mladá Boleslav, before a hilly finaly that leads to the race’s first summit finish.
The final climb to Jested is, in total, 15 kilometers long at 4.1%. Not a steep ascent, but one that is also misleading. The climb has a few sections that are not overly difficult, whilst its finale is definitely the hardest part. There are a few steeper sections in the ascent’s second half and the final 2 kilometers average 7%, gradients in which making the difference is quite viable.
Profile stage 3: Pardubice – Dlouhé Stráne
Pardubice – Dlouhé Stráne, 171 kilometers
The third day of racing begins in Pardubice and follows a similar path to that of the previous stage. This time around however, there will be less climbing en route to Dlouhé Stráne.
The final climb is more consistent, and in total a little steeper. It is just over 13 kilometers long at 5.4%, with the gradients also slowly ramping up towards the top.
The climb has a finale that is quite technical with a few switchbacks and the gradients ramp up quite a bit. It can also be a decisive day in the fight for the overall win.
Profile stage 4: Kromeriz – Pustevny
Kromeriz – Pustevny, 160 kilometers
The final day of racing is 160 kilometers long and takes the riders from Kromeriz to Pustevny. The format is the same as the previous stages, with very little climbing before the final ascent.
This time around, slightly shorter and slightly steeper. The race ends atop the Pustevny climb, which is 7.9 kilometers long at 6.6%.
Previous previews
Preview Czech Tour 2026 Stage 1
The sole sprint stage of the race, it will favour those with a fast finish. Ben Turner is the ultimate favourite to take the stage win and the first leader’s jersey of the race, having an overwhelming advantage over his rivals.
Prediction Czech Tour 2026 stage 1:
*** Ben Turner
** Thomas Pesenti, Scott McGill
* Dominik Neuman, Sergi Darder, Romet Pajurm, Riley Sheehan
Pick: Ben Turner
List of winners Czech Tour 2026 Year1st2nd3rd2025Junior LecerfCian UijtdebroeksAlessandro Fancellu2024Marc HirschiDiego UlissiLorenzo Fortunato2023Damien HowsonLukas NerurkarJakub Otruba2022Luke PlappJan HirtLorenzo Rota2021Filippo ZanaEthan HayterMarkus Hoelgaard2020Damien HowsonJay VineMichael Storer2019Daryl ImpeyRohan DennisJames Knox2018Riccardo ZoidlPavel SivakovNikolay Cherkasov2017Josef ČernýDaniel TurekMichal Schlegel2016Diego UlissiFabio FellineMauro Finetto2015Petr VakočLeopold KönigJan Bárta2014Martin MortensenJesper HansenAndré Looij2013Leopold KönigJan BártaRoman Kreuziger2012František PaďourJan BártaLeopold König2011Stanislav KozubekDariusz BaranowskiJiří Hudeček2010Leopold KönigTomáš BucháčekMichal Kadlec2009Martin HebíkPetr BenčíkJiří Nesveda