It is one other yr of a robust presence for Australian riders on the Tour de France in 2026, with eleven riders anticipated to line up for the nation and a quantity amongst them having already proven what it takes to face on the highest step of the stage podium at a Grand Tour.
Whereas as soon as upon a time the pure sprinters like Robbie McEwen, Stuart O’Grady and Caleb Ewan delivered the largest haul of stage wins for the nation, that has modified in recent times. Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Premier Tech) gained a stage final yr, however even that was in a breakaway, moderately than his standard bunch dash success. Notably with no Groves on the beginning line in 2026, this time the eye will fall to the puncheurs and climbers to ship the very best odds for stage glory.
Riders like Jayco AlUla’s Ben O’Connor, who already has two wins on the race, and four-time victor Michael Matthews are two key prospects that may ship optimism that the nation may have a motive to have fun this July. Then there are others like 2022 Giro d’Italia victor Jai Hindley (Crimson Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), who’ve loads of confirmed profitable prowess, however will probably be devoting their efforts to workforce targets as an alternative.
From the debuting riders to the skilled palms, the profitable prospects to the workhorses, we check out the eleven riders from Australia that may present loads of further incentive for nighttime viewing down beneath as soon as the race units off from Barcelona on Saturday for the 2026 Tour de France.
Luke Durbridge (Jayco AlUla)
Driving his twelfth and closing version
That is the final Tour de France for the retiring Luke Durbridge, along with his energy and expertise certain to be a lot missed by the Australian workforce in future editions. A vital a part of what the workforce describes because the ‘engine room’ for a squad that’s chasing stage victories and – maybe not surprisingly given its origin – nearly half fills this checklist of Australian riders with its squad.
You could like
Durbridge would be the street captain for what’s certain to be an aggressive version for the workforce the place they’ve choices to cowl the gamut of levels on provide. His core position will probably be clearly evident proper from the beginning as nicely, with the workforce certain to be hoping for a robust begin with the workforce time trial on stage 1 and Durbridge will probably be an important a part of driving that.
Michael Matthews (Jayco AlUla)
ninth version, 4 stage wins, factors classification winner in 2017
It has undoubtedly been a tricky patch for Michael Matthews, with the rider lacking final yr’s Tour de France after struggling a pulmonary embolism. Then, simply as issues seemed to be falling into place this season, with a win at Gran Premio Castellón among the many early outcomes there was a crash in coaching and with fractures in each arms his season was as soon as once more going through a giant interruption. The 35-year-old then returned at Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and in addition raced the Tour de Suisse and, with a strong run together with an eighth in Switzerland, now seems to be constructing type in pursuit of that fifth stage win on the Tour de France.
The newest race content material, interviews, options, critiques and skilled shopping for guides, direct to your inbox!
The final celebration on the race was on stage 14, in 2022 when Matthews took a solo win, with the 2017 inexperienced jersey winner confirming his transformation right into a well-rounded stage hunter as he held on to interrupt companion Alberto Bettiol with decided grit on the steep ascents to the Mende Aerodrome after which sprinted away because the street flattened. Matthews is a rider who has ridden the lows of the rollercoaster earlier than and held on determinedly so he can journey the highs, so there isn’t any doubt he’ll be combating for the last word peak and that’s one other victory on the Tour de France.
Ben O’Connor (Jayco AlUla)
Fifth version, two stage wins, fourth general in 2021
When Ben O’Connor debuted on the Tour de France in 2021 he set a excessive bar, ending fourth general, however the pursuit of one other prime general end result hasn’t been a simple street. The Giro d’Italia was the overall classification aim this yr so confirmed power O’Connor, together with Matthews, will probably be a key in Jayco-AlUla’s pursuit of levels in France.
Again on the 2021 version he gained stage 9 to Tignes solo, which vaulted him up the rankings, after which in 2025 when his general hopes have been derailed the refocus noticed him clinch the win on stage 18 on the prime of Col de la Loze. In reality, that was his final win and whereas his type on the Giro could not have been what he hoped for, now coming into the French Grand Tour with out the stress of it being a key goal for GC, he will probably be freer than ever to preserve the power on the times that do not go well with so on people who do he can chase the stage victories.
What to learn subsequent
Michael Storer (Tudor Professional Biking)
Third version, third on a stage in 2025
It might be a while since Michael Storer broke via along with his first two Grand Tour wins in 2021 on the Vuelta a España and, whereas the six Grand Excursions he has ridden since have not yielded one other, his capacity to persistently ship top-10 and even top-five outcomes makes him one other of the nation’s riders that has the potential to ship a stage in 2026. In reality he stood on the rostrum in 2025 on stage 6, taking third from the break.
His Tudor Professional Biking workforce is obvious that of their second participation on the race stage victories will as soon as once more be on the prime of their agenda so anticipate to see the Australian climber lively within the breaks as soon as once more. Given the Giro outcomes, the place Storer was within the prime 10 throughout 5 climbing levels and completed seventh general, there will be little doubt about his capacity to make the climbs rely ought to he exit entrance with a bunch.
Jai Hindley (Crimson Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)
Third version, gained a stage and wore yellow in 2023
The 2022 Giro d’Italia winner, who additionally got here third at that race this yr and gained a Tour de France stage in 2023, has a transparent position on the race this yr. He could also be a Grand Tour winner in his personal proper however the workforce has had a transparent goal on the occasion for Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz. With two third locations general between them on the Tour de France the final two years the goal is to ship a workforce and management duo that, as a mixed power, can chase the upper steps.
Given the concentrate on workforce energy to attempt to deal with the 2 clear-cut favourites of Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard, Jai HIndley is a crucial hyperlink. Displaying constructing type via his personal twin management effort with Giulio Pellizzari, the Australian ought to be highly effective on the climbing levels. Nevertheless, except one thing goes severely awry, do not anticipate to see him use that prowess to chase his personal outcomes. Hindley will probably be all in for a workforce end result, not his personal.
Damien Howson (Pinarello-Q36.5)
It might be eight years since Damien Howson final rode the Tour de France however there have been loads of different Grand Excursions since so the 33-year-old will probably be stepping with a strong financial institution of expertise to lean on and share. For his thirteenth Grand Tour, Howson will probably be lining up with Pinarello-Q36.5 led by Tom Pidcock that’s racing the Tour de France for the primary time and making an attempt to take advantage of the chance. Howson will seemingly slot right into a helpful help position as riders like Pidcock lead the cost in pursuit of stage victories.
Chris Harper (Pinarello-Q36.5)
The final occasions Chris Harper lined up on the Tour de France in 2023 and 2024 at Jayco AlUla, he was a key domestique for Simon Yates, so the prospect for him to go for his personal alternatives have been extra restricted. Nevertheless, he proved on the 2025 Giro d’Italia that he’s a rider that may ship on the three-week races when the chance presents itself, turning an illness-derailed GC bid right into a stage win on the penultimate day of racing. Whereas this time it is clear that the workforce is lining up chasing levels, the query is will Harper get his possibilities or will the main target be on supporting Tom Pidcock in pursuit of victories. Both approach, the rider – who most lately supported Pidcock as he gained the Andorra MoraBanc Clàssica and in addition took fourth himself – will probably be a helpful asset for the workforce.
Luke Plapp (Jayco AlUla)
It was Luke Plapp’s second Giro d’Italia when he claimed his first Grand Tour stage victory and that’s in fact a sample he’d like to hold via to the Tour de France. It was a solo assault from the break on the place the 25-year-old took that win in Italy, and his climbing and time trial capacity make the ascent-heavy days a great goal to ship one other in France. Plus, with an aggressive stage victory focussed strategy for the workforce, Plapp is more likely to have the prospect to chase these alternatives.
Then there’s additionally his energy within the race in opposition to the clock, with the rider who has thrice taken the Australian title within the self-discipline final yr delivering fifth and ninth within the time trials on the race. This yr there is just one particular person check, stage 1 delivering a workforce time trial, so the 26.1km effort on stage 16 would be the point of interest.
So far as type goes, Plapp did go away the Tour Auvergne Rhône-Alpes with a fever, not beginning stage 8 with the concentrate on recovering prepared for the Grand Tour forward. Presuming he now has, the indicators have been good on the lead-in, with a 3rd general on the Tour de Hongrie, fifth at Tour de Romandie and a robust third earlier within the season on the UAE Tour, after taking second to Isaac del Toro on Jebel Hafeet.
Robert Stannard (Bahrain Victorious)
For a second yr in a row Robert Stannard will probably be lining up for the Tour de France. The important thing goal for his Bahrain Victorious squad is stage victories with riders like three-time Tour stage winner Matej Mohorič on the squad together with Lenny Martinez who will probably be seeking to the mountains jersey, and there’s additionally Antonio Tiberi to chase the overall classification. Which means Robert Stannard could have his palms full, as he usually does, in a help position. It’s going to even be his second Grand Tour of the season, the 27-year-old having ridden the Giro d’Italia as nicely.
Kelland O’Brien (Jayco AlUla)
The Olympic Workforce Pursuit gold medallist hasn’t ridden the Tour de France earlier than, however he does have Grand Tour expertise, twice having ridden the Vuelta, and naturally has confirmed that there isn’t any downside with acting on the largest levels. The facility of Kelland O’Brien will probably be a helpful asset for the workforce, significantly in the case of the opening workforce time trial. He got here third within the race in opposition to the clock on the Australian Nationwide Championships this yr and in addition was seventh within the particular person time trial on the Vuelta final yr. The 28-year-old can be certain to have his energy put to make use of throughout the levels, combining with the power of Luke Durbridge to work on the entrance when required.
Sebastian Berwick (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)
The 26-year-old already has two Grand Excursions beneath his belt, a Giro d’Italia the place he took a stage prime three in 2023 and a Vuelta a España in 2021. Each of those have been when he was using with Israel-Premier Tech, although now with Caja Rural-Seguros RGA securing a wildcard, Sebastian Berwick is getting his first shot on the Tour de France. There was little doubt that the climber earned his spot on the workforce this season, not solely coming sixth general on the Tour of Oman, seventh at Milano-Torino after which occurring to say the general win on the Tour of Turkey earlier than additionally including fifth general on the current Tour of Slovenia.
The world’s greatest bike race deserves world-class protection. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for limitless entry to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona via to Paris, our skilled workforce will deliver you breaking information, skilled perception, and in-depth protection from each stage because the battle for the yellow jersey performs out. Plus, entry the Cyclingnews app to comply with the motion on the go! Discover out extra.
