The city of Barcelona is in the final stages of preparation for the start of the 2026 Tour de France. Details are being finalized for the installation of 20,000 barriers that will line the streets for the cyclists' passage and ensure the safety of the route.
In parallel, three bridges are being constructed to allow pedestrian passage between affected streets. Two of these crossings will be located in the Sants-Montjuïc district, one on Avinguda de l'Estadi and the other on Carrer de Foc. These points will be particularly relevant on July 4th and 5th, when the district will serve as the finish line for the first two stages.
Traffic disruptions will begin on Thursday, July 2nd, with the placement of some preliminary barriers before the first race. On this day, the team presentation will take place on Avinguda de Gaudí, a street that, along with its surroundings, will be closed off.
The city council has detailed that the presentation of the 23 participating teams will merge the sporting event with a cultural spectacle, incorporating elements of dramaturgy, music, dance, theater, circus, opera, and popular culture.
The cyclists will begin the route at the Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau, proceeding along Avinguda de Gaudí to the main stage in front of the Sagrada Família, where they will be welcomed by fans. The event will feature artists such as Sílvía Pérez Cruz, Lia Kali, Doctor Prats, and the Castellers de Vilafranca, under the artistic direction of Martí Torras Mayneris.
