22 teams with six riders each are taking part in the anniversary edition of the Austrian tour. The domestic Continental teams ARBÖ Kärnten Sport Feld am See, Hrinkow Advarics, Schwingshandl Intralogistics, Team Vorarlberg, Tirol KTM Cycling Team and WSA KTM Graz will face international competition. Last year's winner Isaac del Toro will start with UAE Team Emirates-XRG. The remaining starting places go to Continental teams from Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Poland and the Czech Republic.
Tour director Thomas Pupp presented the route at the Kunsthaus Graz. With Gamlitz, Bad Kleinkirchheim and Langenlois, there are three new stage locations. Vienna returns to the stage programme after 2017. The riders compete for five jerseys: the overall leader wears the Lidl/SKODA jersey, Mautner Markhof sponsors the mountain jersey, Skoda the points jersey and DAN Küchen the U23 jersey. Gebrüder Weiss supports the classification of the best Austrian.
Tour of Austria starts in Graz
The team presentation will take place on 7 July from 18:30 on Mariahilfer Platz in Graz. The first stage also starts there on 8 July and leads over 188 kilometres and 2,716 metres in altitude to Gamlitz on the South Styrian Wine Route. Christoph Resl, team manager of WSA KTM Graz, is expecting a challenging opening stage. After the hilly roads of western Styria, the finale will be followed by poisonous climbs on the wine route. According to Resl, the decision will probably only be made on the final lap in Rebenland, where a mountain classification awaits shortly before the finish in Gamlitz.
Queen's stage to the Großglockner
The second stage starts on 9 July in Bad Kleinkirchheim and ends after 188.8 kilometres at Franz Josefs Höhe on the Grossglockner. With 2,914 metres of ascent, this is the most difficult stage of the tour. The route leads via Möllbrücke and Heiligenblut to the Grossglockner High Alpine Road. Former professional cyclist Paco Wrolich, cycling coordinator for Kärnten Werbung, describes the route: The ride begins undulating through Carinthia past Ossiachersee, Afritzersee, Brennsee and Millstättersee. There are no major topographical challenges until Heiligenblut at the foot of the Großglockner. The ascent to Franz Josefs Höhe challenges the riders with steep ramps.
Tour of Austria to St. Johann/Alpendorf
On 10 July, the race starts in Lienz and covers 188.7 kilometres and 2,311 metres in altitude to St. Johann/Alpendorf. After the start from the main square in Lienz, the peloton completes two laps of the Lienz valley floor with a sprint in front of the new railway station. The leading group of the day forms on the long climb to the Felbertauern tunnel. From Mittersill, the route leads via Wagrain and Bischofshofen to the finish. St. Johann/Alpendorf is the stage destination for the 16th time. Wolfgang Hettegger, CEO of Snow Space Salzburg, compares the finish to the wall of Huy at Flèche Wallonne. Puncheurs with the right timing are required.
Circuit in Steyr
The fourth stage of the Tour of Austria on 11 July starts and finishes in Steyr. The course measures 170.5 kilometres and 2,311 metres in altitude. Last year, Felix Großschartner won on the main square in front of thousands of spectators. The stage begins on the town square and leads to the first sprint in the spa town of Bad Hall. The route continues via Kirchdorf to Vorderstoder for the first mountain classification. The way back to Steyr runs via the Ski World Cup resort of Hinterstoder. The stage finale with the Porscheberg promises excitement. Dominik and Alexander Hrinkow from Team Hrinkow Advarics are responsible for the route in their home region.
Tour of Austria ends in Vienna
The final stage on 12 July leads from Langenlois over 109 kilometres and 758 metres in altitude to Vienna. Langenlois celebrates a tour premiere. The starting flag is dropped in the historic town centre with its vineyards. The route runs via Neumühle, short climbs and vineyards along the Danube to the federal capital. Organising committee boss Rupert Hödlmoser is expecting a sprint royal. Marco Haller won on the Ring in front of the Burgtheater in 2014. The overall standings will be decided on the final day, with the teams battling it out for the prestigious stage.
Info Tour of Austria 2026
All stages of the Tour of Austria will be broadcast live on ORF, K19 and Discovery+. For viewers from Germany, the free live stream on YouTube is particularly interesting.
Stages of the Lidl Tour of Austria 2026:
- Stage 1, 8 July: Graz - Gamlitz, 188km, 2,716m
- Stage 2, 9 July: Bad Kleinkirchheim - Franz Josefs Höhe/Großglockner, 188.8km, 2,914m
- 3rd stage, 10th July: Lienz - St. Johann/Alpendorf, 188.7km, 2,311m
- Stage 4: 11 July: Steyr - Steyr, 170.5km, 2,325m
- Stage 5: 12 July: Langenlois - Vienna, 109km, 758m
Total: 845km, 11,024hm
Kristian Bauer
Editor
