Ten Aussies on the Barcelona Start Line
- John Trevorrow
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 10 hours ago
I’m getting excited as I pack my bags in readiness for my flight to Europe tomorrow. My right hand man and good friend Vaz Juchima and I will be imbedded with Team Jayco AlUla and giving you regular updates each day.
I will give you a more detailed story about the Aussie team after I arrive.
Most teams have announced their final lists for the Tour de France 2026 and at this stage it looks like there will be 10 Australians on the starting line for the team time trial in Barcelona on Saturday.
The Aussies will have a deep and highly competitive presence led with our only World Tour team, Jayco AlUla, including five Australians in their 8 man squad.
There are five other Aussies spread throughout the other 22 teams in the race.
Team Jayco AlUla
Team Jayco AlUla, led by their GC contender Ben O’Connor who the team will be hoping for a top 10 result with a podium Hail Mary. Michael Matthews has amazingly recovered from two broken wrists in a horror training crash in March. Michael will be stage hunting for sure and will also be a chance for stint in the Maillot Jaune early on. Luke Plapp is in good form and also a big chance for stage success especially in the last half of the Tour. Kel OBrien riding his debut Tour and Luke Durbridge riding his final season, will both be crucial in the team time trial prologue on Saturday. Over the years GreenEdge have excelled in this format and they look to be heading back to that form.
Across the Peloton — the other five
Jai Hindley — Red Bull–BORA–Hansgrohe
Jai Hindley Red Bull–BORA–Hansgrohe; A former winner of the Giro, is the other Aussie who is a realistic chance for high GC finish. His impressive third overall at the Giro in May showed that he is back to top form and although he will be very busy looking after team leaders Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz in the high mountains there is always the possibility he will have the opportunity to unleash his climbing talent.
Kaden Groves — Alpecin–Deceuninck
It’s good to see Kaden Groves back after a crash put him out of the Giro quite early. Although he is very capable of winning a stage, he will be focussed on looking after team Alpecin–Deceuninck team leader Jasper Philipsen who is chasing the green sprinters jersey.
Michael Storer — Tudor Pro Cycling
Michael Storer will lead Tudor Pro Cycling’s GC ambitions and he is in great form. His 7th overall at the Giro was full of class and again he will be a part of the Western Australian Dingo pack with O’Connor and Hindley set to repeat their exciting GC assault.
Robert Stannard — Bahrain Victorious
Robert Stannard — Bahrain Victorious; is a breakaway specialist but will be busy looking after team leaders Antonio Tiberi and Phil Bauhaus.
Chris Harper — Pinarello Q36.5
Chris Harper Pinarello Q36.5 is back to his brilliant best. Troubled by challenging back and leg issues over the past 18 months, he looked much better at the Giro but has since found some great form. Just last week he produced a masterclass in the Andorra MoraBanc Classica to deliver a victory to team leader Tom Pidcock. And that will be his primary job on this Tour. But, given half a chance, he is definitely capable of a top 10 finish.
The Form Guide — all ten Aussies
Where to point the remote — each Aussie’s job, what they do best, and the 2026 stages worth circling.
Ben O’Connor (Jayco AlUla) | GC leader | Pure climber with a three-week engine; thrives on long summit finishes. | Stages to watch: S6 Gavarnie-Gèdre (Tourmalet), S15 Plateau de Solaison, S19–20 Alpe d’Huez. |
Michael Matthews (Jayco AlUla) | Stage Hunter/ Fast finisher | Punchy uphill kicks, reduced bunch sprints, classics craft. | Stages to watch: S2 Montjuïc (early shot at yellow), S4 Foix, S21 Montmartre. |
Luke Plapp (Jayco AlUla) | Stage hunter / rouleur | Time-trial power and a big breakaway engine; climbing better every year | Stages to watch: S13 Belfort, S16 individual time trial, S17 Voiron |
Kelland “Kel” O’Brien (Jayco AlUla) | Rouleur / domestique (debut) | Track-bred power and lead-out muscle | Stages to watch: S1 Barcelona team time trial |
Luke Durbridge (Jayco AlUla) | Road captain / rouleur (final season) | Experience, raw power and a classics-hardened work rate | Stages to watch: S1 TTT, S9 Ussel, S13 Belfort |
Jai Hindley (Red Bull–BORA–Hansgrohe) | Climbing domestique / GC card | Former Giro winner; high-mountain diesel with deep third-week form. | Stages to watch: S6 Tourmalet, S18 Orcières-Merlette, S20 Alpe d’Huez. |
Kaden Groves (Alpecin–Deceuninck) | Sprinter / lead-out for Philipsen | Raw top-end speed; also wins from breaks and on rougher days | Stages to watch: S5 Pau, S7 Bordeaux, S8 Bergerac, S12 Châlon |
Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling) | GC leader | Strong pure climber who comes alive in the third-week high mountains | Stages to watch: S6 Gavarnie-Gèdre, S18 Orcières-Merlette, S20 Alpe d’Huez |
Robert Stannard (Bahrain Victorious) | Breakaway specialist / domestique | Aggressive, durable rouleur who climbs well enough to last. | Stages to watch: S4 Foix, S9 Ussel, S13 Belfort, S17 Voiron. |
Chris Harper (Pinarello Q36.5) | Climbing domestique / top-10 hope | In-form climber; just set up Pidcock’s Andorra win | Stages to watch: S15 Solaison, S18 Orcières-Merlette, S20 Alpe d’Huez |
Route key — S1 team time trial (Barcelona); sprints S5, S7, S8, S11, S12; summit finishes S3, S6, S15, S18, S19, S20; lone individual time trial S16; Montmartre finale S21.
More from Iffy & Vaz once they’re on the ground.
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