120,000 Watch Tour de France's First Stage in Barcelona

An estimated 120,000 people gathered in the streets of Barcelona on Saturday to witness the inaugural stage of the 2026 Tour de France, a team time trial. Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard of Visma/Lease a Bike emerged as the first overall leader of the prestigious cycling race.

The most crowded spectator points included Parc del Fórum, the stage's starting point, and the area around Montjuïc mountain, which served as the finish line. Significant crowds also congregated near the Sagrada Família basilica and along Passeig de Gràcia.

The 23 competing teams covered the 19.6-kilometer route between 5:05 PM, when the first team, Caja Rural, started, and approximately 7:20 PM, when Tadej Pogacar's UAE team crossed the finish line. Barcelona's mayor, Jaume Collboni, described the event as a "dream come true" for the city and expressed happiness and excitement.

The 'Grand Départ' in Barcelona has led to substantial mobility restrictions across six of the city's ten districts, particularly affecting Eixample, Sants-Montjuïc, and Sant Martí. Traffic disruptions are anticipated to continue on Sunday with the second stage, a 168.5-kilometer road race from Tarragona to Barcelona. The final Catalan stage will take place on Monday, covering 195.9 kilometers from Granollers to Les Angles ski resort in France.