2026 is here, and around the globe, the stars of men’s cycling are getting ready for another racing season! But which riders should you keep an eye out for in the races this summer? Discover the “pick of the peloton,” our favorites for the coming year!
On the threshold of the 2026 pro cycling season, the field of favorites is constantly transforming… and under construction. However, after another roundly (and some say boringly) dominant year on the books for Tadej Pogačar, could the peloton be going through its most radical recent transformation in the coming year?
The many transfers taking place this off-season have redefined quite a few team identities! Notably, Remco Evenepoel will don the kit of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, and Juan Ayuso makes a high-profile jump to Lidl-Trek.
Meanwhile, the rise of a new gen of potential stars, led by Mexican phenomenon Isaac del Toro and French up-and-coming Paul Seixas, promise us that something fresh is on the horizon. Will they challenge the established order at the Grand Tours and Monuments? Only time will tell!
With these refreshed rosters, which riders catch our eyes in 2026? Keep reading to discover our 26 picks to watch!
26 Men’s Cycling Stars to Follow in 2026:
Embed from Getty Images1. Paul Seixas (Decathlon)
Following a promising win in the 2025 Tour de l’Avenir, Paul Seixas enters his second professional season as the most hyped rider in the bunch… and for good reason.
For 2026, his team Decathlon has curated a “balanced” calendar for him that will likely include debuts at Strade Bianche and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. The media is already drawing some comparisons to French stars of the past, but Seixas remains focused on slow and steady progress… and is already showing some good results.
Our thoughts? He should get some great leadership and teaching from his new veteran teammate Tiesj Benoot, who may support him across the classics. This veteran rider is a perfect piece of the puzzle for the “new” Decathlon, and Seixas himself perfectly poised to make his mark on the next decade of the sport.
Read more: Rising French Star Paul Seixas Confirms the Hype: ‘We’ve Yet to See His Limits’
2. Matteo Jorgenson (Team Visma Lease-a-Bike)
Is it too bold to say that Matteo Jorgenson enters 2026 as our top choice for an out-of-the-box Monument contender? However the season shakes out, this rider is a vital lieutenant for Visma Lease-a-Bike’s Grand Tour campaigns and gives fans from his native U.S. something to be proud of.
After great 2024 and 2025 seasons, this American has proven he stays competitive on almost any terrain. We’ve seen him tackle Flemish cobbles and Alpine summits, working most often for VLAB’s GC star Jonas Vingegaard.
But Jorgenson’s 2026 schedule includes a heavier emphasis on the cobbled classics before shifting into a support role for the Tour de France. Jorgenson’s tactical intelligence and power on the bike continue to show why Visma is lucky to have him under contract, and make him one of the most dangerous riders on any climb or finale.
Read more: Idaho-bred Matteo Jorgenson is big – and getting bigger in cycling’s biggest races
3. Biniam Girmay (Lotto-Intermarché)
After an outstanding 2024, Biniam Girmay remains a face for African cycling. But with the Intermarché-Wanty squad dissolving this year, he’ll have to take a step up to keep his status as one of the sport’s top sprinters.
Bini’s 2026 season is built around the spring, with a particular focus on a return to the podium at Gent-Wevelgem. His ability to sprint from a reduced group after a hard day of climbing makes him a unique threat in the modern peloton, but he’ll still have to contend with peers like Mads Pedersen to claim those victories.
Still, he continues to break barriers and keep our interest every time he lines up at the start!
Read more: History-maker Girmay signs for Iniesta’s new team
Embed from Getty Images4. Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)
Was this the most discussed transfer of 2025? Remco will finally line up for Red Bull this year, after a lot of discussion about Ineos and other suitors. But will it be a fit? Or will this mark a negative turning point for the Belgian star’s ambitions instead?
Now that he’s freed from the “Wolfpack,” he now has a super-team behind him with the singular goal of winning the Tour de France. His partnership with waning stars like Primož Roglič as well as new talent like Florian Lipowitz provides the team with the most important tactical advantage: DEPTH! Their stable of top riders might keep UAE Team Emirates on the defensive.
As for Remco; whether he can adapt to the new equipment and internal hierarchy will be the story of the summer… no matter which way it goes.
5. Tim Rex (Team Visma Lease-a-Bike)
A new face in the WorldTour for 2026, Tim Rex moves up from the Visma dev squad with a bright reputation already! This young rider is already proving to be a real powerhouse, best suited for the northern classics and possibly mid-sized stage races.
While Rex’s first year will be focused on learning the ropes, his performance in 2025 U23 suggests he won’t be on the sidelines for long. And while Visma’s roster has felt a bit lacking in some areas this year, their strong dev team pipeline continues to come through.
What’s next? Don’t be surprised if Rex ends up as another one of the biggest engines in the Visma lead-out and classics rotation.
Read more: Rex takes step from Team Visma | Lease a Bike Development to WorldTeam
Embed from Getty Images6. Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious)
Oh, Lenny… we’ll forgive you for the whole sticky bottle thing…
Entering his second year with the Bahrain team, Martinez remains France’s brightest hope for a pure climber. Are those hopes unfounded? Maybe not! His 2026 goals are centered around the Tour de France and potentially the Vuelta a España, making it clear that his interests lie at the Grand Tours.
And despite his slight frame, his late season performances seemed to suggest that he has improved his resistance to crosswinds and his positioning in the bunch. This was a huge issue in the 2025 Tour. If those improvements hold up, he’ll be a more well-rounded GC threat.
Keep in mind: if the gradients exceed 10%, Martinez is one of the few riders capable of distancing big names like Pogi, Vingegaard, Evenepoel… or at least staying with them.
7. Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers)
Is he really still the “Top Ganna” of the time trial world? After a generally lackluster 2025, we’re eager to see Pippo return to his best performances in 2026.
And his ambitions this summer might extend far beyond the clock. Will we see him increasingly focused on the cobbled classics? He remains one of the largest riders in the modern peloton, able to use his massive frame to power over those cobbled sectors in Paris-Roubaix.
A Ganna resurgence would be good news for the Ineos squad. With Geraint Thomas transitioning into a management role, Ganna’s status as a leader has never been more prominent. Let’s see if he can take one more step up with a good showing in the coming year!
Embed from Getty Images8. Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek)
Having signed a contract through 2028, Mattias Skjelmose is now a cornerstone of the Lidl-Trek project… despite the conflicts coming towards him from within the team. Can he handle the heat?
Although he will share leadership with Juan Ayuso at the Tour de France, Skjelmose has been promised sole command for his biggest goal, the Ardennes Classics. His 2025 Amstel Gold Race victory over Pogačar proved he can beat the best…. especially on punchy terrain, where he excels.
In 2026, we think the Dane will aim to add Liège-Bastogne-Liège to his palmares, and he may also spearhead his team’s GC at the Vuelta.
9. Kevin Vauquelin (Ineos Grenadiers)
Following the collapse of his former team Arkéa, Vauquelin’s move to Ineos is one of the most intriguing transfers of the year. Will it be a fit or a flop?
One thing’s for sure: this Frenchman proved his GC mettle with a top-ten finish at the 2025 Tour de France. That was a big surprise! Now, he has the once-world-class infrastructure of the British squad behind him, and we’ll see if he makes use of it to get more great results.
What’s the plan? We might expect to see Vauquelin lead the team at the Giro d’Italia, or he might make a co-leadership appearance at the Tour de France come July. His development into a consistent Grand Tour contender will be a major pillar of Ineos’s rebuild for the coming year.
Read more: Cycling’s Most British Team Banks Tour de France Hopes on Budding French Star
Embed from Getty Images10. Wout van Aert (Team Visma Lease-a-Bike)
No more second places. This year, we want a win for Wout.
Coming off a decent 2025 campaign, Wout van Aert remains the Swiss Army knife of the professional peloton. Despite his age creeping up there, his 2026 program is built around the elusive Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix titles that have so far escaped him.
While he continues to provide so much support for Vingegaard each July, his individual hunger for wins remains his primary motivator. His worst enemy: injury. After a cyclocross crash over the winter, will we see him in top form come spring?
11. Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates)
This guy is coming off a ridiculous 2025 season.
After finishing second place in the Giro d’Italia, Isaac del Toro is no longer a prospect… he is a legit superstar! The Mexican climber starts 2026 with some weight on his shoulders: to prove that he has what it takes to survive a deep UAE roster. However, he’s all but confirmed on the UAE Tour de France roster.
What’s so special about Del Toro that makes him a worthy asset (and fill-in) for Pogi? His explosive acceleration and fearless attitude to racing have made him a fan favorite. But he can also be a tactical nightmare for rivals.
Can he keep it going? All eyes will be on Isaac during the first big climbs of his 2-26 season, to see if his upward trajectory has any ceiling at all.
Read more: Breakout cycling star Isaac del Toro is Mexico’s Sportsman of the Year
Embed from Getty Images12. Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
There’s one guy that’s a reliable source of victories for Patrick Lefevere’s Soudal Quick-Step squad, and that’s Tim Merlier.
In a 2026 season that features several sprinter-friendly routes in the Giro and the Tour, Merlier will be at the top of the food chain. He has a great rapport with his lead-out train, and he’s the biggest favorite for any flat finish.
Will he keep his great 2025 track record racing into 2026? We think so. As long as he can survive the intermediate climbs, Merlier is the safest bet for double-digit wins this year!
13. Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek)
Having moved away from the shadow of Pogačar, Juan is ready for a new lease on life.
He enters 2026 as the marquee GC man for Lidl-Trek. Since he’s been given full command of the team’s Tour de France ambitions, he’ll be supported by a veteran cast of domestiques. But this rider is known for drama, and that includes his former UAE teammates… as well as anything new stirred up within Lidl-Trek.
We don’t think he’s half-bad, but whether he’s playing nice with everyone will be a recurring theme throughout the season. This will be particularly evident in the Ardennes classics, where he might butt heads with Skjelmose.
2026 is the year Ayuso must prove he can handle the pressure of being a team leader… and that all the drama was just UAE, not him.
14. Matthew Riccitello (Decathlon)
Is this an unusual pick for our list? After the rebranding of Isreal-Premier Tech over the offseason, this climber has decided to follow the flow of talent to Decathlon. With his new team, he’s slated for a leadership role in some week-long stage races.
After a breakout 2025 that saw him looking super strong in the high Alps, Riccitello seems to have grown enough to challenge for podiums at the WorldTour level. This year, we might see him at Itzulia Basque Country or the Critérium du Dauphiné. In these races, his explosive climbing style will be the most effective.
Let’s hope for a strong season for Riccitello this year! He’ll be a good representative for American cycling on the global stage, now that he is away from IPT.
Read more: Matthew Riccitello interview: Why 2026 is a big year for American cycling’s emerging star
Embed from Getty Images15. Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates)
Another American rider we’ll be watching closely this year: Brandon McNulty.
The 2026 season sees him continuing his evolution into a stronger time trialist, and a more pronounced week-long stage race specialists. Amidst all the hubbub of the primary UAE GC contingent sweeping up wins, he was quietly plugging along in the background, scooping up some decent W’s of his own.
McNulty often performs his best in the early months of the year, so he may target a Paris-Nice title or a win at the Tour de Romandie. While he’ll remain a loyal servant to Pogačar in July, his own ambitions may see a chance to flourish this year as well.
McNulty’s versatility ensures that he remains indispensable asset for the best team in the world… and one we’ll be keeping our eyes on.
16. Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)
Is this little Italian guy just fun or what? He’s entering his second year with the Red Bull squad, and last year he showed that he was one of the best climbers in the WorldTour. His 2025 season was extremely consistent, highlighted by top-six finishes in both the Giro and the Vuelta.
For 2026, Pellizzari may need to take a different role considering the entry of Evenepoel into the team. He’ll still be a key mountain lieutenant at the Tour, but he might also take the opportunity to target the Giro GC himself. His talent and charismatic personality make him one we want to watch this season, both at Grand Tours and outside them.
Embed from Getty Images17. Olav Kooij (Decathlon)
The former sprinter at VLAB begins his new chapter in 2026 as the undisputed leader of the rebranded Decathlon squad. Previously, we wrote about his struggles getting a clear leadership role at Visma. There, he had to share sprinting duties with GC ambitions. Now, he has a dedicated lead-out train designed specifically to elevate him to the top of the podium.
The only question is: how good can he get? His primary objective this season may be to claim the green jersey at the Tour de France. A huge accomplishment like this would cement his status as one of the world’s fastest men!
What should we look out for? Check his early season results in races like UAE Tour or Paris-Nice. These might end up as his first test of a high-stakes team transition.
18. João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates)
There’s no doubt: Almeida benefits the most from the departure of an internal rival, Ayuso. But it’s not just that, is it?
Instead, Almeida has solidified his position as the perfect “Plan B” for UAE Team Emirates. He delivers results; he gets it done. He isn’t flashy (but he is the hottest rider in the peloton). The Portuguese star remains one of the most consistent riders in the peloton, and he rarely finishes outside the top five in any stage race he enters!
What should we look at for 2026? On the Grand Tour front, he is expected to target the Vuelta a España. This is a race that should suit him quite well. As for us, we’ll be waiting to see him scoot back into contention after being dropped… it remains one of the most impressive (and sometimes funniest) sights in cycling.
Read more: Is 2026 make or break for João Almeida?
19. Thibau Nys (Lidl-Trek)
What does it mean to be the son of a legend when it’s time to cement a legacy for yourself? Thibau Nys has spent 2025 proving he is a star in cyclocross, but now it’s time to take some of that winning energy to the road.
His 2026 campaign will likely focus on the hilly one-day races and short, punchy stage finishes. In these settings, his sprint will make a difference… and might even net him a few wins.
His drive remains one of his differentiating factors. In fact, we think it will allow him to win even when he isn’t the strongest rider in the group. This is not unlike other cyclocross transplants like Van Aert or Mathieu van der Poel. As Nys continues to mature as a rider, his potential to win something like Amstel Gold or a Tour stage will just become increasingly likely.
Read more: The Road to the Tour: Thibau Nys Jumps Into the Deep Water of the Tour de France
Embed from Getty Images20. Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious)
This year, we’re facing a sad question: is Moho just washed up now?
He’s the master of the descent and taking a calculated risk, but last year’s generally lame performances see Moho entering 2026 as a veteran without much winning potential left in him. Still, he remains a leader a road captain for Bahrain Victorious. Last year at the Tour, we saw him taking a new mentorship role for Martinez. But still, we wonder: when will he get results for himself again?
Although there were some transfer rumors in late 2025, Moho remains the heart of his current team Bahrain Victorious, and we think he’ll still be a threat in the Monuments. His focus for 2026 might include a second win at Milano-Sanremo, as well as at the gravel World Championships. On gravel, his bike-handling skills are still the absolute top of the field.
What’s keeping hope alive? Mohorič is still a rider that no team can afford to let out of their sight…. including in 2026’s top contests.
21. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Movistar)
Poor Cian… even with VLAB, things weren’t going right for him. Will 2026 change it up?
After a period of adjustment and injury recovery in 2025, Uijtdebroeks enters the new season looking for change. He’ll also hope to reclaim his status as one of the World Tour’s top younger talents, amidst an increasingly competitive field…
After a move to Movistar, this young Belgian will probably focus heavily on improving his time-trialing and climbing. If all goes to plan, this will be a big win for his new team. We may see him take leadership at the Vuelta a España. We’ll be keeping an eye out to see if things go well for him this year… or if he gets unlucky again.
22. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
Mads Pedersen enters 2026 with a “forever contract,” one of only a few in the sport. He also has a specific mission, should he choose to accept it: winning green at the Tour de France.
After sitting out the 2025 Tour to allow Jonathan Milan his chance, the roles are reversed. And we couldn’t be more excited! Pedersen is one of the most durable riders in the modern peloton. He doesn’t care if it’s cold and wet conditions… he’ll be a the perennial favorite for those days. That includes the opening classics in the spring.
Despite the changes at Lidl-Trek over the off-season, his leadership seems like the glue that holds them together. Let’s see if he can make good on his hopes for the new year!
Embed from Getty Images23. Josh Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers)
What ever happened to Josh Tarling?
Well, he’s still only 22 at the start of the 2026 season. And now, Tarling is the heir apparent to becoming the best time trialist in the world. But to do so, he’ll need to focus up in the coming year and show some results.
His focus will likely remains on the rainbow ITT jersey. However, we may also see him taking more responsibility in the classics and working for Vauquelin in the coming year, as Ineos focuses on developing its roster for the coming years. Tarling’s power numbers are plenty good in the INEOS lab, but translating those to the field is a different story.
Where is his ceiling? If he comes through strong this season, expect to see Josh pull the peloton into single file on a flat stage… and maybe even take some decent wins for himself. Scary times for Ineos’s rivals!
Read more: Chrono des Nations: Josh Tarling captures France’s final race of the 2025 season
24. Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)
At 36 years old, Roglič is old, but he’s not giving up.
He enters 2026 as sort of the elder statesman of the GC contenders. We just want to know: is he still any good? Or is he simply cruising towards retirement?
While he has stepped back from primary Tour de France leadership and will probably support Evenepoel, Rogla remains one of the men to beat in steep uphill sprint finished. His main objective for the season is a fifth Vuelta a España title, which would seem to crown him as the all-time best to ever ride the Spanish tour.
His never-quit attitude might continue to inspire and frustrate some of his younger rivals this year!
25. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)
No argument that Florian Lipowitz was one of the breakouts of 2025. After all, he finished in the top ten of two Grand Tours!
But for 2026, he’ll be doing something a little different: acting as co-leader and potential support for Evenepoel. The team has signaled that Lipowitz will have some of his own opportunities throughout the year. What he makes of them will guide his career trajectory for the next several years, whether he remains with the Red Bull squad in the future or not.
26. Benoît Cosnefroy (UAE Team Emirates)
Sorry to end on a sad note.
This transfer was one of the more surprising (and for many, slightly disappointing) moves of the winter. Cosnefroy was recruited to UAE Team Emirates specifically to target the French and Italian classics where UAE has previously lacked a specialist puncher.
Is it the right move? Cosnefroy has been vocal about not wanting to be a domestique, and if the team gives him freedom, all the better. He was not previously performing at his highest level, so maybe it was time for change. It seems that 2026 will reveal whether this rider still has some juice left in him!
Embed from Getty ImagesWe can’t name them all… but which stars are you watching rise in 2026? Let us know in the comments or social media! ★
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