The 2026 Czech Tour GC is a 2.Pro stage race concluding with a mountain finish, rewarding riders with strong climbing ability and the capacity to manage time over multiple mountain stages. The race profile strongly favours pure climbers and all-rounders capable of both ascending and limiting losses in any time trial segments. With several WorldTour-calibre riders lining up alongside motivated Continental squads, the overall battle promises to be genuinely competitive.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Mikel Landa is in a class of his own here, boasting a Climbing stat of 79 — five points clear of the next rider — and Legendary card rarity. His upcoming Vuelta entry confirms he is in a serious race block, and the mountain finish plays directly to his greatest strengths.
Soudal Quick-Step
Soudal Quick-Step
Mikel Landa leads the startlist with the highest Climbing stat of 79 and is a Legendary-rarity rider, making him the clear favorite for this mountain-finish GC. His pedigree in stage races and upcoming Vuelta appearance confirm he is using this as a serious preparation race at full capacity.
★★★
Strong Contenders
Jordan Jegat and Jan Hirt are the two most credible GC challengers. Jegat's Epic rarity and 76 Climbing score give him the tools, while his 11-race recent sample provides confidence in his condition. Hirt brings Czech familiarity and a solid recent record with a best of 9th in similar-profile races.
NSN Cycling
NSN Cycling
Jan Hirt brings a Climbing stat of 75 and solid recent form across 8 similar-profile races (avg 17.6, best of 9th), and is confirmed for both the Czech Tour and subsequent Vuelta, suggesting he is in a strong block of form. His Czech roots may also give a motivational edge on home roads.
TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies
Jordan Jegat posts a Climbing stat of 76 (Epic rarity) and has the most race exposure in similar-profile events over the past 90 days with 11 starts, averaging 15.5. His consistency across a large sample of climbing races makes him the most credible challenger to Landa.
★★
Dark Horses
Jack Haig, Gianmarco Garofoli, and Mauri Vansevenant form a dangerous secondary group, all posting Climbing scores of 73–75 and complementary skills. Haig's 76 Hills score is the highest in the field, Garofoli's 72 TT is a GC weapon, and Vansevenant's 76 Hills mirrors Haig's puncheur profile — all three could surge into overall contention if Landa falters.
Soudal Quick-Step
Soudal Quick-Step
Gianmarco Garofoli (Climbing 73) stands out with the best TT score among the 73-climbing cohort at 72, which could be decisive in a multi-stage GC race with any time trial element. His Soudal Quick-Step support alongside Landa is a major team asset.
INEOS Grenadiers
INEOS Grenadiers
Jack Haig matches Hirt's Climbing stat of 75 and pairs it with the highest Hills score among the field at 76, suggesting he excels when roads repeatedly kick up — ideal for a mountain-finish GC. INEOS brings significant team depth here, adding tactical options.
Soudal Quick-Step
Soudal Quick-Step
Mauri Vansevenant posts Climbing 73 but leads his rarity tier with a Hills score of 76, hinting at excellent punch on shorter ascents typical of Czech terrain. As Landa's Soudal Quick-Step teammate, he could also benefit from protected GC status if circumstances shift.
★
Ones to Watch
Fausto Masnada, Alessandro Fancellu, Santiago Umba, and Luca Covili are the outsiders with genuine upset potential. Fancellu's 6.0 average position is the best in the entire recent-form table, Umba has already won a similar-profile race recently, and Covili's seven-race sample with a best of 5th proves he belongs near the front on mountain days.
MBH Bank CSB
MBH Bank CSB
Alessandro Fancellu leads all riders in recent similar-profile form with an average position of 6.0, and is confirmed for the Czech Tour. His Climbing of 73 and Hills of 74 suit the terrain, making him a credible one-week GC dark horse despite limited recent data.
MBH Bank CSB
MBH Bank CSB
Fausto Masnada's Climbing stat of 72 is backed by the second-best recent form among active climbers — averaging 10.0 across 2 similar-profile races with a best of 6th. His TT score of 68 adds a useful bonus in stage-race scenarios.
Bardiani CSF
Bardiani CSF
Luca Covili (Climbing 73) has the deepest recent sample among outsiders with 7 similar-profile races and a best finish of 5th, showing he can crack the top 10 on the right day. His Bardiani CSF squad will target stages, keeping him in the mix throughout.
Solution Tech NIPPO
Solution Tech NIPPO
Santiago Umba averaged 13.0 across 3 recent climbing races and crucially claimed 1 win and 1 podium in that span, the best results record among all non-top-tier riders. His Climbing stat of 71 understates his punchy form on mountain finishes.
Verdict
Mikel Landa is the overwhelming favorite on paper, with the highest Climbing stat in the field and Legendary pedigree, but Jordan Jegat and Jan Hirt — both confirmed starters with strong recent climbing form — represent the most credible threats to his GC ambitions.