Stage 2 of the 2026 Tour of Austria is a 188.8 km mountain stage finishing atop the iconic Großglockner at the Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Höhe, one of the most demanding summit finishes in European cycling. The stage departs from Bad Kleinkirchheim and promises a brutal final climb that will sort the pure climbers from the rest. As a 2.1-ranked race, it attracts a strong mix of WorldTour and ProTeam riders, several of whom are using it as Vuelta a España preparation.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Carlos Rodríguez stands alone at the top with a climbing stat of 77, the best in the field, and the full backing of INEOS Grenadiers. A mountain finish of this severity plays perfectly to his strengths, and he is the only rider on the startlist combining elite climbing ability with WorldTour race-winning experience.
INEOS Grenadiers
INEOS Grenadiers
Carlos Rodríguez leads the startlist with the highest climbing stat (77) and is confirmed for this race. Despite a modest average finishing position in recent similar-profile races, his class and INEOS Grenadiers support make him the clear favourite on the brutal Großglockner summit finish.
★★★
Strong Contenders
Tao Geoghegan Hart and Rainer Kepplinger both possess the climbing credentials to challenge Rodríguez. Geoghegan Hart's Grand Tour background is a major asset on a high-altitude finish, while Kepplinger's Austrian roots and solid all-round stats make him an exceptionally motivated and capable contender on home roads.
Bahrain Victorious
Bahrain Victorious
Rainer Kepplinger holds a climbing stat of 75 and, as an Austrian rider for Bahrain Victorious, will be highly motivated on home roads to the Großglockner. His solid time trial score (72) suggests he can pace himself well on long mountain efforts.
Lidl-Trek
Lidl-Trek
Tao Geoghegan Hart brings a climbing stat of 76 and Grand Tour pedigree to this mountain finish. Riding for Lidl-Trek alongside Konrad and Mollema, he is well-supported and capable of matching Rodriguez on a steep Alpine climb.
★★
Dark Horses
Laurens De Plus, Finlay Pickering, and Gregor Mühlberger all hold climbing stats of 75–76, placing them right in the mix for the podium. De Plus and Pickering's raw numbers are hard to ignore, while Mühlberger's local knowledge and eight recent appearances in similar races give him tactical advantages that pure stats cannot capture.
Jayco AlUla
Jayco AlUla
Finlay Pickering matches De Plus at climbing 76 and represents Jayco AlUla as a legitimate GC threat. His best result of 17th in a similar-profile race hints at room to improve, and a dedicated mountain finish suits his profile.
Decathlon CMA CGM
Decathlon CMA CGM
Gregor Mühlberger brings local knowledge as an Austrian rider with a climbing stat of 75 and eight recent appearances in similar-profile races. Although his average position is 28.5, his experience on Alpine terrain and the motivation of racing at home make him a genuine dark horse.
INEOS Grenadiers
INEOS Grenadiers
Laurens De Plus posts a climbing stat of 76, joint second on the startlist, and is confirmed for the race. His recent form in similar-profile races averages around 39th, but his raw climbing ability keeps him firmly in contention for a stage podium.
★
Ones to Watch
Patrick Konrad, Neilson Powless, Igor Arrieta, and Jan Christen each bring specific qualities that could see them finish in the top ten. Konrad and Christen benefit from Austrian home advantage and outstanding hills scores, Powless offers Epic-card versatility, and Arrieta's race experience (11 similar-profile starts) provides a reliable base for a strong showing.
UAE Emirates
UAE Emirates
Igor Arrieta has the most experience in similar-profile races (11 starts) with a best finish of 13th, demonstrating consistency at this level for UAE Emirates. His climbing stat of 74 and hills score of 75 suit the Queen Stage profile.
UAE Emirates
UAE Emirates
Jan Christen boasts the highest hills score on the entire startlist (78) despite a climbing stat of 73, an intriguing combination for a steep mountain finish like Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Höhe. The UAE Emirates youngster is one to monitor as a potential breakaway threat.
EF - EasyPost
EF - EasyPost
Neilson Powless carries a climbing stat of 73 alongside an impressive hills score of 76 and a strong time trial rating of 74. Confirmed for the race, his all-round ability on an Epic-rarity card makes him one to watch on the Großglockner.
Lidl-Trek
Lidl-Trek
Patrick Konrad (climbing 73, hills 76) is a seasoned Austrian climber who will be racing on roads he knows well. His hill score and team support from Lidl-Trek give him an outside shot at a strong result.
Verdict
Carlos Rodríguez is the clear favourite backed by the highest climbing stat and INEOS Grenadiers' team strength, with Tao Geoghegan Hart and home rider Rainer Kepplinger his most dangerous challengers on the Großglockner.