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Following in the footsteps of the first Tour of Austria in 1949, the 75th edition of Austria’s biggest cycling event is set to take place. From July 7 to July 12, 2026, the Lidl Tour of Austria will run from Styria through Carinthia, Tyrol, Salzburg, Upper Austria, and Lower Austria, finishing in Vienna. A total of six WorldTeams will be at the start, and for the first time since 2004, an Austrian national team will also compete.

This year, a record 22 teams—up from 20 in previous years—will take part, each with six riders. Confirmed are the Austrian Continental teams ARBÖ Kärnten Sport Feld am See, Hrinkow Advarics, Schwingshandl Intralogistics, Team Vorarlberg, Tirol KTM Cycling Team, and WSA KTM Graz, as well as an Austrian national team returning for the first time since 2004. Competition for the Austrian teams will be fierce, with six top-tier UCI WorldTeams at the старт: Alpecin–Premier Tech, EF Education–EasyPost, INEOS Grenadiers, Lidl–Trek, Jayco AlUla, and UAE Team Emirates–XRG, led by defending champion Isaac del Toro. The remaining slots will be filled by Continental teams from Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Poland, and the Czech Republic.

Route on Historic Paths
The route of the 75th Lidl Tour of Austria was presented today at the Kunsthaus Graz. Tour Director Thomas Pupp announced three new stage locations: Gamlitz, Bad Kleinkirchheim, and Langenlois. The Grand Depart will take place in Graz. On the second day, a demanding mountain finish awaits at the Franz Josefs Höhe on the Großglockner. After the traditional stage town of Lienz, the race continues to St. Johann/Alpendorf in Salzburg, followed by a stage around Steyr. The final stage leads from Langenlois in Lower Austria to the capital Vienna—last featured in the route in 2017.

“We are celebrating history this year with a mix of traditional stage locations and new regions, and we will once again fulfill our promise of offering the ‘most beautiful sightseeing tour of Austria’ with a varied route design. The Tour of Austria 2026 promises excitement until the very end—anything can happen until the final day. After last year’s incredible spectator interest, we hope to further drive the cycling boom in Austria,” says Thomas Pupp. Riders will once again compete for five jerseys—powered by MAS Sportswear: the overall leader wears the Lidl/Škoda jersey, Mautner Markhof sponsors the best climber’s jersey, Škoda also backs the points classification jersey, DAN Küchen sponsors the best U23 rider, and Gebrüder Weiss awards the best Austrian rider. “We are very pleased that long-standing sponsors remain loyal, which underlines the positive development since the restart in 2023,” adds Dominik Schwarzmann of facts marketing GmbH.

Grand Depart in Graz
The Styrian capital has a long history with the Tour of Austria—Graz was already a stage location at the inaugural race in 1949. The Grand Depart begins on July 7 with the team presentation at Mariahilfer Platz from 6:30 p.m., followed the next day by the старт of the 188-kilometer opening stage to Gamlitz along the South Styrian Wine Road.

The Queen Stage in Carinthia – to the Roof of the Tour
Stage two leads to the “roof” of the tour: the Franz Josefs Höhe on the Großglockner. Starting in Bad Kleinkirchheim, the 188.8-kilometer stage features 2,914 meters of elevation gain. After passing Möllbrücke and Heiligenblut, riders face the long climb along the Großglockner High Alpine Road—undoubtedly one of the highlights of the race.

A Day for Breakaways: Lienz to St. Johann/Alpendorf
The third stage from Lienz to St. Johann/Alpendorf (188.7 km) could favor breakaway riders. After laps around the Lienz basin, the peloton climbs toward the Felbertauern Tunnel, where the day’s decisive moves are likely to form before the final uphill finish in Alpendorf.

Penultimate Showdown Around Steyr
Stage four centers around Steyr, covering 170.5 kilometers and 2,311 meters of elevation. The stage features varied terrain, including climbs in the Pyhrn-Priel region and a thrilling finale on the notorious Porscheberg, promising action until the very last second.

A “Sprint Royal” Finale in Vienna
The final stage, from Langenlois to Vienna (109 km, 758 meters of elevation), is expected to end in a spectacular bunch sprint. The route leads through vineyards, along the Danube, and into Austria’s capital, where teams will battle for one of the most prestigious stage victories.

TV Coverage
The Lidl Tour of Austria 2026 will receive extensive TV coverage. Studio K19 GmbH, together with Tour Director Thomas Pupp, has finalized partnerships with ORF, Eurosport/Discovery+, and other major broadcasters. All stages will be broadcast live daily.

Kids Program: Lidl Kids Cup
To inspire the next generation, the Lidl Kids Cup will take place at every stage, organized by the Ergo School Race association. Children from balance bike level up to U13 can participate. Lidl Austria will provide fresh fruit and healthy snacks, and all participants will receive prizes. Entry is free of charge.

Tour of Austria Club & EXPO
The VIP hospitality area has been redesigned: the “Tour of Austria Club,” presented by harry’s home, offers a welcoming atmosphere via a multifunctional event truck. The EXPO area will feature interactive stands, product presentations, tastings, competitions, and activities related to sport, mobility, health, and lifestyle.

Special Classification “75”
To mark the anniversary, a special “75” classification will be held on each stage at a key point near the finish. The winners will be honored on stage. Cycling Austria President Harald Mayer emphasizes that this initiative reflects the strong partnership and shared commitment to the sport.