North American Tour riders will carry varied ambitions into the 2026 Tour de France, from mountain support to stage hunting.
Six Americans, one Canadian, and one Mexican are due to start when the race begins in Barcelona. The group gives the Tour one of its most varied North American fields in decades.
An American overall victory remains unlikely based on the supplied outlook. Yet North American riders could still shape the fight for yellow.
They will support major contenders, chase stages, and handle decisive work in the mountains. Several also bring wider national significance to the race.
North American Tour riders bring history and depth
Mexico’s return stands as the clearest historical marker. Isaac del Toro will become Mexico’s first Tour starter since Miguel Arroyo in 1997.
He will also become only the third Mexican rider ever to race the Tour de France.
Del Toro’s debut follows Raúl Alcalá, who became Mexico’s first Tour starter in 1986. The 22-year-old from Baja California arrives with major expectations.
Alongside Paul Seixas, Del Toro headlines the rookie class at this year’s race. He already owns strong credentials as a young stage racer.
He finished second at last year’s Giro d’Italia. This season, he won the UAE Tour, Tirreno-Adriatico, and Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
His central task will be helping Tadej Pogačar pursue another yellow jersey. However, his own opportunities could also appear.
Del Toro may receive freedom to chase a stage win. He could also challenge for the white jersey or ride near the overall podium.
Del Toro said he wants to approach the Tour calmly and “go a little bit more with the flow.”
Gee-West keeps Canada’s Tour streak alive
Derek Gee-West will be Canada’s only starter at the 2026 Tour de France. His selection also came later than expected.
Lidl-Trek added Gee-West after Giulio Ciccone chose to skip the race. Gee-West had been expected to target the Vuelta a España.
That plan followed a strong Giro d’Italia. Gee-West finished fifth overall in his first season with Lidl-Trek.
Instead, he returns to the Tour after finishing ninth overall in 2024. His start keeps Canada represented at every Tour since 2019.
Lidl-Trek will rely on him in the mountains. His engine should make him an important helper for Juan Ayuso.
The team described Gee-West as one of cycling’s strongest all-round stage racers. It also said he will be “crucial in the mountains.”
Gee-West will make his second Tour start after racing in 2024. His best overall result remains ninth in that edition.
He has not won a Tour stage. His best stage result is third on stage 9 in Troyes in 2024.
Jorgenson and Kuss anchor Visma’s American support
Matteo Jorgenson enters as the highest-ranked American in the peloton. He gives Visma-Lease a Bike major flexibility across three weeks.
The Idaho rider can climb, time trial, and ride consistently. Those skills make him one of the team’s most useful Tour riders.
A broken collarbone at Amstel Gold Race interrupted his spring. He still returned quickly and finished fourth overall at Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
Jorgenson’s main responsibility will be supporting Jonas Vingegaard. Visma expects Vingegaard to challenge Pogačar for the yellow jersey.
Jorgenson should appear deep in the mountain stages when the race breaks open. He could also receive freedom later in the Tour.
His eighth place in 2024 carried wider importance for U.S. cycling. It was the best American Tour result since Tejay van Garderen placed fifth in 2014.
Jorgenson will make his fifth Tour start, covering 2022 through 2026. He has not won a Tour stage.
His best stage result was second on stage 19 in 2024. He also placed third in the young rider classification that year.
Sepp Kuss returns as another central American figure for Visma-Lease a Bike. The Colorado native will again work for Vingegaard.
Kuss remains one of cycling’s leading mountain domestiques. He has helped drive many recent Visma Grand Tour successes.
The notable exception came at the 2025 Giro d’Italia. Kuss did not start the race that Simon Yates won for the Dutch squad.
Kuss is also the last American to win a Grand Tour. He claimed the 2023 Vuelta a España.
Earlier this season, he added a Giro d’Italia stage victory. That made him only the second American man officially to win stages in all three Grand Tours.
Tyler Farrar is the other American male in that group.
Kuss said he still genuinely enjoys working for a leader like Jonas. He added that he feels lucky to help such an exceptional rider.
The 2026 Tour will be Kuss’s sixth start. He raced the Tour from 2020 through 2023, then again in 2025 and 2026.
His best overall result is 12th in 2023. His lone Tour stage win came on stage 15 in 2021.
Riccitello brings new American climbing promise
Matthew Riccitello will make his first Tour de France start in 2026. He arrives with growing status among American stage-race prospects.
The Arizona rider broke through in 2025 with fifth overall at the Vuelta a España. That was the best American Grand Tour finish since Kuss won in 2023.
Riccitello has continued his rise this season. He has taken three victories and finished seventh overall at the Tour de Suisse.
At the Tour, he will help guide 19-year-old French rider Paul Seixas. Seixas enters one of the most anticipated Tour debuts in recent years.
Riccitello’s climbing should make him a key mountain domestique for Decathlon-CMA CGM. Stage-hunting opportunities could appear later in the race.
The supplied information also identifies Quinn Simmons among the North American names. It does not provide his detailed Tour role or statistics.
Together, the contingent gives North America several paths into the race narrative. Del Toro brings Mexican history and elite promise.
Gee-West extends Canada’s presence and gives Lidl-Trek mountain depth. Jorgenson and Kuss strengthen Visma’s yellow-jersey challenge.
Riccitello adds another American climber to watch. The Tour may not crown an American winner, but North American riders could influence who wins.
For additional reporting, see velo.outsideonline.com.