Pogacar did it again in July. A fifth Tour de France title, with Remco Evenepoel second and Isaac del Toro third. In May, Vingegaard had won the Giro d’Italia by 5:22 over Felix Gall, becoming the first Dane and the eighth man to win all three Grand Tours.

The one crack in the duopoly came at the Vuelta a España in September. Enric Mas rode to the first Grand Tour title of his career, ahead of Primoz Roglic and Gall.

Mas is now off the first-timer list. A recent feature from Domestique Cycling laid out the next seven realistic contenders. Who are they, and where does each stand coming out of 2026?

Seixas and del Toro at the front

Paul Seixas (France, Decathlon CMA CGM) is the youngest and the loudest. The 20-year-old was fourth at the Tour de France in his Grand Tour debut, and in October became the youngest winner in the 120-year history of Il Lombardia with a solo attack on the Civiglio.

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Isaac del Toro (Mexico, UAE Team Emirates-XRG) rode to third in Paris in July, the first Grand Tour podium by a Mexican rider. The 22-year-old held off Seixas in the final week. His ceiling at UAE depends on whether Pogacar continues to take priority at the Tour, which points his best 2027 chance toward the Giro.

Onley, Lipowitz and Ayuso looking to step up

Oscar Onley (Great Britain, Netcompany-Ineos) was the quietly consistent story of the summer. The Scot takes over as team leader at his new squad, and the 2027 Tour de France will start with three stages across Great Britain, including an opening stage from Edinburgh that passes around 10km from his home in Kelso.

Florian Lipowitz (Germany, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) was fifth at the Tour de France and still in podium contention before a high-speed crash on the stage 16 time trial ended his race with a broken collarbone. He had taken third in Paris a year earlier.

Juan Ayuso (Spain, Lidl-Trek) had the most difficult year. The Spaniard crashed out of the Tour while wearing the yellow jersey, and his first season at Lidl-Trek fell short of expectations. With Gall now joining the same team, his route to a free Grand Tour leadership role has narrowed rather than widened.

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Gall and Almeida still waiting

Felix Gall (Austria, Lidl-Trek from 2027) is the most in-form of the seven: second at the Giro, third at the Vuelta. Lidl-Trek confirmed in October that the 28-year-old had signed a three-year deal through 2029, bringing compatriot Gregor Mühlberger across with him.

João Almeida (Portugal, UAE Team Emirates-XRG) is the most experienced of the group. The 28-year-old has a string of Grand Tour top-fives but no final victory, and the UAE hierarchy that keeps him riding for Pogacar or del Toro is unlikely to shift in 2027.

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