Devo: Tour de l’Avenir – Chasing Glory in the Footsteps of the Tour de France

Tour de l’Avenir is the world’s most prestigious race for the next generation and the U23 equivalent of the Tour de France. In this year, Tour de l’Avenir will see a new chapter unfold as, for the first time in history, participation is open to Development Teams. In the past, only national teams have contested the race. 

19.08.2026

The Tudor Pro Cycling Development Team is breaking new ground with its inaugural participation and takes on the race with a strong and versatile group of six riders – ready to excel and strive for stage glory. 

Jens Voet, Head of Development, shares: "The general goal with the team is to go for a stage win - and we believe this is a very realistic objective!" 

The race, beginning August 20 in Caen, Normandy, will challenge the peloton with a 926 km journey, climbing over 13,000 meters across France and into Italy’s Gran Paradiso National Park. The route is split into two distinct sections, as Voet explains: "The race can be split into two main parts: the first four days, which are more Classics-style racing, and the final three days in the Alps, where climbing performance is crucial."

The Devo Team’s approach is daring and proactive. "Racing actively and putting our stamp on the race is our overall approach," Voet emphasises. The early stages favour our powerful and punchy all-rounders Diego Casagrande, Seppe van den Boer, and Oliver Mätik, while the Alpine stages are tailored for the Team’s climbers Baptiste Lecoq, Noé Melot and Jan Huber.

"During the first four days, we’ll adapt to the race dynamics to determine whether to focus on sprints or race more offensively by targeting breakaways. We’re not expecting intense GC action on those days, but it’s crucial to stay attentive - especially since stage three, with 230 km, will be a real test for the young riders. It’s a Grand Tour learning experience for the Devo riders," explains Jens Voet, who’ll be directing and coaching the Team from the race car alongside his colleague and former pro cyclist Alex Krieger. 

The race is set to reach its peak tension in the Alps: an uphill ITT on stage 5, followed by a classic climbing stage finishing on top of the mythical Col de l’Iseran. Stage 7 leaves France and heads over to Italy and into the heart of the Gran Paradiso National Park. Those roads have been featured in the Giro d’Italia 2019 and will be a fantastic ground for the closing stage of this year’s Tour de l’Avenir.

For the Devo Team, the Tour de l’Avenir is more than a race - it’s the race the riders have on their minds since completing the season’s very first training session back in November; it’s every rider's dream to chase glory in the footsteps and on the legendary roads of the Tour de France – and it’s a proving ground for the future! 

Our Team for the 2026 Tour de l’Avenir:

Diego Casagrande (SUI)

Jan Huber (SUI)

Baptiste Lecoq (FRA)

Oliver Mätik (EST)

Noé Melot (FRA)

Seppe van den Boer (BEL)