The organisers of the Peace Race U23 have plenty to be pleased about. With less than three months to go until the start, the start list is virtually complete: 21 teams have already entered, with only one place still available out of the 22-team cap. This year’s four-day showdown for cycling’s rising talents will take place from 28 to 31 May, and for the first time it will be held as a UCI Europe Tour 2.2U event.
The end of the Nations’ Cup and the Peace Race’s move into its new category bring a major shift for this edition. Alongside national teams, the traditional race will now also feature development squads from leading professional organisations. It marks a genuine turning point: for twelve years the Peace Race served primarily as a showcase of national colours, with U23 selections battling for stage wins and the overall title. From this May, the rules of the game change — in the Jeseníky climbs, national jerseys will be joined by the kit of WorldTour development programmes.
“Opening the start list to development teams raises the level of competition, and thanks to a more diverse peloton, cycling fans can look forward to exciting battles between the sport’s brightest prospects — and, as always, on the demanding roads of the Jeseníky mountains,” says Peace Race president Robert Kolář.
The move to Europe Tour 2.2U also places the Peace Race among a select group of events where the careers of future champions are shaped. This season’s 2.2U calendar features seven races: the series begins in May, with the Peace Race running from 28–31 May. Two weeks later comes the Giro d’Italia Next Gen, and in the third week of August the next wave of talent will gather for the start of the Tour de l’Avenir.
The Jeseníky mountains remain a defining part of what makes the Peace Race unique — the tough terrain provides a proper test for young riders. It is no coincidence that names such as Tadej Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard and Julian Alaphilippe have raced here in the past. Tradition sets the bar, and a new generation is coming to write its own chapter.
Among the entered development teams is Tudor Pro Cycling Team U23, the feeder squad of the WorldTour team whose leader Marc Hirschi won Czech Tour two years ago. The Swiss project led by Fabian Cancellara is renowned for its focus on developing talent, and a confident performance can be expected from riders aiming to follow in Hirschi’s wheeltracks on Czech roads.
A transatlantic flavour is added by Hagens Berman Jayco, long one of the standout U23 teams. The spotlight will fall in particular on 20-year-old Ben Wiggins, son of Olympic champion and Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins. He carries a famous surname, but recent results show he is certainly not just “riding on his dad’s name”. He raced the Peace Race two years ago, opting for the Baby Giro last season instead.
Peace Race U23 2026 – registered teams
Type Team / Country
national team Poland
national team Austria
national team Slovenia
national team Spain
national team Ukraine
national team Denmark
national team Germany
national team Slovakia
national team Kazakhstan
national team Belgium
national team USA
national team Israel
national team Portugal
national team Sweden
U23 team Tudor Pro Cycling Team U23 (SUI)
U23 team Team Drali-Repsol (NOR)
U23 team Team United Shipping (HUN)
U23 team Fany Gastro Integray L27 (CZE)
U23 team Kasper crypto4me (CZE)
U23 team Tufo - Pardus Prostějov(CZE)
U23 team Hagens Berman Jayco (AUS)
