Cycling, and the Tour de France, has a storied history with watch brands that goes back years. Tudor has its own team nowadays, but there’s been Festina in the past, and a longstanding partnership with Tissot and ASO.

Big Luxury Brands such as Richard Mille have established a strong presence in professional cycling through sponsorships and partnerships with top riders; therefore, high-end timepieces are more visible in the peloton than ever before.

Both Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel are sponsored by Richard Mille while they are riding. However, beyond their partnership with Richard Mille, both riders are well known for being genuine watch enthusiasts, so they have built impressive personal collections over the years by themselves.

Latest Videos From

Watch full video here:

The longer I have followed the world of watches in professional cycling, the more I have realised that many riders are passionate collectors or own remarkable timepieces, beyond ‘just’ Rolex models that often take the headlines. For many professionals, a watch is far more than a luxury accessory; it often marks a significant milestone such as a major race victory, the signing of a new contract, or another important chapter in their lives.

Looking back through cycling history, fascinating timepieces have been part of the sport for decades. Even during the era of Greg LeMond, remarkable watches could be spotted on the wrists of professional cyclists. For example, at the 1990 Tour de France, LeMond was wearing a Cartier Santos on the final podium and during the time trial.

Throughout the years, several of the sport’s biggest stars have rewarded their teammates with luxury watches after major victories, too. One of the best-known examples is Mark Cavendish, who reportedly gifted each of his lead-out teammates a green Rolex Submariner when he won the green jersey at the 2011 Tour de France. The gesture perfectly illustrates how a fine watch can become a lasting symbol of teamwork, gratitude, and a career-defining achievement.

With that in mind, here are the ten most interesting watches spotted during the opening week of the 2026 Tour de France.

Image 1 of 3

Tadej Pogačar’s Richard Mille 64-01 “Tourbillon Colnago”

We start with the most expensive watch spotted, worn by Tadej Pogačar. It’s worth noting that UAE Team Emirates became an official partner of Richard Mille in February 2021 on a multi-year deal that continues to this day.

Pogačar is also a personal brand ambassador for Richard Mille, beyond the team partnership. He regularly wears the ultra-light RM 67-02 (the same model as Mathieu van der Poel and the one that caused him to bleed profusely from the wrist during Paris-Roubaix) during races, but at this year’s Tour he got a new model, the so-called “Colnago Edition”. This watch is limited to 50 pieces and is worth an estimated $1,000,000.

This new model combines cycling with the highest level of watchmaking artistry. By fusing the aesthetic and technical codes of Richard Mille with the visual cues of the Italian bike brand, the RM 64-01 Tourbillon Colnago is a new masterpiece to those who appreciate the often divisive aesthetics of Richard Mille watches. In simple terms, the skeletonised construction has been manufactured in such a way that the supports for the movement resemble the tube shapes of a Colnago frame.

Despite being a brand ambassador for Richard Mille, Pogačar has an extensive collection of watches from other brands that we can see him wearing when not racing.

One of them for example is a Rolex Daytona Platinum, with a current approximate market value of $165,000, a watch also spotted on the wrist of Tom Pidcock. Pogačar also owns a Rolex Green Submariner “Starbucks”, estimated to cost $15,000, and was spotted with a black Cartier Santos (around $9,000) recently, perhaps as a nod to Greg LeMond.

Image 1 of 2

Mathieu van der Poel’s Richard Mille 67-02

Mathieu van der Poel was wearing one of his RM 67-02s at the start of the Tour, a watch we see on his wrist at every race and something that caused quite a stir at last year’s Tour given the price of the model.

Since early 2025, Van der Poel has been an official ambassador for Richard Mille, like Pogačar. The partnership is also showcased on the brand’s official website.

One of the key advantages of the RM 67-02 as a watch for cyclists (if one absolutely must wear a fabulously expensive watch while riding) is its exceptionally slim profile and ultralight weight. Weighing just around 32 grams, the RM 67-02 is crafted from Carbon TPT® and titanium. Combined with its highly shock-resistant movement, it is perfectly suited to the demands of professional cycling, whether on the road, over cobblestones, or on rough off-road terrain.

The current market value of the Richard Mille 67-02 varies depending on the specific athlete edition (for example, Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogačar, or tennis star Alexander Zverev). Standard examples typically trade on the pre-owned market for around €220,000 to €320,000, while highly sought-after or limited editions can command upwards of €450,000.

The Richard Mille RM 67-02 regularly worn by Van der Poel is widely estimated to be worth around $300,000 on today’s market, although the exact value depends on the specific configuration and current market demand.

Away from Richard Mille, Mathieu van der Poel has also been a passionate watch collector of other brands. His personal collection includes several timepieces from Audemars Piguet, including both the iconic Royal Oak and Royal Oak Chronograph. He also owns a number of Rolex watches, with a particular preference for gold sports models, like his yellow gold GMT-Master II, or the Everose Gold GMT-Master II “Root Beer”. He also owns a Rolex “Sprite”, and the iconic stainless steel Daytona “Panda”.

Based on the watches he has worn publicly, the estimated value of his private collection is likely in the region of $300,000 to $500,000, although the exact figure is, of course, unknown.

Jasper Philipsen’s Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph

Philipsen, arguably the second highest-paid rider at Alpecin-Premier Tech, also appears to have developed a strong interest in fine watches.

Unlike some of his fellow professionals, however, Philipsen never wears a watch during races. It is only away from racing – or before and after a stage – that he is seen wearing one of his collection.

Over the past few years, he has been seen in a decent variety of options, including a classy Rolex Cosmograph Daytona “Panda”, a Rolex Submariner Date with green bezel, a Tudor Black Bay Chrono, and also a Rolex GMT-Master II “Batman”.

Ahead of this year’s Tour de France, Philipsen was once again seen with an eye-catching watch. During his arrival at the airport, the Belgian sprinter was photographed by a fan wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph, with a handsome green dial. This is further proof that luxury watches have become a visible part of modern professional cycling culture.

This model currently commands a market value of approximately $60,000 to $70,000 depending on its condition and completeness.

Image 1 of 3

Quinn Simmons’ Tudor Black Bay Chrono “Panda”

Quinn Simmons has frequently been spotted wearing a popular two-tone Rolex Submariner (two-tone in this case meaning a combination of two different materials; in his case, gold and steel). However, at this year’s opening event, he wore an understated Tudor on a leather strap. It was a Black Bay Chrono with “Panda“ dial. Such Tudor models are estimated to be about $4,000 to $6,000 depending on condition and age.

Image 1 of 3

Mauro Schmid’s Rolex Yacht-Master 40

As a Swiss rider from the home of fine watchmaking, it seems appropriate that Mauro Schmid also wears a high-end Swiss timepiece. And what else could it be but a Rolex?

During the Tour de France opening event in Barcelona, Schmid was spotted wearing a Rolex Yacht-Master 40 with a platinum blue dial. The watch, which can also come with a slate grey dial with light blue accents, is perhaps the most elegant sports models in Rolex’s current collection, at least in this writer’s opinion.

The Rolex Yacht-Master 40 has an official retail price of around $13,200. On today’s market, however, it is typically valued at approximately $14,000 to $16,000, depending on its condition and completeness.

Image 1 of 3

Clément Russo’s Breitling Superocean Heritage Automatic

French cyclist Clément Russo was also spotted wearing a nice watch during the TDF opening event. This time, however, it was not a Rolex, but another prestigious Swiss timepiece from Breitling.

At first glance, the watch was not easy to identify from the available photographs. After conducting further research and confirming the model directly with Clément Russo, it turned out to be a Breitling Superocean Heritage Automatic with a blue dial.

The Superocean Heritage combines the brand’s renowned dive-watch heritage with a modern, sporty design. It has an official retail price of approximately $5,500, while pre-owned examples typically trade for around $3,800 to $4,500.

Image 1 of 3

Luke Plapp’s Tudor Black Bay Chrono “Pink”

Australian cyclist and big watch lover, Luke Plapp, was spotted wearing an eye-catching number during the Grand Dèpart this year, a Tudor Black Bay Chrono “Pink”.

The watch is one of Tudor’s most distinctive and sought-after modern releases. It was introduced as part of the brand’s collaboration with several high-profile ambassadors, including David Beckham, co-owner of Inter Miami (who play in pink), and musician Jay Chou.

Although many cycling fans believe the watch was created specifically to celebrate the Giro d’Italia and its iconic pink jersey, this is in fact a misconception. Nevertheless, the model has become particularly popular among professional cyclists and cycling enthusiasts alike.

It had an official retail price of approximately $6,350 and is currently estimated to trade on the secondary market for around $6,600 to $9,000 dollars, depending on its condition and completeness.

Luke Plapp has also been spotted in the past with several other timepieces over the years. Among them are an Omega Speedmaster “Olympic Edition” and a Rolex Datejust with the popular “Wimbledon” dial, perhaps indicating that Plapp has a penchant for watches with a sporting connection.

The exact value of his watch collection is not easy to determine, as it is unknown how many timepieces he currently owns. However, based on the watches that have been publicly documented, the value of his collection is likely to exceed $50,000.

Image 1 of 3

Ben O’Connor’s Cartier Santos

Something different for a change: a Cartier.

Australian professional cyclist Ben O’Connor was spotted wearing a Cartier Santos as he rolled onto the TDF podium during the opening presentation. Judging by the bracelet and overall appearance, the watch appears to be an older vintage model rather than a current-production Santos. As a result, the exact reference number cannot be identified with certainty from the available photographs.

What is clear, however, is that it is a classy Cartier Santos, one of the most iconic luxury sports watches ever produced. Depending on the exact reference and condition, Cartier Santos models of this type are typically valued at between $3,000 and $10,000 on today’s market. With a gold component to the build, they can be significantly higher.

José Joaquín Rojas’ Rolex Submariner Date “Hulk”

As this list is not limited just to active riders, but rather focuses on notable timepieces spotted during the Tour de France opening presentation, José Joaquín Rojas also deserves a place among the top ten.

The former Spanish professional cyclist, who ended his racing career in 2023 and now serves as a sports director for Movistar, has been a passionate watch enthusiast for many years. His collection reportedly includes a Rolex GMT-Master II, a Rolex Daytona Steel, and he has also previously been spotted wearing a Hublot.

In Barcelona, however, Rojas was seen wearing one of the most iconic discontinued Rolex sports watches, the Submariner Date “Hulk”. Unlike the newer Submariner “Starbucks”, which features a green bezel and a black dial, the “Hulk” combines a green Cerachrom bezel with a matching green dial.

Introduced in 2010 and discontinued in September 2020, the Rolex Submariner “Hulk” originally had an official retail price of approximately $9,050. Since production ended, it has become one of the most sought-after modern Rolex sports watches. As of July 2026, the model typically trades on the secondary market for around $19,000 to $22,000 depending on its condition, production year, and completeness. Its strong collector demand continues to drive its value upward, making it a true modern Rolex icon.

Image 1 of 3

Paul Seixas’ Breitling Chronomat B31 Automatic 40

The watch on the wrist of French rising star (is he even ‘rising’ at this point?) Paul Seixas is a Breitling Chronomat B31 Automatic 40. The model is instantly recognisable thanks to its distinctive stainless-steel Rouleaux bracelet.

In July 2026, the Swiss luxury watchmaker Breitling officially welcomed the 19-year-old French prodigy into the fold as a brand ambassador.

At the same time, Breitling unveiled the Top Time B01 Eddy Merckx on 1 July 2026, a special edition created as a tribute to the legendary Belgian cycling icon. With its newly announced partnership with Seixas, Breitling is using the Tour de France peloton to showcase the new models on the wrist of one of cycling’s brightest young talents. Seixas’ watch costs about €6,400.