Prague, 24 July 2026 – Every year, as the world’s most famous cycling race culminates in Paris, millions of eyes turn to a single moment: the champion raising the crystal trophy above his head on the Champs-Élysées. Since 2011, this symbol of victory has taken shape in the hands of Czech glassmaking masters at Lasvit.
Designed in collaboration with the Škoda Design team, the Tour de France trophy stands 60 centimetres tall and weighs 5 kilograms. It is crafted at the Czech Ajeto glassworks in Lindava, part of the Lasvit Group. In their hands, the winners hold not only the embodiment of their achievement, but also the product of centuries of Czech glassmaking tradition.
When Exceptional Sporting Events Call for Exceptional Craftsmanship
Work on each year’s trophies begins six months before the race itself. The process is as demanding as the Tour itself, requiring flawless execution, precise cutting and absolute concentration. Prototypes and test cuts are created to refine the technique down to the tiniest detail.
A total of seven trophies are made each year:
- Four green trophies for the winners of the points classification
- Three clear trophies for the overall winner and the winners of other categories
Although the trophy’s shape has remained unchanged since 2011, each new edition introduces a different cut or surface finish. Every year presents a new technical challenge, as well as an opportunity to explore new ways of combining traditional techniques with contemporary expression.
2026: Glass for Centuries
This year’s trophy was designed to echo another exceptional project created through a collaboration between Škoda Design and Lasvit: the crystal components of the new organ at St. Vitus Cathedral.
While the organ components are blown into metal moulds and shaped by precisely defined edges, the Tour de France trophy has a rounded form. This made it an extraordinary challenge for the glassmakers to transfer the distinctive cut inspired by the organ crystals onto the curved body of the trophy, while preserving their character and unique interaction with light.
For the second consecutive year, the trophies feature the glass colour Emerald Green, developed exclusively for Škoda. The shade reflects the longstanding partnership between Škoda Auto and Lasvit and serves as a symbol of collaboration between the worlds of technology, sport and art.
About Lasvit
Lasvit creates lighting and glass installations that transform architecture into extraordinary spatial experiences. Founded by Leon Jakimič, the company combines Czech glassmaking craftsmanship with contemporary design, art, and technological innovation. Working alongside leading designers, architects, and artisans from around the world, Lasvit creates works that transcend the boundaries between functional object, artwork, and architecture, bringing wonder, connection, and a sense of tranquility rooted in an intensified experience of the present moment.
Lasvit is a modern and progressive creator of new spatial concepts. Through its unconventional approach, the company has become a globally recognized center of creative glassmaking. The result is a portfolio of breathtaking bespoke installations around the world, alongside distinctive collections of lighting, drinkware, and decorative glass.
Over the years, Lasvit has received numerous awards, including the prestigious “Design Oscar” at the Salone del Mobile in Milan. The company has attracted internationally acclaimed designers and artists eager to collaborate with a bold and unconventional Czech brand. Together with renowned names such as The Campana Brothers, Kengo Kuma, Yabu Pushelberg, Nendo, and Ross Lovegrove, Lasvit has created some of the most memorable glass collections of recent decades, combining the artistic vision of leading designers with the exceptional craftsmanship of Czech glassmakers.