Tour de France 2026: Here’s the route

Tour de France 2026: Key facts at a glance

• Date: 4 July – 26 July 2026
• 3333 kilometres in total
• 7 flat stages
• 4 hill stages
• 8 mountain stages with 5 mountain finishes
• 1 Individual time trial
• 1 Team time trial
• This is the route of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes
• That’s what makes Alpe d’Huez a cycling legend

​*Note: So far, the organiser, A.S.O., has only published the detailed elevation profiles for stages 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 14, 16, 18, 19 and 20. We will add the profiles for the remaining stages here as soon as they are published.

An overview of all the stages of the 2026 Tour de France

Stage 1 | Saturday, 4 July 2026 | Barcelona – Barcelona | 19 kilometres (team time trial)

We’ll kick things off with a team time trial. In 2026, however, this will be the first time the new format has been used in the Tour de France, having already been trialled at Paris–Nice. The team’s time for the stage classification will be based on the first rider to finish. For the general classification, each rider will be timed individually. The time trial is a tough one, featuring two climbs in the final kilometres.

Stage 2 | Sunday, 5 July 2026 | Tarragona – Barcelona | 182 kilometres

Although no official elevation profile for the stage was provided at the route presentation, at the presentation of the Grand Départ At the start of the year, there was talk of three ascents of Montjuïc, Barcelona’s local mountain. This could therefore produce a similar scene to that of the traditional final stage of the Tour of Catalonia, where the riders finish individually or in small groups.

​​​Stage 3 | Monday, 6 July 2026 | Granolers – Les Angles | 196 kilometres

Stage 3 of the 2026 Tour de France takes the riders straight into the Pyrenees. Tour director Christian Prudhomme says the stage will cover an elevation gain of almost 4,000 metres over the course of around 200 kilometres. However, the stage is unlikely to result in any significant gaps in the peloton just yet.

​​​​Stage 4 | Tuesday, 7 July 2026 | Carcassonne – Foix | 182 kilometres

It’s a repeat of yesterday’s scenario: the Tour de France heads into the Pyrenees, but without making it so tough that we can expect a serious battle amongst the general classification contenders here. The roughly 36 kilometres from the final summit to the finish line are likely to put off the contenders for the overall victory. It is more likely to be a day for breakaway riders.

​​​​Stage 5 | Wednesday, 8 July 2026 | Lannemezan – Pau | 158 kilometres

The first opportunity for the sprinters at the 2026 Tour de France. A bunch sprint is expected in Pau.

​​​​Stage 6 | Thursday, 9 July 2026 | Pau – Gavarnie-Gèdre | 186 kilometres

The final and, at the same time, the toughest day in the Pyrenees. The Aspin and the Tourmalet will serve to narrow down the field. The final climb, with an average gradient of just under four per cent over 18.7 kilometres, is not particularly gruelling; nevertheless, given the strain of the previous stages, only a small group of favourites is likely to finish together.

​​​​Stage 7 | Friday, 10 July 2026 | Hagetmau – Bordeaux | 175 kilometres

Bordeaux is regarded as the city of sprinters in the Tour de France. This is precisely the scenario envisaged for 2026: a bunch sprint.

​​​​Stage 8 | Saturday, 11 July 2026 | Périgueux – Bergerac | 182 kilometres

Another stage where the stage winner is likely to be a sprinter. It could be the last chance for the fast finishers before the rest day.

​​​Stage 9 | Sunday, 12 July 2026 | Malemort – Ussel | 185 kilometres

Stage 9 covers 185 kilometres and involves a climb of just over 3,300 metres. If the pace is fast right from the start, it will be a day for the breakaway riders.

Stage 10 | Tuesday, 14 July 2026 | Aurillac – Le Lioran | 167 kilometres

After the rest day, the race heads to the Massif Central. The route profile is very similar to that of Stage 11 of the 2024 Tour de France; the final section is almost identical. Back then, Tadej Pogačar pulled away well before the finish at the Puy Mary Pas de Peyrol, but was caught again by Jonas Vingegaard and beaten in a two-man sprint. Will there be a rematch in 2026?

​​​​Stage 11 | Wednesday, 15 July 2026 | Vichy – Nevers | 161 kilometres

This section is classified as a flat stage – and that is exactly how it is likely to end: with another bunch sprint.

​​​​Stage 12 | Thursday, 16 July 2026 | Circuit Nevers Magny-Cours – Chalone-sur-Saône | 181 kilometres

Although the climb to Montagny-lès-Buxy (2.6 kilometres at an average gradient of 4.3 per cent) on this stage offers at least some hope of shaking off one or two sprinters, it is likely to end in another bunch sprint.

​​​​Stage 13 | Friday, 17 July 2026 | Dole – Belfort | 205 kilometres

It is the longest stage of the 2026 Tour de France and is likely to favour the breakaway riders. At least, that is what Tour director Christian Prudhomme says. The battle for the stage win could be decided at the Ballon d’Alsace.

​​​​Stage 14 | Saturday, 18 July 2026 | Mulhouse – Le Markstein | 155 kilometres

We’re off to the Vosges. The Tour organisers are touting the Col du Haag as one of the “discoveries” of the upcoming Tour de France. Its length and gradient suggest, at the very least, that there will be a battle among the general classification contenders here.

​​​​Stage 15 | Sunday, 19 July 2026 | Champagnole – Plateau de Solaison | 184 kilometres

There is no elevation profile available for this stage yet. However, it features a mountain finish on the Plateau de Solaison. The 11.3-kilometre climb, with an average gradient of 9.1 per cent, is challenging enough to create significant time gaps. Especially as another tough climb, the Col de la Croisette, lies ahead.

​​​​Stage 16 | Tuesday, 21 July 2026 | Évian-les-Bains – Thonon-les-Bains | 26 kilometres (individual time trial)

Stage 16 features a 26-kilometre time trial. With the climb up the Côte de Larringes, it is a tough individual time trial – not suited to flat-terrain specialists, but rather to general classification contenders.

​​​​Stage 17 | Wednesday, 22 July 2026 | Chambéry – Voiron | 175 kilometres

We may well see the final bunch sprint of the 2026 Tour de France on Stage 17. This is because it is followed by three days in the mountains and the gruelling Paris stage, which includes Montmartre.

​​​​Stage 18 | Thursday 23 July 2026 | Voiron – Orcières-Merlette | 185 kilometres

Orcières-Merlette was last featured in the Tour de France in 2020. On that occasion, Primož Roglič won the sprint ahead of Tadej Pogačar – 14 other riders crossed the finish line at the same time as the two Slovenians. A similar scenario is also expected in 2026.

​​​​Stage 19 | Friday, 24 July 2026 | Gap – Alpe d’Huez | 128 kilometres

The first of two finishes at Alpe d’Huez in the 2026 Tour de France. The route initially follows the classic route up the famous 21 hairpin bends. The three preceding climbs are likely to be mere footnotes; the race will be decided on the final climb.

​​​​Stage 20 | Saturday, 25 July 2026 | Le Bourg d’Oisans – Alpe d’Huez | 171 kilometres

This is undoubtedly the queen stage of the 2026 Tour de France. A.S.O. has announced 5,600 metres of climbing over 176 kilometres. The route features three Alpine giants: the Croix de Fer, the Télégraphe and the Galibier. This time, the finish at Alpe d’Huez will be reached via the Col de Sarenne. The climb was already part of the Tour route in 2013, although back then the peloton rode down it. This time, the route heads uphill, followed by a slightly undulating section with a final climb of just over four kilometres to the finish.

​​​​Stage 21 | Sunday, 26 July 2026 | Thoiry – Paris, Champs-Élysées | 130 kilometres

An elevation profile for the final stage of the 2026 Tour de France is not yet available. Nevertheless, it is likely to be difficult, if not impossible, for the sprinters to claim victory on the Champs-Élysées in 2026 as well. The route climbs Montmartre three times. It is a good 15 kilometres from the Sacré-Cœur to the finish line.

Tour de France 2026: A huge party at Alpe d’Huez as the highlight

The route for the 2026 Tour de France was unveiled on 23 October at the Palais des Congrès in Paris. From 4 to 26 July 2026, the world’s most prestigious cycling race will cover 21 stages and 3,333 kilometres from Barcelona to Paris. For the first time since 1971, the Tour de France will begin in the Catalan capital with a team time trial. The race will head into the Pyrenees as early as the first week. The highlight of the second week is likely to be the finish in the Massif Central at Le Lioran – a stage that was already part of the Tour de France route in 2024 – along with two gruelling mountain stages at the weekend. The two major highlights are scheduled shortly before the end of the Tour de France. The 19th and 20th stages both finish at Alpe d’Huez – albeit via different ascents. This marks the Tour de France’s return to one of its most legendary mountains – the 21 hairpin bends up to the ski resort were last featured in the Tour in 2022.

The first week – Barcelona and the Pyrenees

​The start of the 113th Tour de France promises to be a spectacular event. It kicks off with a 19-kilometre team time trial in Barcelona, which will be held in the same format as at Paris–Nice. The team’s time – i.e. for the stage classification – will be recorded after the first rider from each team has finished. For the general classification, each rider will be timed individually. The route is also a tough one, with the final stretch over Montjuïc and up to the Stade Olympique. It is also the 50th team time trial in the history of the Tour de France – the last one took place in 2019 as part of the second stage in Brussels.

On the second stage, featuring Montjuïc – Barcelona’s local mountain – the favourites won’t be able to hide. The following day, the peloton will head straight into the Pyrenees to Les Angles. Despite an elevation gain of almost 4,000 metres, there are unlikely to be any significant gaps yet – only the final climb, around two kilometres long, offers an opportunity for a general classification favourite to launch an attack. The main challenge on the second day in the Pyrenees is the Col de Montségur. From there, however, there are still 36 kilometres of mostly downhill riding to the finish. On stage five, the sprinters are likely to have their first chance in Pau, before the following day’s route over the Aspin and Tourmalet, and later up to the Cirque de Gavarnie, could see the first showdown between the favourites. This is followed by two further opportunities for the sprinters in Bordeaux and Bergerac, before Sunday’s 185-kilometre stage towards Ussel, featuring around 3,500 metres of elevation gain spread evenly over the route, which favours breakaway riders.

Week two – fond memories for Vingegaard

Following the first rest day, the 10th stage of the 2026 Tour de France will head to Le Lioran on France’s national holiday. Jonas Vingegaard has fond memories of the finish location, having defeated Tadej Pogačar there in the Massif Central during the 2024 Tour de France. The final stretch is almost identical to that of the 2024 Tour, although the stage back then was 211 kilometres long, whereas in 2026 it will be just 167 kilometres.

Stages 11 and 12 are tailor-made for the sprinters. The breakaway riders are likely to produce the winner once again on Friday’s hilly 13th stage. It is also the longest and only stage to exceed 200 kilometres in the 2026 Tour de France, making it difficult to control. Saturday is all about the Vosges. On the way to Le Markstein, the peloton will tackle the Grand Ballon, Col du Page and Ballon d’Alsace before the Col du Haag – an approximately 11-kilometre-long, seven-per-cent gradient forest road with numerous hairpin bends that has been converted into a cycling route – invites the general classification contenders to launch attacks. Stage 15 is no less demanding. Ahead of the second rest day, the contenders for the Yellow Jersey are likely to dictate the action once again. The finish on the Plateau de Solaison features a final 11.3-kilometre climb with an average gradient of 9.1 per cent.

Week three – the grand finale at Alpe d’Huez

The final week of the 2026 Tour de France begins with the only individual time trial, covering 26 kilometres. 9.7 kilometres of this are an uphill climb to the Côte de Larringes, with an average gradient of 4.3 per cent. So this isn’t one for pure sprinters; rather, it’s a time trial that suits Pogačar and Vingegaard. The 17th stage to Voiron is likely to be the sprinters’ last chance in the 2026 Tour de France – after all, only mountain stages follow, and in Paris, the Montmartre climb stands in the way of the men with the powerful thighs.

Thursday kicks off the grand Tour finale in the mountains with a mountain finish at Orcières-Merlette. The first half of the stage features two longer climbs, before the peloton rolls for around 90 kilometres over undulating terrain to the foot of the final climb. This climb is 7.1 kilometres long with an average gradient of 6.7 per cent. Following this warm-up, the first of two finishes at Alpe d’Huez awaits on Friday. The first third of the stage takes the riders over the Col Bayard (5.1 kilometres at an average gradient of 7.2 per cent) and the Col du Noyer (7.2 kilometres at an average gradient of 8.2 per cent), before around 70 kilometres of predominantly flat or downhill terrain. The finale then consists of the Col d’Ornon (5.4 kilometres with an average gradient of 6.4 per cent) and the legendary 21 hairpin bends up to Alpe d’Huez (13.8 kilometres with an average gradient of 8.1 per cent). Who will be crowned the successor to Tom Pidcock here? The Briton won the most recent Tour de France finish at Alpe d’Huez in 2022.

Saturday’s second Alpe d’Huez stage, with a total ascent of 5,600 metres, is considerably more demanding than the previous day’s stage and is likely to decide the 2026 Tour de France. Every cycling fan knows the Col de la Croix de Fer, the Col du Télégraphe and the Col du Galibier. These three climbs set the stage for the Col de Sarenne, which, at 12.8 kilometres and an average gradient of 7.3 per cent, will demand everything from the riders. From the summit, the route is undulating and leads over a short final climb to the finish in Alpe d’Huez.

The final stage traditionally leads to Paris. The organisers have taken a liking to the finish line over Montmartre, which was first used in 2025. Next year, the peloton will have to climb it three times. As usual, the finish line is on the Champs-Élysées, around 15 kilometres from the Sacré-Cœur, which at least gives the sprinters a theoretical chance of claiming victory in the final stage once again this time.