Tour de France 2026: What cycling fans need to know about the route presentation
Thomas Goldmann
· 22.10.2025
When will the presentation of the 2026 Tour de France route take place?
The organisers of the Tour de France will present the complete route of the 113th edition on 23 October 2025 in Paris. The route of the Tour de France Femmes 2026 (5th edition) will also be presented on the same day as the men's Tour.
Where will the presentation of the Tour de France route be broadcast on TV and live stream?
Fans can watch the track presentation of both races live on free-to-air TV on Eurosport 1 on 23 October 2025. The broadcast starts at 11:00 and ends at 13:00. Those who want to watch the live stream will find what they are looking for on Discovery Plus. The paid streaming platform will also be broadcasting the presentation of the 2026 Tour de France route from 11.00 am to 1.00 pm.
Info on TV broadcast & live stream
- TV: Eurosport 1 - 11:00-13:00
- Live stream: Discovery Plus (fee required) - 11:00-13:00
Where does the Tour de France 2026 start?
The Tour de France 2026 starts on 4 July with a special team time trial in Barcelona. The 19.7-kilometre time trial uses a special format: the time for the daily classification stops after the first rider of each team, while each rider is stopped individually for the overall classification. The course leads over Montjuïc up to the Stade Olympique and marks the 50th team time trial in Tour history.
Barcelona on the 41st parallel is the southernmost Grand Départ in Tour history and replaces Porto-Vecchio on Corsica from 2013. The second stage starts on 5 July in Tarragona and covers 178 kilometres back to Barcelona, with Tarragona marking the southernmost place ever visited by the Tour. The finale leads three times over Montjuïc to the Stade Olympique and already challenges the classification riders. The most important information about the Grand Départ 2026 can be found here.
Tour de France 2026 key data
- Date: 04.07.-26.07.2026
- 21 stages
- Start in Spain (Barcelona)
What is known about the route of the Tour de France 2026?
Speculation about the future route points to a possible return to Alpe d'Huez. The legendary climb with its 21 hairpin bends was last on the programme in 2022 and could be tackled again on 22 or 24 July. The third week is likely to be dominated by the Alps, with a mountain finish in Orcières-Merlette also being discussed.
The Pyrenean stages could offer spectacular finishes, including a possible arrival at the Les Angles ski station at an altitude of 1800 metres. The sixth stage, which should lead from Pau to the Cirque de Gavarnie, is likely to be an absolute highlight. The natural amphitheatre formation provides a dramatic backdrop for the finish. We have summarised the most important information on the speculation surrounding the route here.
Where does the Tour de France Femmes 2026 start?
The Tour de France Femmes 2026 will start in Switzerland. After the Grand Départ in Rotterdam 2024, this is the second time that the women's tour will start outside of France. Details of the first two stages and the starting point of the third stage are also already known.
Tour de France Femmes 2026 key data
- Date: 01.08-09.08.2026
- 9 stages
- Start in Switzerland (Lausanne)
