Tour de France Femmes 2026 - the most important facts in brief
- Date: 01.08. - 09.08.2026
- 1175 kilometres in total, 18,795 metres in altitude in total
- 5th edition
- 9 stages
- 3 flat stages
- 3 hilly stages
- 1 individual time trial
- 2 mountain stages, including one mountain finish
- The route of the men's Tour de France
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All stages of the 2026 Women's Tour de France at a glance
Stage 1, Saturday, 1 August | Lausanne - Lausanne | 137 kilometres | 1700 metres altitude difference
The Tour de France Femmes 2026 begins with a mostly flat stage with a start and finish in Lausanne. However, the finale is difficult with a ramp up to 500 metres before the finish line.
Stage 2, Sunday, 2 August | Aigle - Geneva | 149 kilometres | 1750 vertical metres
The route continues in the same way as stage 1. There are no significant climbs on stage 2. After a slightly undulating profile up to 35 kilometres before the finish, it is mostly downhill from there.
Stage 3, Monday, 3 August | Geneva - Poligny | 157 kilometres | 2430 vertical metres
The race continues with a hilly stage. The first half of the race in particular is up and down. In the second half, the course is mostly downhill.
Stage 4, Tuesday, 4th August | Gevrey- Chambertin - Dijon | 21 kilometres (individual time trial) | 255 metres of climbing
The 21-kilometre time trial has a hill halfway through the course. A flat time trial exclusively for specialists looks different - the climb is just under 3 kilometres long.
Stage 5, Wednesday, 5 August | Macon - Belleville en Beaujolais | 140 kilometres | 2850 vertical metres
A stage that is advertised as hilly, but which is definitely difficult. There are a total of eight mountain classifications on the route, with the longest climb by far coming right at the start. The final hurdle, Mont Brouilly, awaits the riders at the end.
Stage 6, Thursday, 6 August | Montbrison - Tournon sur Rhône | 153 kilometres | 2650 vertical metres
Stage 6 is also a difficult stage, which is advertised as hilly. With a total of six mountain classifications, the whole day is up and down.
Stage 7, Friday, 7 August | La Voulte sur Rhône - Mont Ventoux | 144 kilometres | 3565 metres of ascent
The queen stage with the finish on Mont Ventoux. There are three short climbs - to test your mountain legs - otherwise the stage is flat. Up to Mont Ventoux. 15.7 kilometres uphill. At the top, the wind can also play a role.
Stage 8, Saturday, 8 August | Sisteron - Nice | 175 kilometres | 1420 vertical metres
The first 80 kilometres lead the riders slightly uphill, from then on it is almost all downhill. Almost. Two short climbs, not far from the finish in Nice, are likely to add to the excitement.
9th stage, Sunday, 9 August | Nice - Nice | 99 kilometres | 2175 metres altitude difference
From the finish of the Tour de France Femmes 2026, the final stage takes riders over the Col d'Èze four times. At 99 kilometres, it's not a particularly long stage, but the climbs make it really tough. After the fourth crossing, it's all downhill to the finish of the Tour of France in Nice, where the winner will be decided.
The route of the Tour de France Femmes 2025 in detail
For its 5th edition, the Tour de France Femmes will remain in the east of the country. This also has great logistical advantages, as the transfers between the stages are usually very short. After last year, the A.S.O. has once again opted for a start outside the country, with the Grand Depart taking place in Lausanne, Switzerland. From there, the stages will first head west, then south and finally south-east, in an anti-clockwise arc to Nice. The riders will have to cover a total of 1175 kilometres and 18,795 metres in altitude over the nine stages.
Sprinters with obstacles again
Just like last year, it won't be easy for the sprinters, only the 2nd stage is guaranteed to end with a bunch sprint. The opening stage with start and finish in Lausanne is topographically designed for a bunch sprint and is categorised as flat, but with a ramp shortly before the finish it presents a real difficulty for the fast women. The final 2.5 kilometres are uphill with an average gradient of 4.6 per cent, although the last 500 metres are almost flat. Before that, a kilometre with a 7.1 per cent gradient awaits, which makes for an unclear outcome to the stage. This is not a real sprint stage.
Stage 8 is also not a clear stage for sprinters. With two short climbs in the last 20 kilometres, the peloton could also be torn apart here. This means that for the second year in a row, the Tour de France Femmes is not an absolute treat for the teams' sprinters.
Hilly stages and a challenging time trial
If you look at the altitude metres of the three hilly stages alone, you might think they are mountain stages. None of them have less than 2,400 metres in altitude - a real challenge. In the third section from Geneva to Poligny, the riders cross the border into France after a few kilometres before tackling the first 10-kilometre climb. The Col de la Faucille awaits with its 11.4 kilometres. The hilly stages are interrupted by the time trial, which, with its three-kilometre climb and a 1.8-kilometre section with 6.9 per cent gradient, could well create gaps in the overall classification.
After this short detour, the riders return to hilly terrain. Stage 5 should be perfect for breakaway riders. With many short climbs and the Mont Brouilly, which has an average gradient of 7.7 per cent over 3 kilometres, it will show whether a group or individual rider has the legs to roll to the finish ahead of the favourites. On the 6th section to Tournon sur Rhône, a group could also take advantage of the hour and break away on the short climbs with gradients of around 6 per cent.
Preliminary decision at Mont Ventoux
The big highlight of the Tour de France Femmes 2026 awaits the next day with the queen's stage and Mont Ventoux. The giant of Provence stands there, windswept, with all the tragedy that has taken place on it. After the men had to climb the 15.7-kilometre mountain in 2025, it will be the women in 2026. With an average gradient of 8.8 per cent, the women's Tour of France should at least be decided here. The wind conditions could play a decisive role here, especially in the upper section. No one will be able to hide. Mont Ventoux is on the women's Tour de France programme for the first time, after not having to conquer any of the legendary climbs last year.
Rolling to the finish line? No way!
In contrast to the men's Grand Tour finale, the women have to give it their all on the final day. The final stage starts and finishes in Nice and, although not particularly long at 99 kilometres, it is all the more challenging. The peloton will have to cross the Col d'Èze four times, which will give the overall leader a real headache with its six kilometres and 7.6 per cent average gradient. After the fourth crossing, it's a rapid descent along the sea to the finish line in Nice. If the woman in the yellow jersey doesn't have a good day, this ride along the Mediterranean could turn into pure agony, if not, it's off to Tour victory with Panorama.
Leon Weidner
Working student
