Tadej Pogačar's expected bid to win the Tour de France for a record-equalling fifth time next July will be shaped by the double ascent of Alpe d'Huez on back-to-back stages in the final weekend, a difficult first week visit to the Pyrenees and the race's first opening team time trial since 1971.
Also on the menu of the 2026 Tour de France route will be a return to the Vosges mountains in the east of the country, the unprecedented ascent of Plateau de Solaison on stage 15 and – just as in 2024 – another final stage across the Montmartre climb in Paris.
Jonas Vingegaard will also be pleased to see a week 2 repeat of the 2024 stage finish in Le Lioran in the Massif Central, the scene of Pogačar's one defeat by the Dane in the Tour – or indeed in any race barring the 2025 Critérium du Dauphiné time trial – since 2023.
The summit finishes in Gavarnie-Gedre in the Pyrenees and Orcières-Merlette in the Alps, scene of Luis Ocaña's legendary defeat of Eddy Merckx in the 1971 Tour, and an individual time trial on stage 16, will also be high points of the 2026 Tour.
Key stages of the 2026 Tour de France
- Stage 1 team time trial
- Stage 14 to Le Markstein
- Stage 16 individual time trial
- Double Alpe d'Huez stages
- Paris finale using Olympic Games climb
However, it's the double ascent of the Alpe d'Huez on stages 19 and 20 for the first time since 1979 that form the most striking feature of next year's race.
Tackled first with a short, punchy stage from Gap on the Friday via its traditional 21 hairpin-ascent, the Saturday a much shorter-than-usual version of the Alpe d'Huez ascent will be preceded by the daunting and difficult Croix de Fer and Galibier and the little-known Col de Sarenne - a combination that all but ensures the Alpe will play a pivotal role over two days in the outcome of the 2026 Tour.
The final stage in Paris again includes three ascents of the Montmartre climb used in the 2024 Olympic Games. Unlike previous years when the final stage was a sprinters' parade, the inclusion makes the final day far more exciting like when Tadej Pogačar escaped with Wout van Aert while in the yellow jersey.
Tour de France 2026 – Stage by stage guide
Click the link to each stage preview for more detailed information along with profiles and maps.
Stage |
Date (Stage preview link) |
Start/Finish |
Distance |
Start-Finish Time (CET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
July 4 |
Barcelona to Barcelona |
19km |
17:05 - 19:26 |
|
July 5 |
Tarragona to Barcelona |
182km |
13:45 - 17:36 |
|
July 6 |
Granollers to Les Angles |
196km |
12:10 - 17:08 |
|
July 7 |
Carcassonne to Foix |
182km |
13:10 - 17:34 |
|
July 8 |
Lannemezan to Pau |
158km |
14:05 - 17:46 |
|
July 9 |
Pau to Gavarnie-Gèdre |
186km |
12:25 - 17:46 |
|
July 10 |
Hagetmau to Bordeaux |
175km |
13:15 - 17:24 |
|
July 11 |
Périgueux to Bergerac |
182km |
13:15 - 17:31 |
|
July 12 |
Malemort to Ussel |
185km |
13:35 - 17:58 |
|
July 13 |
Rest Day 1 |
Cantal |
||
July 14 |
Aurillac to Le Lioran |
167km |
13:10 - 17:24 |
|
July 15 |
Vichy to Nevers |
161km |
13:50 - 17:40 |
|
July 16 |
Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours to Chalon-sur-Saône |
181km |
13:30 - 17:49 |
|
July 17 |
Dole to Belfort |
205km |
13:00 - 17:59 |
|
July 18 |
Mulhouse to Le Markstein |
155km |
13:10 - 17:38 |
|
July 19 |
Champagnole to Plateau de Solaison |
184km |
13:10 - 17:55 |
|
July 20 |
Rest Day 2 |
Haute-Savoie |
||
July 21 |
Évian Les-Bains to Thonon Les-Bains |
26km |
13:00 - 17:50 |
|
July 22 |
Chambéry to Voiron |
175km |
13:20 - 17:28 |
|
July 23 |
Voiron to Orcières Merlette |
185km |
12:35 - 17:25 |
|
July 24 |
Gap to Alpe d'Huez |
128km |
14:00 - 17:34 |
|
July 25 |
Le Bourg d'Oisans to Alpe d'Huez |
171km |
11:20 - 16:29 |
|
July 26 |
Thoiry to Paris |
130km |
16:15 - 19:40 |
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 5
Stage 6
Stage 7
Stage 8
Stage 9
Stage 10
Stage 11
Stage 12
Stage 13
Stage 14
Stage 15
Stage 16
Stage 17
Stage 18
Stage 19
Stage 20
Stage 21
The world’s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! Find out more.
