The 2027 Tour de France route is out; here's where Pogačar could win or lose his record sixth title
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Follow us on GoogleTadej Pogačar now knows the 2027 Tour de France route. The one he must defeat all his rivals on to make history. The 2027 Tour de France, presented in Paris on Thursday, covers 3,479km from Edinburgh on July 2 to Paris on July 25. A sixth overall win would take Pogačar past Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Induráin. But with this route, ASO has given his rivals a real opening.
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That opening comes in the form of two time trials. To be more specific, 71 kilometres of time trials over two separate days. This is more than any Tour de France since Bradley Wiggins won in 2012.
The first is a 38km test from Blois to Chambord on stage 7. The second, a 33km jaunt around Toulouse, opening the final week on stage 16.
Read more below the photo!
Tadej Pogacar will look to win his sixth Tour de France title in 2027.
71km of time trials: ASO's gift to Evenepoel
In 2026, the riders faced only a 26.1km individual time trial, alongside the opening team time trial in Barcelona. In 2027 there is no team time trial at all, so it all comes down to the individual tester. Four time World time trial champion Remco Evenepoel is the obvious winner.
The route can be read a response to Pogačar's dominance. If ASO wants suspense, it plans to get it by offering time triallists, Evenepoel above all, a clear chance to build a lead before the high mountains.
The Belgian finished second overall in 2026, 6 minutes and 26 seconds behind Pogačar, and won the time trial to Thonon-les-Bains on stage 16.
The 2026 Tour was decided early. Pogačar attacked on the Tourmalet on stage 6 and kept yellow all the way to Paris, and Domestique reports that ASO regretted putting such a hard stage so early.
Prudhomme, however, rejected the idea that the 2027 route is aimed at the champion. Speaking to French media, he said:
We never design a route for or against a particular rider.- Christian Prudhomme, Tour de France director
The race director also admitted that Pogačar is very strong on any terrain. He pointed to the Slovenian's descent of the Tourmalet in 2026 as an example.
Domancy, Portet and Laruns: where Pogačar can strike back
The climbing starts on stage 9 at the Grand Colombier, one of three summit finishes along with Les Saisies and the Col du Portet.
Stage 10, from Annecy to Sallanches (171km), has a special edge. It climbs the Côte de Domancy (2.5km at 9.4%) twice, the same hill that will decide the World Championships a few weeks later, a title Pogačar wants back.
It is the Tour's first visit since 2023, when Jonas Vingegaard crushed Pogačar there in the mountain time trial.
Tour de France 2027; all eyes on the Pyrenees
The race is most likely to be won in the Pyrenees. Stage 18 runs 174km from Pau to the Col du Portet, the highest point of the race, with 5,400m of climbing.
For the first time, the Tourmalet and the Portet feature on the same stage, with Le Soulor and the Hourquette d'Ancizan added in.
Pogačar won on the Portet in 2021. The next day, stage 19 goes from Hasparren to Laruns over the Col de Marie Blanque, with 4,300m of climbing.
Both time trials are over before this mountain double. If Evenepoel takes time against the clock, Pogačar will have two Pyrenean stages in the last three days to try to win it back.
Do Vingegaard and Seixas have a hope at the 2027 Tour?
In August, a Visma | Lease a Bike documentary showed Vingegaard frustrated with the 2026 course.
After losing time on stage 14 he said: "I just think this route is simply tailored for him." The Dane claims to prefer long, sustained climbing efforts, which the 2026 route rarely offered.
On paper, the long Pyrenean climbs of 2027's week three should suit him better.
Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) finished fourth on his Tour debut in 2026, but was not able to follow Pogačar on the big climbing days. Whether the confidence gained from an Il Lobardia win, or another year's training will help him in 2027 remains to be seen.
Vingegaard and Seixas are Pogačar's biggest mountain rivals
British Grand Depart will be stressful for the favourites
The British start gives no time to settle in. ASO expects a sprinter to take the first yellow jersey on stage 1 from Edinburgh to Carlisle.
After that come two 223km days, Keswick to Liverpool and then Welshpool to Cardiff, which the organisers compare to an Ardennes Classic.
On draggy, narrow, and pot-hole littered roads, there will be plenty of sketchy moments for the GC favourites to survive. The old adage about losing the Tour de France in week 1 certainly applies here.
Read also
Montmartre finale will hopefully be crucial at the 2027 Tour de France
At the other end, Montmartre returns on the final stage for a third year running. While the 2026 finale featuring Pogačar and Van der Poel was exciting, the race was already decided. There was little tension to play with.
If the ASO's plan comes to fruition, and two long time trials see the top favourites arrive in Paris separated by a handful of seconds, then tension will just be the start on Sunday July 25.
Read also
David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
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Latest Comments
- I’m still figuring out how time trials affect the overall race. If Evenepoel gains time there, will Pogačar have enough mountain stages left to make it back? The route sounds exciting, but I’m not sure how much difference 71km makes.davidm22-10-2026
- Two 223km stages in the opening week could make for a proper nervous start. Those narrow British roads and potholes might have the GC favourites watching every corner.jennifer1922-10-2026
- That Pau–Portet stage sounds absolutely savage: Tourmalet, Soulor, Hourquette d’Ancizan and then the Portet. Vingegaard should suit those long climbs, though Pogačar is hardly easy to shake.julien22-10-2026
- Seventy-one kilometres against the clock gives Evenepoel a real chance to put pressure on Pogačar, but those Pyrenean stages look brutal. Could be a cracking final week if the time gaps stay close.sprocketspiny22-10-2026
- Not sure we can call this a perfect Evenepoel route before we’ve seen the start list. Plenty of time-trialling, yes, but those Pyrenees stages look absolutely savage. Could be a great Tour, though.julien22-10-2026
- I’m still learning the route—does a time trial mean every rider starts separately, and the fastest time wins the stage? Either way, 38km sounds like a long time to be racing alone!breakawaybikerd22-10-2026
- Montmartre again! Three ascents, with the last one 10km from the line, could make the finale far less predictable than a straightforward bunch sprint. Can’t wait.pedalpowe2922-10-2026
- The July 14 stage looks savage: 4,750 metres in just 150km is a proper day in the mountains. Skipping the biggest Alpine giants but finishing at Les Saisies should make for an interesting tactical race.velodromevirtuoso122-10-2026
- Seventy-one kilometres against the clock and only three summit finishes—Remco will be circling this one. But that Portet stage is brutal enough to undo a lot of damage in a hurry.davidm22-10-2026
- TotalEnergies’ sponsor situation makes this whole race for an invitation feel a bit academic unless they can secure funding. Hope they get it sorted—I’d love to see more teams get a crack at the Tour.cadencekingm21-10-2026
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