Tour de France Route 2026 | Fantastic route awaits Pogacar, Vingegaard, Van der Poel, and Van Aert
CyclingThursday, 04 June 2026 at 17:11
Not long to go now. The 2026 Tour de France route is ready and waiting; the race is almost upon us. On Saturday 4 July, this year’s riders start a team time trial in Barcelona to get started, before finishing three weeks later in the French capital, Paris. What exactly does the route between those two points look like? IDL Pro Cycling brings you a full TdF route breakdown
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The 2026 Tour de France route:
Stage 1 - Saturday, July 4, 2026: Barcelona - Barcelona (team time trial, 19.7 km)
This year’s Tour de France route starts with a 19.6-kilometre team time trial in Barcelona, which hosts the Grand Départ on the opening weekend. The first 15.5 kilometres are relatively flat, but then the teams have to climb Montjuïc twice. This is also a new-style team time trial: the time of each rider counts individually.
Favorites
Visma | Lease a Bike
Red Bull-BORA-Hansgrohe
UAE Emirates-XRG
Visma | Lease a Bike
Red Bull-BORA-Hansgrohe
UAE Emirates-XRG
Stage 2 - Sunday, July 5, 2026: Tarragona - Barcelona (178 km)
Stage two also ends in Barcelona, at exactly the same finish line. Along the way, the riders have to go over the Begues (6.1 km at 6.5%), before tackling three final laps with Montjuïc (1.6 kilometres at 9.3%) as the anchor point. After 168.5 kilometres, the finish comes in front of the Olympic Stadium.
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Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Tom Pidcock (Pinarello - Q36.5)
Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Tom Pidcock (Pinarello - Q36.5)
Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Stage 3 - Monday, July 6, 2026: Granollers - Les Angles (134.2 km)
On day three, the Tour de France leaves Spanish soil. The start is still in Granollers, but 196 kilometres later the stage ends in Les Angles. Along the way there are several serious climbs straight away, with the Col de Toses (9.3 km at 6.5%) the hardest. The finish in Les Angles comes after 1.7 kilometres of climbing at 6.5%. An ideal chance for a breakaway rider to take yellow?
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Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost)
Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek)
Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious)
Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost)
Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek)
Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious)
Stage 4 - Tuesday, July 7, 2026: Carcassone - Foix (182 km)
The sprinters have so far had little joy in this Tour de France. On day four there is a 182-kilometre stage from Carcassonne to Foix, where the stronger all-rounders will probably be more interested. For the pure speed men, the Col de Montségur (6.9 kilometres at 6.6%) might be a bit too much, with the summit 35 kilometres from the finish.
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Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Stage 5 - Wednesday, July 8, 2026: Lannemezan - Pau (158 km)
After four tough stages in a row, the peloton will probably agree on Wednesday July 8 that the fast men deserve a chance. Between Lannemezan and Pau there are hardly any climbs, although the final quarter does include a few tricky hills. The sprint teams will want to take this opportunity with both hands.
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Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Stage 6 - Thursday, July 9, 2026: Pau - Gavarnie-Gèdre (186 km)
And so, from Pau, we head back into the Pyrenees. The riders face five climbs in stage six, with the Aspin (12 km at 6.5%) and the Tourmalet (17.1 km at 7.3%) standing out, both literally and figuratively. The finish in Gavarnie-Gèdre, with its 18.7 kilometres at 3.7%, is a pale imitation of what comes before it.
Favorites
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Stage 7 - Friday, July 10, 2026: Hagetmau - Bordeaux (175 km)
After the Pyrenees there is some breathing space for the riders, with a 175-kilometre transition stage from Hagetmau to Bordeaux. There, it will probably be back to the sprinters, as there are not many obstacles on this route.
Favorites
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Stage 8 - Saturday, July 11, 2026: Périgueux - Bergerac (182 km)
In the Dordogne, there is another flat stage on the menu, this time finishing in Bergerac. After 180 kilometres, whichever fast men are still left in the race will battle it out here.
Favorites
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Stage 9 - Sunday, July 12, 2026: Malemort - Ussel (185 km)
Up, down, up, down. That is stage nine of this year’s Tour de France in a nutshell. It never gets really hard anywhere, so on paper it is a stage made for the breakaway. But on days like this, with 3,300 metres of climbing, anything can happen.
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Ion Izagirre (Cofidis)
Luke Plapp (Jayco AlUla)
Dorian Godon (Netcompany INEOS)
Ion Izagirre (Cofidis)
Luke Plapp (Jayco AlUla)
Dorian Godon (Netcompany INEOS)
Rest day - Monday, July 13 2026
Stage 10 - Tuesday, July 14, 2026: Aurillac - Le Lioran (167 km)
After a well-earned rest day, stage ten immediately offers a tricky stage through the Cantal. In the final 100 kilometres the riders face no fewer than seven categorised climbs in a region where July is usually also extremely hot. And it is French national day, so spectacle is guaranteed!
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Kévin Vauquelin (Netcompany INEOS)
Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Kévin Vauquelin (Netcompany INEOS)
Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Stage 11 - Wednesday, July 15, 2026: Vichy - Nevers (161 km)
Stage eleven takes the riders 161.3 kilometres from Vichy to Nevers over, in essence, 161 kilometres. These are mainly flat kilometres, so under normal circumstances this is another chance for the sprinters.
Favorites
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Stage 12 - Thursday, July 16, 2026: Circuit Nevers Magny-Cours - Chalon-Sur-Saône (181 km)
For the second time in this Tour de France, the sprinters look set to get a serious chance on back-to-back days. The 179-kilometre twelfth stage, from the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours to Chalon-sur-Saône, also has few obstacles.
Favorites
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Stage 13 - Friday, July 17, 2026: Dole - Belfort (205 km)
The thirteenth stage is raced on a Friday, but let’s hope it brings good fortune for the riders. This stage focuses around the Ballon d’Alsace (8.9 km at 6.9%), which after a flat approach is topped 30 kilometres from the finish. A classic case of too hard for the sprinters, too light for the GC men?
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Ivan Romeo (Movistar)
Ion Izagirre (Cofidis)
Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5)
Ivan Romeo (Movistar)
Ion Izagirre (Cofidis)
Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5)
Read also
Stage 14 - Saturday, July 18, 2026: Mulhouse - Le Markstein (155 km)
By the third weekend, we have reached the Vosges, and that means climbing. For the second day in a row the Ballon d’Alsace (8.9 km at 6.9%) is on the route, but towards the beautiful finish in Le Markstein it is the Col du Haag (11.2 km at 7.3%) that is likely to be decisive.
Favorites
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Stage 15 - Sunday, July 19, 2026: Champagnole - Plateau de Solaison (184 km)
Climbing! In stage fifteen, the peloton heads towards Plateau de Solaison, one of the toughest climbs in this Tour de France with its 11.3 kilometres at 9%. The GC riders will probably start taking each other on before the third week begins, so put this one in your calendar!
Favorites
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Stage 16 - Tuesday, July 21, 2026: Évian-les-Bains - Thonon-les-Bains (26 km, time trial)
This year’s Tour de France has one individual time trial, and it is held on day 16 by Lake Geneva. From the start, the road rises immediately for 9.7 kilometres at 4.3%, before after seven downhill kilometres there are another nine kilometres of pushing to the finish.
Favorites
Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Stage 17 - Wednesday, July 22, 2026: Chambéry - Voiron (175 km)
Stage seventeen takes the peloton from Chambéry to Voiron, mostly through the valley. The climbing is packed into the first 60 kilometres or so. On paper, it looks more like a stage for classics riders than for sprinters, especially because the finale also rises slightly.
Favorites
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Filippo Ganna (Netcompany INEOS)
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Filippo Ganna (Netcompany INEOS)
Read also
Stage 18 - Thursday, July 23, 2026: Voiron - Orcieres-Merlette (185 km)
We are approaching the final weekend, but not before the riders get a preview of what is to come on Friday and Saturday, heading towards Orcières-Merlette (7.1 kilometres at 6.7% average). The strong attacking climbers, or riders who have dropped out of the GC battle, may see this as a major opportunity.
Favorites
Thymen Arensman (Netcompany INEOS)
Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek)
Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious)
Thymen Arensman (Netcompany INEOS)
Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek)
Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious)
Stage 19 - Friday, July 24, 2026: Gap - Alpe d'Huez (128 km)
Here we are, Alpe d’Huez! From the start in Gap, the riders immediately face the Col Bayard (4.7 km at 7.2%), and later they also have the Col du Noyer (7.2 km at 8.5%) and Col d’Ornon (5.4 km at 6.4%). But the real focus is on the first showdown on the 13.8-kilometre Alpe d’Huez after 128 kilometres of racing.
Favorites
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Stage 20 - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Bourg d'Oisans - Alpe d'Huez (171 km)
What a beast of a stage. The absolute queen stage of the 2026 Tour de France takes place on the penultimate day, with a dizzying total of 5,600 metres of climbing. In succession, the Croix de Fer (24 km at 5.2%), Télégraphe (11.9 km at 7.1%), Galibier (17.7 km at 6.9%) and Alpe d’Huez via Sarenne (12.8 km at 7.3%) will deliver the definitive verdict after three weeks of racing.
Favorites
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Stage 21 - Sunday, July 26, 2026: Thoiry - Paris (130 km)
Based on the successful 2024 Olympic road race, this year’s final stage also includes the climb to Montmartre. One difference compared with last year’s stage won by Wout van Aert: that hill is now a little further from the finish, at 11 kilometres. That should, in theory at least, give the sprinters a slightly better chance.
Favorites
Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
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Latest Comments
- The only cyclist who can beat Tadej is Tadej.
Brucegel09-05-2026 - Enough of this b.s. already.Just tell the world all you suspicious people what would satisfy you that he is not doping.live real time urinating and testing?.Live real time blood draws 5 seconds after a race is over?.Fecal analysis.WTF will satisfy you?Brucegel03-05-2026
- This suspicion could be laid to rest by what? What would make all doubters happy that Pogi is clean? Just tell the world all you Frenchmen et al what you want as protocol.You will never be satisfied.That is your level of mindless groundless suspicions.Brucegel03-05-2026
- Here is a novel idea......it's a road bike race, stick to smooth asphalt courses! Cobble is like mild off-road cross riding!!!!Germanrazor14-04-2026
- To lose a race like that on a mechanical problem in this day and age is unforgivable. Why aren't all riders using the same (interchangeable) gear? It is the job of the team manager to manage and reduce risk variables. The fact that he not only didn't pick up on the potential issue but actually ok'd it is just madness.fatehasfans13-04-2026
- Rider X, y and z? Could you update?yaNzKEWL21-03-2026
- Can anyone help me understand the thinking behind the two punishments? Are the commissaires saying you get thrown out of the race for a second inadvertent disposal of a bidon (even to the delight of fans) but that as long as you can afford it you can show off your phalangeal cuticles all day long on international TV? Aking for a friend.packfiller7112-03-2026
- It's a bit embarrassing that. Isn't the main sponsor supposed to keep them at 36.5 ?tomjacques03-03-2026
- They were close to cracking a very tired Tadej that wasn't fully focused on the TdF with a team of riders focused solely on cracking Tadej. And if they cracked him, he would have still won. Tadej won't be racing the giro this year. It'll be an even easier win for him.Veganpotter09-02-2026
- Nice!Bea22-01-2026
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