Eight mountain stages and two climbs to Alpe d’Huez: The Tour de France also promises plenty of spectacle in 2026.
This became clear on Thursday at the official route presentation of the 113th edition of the Tour of France in Paris.
Dominator Tadej Pogacar wants to achieve his fifth overall victory and third in a row from July 4, 2026, while German hopeful Florian Lipowitz wants to build on his outstanding third place from 2025. To do this, they both have to survive a total of eight mountain stages, five of which end at altitude.
Florian Lipowitz (from), Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar at the 2025 Tour
All five mountain ranges included
The final decision is likely to come on the 19th and 20th stages. In both cases, the legendary final climb into the Alpe d’Huez ski area must be conquered – from two different sides. All five mountain ranges in France – the Pyrenees, the Massif Central, the Vosges, the Jura and the Alps – are part of the three-week tour.
Several climbs such as the one up to Gavarnie-Gèdre (6th stage) are in the program for the first time, plus classics such as the Col du Tourmalet and the Col du Galibier, the roof of the tour at 2642 m.
The route of the Tour de France 2026
Start in Barcelona
As in the previous year, the final in Paris leads over the poisonous hill of Montmartre – but the traditional mass sprint decision on the Champs-Élysées could happen again, as the crossing is further away from the finish this time than last year.
It had already been decided that the start would be a team time trial in Barcelona. A “grand departure” that the organizers are likely to look forward to with concern: This year’s Vuelta in Spain was submerged in the chaos of protests by pro-Palestinian demonstrators.