Stage 6: Binche – Longwy
- When: Thursday 7 July, start at 12.05 pm and arrival around 5.15 pm
- Distance: 219.9 kilometers
- Type: puncher chance
The longest stage of this Tour de France is tailor-made for Mathieu van der Poel. In the last sixty kilometers it goes up and down almost continuously. At first the landscape is still sloping, but in the last twenty kilometers the climbing becomes a bit more serious. At five kilometers is the Côte de Pulventeux, 800 meters at 12.3 percent, the main executioner follows. The punchers can indulge themselves there. Then it is time to descend, after which the road rises sharply again in the last one and a half kilometers.
Overview
The winner of this year’s Tour will have to be at home in all markets, as the organization has mapped out a very varied route. Below you will find an overview of what the riders can expect in the coming weeks.
View all the stages still to be completed below:
Stage 7: Tomblaine – La Planche des Belles Filles
- When: Friday 8 July, start at 1.05 pm and arrival around 5.17 pm
- Distance: 176.3 kilometers
- Type: climber stage
In stage 7 it is time for the first real mountain of this Tour de France: La Planche des Belles Filles. At only seven kilometers in length, it is not yet a col of the mythical proportions as later in the round, but one that is worth it. The percentages in particular stand out. 8.7 percent on average is not extreme, but because there are also easier (to almost flat) sections, there are also much heavier kilometers. In the last hundreds of meters the gradient even exceeds twenty at times. The run-up to La Plance des Belles Filles is not very difficult, so there will still be enough energy on the climb itself to make things explode. The only question is whether the classification riders will compete for victory here or whether the escapees will.
Stage 8: Dole – Laussane
- When: Saturday 9 July, start at 1.05 pm and arrival around 5.28 pm
- Distance: 186.3 kilometers
- Type: puncher’s chance
The eighth stage of this Tour de France is again one that can go in many directions. The escapees certainly have a chance during this transition stage that leads from France to Switzerland. Along the way it goes up and down a lot, but it never becomes extremely difficult. The heaviest climb is the Côte des Rousses (6.7 kilometers at 5 percent). This means that many riders will smell their chance. The last four kilometers are pre-eminently made for punchers such as Van der Poel and Van Aert. It is twice a small two kilometer climb with a very short breather in between. The steepest strip – twelve percent – is in the penultimate kilometer.
Stage 9: Aigle – Chatel Les Portes du Soleil
- When: Sunday 10 July, start at 12.30 pm and arrival around 5.44 pm
- Distance: 183 kilometers
- Type: mountain stage
The first real mountain stage can be seen as the end of a demanding week. The succession of Swiss mountains will get the riders into their climbing rhythm, without pushing them to their limits. A well-composed leading group could benefit from this smooth transition ride towards the real Alps. In the final the difference can be made uphill on the Pas de Morgins (15.4 km at 6.1%), although there is still a small climb towards the finish.
An overview of this year’s Tour de France route.
AP
Second rest day: Morzine Les Portes du Soleil
On Monday 11 July, after a grueling first week, the peloton can enjoy a well-deserved rest in Morzine Les Portes du Soleil.
Stage 10: Morzine Les Portes du Soleil – Megeve
- When: Tuesday 12 July, start at 1.30 pm and arrival around 5.05 pm
- Distance: 148 kilometers
- Type: transition stage
The day after the rest day, breathtaking mountain scenery on Lake Geneva awaits the riders before the road heads towards Megève. The road meanders between the valleys over three ongoing cols and should inspire the better escapees. The final climb, the Montée de l’altiport de Megève, is 19.2 kilometers long at an average of 4.1%.
Stage 11: Albertville – Col du Granon
- When: Wednesday 13 July, start at 12.15 pm and arrival around 4.55 pm
- Distance: 149 kilometers
- Type: mountain stage
No favorite who dreams of the yellow jersey in Paris should miss this appointment. The second arrival uphill. Just like the twelfth stage, this day can be described as a queen stage. The Col du Granon (2,413 meters) has not been climbed since 1986, after crossing Serre-Chevalier there is still 10 kilometers to go at more than 9% to conquer that Granon. But before the final climb they have to cross the Galibier (17.7 kilometers at 6.9%). With a height of 2,642 meters it is the roof of this Tour. The Montvernier and the Col du Télégraphe serve as warm-ups.
Stage 12: Briançon – Alpe d’Huez
- When: Thursday 14 July, start at 1.05 pm and arrival around 6.10 pm
- Distance: 166 kilometers
- Type: mountain stage
A Quatorze Juillet that settles into the legs, because the mountain stage has 4,750 vertical meters. The climbing festival starts again with the Galibier (this time via the Lautaret: 23 kilometers at 5.1%) before heading along the Croix de Fer (29 kilometers at 5.2%) to the iconic 21 bend final climb. With this, the Tour celebrates the 70th anniversary of the very first finish at height. Alpe d’Huez itself is 13.8 kilometers long at 8.1% on average. After this stage, a first real interim balance can be made: the cards will be more than shuffled!
Stage 13: Bourg d’Oisans – Saint-Etienne
- When: Friday 15 July, start at 1.05 pm and arrival around 5.35 pm
- Distance: 193 kilometers
- Type: hill ride
Today may be a crucial day in the battle for the green jersey. The profile shows that it does go up and down today, but without insurmountable obstacles. Wait and see how fast the race gets towards the finish. In stages like this, breakaways usually don’t get much wiggle room… but that’s never an exact science!
Stage 14: Saint-Etienne – Mende
- When: Saturday 16 July, start at 12.15 pm and arrival around 5.15 pm
- Distance: 195 kilometers
- Type: hill ride
No real climb awaits today, but the efforts are incessant. This passage through the Loire, Haute-Loire and Lozère will spur the most robust of escape kings into action. On the short but vicious climb of the Croix Neuve Montée Jalabert that leads to the airport (3 kilometers at 10.2%), a double battle awaits: that for the stage win and that within the group of favourites.
Stage 15: Rodez – Carcassonne
- When: Sunday 17 July, start at 1.05 pm and arrival around 5.50 pm
- Distance: 200 kilometers
- Type: flat
The road to Carcassonne is often hilly and invites you to escape. But this time, the course has been designed to reserve this day for the sprinters’ teams. Provided that they focus on checking the flight of the day, from whom can always expect a surprise in the third week.
Third rest day
Monday, July 18, the riders can enjoy the beautiful, medieval Carcassonne. Although it is more likely that they will limit themselves to a short coffee ride and an extensive massage to spare the tired legs.
Stage 16: Carcassonne – Foix
- When: Tuesday 19 July, start at 12.30 pm, arrival around 5.10 pm
- Distance: 179 kilometers
- Type: transition stage
One of the nine mid-mountain rides that this Grande Boucle knows. A transition stage to the real Pyrenees cols, but with the Port de Lers (11.4km at 7%) and the Mur de Péguère (9.3km at 7.9%) there are two serious traps for the classification riders. Towards the finish it is up to the better descenders to dive into the twenty kilometers towards Foix.
Stage 17: Saint-Gaudens – Peyragudes
- When: Wednesday 20 July, start at 1.15 pm and arrival around 5 pm
- Distance: 130 kilometers
- Type: mountain ride
Short but sweet. As in the Alps, fierce war can be waged in the Pyrenees for two days in a row. Before the riders arrive, the Tour crosses the Aspin, the annoying Hourquette d’Anzican and the Val Louron-Azet. The final climb is painful, with 8 kilometers at 7.8%. Anyone who is not in his day will be dropped from the standings. Tadej Pogacar explored the ride and his reaction at Peyragudes airport says it all.
Stage 18: Lourdes – Hautacam
- When: Thursday 21 July, start at 1.30 pm and arrival around 5.40 pm
- Distance: 143 kilometers
- Type: mountain ride
The very last fight in the mountains, but one that can count. From the pilgrimage site of Lourdes, the last mountain stage goes over the Aubisque (16.4 kilometers at 7.1%) to the Col de Spandelles, which is brand new in the Tour: ten kilometers long and an average climb of eight percent. Thursday afternoon at Hautacam (13.5km at 7.8%) we basically know the mountain king and the potential final winner.
Stage 19: Castelnau-Magnoac – Cahors
- When: Friday 22 July, start at 1.05 pm and arrival around 5.30 pm
- Distance: 189 kilometers
- Type: flat
Strangely enough, the visit to the Lot after crossing the Gers and Tarn-et-Garonne is also a nod to the opening scene of the Tour: after all, the nearby castle of Cayx belongs to the royal family from Denmark. We can be brief about the race: in Cahors we can expect a battle between the remaining sprinters after a stage without significant obstacles. Although the two fourth category slopes can cut off your legs just before the final, just after a grueling journey through the Pyrenees…
Stage 20: Lacapelle-Marival – Rocamadour
- When: Saturday 23 July, first start at 1.05 pm and last arrival around 5.50 pm
- Distance: 40 kilometers
- Type: individual time trial
Finally, on the last Saturday, there is a time trial of forty kilometers in the hilly department of the Lot. That’s going to be a very long one survival of the fittest and the hour of truth. It is a difficult time trial, which is ten kilometers longer than last year. Continuous up and down, twisting and turning. Just like two years ago at Planche des Belles Filles, it can still happen here. In total, this Tour counts five kilometers less against the time than last year, but forty kilometers at the end of a difficult Tour is a deadly long.
Stage 21: Paris La Défense Arena – Paris Champs Elysées
- When: Sunday 24 July, start at 4.30 pm and arrival around 7.30 pm
- Distance: 112 km
- Type: flat
In 2024, the Tour through the Olympic Games will not end in Paris, but this year we can enjoy the traditional closing: after a trip through the suburbs of the capital, where traditionally the overall winner already sips a first glass of champagne, it follows the legendary Champs Elysées the ‘World Championship for sprinters’. Or the first criterion, depending on how you look at it. The fact is that every sprinter has this evening stage to write in his name.