Tour de France 2026
04.07-26.07
The 2026 Tour de France started in Barcelona with a team time trial and crossed the Pyrenees, Massif Central, Vosges and Alps before a Paris finale featuring Montmartre. Tadej Pogačar claimed a fifth overall victory, with Remco Evenepoel finishing second, while Tour debutant Isaac del Toro completed the podium and secured the white jersey ahead of 19-year-old Frenchman Paul Seixas.
How to watch?
Curious about how to watch the 2026 Tour de France? Discover it in our complete how-to-watch guide, featuring a full overview of all broadcasters and live streaming options.
The route of the Tour de France 2026
The route for the 2026 Tour de France covers 3,333km and features a total elevation gain of 54,450m. Over the course of 21 stages, riders will face the following:
- 7 Flat stages
- 4 Hilly stages
- 8 Mountain stages
- 1 Team time trial, with a unique concept
- 1 Individual time trial
- A Grand Départ in Barcelona
- Rest days on July 13 and July 20
The opening three stages in Spain and the Pyrenees ensure there will be no gentle start to the race. The Tour begins with a 19.7km team time trial in Barcelona, finishing around Montjuïc, before a hilly second stage again ends in the Catalan capital. Stage 3 already takes the peloton into the mountains, crossing into France for a demanding finish at Les Angles.
After a hilly day to Foix, the sprinters get their first clear chance in Pau on stage 5, but the GC battle quickly returns on stage 6. The first major mountain test comes on the road to Gavarnie Gèdre, with the Col d’Aspin and Col du Tourmalet preceding a new summit finish in the Pyrenees.
The middle part of the race mixes sprint opportunities with rugged terrain through the Massif Central and Vosges. Stage 10 to Le Lioran, on Bastille Day, brings a tough sequence of climbs including the Puy Mary and Col de Pertus, while stages 14 and 15 raise the difficulty again with mountain finishes at Le Markstein Fellering and Plateau de Solaison.
The final week is built around the Alps. A 26km individual time trial from Évian-les-Bains to Thonon-les-Bains opens the last phase of the race, before the GC contenders face three consecutive mountain tests. Stage 18 finishes at Orcières-Merlette, while stages 19 and 20 form a decisive Alpe d’Huez double. The penultimate stage is the hardest of the race, with the Croix de Fer, Télégraphe, Galibier and Sarenne before the final climb back towards Alpe d’Huez.
The Tour concludes in Paris, where the riders return to the Champs-Élysées after a final stage from Thoiry. As in 2025, the route includes three ascents of Montmartre, giving attackers a late opportunity before a possible sprint finish in the French capital.
A full stage-by-stage guide for the 2026 route can be found here, and theset are the 5 key stages you will want to watch.
Favourites
Tadej Pogačar starts the 2026 Tour de France as the clear favourite. His spring was close to flawless, and his dominant display at the Tour de Suisse suggested that his form has only sharpened since his altitude camp.
Jonas Vingegaard remains the most credible challenger. The Dane arrives after winning the Giro d’Italia and has enjoyed a far more settled build up than in the previous two seasons.
Behind them, the field is less predictable. Isaac del Toro has been one of the strongest stage racers of the year, although his first responsibility will be supporting Pogačar.
Paul Seixas brings enormous promise and equally large expectations into his Tour debut, while Remco Evenepoel remains difficult to assess after an unconventional preparation. Florian Lipowitz and Juan Ayuso offer more established podium potential, with Tobias Halland Johannessen among the strongest candidates for a top ten finish.
For a closer look at every major contender, read our full 2026 Tour de France preview.
