Tour de France 2026 - News
04.07-26.07
The 113th Tour de France takes place from July 4 to July 26, 2026, starting with a Grand Départ in Barcelona and finishing in Paris. The route covers 3,333km and features a total elevation gain of 54,450m across 21 stages. It promises to be another battle between Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard, for the sixth year in a row. Since 2021, the Slovenian has won four of their Tour duels, while the Dane has won two.
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.
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The start list has not been confirmed yet, but it is already clear that Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar are set to battle for the sixth year in a row.
