Five key stages to watch in the 2026 Tour de France

Looking for the full 2026 Tour de France route? You can find it here.

After five relatively relaxed stages, the first real mountain battle of the Tour arrives on stage 6 with a summit finish on the long and newly introduced climb of Cirque de Gavarnie (18.7km at 4%). It promises some of the most spectacular scenery of the entire 2026 race, with the Cirque also recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Before the riders reach this draggy final ascent, they must tackle two Pyrenean icons earlier in the day: the Col d’Aspin and the Col du Tourmalet. These climbs will already test the legs and could create opportunities for a strong group to try their luck. Yet with the sheer dominance and presence of Tadej Pogačar, that freedom might be short-lived.

This stage will be crucial, as some riders’ GC ambitions could vanish after only six days if they lack the strength, particularly on the unforgiving slopes of the Tourmalet. The big question remains how the peloton will approach the unknown terrain of the Cirque de Gavarnie.

Stage 10 of the 2026 Tour de France features three demanding climbs: the Col de la Griffoul, Pas de Peyrol and Col de Pertus, before finishing in Le Lioran, the site of Jonas Vingegaard’s victory over Pogačar in 2024.

The stage covers 167 kilometres and is packed with climbing, giving breakaway specialists a realistic chance to succeed, especially with sizable time gaps likely already opening up in the general classification by this point in the race.

All three categorised climbs are short but brutally steep, typical of the Massif Central, with gradients that push well into the red. The terrain will lend itself to a fierce and unpredictable day, where both opportunists and GC contenders may see their chance to ignite the fireworks on Bastille Day.

Stage 15 introduces another new challenge to the 2026 Tour de France with the climb to Plateau de Solaison. The ascent measures 11.3km at a punishing 9.1%, but before reaching it, riders must first deal with the Col de la Croisette, a shorter but even steeper climb at 4.7km and an average gradient of 11.2%.

One thing is certain: the Tour will not be won here, but it could very easily be lost. The savage gradients, especially on the summit finish, have the potential to destroy a contender’s ambitions if they have even one bad day.

This stage will almost certainly go to the GC men. If both Vingegaard and Pogačar line up for the Tour, as they almost certainly will barring injury, this could be another dramatic arena for their ongoing rivalry. Remco Evenepoel, in new colours and perhaps with renewed ambition, might be ready to test the gap to the sport’s two biggest stars.

It’s back. The Alpe d’Huez returns after a four-year absence, last seen when Tom Pidcock took a famous victory on stage 12 of that edition. Stage 19 will be short but intense, spanning 128 kilometres, and perfectly suited to the breakaway specialists who still have something left in the tank. The Col Bayard and Col du Noyer appear in quick succession early on, setting the tone for a relentless day.

Before the riders take on one of the most iconic climbs in Tour folklore, they must first crest the Col d’Ornon, which should not prove too demanding. Then comes the showdown on the Alpe d’Huez itself, 13.8 kilometres at an average of 8.1%. Marco Pantani’s legendary record time of 37 minutes and 35 seconds will once again be under scrutiny. Can anyone come close to it this time?

Saving the best until last, an absolute classic of a stage with 171 kilometeres awaiting. Packed into those kilometres are the 2,000m-high Col de la Croix de Fer, and then the Col du Télégraphe, before an ascent to higher ground with the Col du Galibier, with its elevation siting at 2642m at the summit. Will altiude play apart here in deciding the Tour?

After some descending the riders then have to deal with yet another climb, the Col de Sarenne (12.8km at 7.3%), and one thing is already for certain here, if you really want to try a video game move and play all your chips with an audacious and daring attacking move to win a Tour, you could do so. 

After summiting the Col de Sarenne, there is a brief moment of slight respite before a return to the Alpe d'Huez for one final showdown of the 2026 Tour, who will come out on top?