2026 Tour de France: Every Stage on the Road to Paris
The 113th Tour de France begins this Saturday, and the road ahead is a serious undertaking. With 54,450 metres of vertical gain, the third highest total in two decades, the mountains are holding their breath until the final week. Two days on the legendary Alpe d'Huez will decide the yellow jersey before the caravan rolls into Paris. Here is the full stage-by-stage breakdown of the 2026 route.
Stage 1: 4 July, Barcelona to Barcelona, 19.6km, Team Time Trial
The Tour opens with its first team time trial since 2019, and there is a twist worth noting. Rather than taking the time of the fourth rider across the line, each individual receives their own time. There is nowhere to hide. After passing the Sagrada Familia, the riders climb to the finish by the Olympic Stadium.
Stage 2: 5 July, Tarragona to Barcelona, 168.5km, Hilly
The peloton heads along the coast from Tarragona on largely flat roads until the Cote de Begues midway through. The stage finishes with three laps of a lumpy circuit in Barcelona.
Stage 3: 6 July, Granollers to Les Angles, 195.9km, Mountain
Only day three and the race is already heading for the Pyrenees. The ramps here should suit a breakaway, but they are unlikely to create gaps between the main favourites just yet.
Stage 4: 7 July, Carcassonne to Foix, 181.9km, Hilly
A rugged ride through Cathar Country offers more opportunities for a breakaway. The last of the four categorised climbs crests 34km from the finish down in Foix.
Stage 5: 8 July, Lannemezan to Pau, 158.3km, Flat
The sprinters face an unusually long wait for their first opportunity this year, but it should belatedly arrive in Pau's Place de Verdun.
Stage 6: 9 July, Pau to Gavarnie-Gedre, 186.2km, Mountain
The first proper mountain stage includes the Col d'Aspin and the obligatory passage of the mighty Tourmalet before a long, more gentle climb up to Gavarnie-Gedre. This is the road where legends are made and broken.
Stage 7: 10 July, Hagetmau to Bordeaux, 175.1km, Flat
The sprint teams will surely control any break trying to get away through the Landes forests as they eye victory in Bordeaux's Place des Quinconces.
Stage 8: 11 July, Perigueux to Bergerac, 180.4km, Flat
Another sprint opportunity comes in quick succession with a flat stage through the Dordogne.
Stage 9: 12 July, Malemort to Ussel, 185.5km, Hilly
Flat stretches of road are at a premium on a lumpy day that will tempt the breakaway specialists. The climbs come in quick succession in the second half of the day.
Stage 10: 14 July, Aurillac to Le Lioran, 166.6km, Mountain
After the first rest day in Cantal, it is straight back to business in the Massif Central. French riders will scrap for places in a breakaway on Bastille Day, but the road to Le Lioran could deliver a genuine GC battle.
Stage 11: 15 July, Vichy to Nevers, 161.3km, Flat
The fast men will surely not be denied on a flat run into Nevers.
Stage 12: 16 July, Circuit Nevers Magny-Cours to Chalon-sur-Saone, 179.1km, Flat
Another sprint finish should be on the cards, although a lumpier run through the Chalonnais vineyards offers slightly more hope for any escapees.
Stage 13: 17 July, Dole to Belfort, 205.8km, Hilly
The only stage north of 200km in length is largely flat until two late climbs, the second being the category one Ballon d'Alsace, before the long descent into Belfort. Ideal for a breakaway.
Stage 14: 18 July, Mulhouse to Le Markstein Fellering, 155.3km, Mountain
The Ballon d'Alsace features again a day later, but this time as one of four big climbs on a punishing day in the Vosges mountains.
Stage 15: 19 July, Champagnole to Plateau de Solaison, 183.9km, Mountain
A summit finish on the Plateau de Solaison will bring the fight for yellow to the forefront.
Stage 16: 21 July, Evian-les-Bains to Thonon-les-Bains, 26.1km, Individual Time Trial
A tricky individual time trial, including the climb of the Cote de Larringes, cannot be overlooked by the main contenders. Every second matters here.
Stage 17: 22 July, Chambery to Voiron, 174.7km, Flat
After a series of small early climbs, this stage levels out as a test of which sprinters have survived their days in the mountains the best.
Stage 18: 23 July, Voiron to Orcieres-Merlette, 185.2km, Mountain
The GC riders will be keeping their powder dry for the next two days, so this medium-mountain day could offer redemption for any pre-race favourites who have fallen out of overall contention.
Stage 19: 24 July, Gap to Alpe d'Huez, 127.9km, Mountain
Although the Alpe d'Huez will feature on back-to-back days this year, only Stage 19 will tackle the famous 21 hairpins. There is something about this climb that strips everything back to the bone.
Stage 20: 25 July, Le Bourg d'Oisans to Alpe d'Huez, 170.9km, Mountain
The final battle for yellow takes place over a brutal stage that includes the Col de la Croix de Fer, the Col du Telegraphe and Galibier double-whammy, and the Col de Sararenne, the back way up the Alpe d'Huez.
Stage 21: 26 July, Thoiry to Paris Champs-Elysees, 133km, Flat
Champagne glasses will clink on the road into Paris before a return to the challenging Montmartre circuit, which has proved so popular since its debut at the 2024 Olympics. The continent celebrates its own again.
What makes the 2026 Tour de France route unique?
The 2026 edition features 54,450 metres of vertical gain, the third highest in the last 20 years. The route reserves its biggest mountain stages for the final week, with back-to-back summit finishes on the Alpe d'Huez on Stages 19 and 20. The opening team time trial in Barcelona also introduces a new format where each rider receives their own individual time rather than the traditional fourth-rider measurement.
When does the 2026 Tour de France start and finish?
The 2026 Tour de France starts on Saturday, 4 July, with a team time trial in Barcelona and finishes on Sunday, 26 July, on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.
Where are the key mountain stages in the 2026 Tour?
The Pyrenees feature early on Stages 3 and 6. The Vosges mountains host Stages 14 and 15. The decisive Alpine stages come in the final week, with Stages 18, 19, and 20 including climbs of Orcieres-Merlette and the Alpe d'Huez on consecutive days.