2026 Tour de France Route Overview and Stage Insights

The 2026 Tour de France promises excitement and challenges as it kicks off with a Grand Depart in Barcelona. Here’s a detailed look at each stage, complete with profiles, previews, and estimated start and finish times (Eastern Time).

Stage 1 – July 4: Barcelone-Barcelone

Distance: 12 miles
Type: Team Time Trial
Start Time: 11:05 a.m.
Finish Time: 1:16 p.m.

The Tour opens with a team time trial in Barcelona, the first of its kind in seven years. Riders will pass sights like Antoni Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia and the Olympic Stadium. The team with the best time will don the first yellow jersey.

Stage 2 – July 5: Tarragone-Barcelone

Distance: 105 miles
Type: Hilly
Start Time: 7:45 a.m.
Finish Time: 11:26 a.m.

Featuring challenging hills in the latter half, this stage opens the King of the Mountains (KOM) competition and sees riders battling for the green jersey. It concludes on the climb to Montjuic Castle.

Stage 3 – July 6: Granollers-Les Angles

Distance: 122 miles
Type: Mountain
Start Time: 6:10 a.m.
Finish Time: 10:54 a.m.

Early in the tour, climbers will tackle the French Alps. A bold breakaway could succeed, while general classification (GC) contenders save energy for future challenges.

Stage 4 – July 7: Carcassonne-Foix

Distance: 113 miles
Type: Hilly
Start Time: 7:10 a.m.
Finish Time: 11:23 a.m.

This hilly stage begins in Carcassonne, Europe’s largest fortified city. Breakaway artists may thrive, but sprinters might challenge for victory due to descents and plateaus.

Stage 5 – July 8: Lannemezan-Pau

Distance: 98 miles
Type: Flat
Start Time: 8:05 a.m.
Finish Time: 11:37 a.m.

Sprinters get their chance after a long wait in this flat stage that leads to Pau, a Tour staple. KOM points are available for those targeting the polka dot jersey.

Stage 6 – July 9: Pau-Gavarnie-Gedre

Distance: 116 miles
Type: Mountain
Start Time: 6:25 a.m.
Finish Time: 11:29 a.m.

The Col du Tourmalet, making its 88th appearance, takes center stage. Expect fierce competition among GC players.

Stage 7 – July 10: Hagetmau-Bordeaux

Distance: 109 miles
Type: Flat
Start Time: 7:15 a.m.
Finish Time: 11:13 a.m.

This flat stage brings riders to Bordeaux, a venue with a rich sprint finish history, hosting for the 76th time.

Stage 8 – July 11: Perigueux-Bergerac

Distance: 112 miles
Type: Flat
Start Time: 7:15 a.m.
Finish Time: 11:20 a.m.

A significant opportunity for green jersey contenders, this stage culminates with a flat sprint finish.

Stage 9 – July 12: Malemort-Ussel

Distance: 115 miles
Type: Hilly
Start Time: 7:35 a.m.
Finish Time: 11:47 a.m.

With four categorized climbs, this long stage takes place before a rest day, starting and finishing in debut host towns.

Stage 10 – July 14: Aurillac-Le Lioran

Distance: 104 miles
Type: Mountain
Start Time: 7:10 a.m.
Finish Time: 11:12 a.m.

On Bastille Day, riders face a daunting 8.8% gradient in the final miles. Highlights include potential climbers’ duels for KOM points.

Stage 11 – July 15: Vichy-Nevers

Distance: 100 miles
Type: Flat
Start Time: 7:50 a.m.
Finish Time: 11:31 a.m.

After tough mountains, sprinters aim for dominance with 95 green jersey points in play.

Stage 12 – July 16: Circuit Nevers Magny-Cours-Chalon-Sur-Saone

Distance: 111 miles
Type: Flat
Start Time: 7:30 a.m.
Finish Time: 11:29 a.m.

Sprinters enjoy back-to-back flat stages, this time departing from a former Formula One track.

Stage 13 – July 17: Dole-Belfort

Distance: 128 miles
Type: Hilly
Start Time: 7 a.m.
Finish Time: 11:46 a.m.

This hilly stage ends with a lengthy descent. Last year’s stage winners like Mathieu Van Der Poel may seek victory in the Tour’s longest stage.

Stage 14 – July 18: Mulhouse-Le Markstein Fellering

Distance: 96 miles
Type: Mountain
Start Time: 7:10 a.m.
Finish Time: 11:24 a.m.

A short but steep stage ending with a 9.4% gradient presents a test for climbers.

Stage 15 – July 19: Champagnole-Plateau de Solaison

Distance: 114 miles
Type: Mountain
Start Time: 7:10 a.m.
Finish Time: 11:41 a.m.

Before the final rest day, this mountain stage can solidify GC standings, offering 45 green jersey points for sprinters who endure.

Stage 16 – July 21: Evian-les-Bains-Thonon-les-Bains

Distance: 16 miles
Type: Individual Time Trial
Start Time: 7 a.m.
Finish Time: 11:50 a.m.

Riders face the only individual time trial on a flat course by Lake Geneva, named for its mineral water origin.

Stage 17 – July 22: Chambery-Voiron

Distance: 109 miles
Type: Flat
Start Time: 7:20 a.m.
Finish Time: 11:18 a.m.

Featuring significant elevation, this flat stage offers green jersey contenders another chance as the Alps loom.

Stage 18 – July 23: Voiron-Orcieres-Merlette

Distance: 115 miles
Type: Mountain
Start Time: 6:35 a.m.
Finish Time: 11:12 a.m.

With a 12,800 feet elevation gain, the Tour visits Orcieres-Merlette ski resort, setting a mountain stage challenge.

Stage 19 – July 24: Gap-Alpe D’Huez

Distance: 79 miles
Type: Mountain
Start Time: 8 a.m.
Finish Time: 11:24 a.m.

On this shortest road stage, riders must conquer the legendary Alpe D’Huez with its iconic 21 hairpin bends.

Stage 20 – July 25: Le Bourg D’Oisans-Alpe D’Huez

Distance: 106 miles
Type: Mountain
Start Time: 5:20 a.m.
Finish Time: 10:11 a.m.

The second consecutive Alpe D’Huez finish includes an 18,000 feet elevation climb, potentially affecting GC outcomes.

Stage 21 – July 26: Thoiry-Paris Champs-Elysees

Distance: 83 miles
Type: Flat
Start Time: 10:15 a.m.
Finish Time: 1:30 p.m.

The Tour concludes on the famous Champs-Elysees for a 51st time. Belgian riders have dominated recent finishes here, yet riders like Biniam Girmay aim to change that.

Watch the Tour de France 2026

Dates: July 4 – July 26
Start Times: Between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. EST
Where to Watch: NBC, NBCSN, Peacock

Catch daily highlights and the Beyond the Podium recap from 7-8 pm ET on NBC Sports NOW and Peacock.