Some parts of the 2026 Tour de France route are a little unconventional, but others are just what we’ve come to know and love… and look forward to each year.
Here are the stages you’ve got to see this year and why.
For cycling fans, July can be a time for surprises. Who knows what this year’s Tour de France will have in store?
Our only clue to what might happen on a given race day is the route for each stage, giving us a glimpse of what might be to come… or where the race’s general classification might be shaken up!
Unless you’ve got tons of time on your hands, you might not be able to watch every stage. That’s okay! From serving up a historic Grand Départ team time trial to an unprecedented back-to-back double feature of Alpe d’Huez, there’s plenty to sink your teeth into even if you can’t sit down for the flat bunch sprints. We’ve gathered up what are likely to be the best nine stages of this year’s race, and why we think they’re worth catching.
(Plus, check out the videos linked below from the Tour de France official YouTube channel, spotlighting some of their standout stages for the year! We hope these will help you decide which stages to watch and which to skip… plus, when the action might happen for each one.)
Ready to check them out?
Visit our Tour de France hub!
Get ready for the Grand Depart in Barcelona and beyond.
Here are the nine Tour de France stages you absolutely cannot miss this year:
Stage 1: Barcelona > Barcelona (19 km)
The Tour kicks off with its first opening-day Team Time Trial in 55 years, tearing through the streets of Barcelona.
Teams will have to coordinate their pacing over the iconic Montjuïc climb to capture the first yellow jersey of the race. The technical and high-speed urban circuit leaves zero room for error. It’s likely that the first day will create immediate, tactical gaps among the GC contenders. But the stage victor? We’ll just have to see, but INEOS is on a lot of fans’ radars, despite the tougher season they’ve been having so far.
Watch the overview of Stage 1 here.
Embed from Getty ImagesStage 3: Granollers > Les Angles (196 km)
As the peloton bids farewell to Spain, they face an incredibly early mountain test heading into the Pyrenees. With nearly 4,000 meters of vertical gain, the riders must tackle the grueling Col de Toses before a punchy final kick up to the ski resort of Les Angles. This stage is a prime tactical launchpad for an early ambush. It might just force the favorite teams to show their hand just three days into the race.
Watch the overview of Stage 3 here.
Stage 6: Pau > Gavarnie-Gèdre (186 km)
This is the Queen Stage of the Pyrenees, again coming very early in the course. This one combines history with a spectacular new finish.
The peloton will face the classic combination of the Col d’Aspin and the mighty Col du Tourmalet. The survivors will then face a scenic showdown up to the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Cirque de Gavarnie.
Watch the overview of Stage 6 here.
Embed from Getty ImagesStage 10: Aurillac > Le Lioran (167 km)
Taking place on Bastille Day, this trek through the Massif Central is almost guaranteed to produce a little chaos! This jagged profile is just packed with short, steep climbs, including the infamous Pas de Peyrol (Puy Mary).
Without a single meter of flat road to recover on, it’s the perfect terrain for a high-stakes breakaway, or even a tactical raid by the GC favorites.
Watch the overview of Stage 10 here.
Stage 14: Mulhouse > Le Markstein Fellering (155 km)
The Vosges mountains host a more punishing weekend stage than you might expect… and this one features a hidden gem of the 2026 route. After tackling the Grand Ballon and the Ballon d’Alsace, the riders have to face the irregular ramps of the Col du Haag. This is a narrow forest path that’s been converted into a cycle lane! With gradients averaging over 7% across this uneven terrain, this stage will punish any rider carrying second-week fatigue… and give the spectators a show.
Watch the overview of Stage 14 here.
Stage 15: Champagnole > Plateau de Solaison (184 km)
Positioned right before the second rest day, this alpine stage serves as a critical sorting hat for the final podium.
The real damage begins pretty early on the steep slopes of the Salève via the Col de la Croisette, which averages a massive 11.2% gradient! The stage culminates in an 11.3-kilometer summit finish up the Plateau de Solaison. This is the ideal launchpad for pure climbers to have their day in the spotlight.
Watch the overview of Stage 15 here.
Stage 16: Évian-les-Bains > Thonon-les-Bains (26 km)
Coming right off the rest day, this 26-kilometer ITT along the shores of Lake Geneva will force climbers into damage-control mode… and show who really has control of the GC. This rolling terrain requires riders to constantly shift their rhythms, and they’ll have to maintain a massive gear while on their limits.
Any GC contender having an “off day” after the rest period risks losing minutes on this stage.
Watch the overview of Stage 16 here.
Stage 19: Gap > Alpe d’Huez (128 km)
Ah, beautiful and iconic Alpe d’Huez… this short, explosive mountain day is the first half of an unprecedented Alpe d’Huez double-header!
At just 128 kilometers, the racing will be incredibly fast, and things will get aggressive right from the start. What about the finale? The stage culminates in the traditional ascent up the iconic 21 hairpins, so don’t miss out!
Watch the overview of Stage 19 here.
Embed from Getty ImagesStage 20: Le Bourg d’Oisans > Alpe d’Huez (171 km)
Serving as the Queen stage of the Tour this year, it’s sure to be a gargantuan day as the peloton returns to Alpe d’Huez one more time. The stage features a colossal 5,600 meters of total elevation gain. The riders will conquer the massive Col de la Croix de Fer, the Télégraphe, and go up to the highest point of the race at the Col du Galibier.
What’s different from Stage 19? This time, the race approaches Alpe d’Huez via the brutal, rarely used Col de Sarenne. This will be a good showdown for the GC men before we arrive to Paris… could the GC really see a shake-up? Let’s find out!
Watch the overview of Stage 20 here.
Which stage are you most excited to watch? Let us know in the comments or on social media! ★
Leave a Reply