The Tour de France lasts three weeks and consists of 21 stages which together form one of sport’s most demanding and symbolic tests. The race usually passes through large parts of France, but often opens with a Grand Départ in another European country or foreign major city.
For many, the Tour is the very image of summer in France. The peloton moves from medieval towns and sun-baked vineyards to green valleys, high Alpine hairpin bends and the classic finish in Paris. This very combination of sport, landscape and culture is an important reason why the race has gained such a special place in European travel and French identity.
Tour de France 2026 starts in Barcelona on 4 July and finishes in Paris on 26 July. This year’s route is 3,333 kilometres long, with 21 stages and two rest days. The 2026 edition will therefore be compact, varied and very spectator-friendly for those who want to experience the race out on the road.
This version of the page keeps the original hero section and ad flow, but uses a fresher card and map layout in the body text to make the content clearer and more visually lively.
The history behind the race
From newspaper stunt in 1903 to global sporting event
The Tour de France was held for the first time in 1903. The initiative came from the French sports newspaper L'Auto, which wanted to increase circulation by organising a spectacular cycling race around France.
The history behind the race
The first edition consisted of only six stages, but even then the distances were enormous, and riders often cycled through the night on poor gravel roads. The first winner was Maurice Garin. Since then, the Tour de France has grown into one of the world’s most iconic sporting events.
For three weeks, the whole country becomes a stage for the world’s biggest cycling sport, and every year a new chapter is written in a story already filled with heroes, rivalries and legendary moments. At the same time, the Tour has retained something that makes the race completely unique: its closeness to the landscape, small towns, mountains and people standing along the roads.
The Tour has also become part of the French summer feeling. When the peloton passes through villages and mountain towns, the streets fill with people, campervans and anticipation. That is why it is not only the big victories that make an impression, but also the atmosphere and rhythm the race creates from region to region.
How the race works
The Tour de France is held every year in July and lasts 23 days. The route varies from year to year and passes through different regions of France, often with a Grand Départ in another European country or another European major city.
- 21 stages
- 2 rest days
- Total distance normally around 3,300–3,500 kilometres
- A combination of flat stages, hilly stages, mountain stages and time trials
Start: Barcelona
Finish: Paris
Length: 3333 km
The jerseys
The four best-known jerseys in the Tour de France
The riders compete not only for stage wins. They also fight for several prestigious competitions along the way.
🟡 Maillot JauneYellow jersey
The overall leader. This is the most prestigious jersey and the symbol of the rider leading the entire race.
🟢 Points classificationGreen jersey
The best sprinter. Riders collect points on flat stages and at intermediate sprints along the way.
🔴⚪ Mountains classificationPolka-dot jersey
The best climber. Points are awarded on mountain passes and climbs, especially in the Pyrenees and the Alps.
⚪ Young rider classificationWhite jersey
The best young rider. This is often the jersey that points towards the next generation of overall contenders.
Team classificationBest overall team
The team classification does not have the same iconic status as the jerseys above, but it plays an important role in tactics throughout the race.
Map section
Interactive map of the Tour de France 2026
Tour de France 2026 – the route on the map
Click a stage to highlight the route on the map. You can open the dedicated full-size map view at any time via the link below.
The map is an editorial illustration of the likely route between known start and finish locations in the Tour de France 2026.
Dates for all stages
Tour de France 2026 day by day
The Tour de France 2026 is held from 4 July to 26 July 2026 and consists of 21 stages with two rest days along the way.
4 July 2026
Stage 1 – Barcelona → Barcelona
Team time trial through the streets of Barcelona, finishing around Montjuïc.
5 July 2026
Stage 2 – Tarragona → Barcelona
Coastal opening before a harder finish towards Barcelona.
6 July 2026
Stage 3 – Granollers → Les Angles
First major mountain day as the race enters the Pyrenees.
7 July 2026
Stage 4 – Carcassonne → Foix
Hilly stage with a historic start and dramatic finish in Ariège.
8 July 2026
Stage 5 – Lannemezan → Pau
Transition stage with more open roads towards Pau.
9 July 2026
Stage 6 – Pau → Gavarnie-Gèdre
Classic Pyrenees stage with a high-mountain finish.
10 July 2026
Stage 7 – Hagetmau → Bordeaux
Fast western stage via Landes and into the wine city of Bordeaux.
11 July 2026
Stage 8 – Périgueux → Bergerac
Shorter stage in Dordogne with potential for high speed.
12 July 2026
Stage 9 – Malemort → Ussel
Hilly day through Corrèze before the first rest day.
13 July 2026
Rest day
First pause in the race before Bastille Day and the Massif Central.
14 July 2026
Stage 10 – Aurillac → Le Lioran
Short, intense and unpredictable mountain stage in the Massif Central.
15 July 2026
Stage 11 – Vichy → Nevers
Classic transfer stage northwards.
16 July 2026
Stage 12 – Magny-Cours → Chalon-sur-Saône
Long stage eastwards from the racetrack area near Nevers.
17 July 2026
Stage 13 – Dole → Belfort
Over the Jura area and onwards towards Belfort.
18 July 2026
Stage 14 – Mulhouse → Le Markstein
Vosges stage with several tough climbs and dramatic terrain.
19 July 2026
Stage 15 – Champagnole → Plateau de Solaison
Long Alpine stage culminating in a brutal finish.
20 July 2026
Rest day
Another pause before the time trial and the final week in the Alps.
21 July 2026
Stage 16 – Évian-les-Bains → Thonon-les-Bains
Individual time trial along Lake Geneva.
22 July 2026
Stage 17 – Chambéry → Voiron
Stage westwards along the foothills of the Alps.
23 July 2026
Stage 18 – Voiron → Orcières-Merlette
Long stage towards the high mountains at Orcières-Merlette.
24 July 2026
Stage 19 – Gap → Alpe d’Huez
Iconic Alpine day with finish on Alpe d’Huez.
25 July 2026
Stage 20 – Le Bourg-d’Oisans → Alpe d’Huez
Another dramatic finish on Alpe d’Huez.
26 July 2026
Stage 21 – Thoiry → Paris
Traditional finale with finish on the Champs-Élysées.
The 10 most spectacular stages
Stages that could define the Tour de France 2026
The Tour de France 2026 offers several spectacular stages through the Pyrenees, the Massif Central and the Alps. Here are ten stages that stand out in particular because of brutal climbs, iconic mountains and dramatic landscapes.
1. Barcelona – Barcelona
The race starts with a spectacular team time trial through the streets of Barcelona. The riders pass iconic landmarks before the finish at Montjuïc.
2. Granollers – Les Angles
The first major mountain stage in the Pyrenees. Here the favourites may already begin to show who is fighting for the yellow jersey.
3. Carcassonne – Foix
A hilly stage that ends in the mountains around Foix. Historic surroundings and technical climbs make this stage dramatic.
4. Pau – Gavarnie-Gèdre
A classic Pyrenees stage that includes the legendary Col du Tourmalet climb.
5. Aurillac – Le Lioran
A tough and unpredictable stage in the Massif Central with short, steep climbs and beautiful landscapes.
6. Mulhouse – Le Markstein
A spectacular mountain stage in the Vosges with several demanding climbs.
7. Champagnole – Plateau de Solaison
A brutal Alpine stage finishing on Plateau de Solaison – one of the toughest climbs in the race.
8. Évian-les-Bains – Thonon-les-Bains
Individual time trial along Lake Geneva with spectacular views and decisive time gaps.
9. Gap – Alpe d’Huez
One of the Tour’s most iconic climbs, with 21 hairpin bends and a huge popular celebration along the road.
10. Le Bourg-d’Oisans – Alpe d’Huez
A new dramatic Alpine stage with finish on Alpe d’Huez. This could decide who wins the Tour de France 2026.
Legendary mountains and riders
What makes the Tour de France truly special
Many of the race’s most dramatic moments happen in the mountains. Several climbs have become legendary in cycling history, and several riders have written themselves into the history books with victories and dominance over time.
Legendary mountainsAlpe d’Huez, Ventoux and Tourmalet
Among the best known are Alpe d’Huez with its 21 hairpin bends, Mont Ventoux – known as “the Bald Mountain”, Col du Tourmalet and Col du Galibier. These mountains are often decisive in determining who wins the race.
The greatest legendsAnquetil, Merckx, Hinault and Indurain
Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain are among the most famous winners. Several riders have won the race five times, which is considered one of the sport’s greatest achievements.
A global eventGrand Départ outside France
Although the race mainly takes place in France, it often starts in other European countries. Previous Grand Départs have been in London, Copenhagen and Brussels, among other places.
The popular celebrationMillions along the roads
One of the most unique elements of the Tour de France is the audience. Millions stand along the roads to cheer the riders, and before the peloton arrives the famous Tour caravan passes by with sponsors, souvenirs and a festival atmosphere.
Travel experienceSport, landscapes and French culture
The race passes through wine regions, medieval villages, national parks and major cities. For many tourists, the Tour de France is therefore a perfect way to combine sport with travel.
14-day road trip
A road trip through mountains, wine regions and the finale in Paris
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In brief
Why the Tour de France is so special
The Tour de France is not just a cycling race – it is part of French culture and history. The combination of dramatic nature, extreme endurance, historic places and a huge public celebration makes the Tour de France one of the world’s most spectacular sporting events.
For travellers, it is also a rare opportunity to experience France in motion: from small villages and wine areas to legendary mountain passes and the big-city finale in Paris. That is why the Tour de France is just as much a travel experience as a sporting event.
You can use the map section in the article to get an overview of the stages, and then open the large map to see the route in more detail. This makes it easier to choose which parts of the race you want to follow, and which regions of France you want to combine with the experience.
