2026 Tour de France: Stage-by-Stage Overview

The 2026 Tour de France will kick off with a series of diverse stages that test the riders in various terrains. Here’s a detailed look at each stage, along with start and finish times in Eastern Time.

Stage 1: Barcelona to Barcelona

Date: July 4
Distance: 12 miles
Type: Team Time Trial
First Start: 11:05 a.m.
Last Finish: 1:16 p.m.

The opening stage unfolds in Barcelona, a team time trial—the first in seven years. Cyclists will pass landmarks including the Sagrada Familia and Olympic Stadium. The fastest team claims the coveted yellow jersey.

Stage 2: Tarragone to Barcelona

Date: July 5
Distance: 105 miles
Type: Hilly
Neutralized Start: 7:45 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:26 a.m.

This hilly stage is crucial for competitions like King of the Mountains (KOM) and the green jersey. The finish takes place on the ascent to Montjuic Castle.

Stage 3: Granollers to Les Angles

Date: July 6
Distance: 122 miles
Type: Mountain
Neutralized Start: 6:10 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 10:54 a.m.

Entering the French Alps early, this mountain stage could be won by a breakaway rider. General Classification (GC) riders may conserve energy for future stages.

Stage 4: Carcassonne to Foix

Date: July 7
Distance: 113 miles
Type: Hilly
Neutralized Start: 7:10 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:23 a.m.

Starting in a renowned medieval city, this stage is ideal for breakaways. Yet, sprinters may disrupt attempts with plateaus and descents featured.

Stage 5: Lannemezan to Pau

Date: July 8
Distance: 98 miles
Type: Flat
Neutralized Start: 8:05 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:37 a.m.

A rare chance for sprinters arrives in Pau. Riders can earn KOM points as well, emphasizing the dual challenge.

Stage 6: Pau to Gavarnie-Gedre

Date: July 9
Distance: 116 miles
Type: Mountain
Neutralized Start: 6:25 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:29 a.m.

Highlighting the Col du Tourmalet, this stage is pivotal for GC battles, as riders face one of the Tour’s iconic climbs.

Stage 7: Hagetmau to Bordeaux

Date: July 10
Distance: 109 miles
Type: Flat
Neutralized Start: 7:15 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:13 a.m.

The stage ends in Bordeaux, a city known for memorable sprint finishes, providing an opportunity for speedsters.

Stage 8: Perigueux to Bergerac

Date: July 11
Distance: 112 miles
Type: Flat
Neutralized Start: 7:15 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:20 a.m.

Green jersey contenders face another flat stage, where sprint finishes will dominate the day.

Stage 9: Malemort to Ussel

Date: July 12
Distance: 115 miles
Type: Hilly
Neutralized Start: 7:35 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:47 a.m.

Featuring four categorized climbs, this stage tests endurance right before a rest day, starting and finishing in new host towns.

Stage 10: Aurillac to Le Lioran

Date: July 14
Distance: 104 miles
Type: Mountain
Neutralized Start: 7:10 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:12 a.m.

On Bastille Day, riders face a critical mountain stage, with a notable 8.8% gradient challenging their climb capacities.

Stage 11: Vichy to Nevers

Date: July 15
Distance: 100 miles
Type: Flat
Neutralized Start: 7:50 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:31 a.m.

After a mountain test, sprinters take the spotlight, with a substantial 95 points available for the green jersey competition.

Stage 12: Circuit Nevers Magny-Cours to Chalon-Sur-Saone

Date: July 16
Distance: 111 miles
Type: Flat
Neutralized Start: 7:30 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:29 a.m.

A flat route originating from a Formula One locale, offering back-to-back sprint opportunities.

Stage 13: Dole to Belfort

Date: July 17
Distance: 128 miles
Type: Hilly
Neutralized Start: 7 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:46 a.m.

The tour’s longest stage ends with an 18.6-mile descent, favoring bold riders like last year’s hill stage winners Mathieu Van Der Poel and Ben Healey.

Stage 14: Mulhouse to Le Markstein Fellering

Date: July 18
Distance: 96 miles
Type: Mountain
Neutralized Start: 7:10 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:24 a.m.

A short stage concluding with a punishing 9.4% gradient, set to test climbers thoroughly.

Stage 15: Champagnole to Plateau de Solaison

Date: July 19
Distance: 114 miles
Type: Mountain
Neutralized Start: 7:10 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:41 a.m.

This challenging mountain stage could cement GC positions, just ahead of the final rest day, with sprinters chasing available points.

Stage 16: Evian-les-Bains to Thonon-les-Bains

Date: July 21
Distance: 16 miles
Type: Individual Time Trial
First Start: 7 a.m.
Last Finish: 11:50 a.m.

The lone individual time trial runs flat along Lake Geneva, starting from the famous Evian water’s namesake.

Stage 17: Chambery to Voiron

Date: July 22
Distance: 109 miles
Type: Flat
Neutralized Start: 7:20 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:18 a.m.

This flat stage, with significant elevation gain, leads to the resumption of Alpine stages, offering 75 green jersey points.

Stage 18: Voiron to Orcieres-Merlette

Date: July 23
Distance: 115 miles
Type: Mountain
Neutralized Start: 6:35 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:12 a.m.

Competitors face a formidable 12,800 feet gain in a stage ending at the ski resort Orcieres-Merlette.

Stage 19: Gap to Alpe D’Huez

Date: July 24
Distance: 79 miles
Type: Mountain
Neutralized Start: 8 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:24 a.m.

Riders tackle Alpe D’Huez, including its notorious hairpin turns and a demanding gradient, in the tour’s shortest road stage.

Stage 20: Le Bourg D’Oisans to Alpe D’Huez

Date: July 25
Distance: 106 miles
Type: Mountain
Neutralized Start: 5:20 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 10:11 a.m.

The second Alpe D’Huez finish presents a staggering 18,000 feet elevation gain, critical for GC dynamics.

Stage 21: Thoiry to Paris Champs-Elysees

Date: July 26
Distance: 83 miles
Type: Flat
Neutralized Start: 10:15 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 1:30 p.m.

The Tour concludes on the Champs-Elysees with a history of Belgian dominance in sprint finishes. Current sprint stars like Biniam Girmay may challenge this streak.

How to Watch the Tour de France 2026

• Dates: July 4 – July 26
• Start Times: Between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. EST
• Broadcast: NBC, NBCSN, Peacock
• Daily Recap: Available from 7-8 p.m. ET on NBC Sports NOW and Peacock