Welcome to the 2026 Tour de France, the 113th edition of the Grande Boucle which, from Saturday 4 July to Sunday 26 July 2026, will start for the very first time from Barcelona before crossing the Pyrenees, the Massif Central, the Vosges, the Jura and the Alps on the way to the final coronation on the Champs-Élysées, with a new passage over Montmartre.
On the menu: 3,333 km, 54,450 m of total climbing (one of the toughest in history), an opening team time trial (the first since 1971), a single individual time trial, five summit finishes including a double ascent of Alpe d'Huez, and an eagerly awaited duel between Tadej Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard (2026 Giro winner), Remco Evenepoel and the young guns Paul Seixas and Florian Lipowitz. Here is your complete guide.
Contents
The 2026 Tour de France in key figures
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Edition | 113th |
| Dates | 4 → 26 July 2026 |
| Grand Départ | Barcelona (Spain) |
| Final finish | Paris – Champs-Élysées |
| Number of stages | 21 (7 flat / 4 hilly / 8 mountain / 2 ITT-TTT) |
| Total distance | 3,333 km |
| Total elevation gain | 54,450 m |
| Summit finishes | 5 (Gavarnie-Gèdre, Solaison, Orcières, Alpe d'Huez ×2) |
| Highest point | Col du Galibier – 2,642 m (stage 20) |
| Regions crossed | 7 regions, 29 départements |
| Rest days | 2 (Monday 13 & Monday 20 July) |
Favourites for each classification jersey
| Rider | Team | Country | Age | Recent form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tadej Pogačar | UAE Team Emirates-XRG | SLO | 27 | 2024 & 2025 Tour winner (4 titles), UCI No. 1; stellar 2026 spring (Milan-Sanremo, Flanders, Liège, Strade Bianche, Romandie) |
| Jonas Vingegaard | Visma | Lease a Bike | DEN | 29 | 2× winner (2022-23), 2nd in 2024 & 2025, won the 2026 Giro (5 stages): chasing the rare Giro-Tour double |
| Remco Evenepoel | Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe | BEL | 26 | 3rd at the 2024 Tour, new leader at Red Bull |
| Florian Lipowitz | Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe | GER | 25 | 3rd at the 2025 Tour & White Jersey, breakout of 2025 |
| Paul Seixas | Decathlon CMA CGM | FRA | 19 | Generational phenomenon, hugely anticipated first Tour |
French hopes: Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) is now the big home card after his stratospheric spring (see focus below). Kévin Vauquelin (Ineos Grenadiers, 7th in 2025) remains a solid Top 10 candidate. Lenny Martinez, David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ United) and Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies) will be targeting a Top 15.
Focus on Paul Seixas, the generational prodigy. At just 19 years old, the Lyon native riding for Decathlon CMA CGM is the youngest rider in the peloton to feature among the yellow-jersey favourites. His 2026 spring was simply historic: 2nd at Strade Bianche, winner of La Flèche Wallonne, overall winner of the Tour of the Basque Country (the first French victory in a WorldTour stage race since 2007), then 2nd at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, beaten only by Tadej Pogačar by 45 seconds after a heroic stand on the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons. Versatile (climber, time-triallist, puncheur), he embodies the great French promise since Bernard Hinault. He approaches his first Tour with a clear dual objective: aiming for the White Jersey podium and a Top 10 overall. The whole nation will be behind their little prince.
| Rider | Team | Country | Age | Profile & highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Milan | Lidl-Trek | ITA | 25 | 2025 Green Jersey, 2 stage wins |
| Tim Merlier | Soudal-QuickStep | BEL | 33 | 16 wins in 2025, the fastest pure sprinter |
| Mads Pedersen | Lidl-Trek | DEN | 30 | 2019 world champion, versatile profile |
| Jasper Philipsen | Alpecin-Deceuninck | BEL | 28 | 2023 Green Jersey, back after a 2025 Tour DNF |
| Olav Kooij | Decathlon CMA CGM | NED | 24 | ~50 pro wins, ambitious newcomer |
| Paul Magnier | Soudal-QuickStep | FRA | 22 | French gem, already 11 wins in 2025 |
French hopes: Paul Magnier is the No. 1 home sprint hope and can target several stages. Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) remains a reliable finisher. The versatile Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) targets the hilly stages.
| Rider | Team | Country | Age | Mountain strengths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tadej Pogačar | UAE Team Emirates-XRG | SLO | 27 | 2025 KOM, capable of sweeping everything |
| Lenny Martinez | Bahrain Victorious | FRA | 22 | 2024 Vuelta KOM winner, pure climber |
| Giulio Ciccone | Lidl-Trek | ITA | 31 | 2023 KOM, breakaway hunter |
| Felix Gall | Decathlon CMA CGM | AUT | 28 | 2nd at the 2026 Giro, 5th at the 2025 Tour, consistent climber |
| Santiago Buitrago | Bahrain Victorious | COL | 26 | Grand Tour Top 10s, high-mountain attacker |
French hopes: Lenny Martinez is unquestionably the most credible home candidate for the Polka-dot Jersey. Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ United) and Valentin Madouas can multiply their efforts in mid-mountain breakaways.
| Rider | Team | Country | Age | Profile & palmarès |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florian Lipowitz | Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe | GER | 25 | Defending White Jersey, 3rd overall in 2025 |
| Remco Evenepoel | Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe | BEL | 26 | Final eligible year, dual Yellow & White target |
| Oscar Onley | Picnic-PostNL | GBR | 23 | 4th at the 2025 Tour, complete in the mountains |
| Paul Seixas | Decathlon CMA CGM | FRA | 19 | 2026 phenomenon, hugely anticipated first Tour |
| Tobias Johannessen | Uno-X Mobility | NOR | 26 | 6th at the 2025 Tour, reliable in the high mountains |
French hopes: Paul Seixas embodies the future of French cycling and can target the White Jersey podium as early as this edition. Lenny Martinez (22) and Romain Grégoire (23) are also among the outsiders.
Route & full 21-stage table
For the first time, the Grande Boucle starts from Barcelona, the most southerly city ever to host a Grand Départ. Three brand-new Catalan stages open hostilities before the return to France over the Col de Toses (stage 3) and the finish at Les Angles. Then come the Pyrenees (Tourmalet, Aspin, Gavarnie-Gèdre), a long crossing of the South-West, the unmissable Massif Central with the return to Le Lioran, the Vosges with Le Markstein, the Jura, and then a brutal Alpine finale: a debut summit finish at the Plateau de Solaison, Orcières-Merlette, and above all two ascents of Alpe d'Huez in 24 hours, including a queen stage via the Croix-de-Fer, Télégraphe, Galibier (2,642 m, highest point) and the rare Col de Sarenne. The 21st and final act will again climb Montmartre and the cobbled Rue Lepic before the legendary sprint finish on the Champs-Élysées.
| # | Date | Route | Profile | Distance | Favourites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat 04 Jul | Barcelona → Barcelona | Team time trial | 19.7 km | UAE, Visma, Red Bull |
| 2 | Sun 05 Jul | Tarragona → Barcelona | Hilly (Montjuïc) | 178 km | Pogačar, Seixas, Pidcock |
| 3 | Mon 06 Jul | Granollers → Les Angles | Mountain (Col de Toses) | 196 km | Pogačar, Vingegaard, Evenepoel |
| 4 | Tue 07 Jul | Carcassonne → Foix | Hilly | 182 km | Seixas, Healy, Madouas |
| 5 | Wed 08 Jul | Lannemezan → Pau | Flat / sprint | 158 km | Milan, Merlier, Magnier |
| 6 | Thu 09 Jul | Pau → Gavarnie-Gèdre | High mountain (Tourmalet) | 186 km | Pogačar, Vingegaard, Lipowitz |
| 7 | Fri 10 Jul | Hagetmau → Bordeaux | Flat / sprint | 175 km | Merlier, Milan, Kooij |
| 8 | Sat 11 Jul | Périgueux → Bergerac | Flat | 182 km | Milan, Pedersen, Magnier |
| 9 | Sun 12 Jul | Malemort → Ussel | Hilly (Suc au May) | 185 km | Seixas, Healy, Pidcock |
| Monday 13 July: 1st rest day | |||||
| 10 | Tue 14 Jul | Aurillac → Le Lioran | Medium mountain (Puy Mary) | 167 km | Vingegaard, Pogačar, Seixas |
| 11 | Wed 15 Jul | Vichy → Nevers | Flat | 161 km | Milan, Pedersen, Merlier |
| 12 | Thu 16 Jul | Magny-Cours → Chalon-sur-Saône | Flat | 181 km | Kooij, Milan, Magnier |
| 13 | Fri 17 Jul | Dole → Belfort | Hilly | 205 km | Pedersen, Turgis, Healy |
| 14 | Sat 18 Jul | Mulhouse → Le Markstein | Mountain (Vosges, Grand Ballon) | 155 km | Pogačar, Seixas, Lipowitz |
| 15 | Sun 19 Jul | Champagnole → Plateau de Solaison | High mountain (debut) | 184 km | Pogačar, Vingegaard, Seixas |
| Monday 20 July: 2nd rest day | |||||
| 16 | Tue 21 Jul | Évian-les-Bains → Thonon-les-Bains | Individual time trial | 26 km | Evenepoel, Pogačar, Vingegaard |
| 17 | Wed 22 Jul | Chambéry → Voiron | Hilly | 175 km | Healy, Turgis, Madouas |
| 18 | Thu 23 Jul | Voiron → Orcières-Merlette | High mountain | 185 km | Vingegaard, Pogačar, Evenepoel |
| 19 | Fri 24 Jul | Gap → Alpe d'Huez | High mountain | 128 km | Pogačar, Vingegaard, Seixas |
| 20 | Sat 25 Jul | Le Bourg-d'Oisans → Alpe d'Huez | Queen stage (Galibier, Sarenne) | 171 km | Vingegaard, Pogačar, Evenepoel |
| 21 | Sun 26 Jul | Thoiry → Paris Champs-Élysées | Sprint finish via Montmartre | 130 km | Van der Poel, Pogačar, Pedersen |
Stage-by-stage analysis
Stage 1 – Barcelona > Barcelona (team time trial, 19.7 km)
Saturday 4 July. For the first time since 1971, the Tour opens with a team time trial. An urban Catalan course: start from the Parc del Fòrum, hugging the seafront to the Port Olímpic, crossing Barcelona, passing Plaça d'Espanya and including a 1.1 km ramp at 5.1 % on Montjuïc. The first Yellow Jersey will go to a rider from the winning team.
Favourites: UAE Team Emirates-XRG, Visma | Lease a Bike, Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe.
Stage 2 – Tarragona > Barcelona (178 km, hilly)
Sunday 5 July. Start from the ancient city of Tarragona (UNESCO), 90 km of flat along the coast (Sitges) then three laps of a final circuit around Montjuïc park with the steep climb to the Castell de Montjuïc (1.6 km, including 600 m at 13 %). Ideal terrain for the puncheurs.
Favourites: Pogačar, Seixas, Pidcock.
Stage 3 – Granollers > Les Angles (196 km, mountain)
Monday 6 July. First mountain rendezvous (3,950 m of climbing): the ascent of the Col de Toses (at La Molina), the border crossing, then the Col du Calvaire before the altitude finish at Les Angles (Pyrénées-Orientales). A first GC pecking order.
Favourites: Pogačar, Vingegaard, Evenepoel.
Stage 4 – Carcassonne > Foix (182 km, hilly)
Tuesday 7 July. A nervy Ariège stage with the Col de Coudons and the Col de Montségur. A punchy profile tailor-made for Paul Seixas, the Flèche Wallonne winner on this type of terrain.
Favourites: Seixas, Healy, Madouas.
Stage 5 – Lannemezan > Pau (158 km, flat)
Wednesday 8 July. A stage historically promised to the sprinters: Pau hosts a bunch sprint before the big mountain showdown.
Favourites: Milan, Merlier, Magnier.
Stage 6 – Pau > Gavarnie-Gèdre (186 km, high mountain)
Thursday 9 July. The first brutal Pyrenean day: Col d'Aspin, Col du Tourmalet, then a debut finish at Gavarnie-Gèdre (18.7 km at 3.7 % on average) at the foot of the UNESCO-listed cirque. First summit finish.
Favourites: Pogačar, Vingegaard, Lipowitz.
Stage 7 – Hagetmau > Bordeaux (175 km, flat)
Friday 10 July. Crossing the Landes towards Bordeaux, a typical day for the sprint trains.
Favourites: Merlier, Milan, Kooij.
Stage 8 – Périgueux > Bergerac (182 km, flat)
Saturday 11 July. A rolling Périgord stage, another date for the sprinters.
Favourites: Milan, Pedersen, Magnier.
Stage 9 – Malemort > Ussel (185 km, hilly)
Sunday 12 July. Before the rest day, the peloton tackles the Suc au May 80 km from the finish: explosive terrain where Paul Seixas could grab his first Tour stage win, ahead of the attacking breakaway specialists.
Favourites: Seixas, Healy, Pidcock.
Stage 10 – Aurillac > Le Lioran (167 km, medium mountain)
Tuesday 14 July. A scorcher on Bastille Day: the same finale as in 2024 (where Vingegaard beat Pogačar) with Puy Mary Pas de Peyrol and the Col du Pertus. 3,900 m of climbing, mostly in the second half. A symbolic stage where Paul Seixas will carry all the home hopes.
Favourites: Vingegaard, Pogačar, Seixas.
Stage 11 – Vichy > Nevers (161 km, flat)
Wednesday 15 July. A transition stage for the sprinters.
Favourites: Milan, Pedersen, Merlier.
Stage 12 – Magny-Cours > Chalon-sur-Saône (181 km, flat)
Thursday 16 July. A novel start from the Magny-Cours F1 circuit, a Burgundy finish for another bunch sprint.
Favourites: Kooij, Milan, Magnier.
Stage 13 – Dole > Belfort (205 km, hilly)
Friday 17 July. The longest stage of the edition. Rolling Franche-Comté terrain, well suited to breakaways.
Favourites: Pedersen, Turgis, Healy.
Stage 14 – Mulhouse > Le Markstein (155 km, mountain)
Saturday 18 July. The Vosges return: 3,800 m of climbing with the Grand Ballon, Platzerwasel and Col du Haag before the Markstein resort. A demanding profile that suits Seixas's turn of speed at altitude.
Favourites: Pogačar, Seixas, Lipowitz.
Stage 15 – Champagnole > Plateau de Solaison (184 km, high mountain)
Sunday 19 July. The first Alpine summit and a debut finish at the Plateau de Solaison: 11.3 km at 9.1 % preceded by the Montée de Salève. ~4,700 m of climbing: a true test before the rest day.
Favourites: Pogačar, Vingegaard, Seixas.
Stage 16 – Évian-les-Bains > Thonon-les-Bains (individual time trial, 26 km)
Tuesday 21 July. The edition's only individual time trial. A rolling course along Lake Geneva to reignite the GC suspense.
Favourites: Evenepoel, Pogačar, Vingegaard.
Stage 17 – Chambéry > Voiron (175 km, hilly)
Wednesday 22 July. A relative breather between Savoie and the Dauphiné, before the final Alpine triptych.
Favourites: Healy, Turgis, Madouas.
Stage 18 – Voiron > Orcières-Merlette (185 km, high mountain)
Thursday 23 July. Col de Manse, Col du Festre then the steady climb to Orcières-Merlette (steeped in history since Eddy Merckx in 1971). The first of three consecutive mountain finishes.
Favourites: Vingegaard, Pogačar, Evenepoel.
Stage 19 – Gap > Alpe d'Huez (128 km, high mountain)
Friday 24 July. A short, nervy, explosive stage: the return of the mythical Alpe d'Huez after four years away. 21 hairpins for a first verdict. A short format that can suit Seixas's explosive profile.
Favourites: Pogačar, Vingegaard, Seixas.
Stage 20 – Le Bourg-d'Oisans > Alpe d'Huez (171 km, queen stage)
Saturday 25 July. The 2026 Tour's queen stage: 5,600 m of climbing with the Col de la Croix-de-Fer, Col du Télégraphe, Col du Galibier (highest point at 2,642 m), the rare Col de Sarenne and then a second ascent of Alpe d'Huez. Everything will be settled on this day.
Favourites: Vingegaard, Pogačar, Evenepoel.
Stage 21 – Thoiry > Paris Champs-Élysées (130 km, sprint finish)
Sunday 26 July. As in 2025, the finish is enriched with a passage over Montmartre and the cobbled Rue Lepic before the legendary sprint finish on the Champs-Élysées. The Yellow Jersey will finally pose for the cameras.
Favourites: Van der Poel, Pogačar, Pedersen.
History & evolution of the Tour de France
Created in 1903 on the initiative of Henri Desgrange to boost sales of the newspaper L'Auto, the Tour quickly established itself as the sporting event of the summer. As early as 1910 it conquered the Pyrenees; a year later, the Alps. The Yellow Jersey appeared in 1919 to distinguish the GC leader, followed by the Green Jersey (1953), the Polka-dot Jersey (1975) and the White Jersey (1975, revived in 2000). In 2026, the return of the team time trial, the boldness of a Grand Départ beyond the Pyrenees and the preservation of the Montmartre finale illustrate this living tradition: a laboratory of sporting innovation, the Tour remains cycling's global benchmark, blending popular fervour, spectacular geography and cutting-edge technology.
Records & legends
| Category | #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tour wins | Anquetil – 5 | Merckx – 5 | Hinault – 5 | Indurain – 5 | Pogačar – 4 |
| Fastest Tour (km/h) |
Vingegaard '22 – 42.1 | Pogačar '21 – 41.2 | Vingegaard '23 – 40.9 | Pogačar '24 – 40.5 | Thomas '18 – 40.2 |
| Stage wins | Cavendish – 35 | Merckx – 34 | Hinault – 28 | Leducq – 25 | Pogačar – 21+ |
| Green Jerseys | Sagan – 7 | Zabel – 6 | Kelly – 4 | McEwen – 3 | Van Aert – 3 |
| Polka-dot Jerseys | Virenque – 7 | Van Impe – 6 | Bahamontes – 6 | Pogačar – 3 | Jiménez – 3 |
| White Jerseys | Pogačar – 4 | Ullrich – 3 | Schleck – 3 | Quintana – 2 | Lipowitz – 1 |
2026 prize money
| Classification / prize | Amount (€) |
|---|---|
| Overall GC winner | 500,000 |
| 2nd overall | 200,000 |
| 3rd overall | 100,000 |
| Stage win | 11,000 |
| Green / Polka-dot / White Jersey | 25,000 (per classification) |
| Team classification | 50,000 |
| Super-combativity | 20,000 |
| Total purse | ≈ 2.57 million |
Final 2025 standings – reference
| Rank | Rider | Nation | Team | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tadej Pogačar | SLO | UAE Emirates-XRG | leader |
| 2 | Jonas Vingegaard | DEN | Visma | Lease a Bike | +4'24" |
| 3 | Florian Lipowitz | GER | Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe | +11'00" |
| 4 | Oscar Onley | GBR | Picnic-PostNL | +12'12" |
| 5 | Felix Gall | AUT | Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale | +17'12" |
| 6 | Tobias Johannessen | NOR | Uno-X Mobility | +20'14" |
| 7 | Kévin Vauquelin | FRA | Arkéa-B&B Hotels | +22'35" |
| 8 | Primož Roglič | SLO | Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe | +25'30" |
| 9 | Ben Healy | IRL | EF Education-EasyPost | +28'02" |
| 10 | Jordan Jegat | FRA | TotalEnergies | +32'42" |
| Rank | Rider | Nation | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jonathan Milan | ITA | Lidl-Trek | 372 |
| 2 | Tadej Pogačar | SLO | UAE Emirates-XRG | 294 |
| 3 | Biniam Girmay | ERI | Intermarché-Wanty | 232 |
| 4 | Jonas Vingegaard | DEN | Visma | Lease a Bike | 182 |
| 5 | Anthony Turgis | FRA | TotalEnergies | 182 |
| Rank | Climber | Nation | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tadej Pogačar | SLO | UAE Emirates-XRG | 119 |
| 2 | Lenny Martinez | FRA | Bahrain Victorious | 87 |
| 3 | Tim Wellens | BEL | UAE Emirates-XRG | 76 |
| 4 | Jonas Vingegaard | DEN | Visma | Lease a Bike | 62 |
| 5 | Florian Lipowitz | GER | Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe | 54 |
| Rank | Rider | Nation | Team | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florian Lipowitz | GER | Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe | leader |
| 2 | Oscar Onley | GBR | Picnic-PostNL | +1'12" |
| 3 | Kévin Vauquelin | FRA | Arkéa-B&B Hotels | +11'35" |
| 4 | Tobias Johannessen | NOR | Uno-X Mobility | +9'14" |
| 5 | Carlos Rodríguez | ESP | Ineos Grenadiers | +34'18" |
FAQ – 2026 Tour de France
When does the 2026 Tour de France start?
The 2026 Tour de France starts on Saturday 4 July 2026 in Barcelona and finishes on Sunday 26 July 2026 on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
Why a Grand Départ from Barcelona?
Barcelona becomes the most southerly city to host a Grand Départ. It is the 3rd time the Tour has started from Spain, after San Sebastián (1992) and Bilbao (2023). The Catalan capital offers a spectacular urban backdrop and a stunning Montjuïc circuit.
What is the queen stage of the 2026 Tour de France?
Stage 20 between Le Bourg-d'Oisans and Alpe d'Huez (171 km) with 5,600 m of climbing, the Galibier (2,642 m, highest point), the Col de Sarenne and the 2nd ascent of Alpe d'Huez.
How many time trials this year?
Two: a team time trial of 19.7 km in Barcelona (stage 1) and an individual time trial of 26 km around Lake Geneva (stage 16, Évian → Thonon).
Will there be a Montmartre passage like in 2025?
Yes. After the popular success of 2025, stage 21 will again climb the Butte Montmartre via the cobbled Rue Lepic before the sprint finish on the Champs-Élysées.
Who are the favourites for the 2026 Tour de France?
Tadej Pogačar remains the No. 1 favourite (4 wins in 5 years), buoyed by a phenomenal 2026 spring (Milan-Sanremo, Tour of Flanders, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Strade Bianche, Tour de Romandie) and kept fresh by skipping the Giro. Jonas Vingegaard, winner of the 2026 Giro and chasing the rare Giro-Tour double, and Remco Evenepoel, in his new Red Bull environment, complete the quartet alongside Florian Lipowitz.
Who are the French hopes?
Paul Seixas (19, Decathlon CMA CGM) is the big home sensation after his wins at La Flèche Wallonne and the Tour of the Basque Country, plus a 2nd place at Liège-Bastogne-Liège: he is targeting the White Jersey podium and a Top 10 overall. Kévin Vauquelin (Ineos Grenadiers) will also play for a Top 10. Lenny Martinez will target the Polka-dot Jersey and Paul Magnier the sprints.
How much does the winner of the 2026 Tour de France earn?
The overall GC winner receives €500,000, out of a total purse of roughly €2.57 million redistributed across all riders and teams.
The 2026 Tour de France crosses 7 regions and 29 départements, from the Barcelona seafront to the Paris cobbles via five mountain ranges. An edition designed for suspense right up to the final slopes of the Galibier.
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