Tour de France 2026 Route Announced Featuring Historic Mountain Stages and Sprint Finale

Tour de France organizers unveiled the complete 2026 route today in Paris, revealing what cycling experts are calling the most challenging and spectacle-rich course design in over a decade, featuring unprecedented mountain stages and a historic finale through the heart of the French capital.\n\nThe 3,492-kilometer route includes five mountain-top finishes, with Stage 15's summit finish atop Mont Ventoux being the most anticipated climbing challenge. The legendary 'Giant of Provence' will be climbed via the Bedoin approach, the most difficult of the three possible routes up the mountain. Previous Ventoux stages have produced some of the most dramatic moments in Tour history, and 2026 promises to continue that tradition.\n\nPerhaps the most revolutionary change comes with Stage 21, which abandons the traditional ceremonial ride to the Champs-Élysées in favor of a full sprint stage through central Paris. The 45-kilometer route will take riders past iconic landmarks including the Louvre, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Arc de Triomphe before finishing at Place de la Concorde. This marks the first time since 1975 that the final stage will be contested as a legitimate competitive stage rather than a celebration.\n\nTwo-time defending champion Tadej Pogačar welcomed the challenging route design, stating at today's presentation that 'this Tour will reward complete riders who can excel in mountains, time trials, and tactical situations.' The UAE Team Emirates leader has been dominant in recent years but will face renewed challenges from Jumbo-Visma's Jonas Vingegaard and the emerging talent of Remco Evenepoel.\n\nThe opening week features three potential bunch sprint stages through northern France before the race encounters its first serious climbing test in the Vosges mountains on Stage 7. A 58-kilometer individual time trial in Stage 13 could prove decisive for the overall classification, particularly given Pogačar's time trial improvements over the past season.\n\nWomen's cycling receives unprecedented attention with the Tour de France Femmes running concurrently for the final week, featuring several shared stage routes and joint podium ceremonies. This integration represents cycling's continued commitment to gender equality and promoting women's professional racing to global audiences.