Cycling
These 6 stages could make or break the 2026 Tour de France
From an opening team time trial to make-or-break summit finishes, these are the best stages of the Tour de France that you won’t want to miss.
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The Tour de France is an iconic sporting spectacle that more than 3.5 billion people around the world tune into every year. The 113th edition kicks off in Barcelona on July 4, but of the 21 stages that make up the three-week and 3,333km race before the final day’s Champs-Élysees finish line, only a handful will play a decisive role in the destination of the yellow jersey.
The biggest determining factor is arguably the mountains of the Pyrenees and Alps, where many general classifications have been won or lost over the race’s previous 112 editions, and this year’s Tour is likely to be settled on the giants of the Col du Tourmalet, Alpe d’Huez (twice) and Col du Galibier.
But there are various other points along the way where the GC battle could be decided, and if you’re wondering when to watch the Tour de France 2026, we’d recommend not missing these moments.
It's time for the 113th edition of the Tour de France
© Maximilian Fries/Red Bull Content Pool
From an opening stage that will create immediate time gaps amongst the GC contenders and an individual time trial that could suit Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe’s Remco Evenepoel, to an Alpine finale where the yellow jersey will be confirmed, these are the best stages of the 2026 Tour de France.
- Stage 1 – A team time trial that will immediately shake up the standings
- Stage 6 – A Pyrenean examination of GC credentials
- Stage 15 – Final mountainous test of gruelling second week
- Stage 16 – Individual time trial that doesn’t favour flat-track bullies
- Stage 19 – Two words: Alpe d’Huez
- Stage 20 – Alpine Queen stage to savour
01
Stage 1 – July 4
Barcelona - Barcelona 19.6km, team trial
What’s at stake? After a seven-year absence, the team trial returns to the Tour de France and will create immediate time gaps in the battle for the general classification. Unlike the solo race against the clock, it will test a team’s cohesion and ability to work together, although the specific individual timing format for the Tour de France (which differs from the standard process, where all eight of a team’s riders get the same time as the fourth team member to cross the line) will most likely see GC contenders sheltered for the majority of the course before sprinting for the line to get the best time, rather than the whole team finishing as one as in team trials of old.
Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe have spent time training in Spain
© Maximilian Fries/Red Bull Content Pool
What to expect: The twisting, technical city centre course takes in some of the Spanish city’s main sightseeing spots before tackling the climb to the finish at the Olympic Stadium. In the most recent dress rehearsal of a team time trial, Team Visma | Lease a Bike came away as top dogs, while Netcompany INEOS have also won a TTT in 2026. Expect Jonas Vingegaard to challenge for the yellow jersey on Stage 1, while GC rivals like Tadej Pogačar, Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz will attempt to minimise any time losses.
02
Stage 6 – July 9
Pau to Gavarnie-Gèdre - 186.2km - mountains
What’s at stake? The fourth and final day in the Pyrenees is the first time that the GC contenders are likely to stretch their legs on a packed opening nine days before the first rest day. There are five catagorised climbs to contend with that get more difficult as the day progresses, and plenty of opportunities for a bid for the yellow jersey to wilt before the race has left the Pyrenees.
The famous Col du Tourmalet
© Kristof Ramon/Red Bull Content Pool
What to expect: A gradual ramp up from start town Pau will see a breakaway escape, but expect them to be reeled in by the time the peloton reaches the Col d’Aspin (12km at 6.5 percent). From here, things only get more difficult as the next summit is the iconic Col du Tourmalet (17.1km at 7.3 percent). The GC favourites will have been whittled down to a core group by its peak, where a long descent down the other side could favour the downhill skills of a rider like Tom Pidcock. The final ascent to Gavarnie-Gèrde is more mellow than the previous two monsters, but with 160km in the legs and a yellow jersey on the line, expect the favourites to slog it out all the way to the top.
03
Stage 15 – July 19
Champagnole to Plateau de Solaison – 183.9km - mountains
What’s at stake? After a week of cutting west to east across central France and sampling some of the best riding in the Massif Central and Vogese ranges, the GC battle will heat up on the race’s third weekend with a one-two knockout blow of mountain stages before we’ve reached the Alps. Stage 15 is longer and has more elevation than the previous day, and with two weeks racing already in the legs, could see a big shuffle in the overall order as riders falter on the hors categorie Plateau de Solaison (11.3km at 9 percent).
Riders will tackle the Plateau de Solaison for the first time this year
© Maximilian Fries/Red Bull Content Pool
What to expect: The Plateau de Solaison has never featured in the Tour de France before, but has been contested in two recent editions of the Tour warm-up, the Tour Avergne - Rhône-Alpes (formerly known as the Criterium du Dauphine). Tadej Pogačar’s climbing domestique (and a GC contender in his own right) Isaac Del Toro won on the mountain in 2026, while Jonas Vingegaard tasted success back in 2022. Both are likely to be in contention as the stage reaches the summit finish, unless Pogačar does what he does best and leaves everyone for dust.
04
Stage 16 – July 21
Évian-Les-Bains to Thonon-Les-Bains - 26.1km - individual time trial
What’s at stake? For most general classification riders, individual time trials expose chinks in their armour and the stages are all about minimising lost time. For others though, like Remco Evenepoel, they are a chance to regain any time shipped on previous stages or ram home an advantage with the mountains of the Alps on the horizon.
Remco Evenepoel is the favourite to win stage 16
© Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool
What to expect: A second categorie climb is an interesting proposition for an individual time trial and means that it won’t necessarily favour the out-and-out specialists like Netcompany INEOS’ Filippo Ganna. Remco Evenepoel’s all-rounder abilities make him nailed on favourite, as the Belgian will look to add another Tour de France ITT stage win to his victories in 2024 and 2025.
05
Stage 19 – July 24
Gap to Alpe d’Huez - 127.9km - mountains
What’s at stake? The penultimate day in the Alps is the filling of a three-day mountain sandwich, and with Alpe d’Huez on the menu, it’s certainly a stage to savour. While the GC battle is likely to rage on the 21 switchbacks to its summit, there’s more at stake than usual on a climb to the ski village finish line with it offering a chance to go down in Tour history. Tom Pidcock came out on top with a memorable stage win when the mountain last featured in 2022, while Geraint Thomas was the first-ever yellow jersey wearer to win the L’Alpe in 2018.
Wout van Aert takes on Alpe d'Huez's famous 'Dutch Corner'
© Kristof Ramon/Red Bull Content Pool
What to expect: The Alpe d’Huez stage could go one of two ways – a breakaway won by a mountain goat, or an all-consuming contest in the general classification that ebbs and flows as riders make their way up the claustrophobic, crowd-lined mountain. One thing’s for sure – you won’t want to miss a second of arguably the Tour’s most iconic climb.
06
Stage 20 – July 25
Albertville - La Plagne (129.9km) 4,550m, mountains Le Bourg d’Osians to Alpe d’Huez - 170.9km - mountain
What’s at stake? The general classification. After 19 stages, thousands of kilometres of riding and multiple Everests of climbing, the yellow jersey will be decided for good on Stage 20, with the Stage 21 finalé more a ceremonial ride where the overall standings aren’t contested.
What to expect: If it’s still tight in the timings, expect fireworks; if it isn’t, then the final day in the Alps will be something of a coronation, or a chance for the yellow jersey wearer to build on an already unassailable lead. Whatever the situation, there’s the small matter of three hors categorie climbs for the peloton to overcome – the Col du Galibier (17.7km at 6.9 percent) the hardest of them all – while the second finish on Alpe d’Huez in as many days (albeit only the final five switchbacks rather than a re-run of the entire mountain) will ensure a rapturous welcome for the 2026 Tour de France winner.
The Col du Galibier will provide a stiff test in the final stages
© Kristof Ramon/Red Bull Content Pool
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