The 2026 Tour de France promises excitement and unexpected twists. Here’s a breakdown of each stage, including profiles, previews, and start and finish times in Eastern Standard Time.
Stage 1: Barcelone-Barcelone
Date: July 4
Distance: 12 miles
Type: Team Time Trial
First Start: 11:05 a.m.
Last Finish: 1:16 p.m.
The Tour kicks off with a team time trial in Barcelona, a first in seven years. Riders will pass notable landmarks like the Sagrada Familia and the Olympic Stadium. Speed will be crucial, with the fastest team seizing the yellow jersey.
Stage 2: Tarragone-Barcelone
Date: July 5
Distance: 105 miles
Type: Hilly
Neutralized Start: 7:45 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:26 a.m.
The stage features challenging hills in its latter half, kicking off the King of the Mountains (KOM) and green jersey races. The finish at Montjuic Castle adds to the challenge.
Stage 3: Granollers-Les Angles
Date: July 6
Distance: 122 miles
Type: Mountain
Neutralized Start: 6:10 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 10:54 a.m.
The peloton faces the French Alps early on, a rare occurrence since 2020. While general classification (GC) contenders conserve energy, a bold breakaway could seize victory.
Stage 4: Carcassonne-Foix
Date: July 7
Distance: 113 miles
Type: Hilly
Neutralized Start: 7:10 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:23 a.m.
Starting from the fortified city of Carcassonne, this stage offers opportunities for breakaways. However, long descents may favor a sprinter’s unexpected win.
Stage 5: Lannemezan-Pau
Date: July 8
Distance: 98 miles
Type: Flat
Neutralized Start: 8:05 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:37 a.m.
For the first time since 1979, sprinters eagerly await a flat stage. Riders head into Pau, where sprint finishes are tradition. KOM points await those with ambitions for the polka dot jersey.
Stage 6: Pau-Gavarnie-Gedre
Date: July 9
Distance: 116 miles
Type: Mountain
Neutralized Start: 6:25 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:29 a.m.
With its 88th Tour appearance, the Col du Tourmalet promises fierce battles between GC contenders in one of the Tour’s signature mountain stages.
Stage 7: Hagetmau-Bordeaux
Date: July 10
Distance: 109 miles
Type: Flat
Neutralized Start: 7:15 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:13 a.m.
This flat course concludes in Bordeaux, renowned for its sprint finishes, welcoming riders for the 76th time as finish host.
Stage 8: Perigueux-Bergerac
Date: July 11
Distance: 112 miles
Type: Flat
Neutralized Start: 7:15 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:20 a.m.
With a swift finish, this stage provides green jersey contenders their third chance in four days for a flat sprint victory.
Stage 9: Malemort-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 demanding stage leads into a well-earned rest day and is one of the Tour’s longest races.
Stage 10: Aurillac-Le Lioran
Date: July 14
Distance: 104 miles
Type: Mountain
Neutralized Start: 7:10 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:12 a.m.
This Bastille Day stage includes a challenging final climb with an 8.8% gradient. GC contenders will duel as riders vie for seven categorized climbs’ KOM points.
Stage 11: Vichy-Nevers
Date: July 15
Distance: 100 miles
Type: Flat
Neutralized Start: 7:50 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:31 a.m.
Following a grueling mountain day, sprinters take center stage with 95 green jersey points at stake.
Stage 12: Circuit Nevers Magny-Cours-Chalon-Sur-Saone
Date: July 16
Distance: 111 miles
Type: Flat
Neutralized Start: 7:30 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:29 a.m.
Riders enjoy back-to-back flat stages, starting from a former Formula One track, setting up thrilling sprint finishes.
Stage 13: Dole-Belfort
Date: July 17
Distance: 128 miles
Type: Hilly
Neutralized Start: 7 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:46 a.m.
This lengthy stage ends with an exhilarating descent. Past stage winners like Mathieu Van Der Poel and Ben Healey may target this challenging course.
Stage 14: Mulhouse-Le Markstein Fellering
Date: July 18
Distance: 96 miles
Type: Mountain
Neutralized Start: 7:10 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:24 a.m.
Despite being short, the stage is steep, concluding with a harsh gradient of 9.4% in the final stretch.
Stage 15: Champagnole-Plateau de Solaison
Date: July 19
Distance: 114 miles
Type: Mountain
Neutralized Start: 7:10 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:41 a.m.
As riders approach the last rest day, GC standings might solidify. Sprinters aiming for green jersey points will find opportunities too.
Stage 16: Evian-les-Bains-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 along Lake Geneva in a flat course, starting from the home of Evian water.
Stage 17: Chambery-Voiron
Date: July 22
Distance: 109 miles
Type: Flat
Neutralized Start: 7:20 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:18 a.m.
Although labeled flat, this stage has significant elevation gains, providing 75 green jersey points as riders enter the Alps.
Stage 18: Voiron-Orcieres-Merlette
Date: July 23
Distance: 115 miles
Type: Mountain
Neutralized Start: 6:35 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:12 a.m.
The Tour’s longest mountain stage traverses the Alps. Elevation gain reaches 12,800 feet, concluding at Orcieres-Merlette resort.
Stage 19: Gap-Alpe D’Huez
Date: July 24
Distance: 79 miles
Type: Mountain
Neutralized Start: 8 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 11:24 a.m.
Riders face the iconic Alpe D’Huez, tackling 21 hairpin turns and a challenging gradient. It’s the shortest road stage but not to be underestimated.
Stage 20: Le Bourg D’Oisans-Alpe D’Huez
Date: July 25
Distance: 106 miles
Type: Mountain
Neutralized Start: 5:20 a.m.
Estimated Finish: 10:11 a.m.
Another finish at Alpe D’Huez in two days presents GC contenders with an 18,000 feet elevation challenge. This stage could alter overall standings dramatically.
Stage 21: Thoiry-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 culminates in Paris on the Champs-Elysees. Belgian riders have dominated recent finishes. However, Biniam Girmay and Mads Pedersen might challenge the 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
Channels: NBC, NBCSN, Peacock
Tour de France Daily Recap: July 4-26 from 7-8 p.m. ET on NBC Sports NOW and Peacock
Fans can tune in for highlights and the Beyond the Podium recap show for an in-depth analysis of the day’s events.