"We can't do much to challenge Pogacar": Tour route designer describes the 2026 edition

The route for the 2026 edition of Tour de France has been revealed on Thursday morning. As always, opinions differ, although the lack of time trial kilometers is once again tangible. But generally speaking, the parcours promise a close battle for the yellow jersey until the very last stages with two summit arrivals on the iconic Alpe d'Huez as the absolute peak of the intense three weeks.

"As always, we try to offer challenging races. What characterizes this 2026 Tour is an increase in power. We didn't look for major obstacles at the beginning of the race: they will come later, especially in the final week, which will be exceptionally tough," says technical director of ASO, Thierry Gouvenou, at the route reveal.

"We've eased off a bit in the Pyrenees: it's going to be more of a terrain for breakaway specialists. We shouldn't see any big gaps as we leave the Pyrenees. On the other hand, the Col du Haag, at Markstein, will be a real challenge. In my opinion, it's the most demanding climb in the Vosges, and it should already establish a first hierarchy."

The highlight of the race should come in the third week, Gouvenou stresses: "It's especially as we approach Savoie that everything will be decided. From Solaison onwards, we'll no longer be able to hide: we'll have to show our strength. And at the foot of Alpe d'Huez, we'll already have a very clear picture."

The winner of last two editions and four in total, Tadej Pogacar, should not be absent from the race in 2026. In the hunt for a record-equalling fifth Grande Boucle victory, organizers tried to shuffle the cards as well as possible to leave the outcome of the race unpredictable.

"Right now, I feel like all the bike races are built around one man: Tadej Pogacar. We don't have much to do against such talent," Gouvenou confides. "But we tried to maintain the suspense a little by placing the biggest challenges at the end. We'll see what happens."

The highlight of the 113th edition then must be the two summit arrivals up Alpe d'Huez in stages 19 & 20. In the minds of race organizers, this will be ideally the stage of the greatest battle in 2026. Gouvenou reveals that the author of this concept is none other than the Tour director: "It came from the head of Christian Prudhomme!" he smiles.

"I simply executed. It's true that the image from 1986, with Bernard Hinault and Greg LeMond arriving hand in hand, remains legendary. Forty years later, we had to make a statement. There was the traditional aspect of the 21 bends, which we wanted to preserve, but also the desire to bring a new touch with the climb via Sarenne: a completely different, rough, wild slope, which could cause weaknesses. Before that, the riders will have already crossed the Croix-de-Fer and the Galibier. This marathon stage, on hard and uneven roads, could hold some very nice surprises."