| Stage | 19 |
|---|---|
| Type | Summit Finish |
| Date | Friday 24 July 2026 |
| Route | Gap → Alpe d'Huez |
| Distance | 128 km |
| Elevation | 3,605 m |
Short (128 km) but savage with 3,605 m of climbing and the iconic 21 bends. Every GC rider knows you can win or lose the Tour here, especially after the previous summit finish. Fatigue plus expectation make it one of the race’s most volatile days.
Rolling start out of Gap, sharp climbs through the Romanche valley, then the full ascent of Alpe d’Huez. The lead-in is designed to soften legs before the hairpins, so the final climb becomes a duel of attrition rather than explosive attacks.
From a race structure perspective, what stands out is riders pushing their limits on the steep gradients. The summit finish will likely result in significant time gaps. Spectators see the race change as the climb begins. Speeds drop and the group spreads out, making individual effort easier to observe.
“Then we have the traditional Alpe d’Huez stage, which is 'super short,' meaning the peloton will hit the…”
Then we have the traditional Alpe d’Huez stage, which is 'super short,' meaning the peloton will hit the bottom mostly together. We'll likely see a Strava record broken on that climb.
Stuart O'Grady OAM OLY
4 x Tour de France Stage Winner
From a race structure perspective, what stands out is riders pushing their limits on the steep gradients. The summit finish will likely result in significant time gaps. Spectators see the race change as the climb begins. Speeds drop and the group spreads out, making individual effort easier to observe.
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