Peloton climbs a winding road, Tour de France 2025

Stage 20Summit Finish25 July 2026

Stage 20: Le Bourg-d'Oisans to Alpe d'Huez

171km

5,601m elevation

Stage 20 details
Stage	20
Type	Summit Finish
Date	Saturday, 25 July 2026
Route	Le Bourg-d'Oisans → Alpe d'Huez
Distance	171 km
Elevation	5,601 m

Why This Stage Matters

This is a true Queen stage.

By this point in the race, fatigue is no longer managed. It is exposed. Sustained climbing arrives in sequence rather than isolation, forcing riders to rely on pacing, restraint, and depth rather than short bursts of power.

This stage strips away any remaining ambiguity in the general classification. Riders who have measured their effort across the race can still perform. Those who have not will fade quietly. What is gained or lost here is rarely recovered.

Stage Highlights

Col de la Croix de Fer
Col du Télégraphe
Col du Galibier
Col de Sarenne
Alpe d'Huez

The Race

Stage 20 is a defining moment in Stage 20 of the 2026 Tour de France is one of the defining tests of the entire race. On 25 July 2026, the peloton tackles a punishing 171 km mountain route from Bourg d’Oisans to the legendary summit finish atop Alpe d’Huez.

Stuey's Thoughts

“The penultimate road stage is where complacency bites.”

Everyone can smell Paris, which is exactly why odd things happen on days that look simple. A relaxed bunch invites late splits from wind, a stubborn break, or a crash born from lapses in attention. GC teams have to stay professional even when the instinct is to save themselves for tomorrow’s celebrations. Switch off for a moment and you don’t just lose the stage—you risk losing the Tour without a fight.

2026 Route Preview Interview - December 2025

Stuart O'Grady leads Crédit Agricole in 2001 Tour de France TTT

Stuart O'Grady OAM OLY

4 x Tour de France Stage Winner

Experience This Stage

Everyone will want to be on Alpe d'Huez today, but remember the peloton will be coming the other way, so the early climbs of Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Télégraphe, and Col du Galibier early in the stage. Our tip for the best viewing experience is Col de Sarenne, perfectly positioned for a final attack from a reduced leading group.

This blend of dramatic racing and panoramic landscapes makes Stage 20 an unforgettable experience.

Practical Info

Plan for a long day outside with limited shelter
Movement is slower on mountain roads and popular viewing areas fill earlier
The weather can be variable, with potential for both heat and cooler temperatures at higher altitudes

Cyclist in polka dot jersey surrounded by fans at Tour de France

Tour de France peloton climbs a winding mountain road

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