🚵🏻Tour de France 2026: the edition of superlatives

If there is one place where the tarmac breathes history and every turn of the pedals echoes with the past, it is here. Inseparable from the Grande Boucle, Alpe d’Huez is far more than a simple climb: it is a myth, an open-air stadium. In 2026, the resort is preparing once again to become the ultimate निर्णer of the world’s greatest cycling race.

💪 A crucial date with destiny: Tour de France 2026

Make a note of these dates: Friday 24 July and Saturday 25 July 2026. For this edition, the Tour is making a bold statement with a double dose of legend. These two days in the high mountains will serve as the ultimate decider and could completely reshape the standings, altering the fate of the Yellow Jersey just before the final outcome.

A historic programme in two acts:
🔸 Friday 24 July (Stage 19): The riders will set off from Gap to tackle the traditional climb and its famous 21 bends.
🔸 Saturday 25 July (Stage 20): Starting from Bourg d’Oisans, the peloton will reach Alpe d’Huez by a wilder route: the Col de Sarenne.

🎬 The history of the Tour de France in an exhibition

In 1903, Henri Desgrange and Géo Lefèvre imagined a mad race across France: the Tour de France was born. In its early days, there were only six stages, but they were endlessly long, all beginning and ending in Paris. Since then, the Grande Boucle has become an unmissable global event.

Among its most legendary locations is Alpe d’Huez, a climb that has become a true rite of passage: the ascent first brought to prominence in 1952 by Fausto Coppi, who won there solo. With its 14 km and an average gradient of over 8%, each bend bears the name of a stage winner, like a road leading up to legend itself. To triumph there is to join giants such as Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Marco Pantani.

This summer, immerse yourself in this epic story through a travelling exhibition designed by the Musée National du Sport, with Philippe Bouvet. Through illustrated panels and collectors’ items, it retraces the feats and legends that have made the Tour thrill audiences for more than a century.

📍 On display throughout the summer at the Belvedere of the Museum of History and Archaeology.
Good news: admission is free, so there is no excuse not to go and have a look!

🧡 Popular fervour: the electricity of the “Dutch Corner”

Alpe d’Huez is also a human celebration unlike any other. Hundreds of thousands of spectators will transform the mountain into a boiling arena. The highlight? Bend number 7, the famous “Dutch Corner”. With its sea of orange, songs and deafening cheers, the atmosphere promises to be electric. As they say here:

“Alpe d’Huez is not simply climbed, it is experienced.”

👌 For enthusiasts: L’Étape du Tour

Do you not just want to watch, but also rise to the challenge? On Sunday 19 July, the amateur Étape du Tour will give 16,000 enthusiasts the chance to experience the hell and the heaven of the professionals.

Expected to be the toughest edition in recent years, the route features staggering figures:
An unbroken chain of legendary climbs: Croix de Fer, Télégraphe and Galibier, before a grand finale via the Col de Sarenne towards Alpe d’Huez.
170 km of racing starting from Bourg d’Oisans.
5,400 m of elevation gain.

🤩 Cycling for everyone with the Échappées Iséroises 2026

Alongside the professional competitions, the event “Échappées Iséroises 2026” completes this exceptional calendar. This initiative allows amateurs of all abilities to take over the mythical roads of the Isère department in a friendly atmosphere. On Tuesday 7 July, you are invited to climb the 21 bends of Alpe d’Huez and do so… without any cars. The road will be closed for the occasion! It is the perfect opportunity for families to experience the magic of the Isère region in complete safety.

➡️ Our advice for making the most of this cycling summer:

Plan your journeys in advance: For the Tour de France, the Étape du Tour and the Échappées Iséroises, some roads will be closed. Do not hesitate to check the department’s road information.
Respect the mountains: The Tour is a celebration, so let us keep our peaks clean.
Use the ski lifts: The gondolas offer incredible views and help you avoid traffic jams.
Download offline maps: With the crowds, the mobile network may become saturated. Be prepared.
Keep hydrated: Under the Alpine sun, the gradient can feel twice as steep.
Dress for the weather: Conditions change quickly. Always bring a windproof jacket for the summit.