Climbing New Heights: Tour de France 2026 to Conquer Montmartre Again

The 2026 men's Tour de France is set to thrill once more, with a stunning finale up Paris' iconic Montmartre hill. Announced by organizers on Thursday, the route aims to maintain suspense, climaxing with a dramatic climb through Rue Lepic. This Parisian stage, victorious for Belgium’s Wout van Aert in 2025, will follow two grueling Alpe d’Huez summit finishes, ensuring a nail-biting end to the famed cycling event.

Race director Christian Prudhomme revealed that the series of punishing mountain stages is designed to keep the race outcome uncertain until the last moment. With two Alpe d’Huez climbs and the toughest mountain stage anticipated on the eve of the final day, the competition is expected to remain fierce.

The Tour will start in Barcelona on July 4 and conclude on July 26 after routes through the Pyrenees and familiar rivalries. Meanwhile, the women's edition, occurring from August 1–9, introduces Mont Ventoux for the first time, marking it as the toughest women's Tour yet, with almost 19,000 meters of climbing.