2026 Tour de France to stage back-to-back Alpe d'Huez climbs

The 2026 Tour de France will reach its dramatic conclusion this weekend with an unprecedented double ascent of the legendary Alpe d'Huez, a finale race director Christian Prudhomme has called potentially the toughest mountain stage in Tour history. The iconic climb, with its 21 famous hairpin bends, will host summit finishes on consecutive days, Friday, July 24, and Saturday, July 25, likely deciding the final yellow jersey.

Friday's Stage 19, a 127.9-kilometer route from Gap, will take the traditional approach from Bourg-d'Oisans, climbing the Alpe d'Huez's 13.8 kilometers at an average gradient of 8.1 percent after tackling the Col de Bayard and the Col du Noyer earlier in the day. The stage features approximately 3,450 meters of total climbing. The following day's Stage 20 is considered even more demanding, a 170.9-kilometer route with over 5,400 meters of climbing that includes the Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Télégraphe, and Col du Galibier before a second, more rugged ascent of Alpe d'Huez via the Col de Sarenne.

Race leader Tadej Pogačar of UAE Team Emirates, who holds the yellow jersey, acknowledged the historic challenge and the intense atmosphere awaiting the riders....