Stage 16 of the Tour de France 2026 offers a unique opportunity for the riders who have survived the first two weeks of action.
It comes after a well-earned rest day that followed two intense mountain stages that unfortunately ended with the departure of two-time TDF winner Jonas Vingegaard, who crashed out and left the race in an ambulance.
As the TDF rolls on, Vingegaard will head into surgery for a fractured collarbone.
Now, comes the second time trial of this year's Tour de France, a 26.1-kilometer solo adventure between two spa resorts - Évian-les-Bains and Thonon-les-Bains - that could be a chance for those who struggled in the mountains to make up some time.
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- Who Won Stage 15 Of The Tour de France 2026? See The Full TDF Results Here
For the first time since 1971, the Tour de France actually began with a time trial, but that was a recently tweaked team format that spanned 19.6 kilometers around Barcelona, Spain.
The opening stage was won by Vingegaard and Visma | Lease a Bike, but we haven't heard much since from the two-time TDF winner or his team until they made headlines for the wrong reasons in Stage 15 on Sunday.
Vingegaard did get to wear the yellow leader's jersey for a couple days, but he quickly settled into second place behind two-time defending champion Tadej Pogačar, who now leads Stage 15 winner Remco Evenepoel by five minutes.
Pogačar's teammate Isaac del Toro is third (5:58) and followed by Paul Seixas (6:23) and Florian Lipowitz (6:48).
There are many talented time trialers in the field, so selecting a favorite could be tough.
Evenepoel and Pogačar won the two in 2025 and the two in 2024. History can't repeat itself after Vingegaard broke through in Stage 1, but who's going to step up in Stage 16 to kick off the final week of racing?
Over the first 15 stages this year, Pogačar has won four times and finished on the podium three more, while Belgian Tim Merlier established himself as the event's top sprinter by winning three of the four sprint finales.
Evenepoel's win in the mountainous Stage 15 on Sunday was his third TDF victory overall, but the first that wasn't a time trial. Can that momentum carry through the rest day and see him win another ITT?
For viewers in Canada, FloBikes coverage of Stage 16 will begin at 6:50 a.m. Eastern and is expected to conclude around 12:20 p.m. EDT.
Here’s what to know about Stage 16 of the Tour de France 2026, a 26.1 kilometer individual time trial from Évian-les-Bains to Thonon-les-Bains:
Stage 16: Tour de France 2026
While the second week of the Tour de France 2026 was a bit heavier on the sprints, it also featured back-to-back mountain stages and nearly 340 kilometers of riding to close things out.
There are only six stages left until someone leaves Paris with the yellow jersey in his luggage, but the final segment of the Tour will get progressively harder.
The individual time trial in Stage 16 will be a true test of versatility, as it's almost three small races in one.
The first third of the day will be uphill, including the 9.7 kilometer Côte de Larringes, which averages 4.3% gradient. The middle part of the race is the descent from the initial climb. The final 8 or so kilometers will be flat.
The specialists will be able to shine somewhere along the way, but success in this stage likely will come from the most well-rounder performers.
Kilometers To Miles: How Long Is Stage 16 Of The Tour de France 2026?
Stage 16 of the Tour de France 2026 is 26.1 kilometers, or approximately 16.21 miles long.
Tour de France 2026 Stage 16 Profile
Here is what the route looks like for Stage 16:
How To Watch The Tour de France 2026 Stage 16
For Canadian viewers, the Tour de France 2026 is streaming on FloBikes and the FloSports app.
Stage highlights, replays and more breaking news, including recaps and rider interviews, will be on both platforms.
In the United States, the Tour de France will be on the NBC family of networks and will stream daily on Peacock. Select stages will air on local NBC affiliates, while others, plus stage reruns, will be shown on the USA Network.
In February 2023, NBC Sports, Peacock and ASO announced a six-year deal that will keep NBC Sports as the home of the Tour de France in the United States through 2029.
Who Won Stage 16 Of The Tour de France In 2025?
A little bit of history was made in Stage 16 of the Tour de France 2025, where Valentin Paret-Peintre became the first French winner of the year, pipped Ireland's Ben Healy atop the mythical 1910m altitude Mont Ventoux summit finish.
The win was additionally special because Paret-Peintre became the first French winner on Mont Ventoux since Richard Virenque in 2002.
Mont Ventoux long has been held in awe by riders and spectators alike, and it has witnessed some of the greatest dramas and tragedies of the Tour.
In 1967, the British cyclist Tom Simpson died here after collapsing on a baking climb.
The GC race also had some potential in Stage 16, but eventual champion Tadej Pogačar had an answer for every move and attack, actually extending his lead by two seconds. The finished fifth and sixth on the stage, respectively, and Pogačar closed the day with an overall lead of four minutes, 15 seconds.
Tour de France 2026 Results: Here’s Who Has Won Each Stage So Far
- Stage 1: Who Won Stage 1 Of The Tour de France 2026? See The Full TDF Results Here
- Stage 2: Who Won Stage 2 Of The Tour de France 2026? See The Full TDF Results Here
- Stage 3: Who Won Stage 3 Of The Tour de France 2026? See The Full TDF Results Here
- Stage 4: Who Won Stage 4 Of The Tour de France 2026? See The Full TDF Results Here
- Stage 5: Who Won Stage 5 Of The Tour de France 2026? See The Full TDF Results Here
- Stage 6: Who Won Stage 6 Of The Tour de France 2026? See The Full TDF Results Here
- Stage 7: Who Won Stage 7 Of The Tour de France 2026? See The Full TDF Results Here
- Stage 8: Who Won Stage 8 Of The Tour de France 2026? See The Full TDF Results Here
- Stage 9: Who Won Stage 9 Of The Tour de France 2026? See The Full TDF Results Here
- Stage 10: Who Won Stage 10 Of The Tour de France 2026? See The Full TDF Results Here
- Stage 11: Who Won Stage 11 Of The Tour de France 2026? See The Full TDF Results Here
- Stage 12: Who Won Stage 12 Of The Tour de France 2026? See The Full TDF Results Here
- Stage 13: Who Won Stage 13 Of The Tour de France 2026? See The Full TDF Results Here
- Stage 14: Who Won Stage 14 Of The Tour de France 2026? See The Full TDF Results Here
- Stage 15: Who Won Stage 15 Of The Tour de France 2026? See The Full TDF Results Here
When Does The Tour de France 2026 Start?
The Tour de France 2026 starts July 4 and will conclude July 26.
The schedule includes 21 stages and two rest days (July 13 and July 20).
Every day, the cyclists start together. Every stage varies in distance and physical demand, and the characteristics of each stage determine what type of rider should excel or how the race should finish.
For example, some stages feature flat finishes, and that means the sprinters likely will be battling for those stage wins.
The three weeks of racing across Barcelona and France will feature eight mountain stages, including five summit finishes, seven flat stages, four hilly days, an individual time trial and a team time trial to kick things off on July 4.
How Long Is The Tour de France 2026?
The course for the Tour de France 2026 is 3,333 kilometers or just over 2,071 miles.
The race is 21 stages.
A map of the entire route can be found here.
What Is The Schedule For The Tour de France 2026?
- Stage 1 (TTT) - July 4: Barcelone - Barcelone (19.6km)
- Stage 2 - July 5: Tarragone - Barcelone (168.5km)
- Stage 3 - July 6: Granollers - Les Angles (195.9km)
- Stage 4 - July 7: Carcassonne - Foix (181.9km)
- Stage 5 - July 8: Lannemezan - Pau (158.3km)
- Stage 6 - July 9: Pau - Gavarnie-Gèdre (186.2km)
- Stage 7 - July 10: Hagetmau - Bordeaux (175.1km)
- Stage 8 - July 11: Périgueux - Bergerac (180.4km)
- Stage 9 - July 12: Malemort - Ussel (185.5km)
- Rest Day - July 13: Cantal
- Stage 10 - July 14: Aurillac - Le Lioran (166.6km)
- Stage 11 - July 15: Vichy - Nevers (161.3km)
- Stage 12 - July 16: Circuit Nevers Magny-Cours - Chalon-sur-Saône (179.1km)
- Stage 13 - July 17: Dole - Belfort (205.8km)
- Stage 14 - July 18: Mulhouse - Le Markstein Fellering (155.3km)
- Stage 15 - July 19: Champagnole - Plateau de Solaison (183.9km)
- Rest Day - July 20: Haute-Savoie
- Stage 16 (ITT) - July 21: Évian-les-Bains - Thonon-les-Bains (26.1km)
- Stage 17 - July 22: Chambery - Voiron (174.7km)
- Stage 18 - July 23: Voiron - Orcières-Merlette (185.2km)
- Stage 19 - July 24: Gap - Alpe d'Huez (127.9km)
- Stage 20 - July 25: Le Bourg d'Oisans - Alpe d'Huez (170.9km)
- Stage 21 - July 26: Thoiry - Paris Champs-Élysées (133km)
How Many Teams/Riders Compete In The Tour de France?
Traditionally, there are 22 or 23 teams and up to 184 competitors in the Tour de France. This year, there will be 23 teams.
Here’s the list for 2026:
- Alpecin - Premier Tech
- Bahrain - Victorious
- Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
- Cofidis
- Decathlon CMA CGM Team
- EF Education - EasyPost
- Groupama - FDJ United
- Netcompany INEOS
- Lidl - Trek
- Lotto Intermarché
- Movistar Team
- NSN Cycling Team
- Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team
- Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe
- Soudal Quick-Step
- Team Jayco AlUla
- Team Picnic PostNL
- Team Visma | Lease a Bike
- TotalEnergies
- Tudor Pro Cycling Team
- UAE Team Emirates - XRG
- Uno-X Mobility
- XDS Astana Team
Who Won The Tour de France In 2025?
Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar added to his growing legacy by winning the Tour de France in 2025.
It was his second consecutive victory at the event, and fourth overall (2020, 2021), making him the sixth rider in history to win four times.
Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain all have won five times, while Chris Froome joins Pogačar with four.
On his way to securing the yellow jersey in 2025, Pogačar was the pre-race favorite.
His title defense featured four stage wins (4, 7, 12, 13), and he finished more than four minutes ahead of runner-up Jonas Vingegaard. Florian Lipowitz was third, 11 minutes behind Pogačar, who also won the King of the Mountains jersey.
Pogačar owns five Grand Tour victories overall, including the Giro d’Italia in 2024, which was part of a historic Giro-TDF double, a feat that hadn’t been accomplished since 1998.
In 2026, Vingegaard, a two-time Tour de France winner, will be looking to match the effort after claiming the GC title at the Giro d’Italia in May and becoming the eighth rider to win all three Grand Tours at least one time.
Merckx has the most GC wins in Grand Tours with 11, followed by Hinault, who has 10.
Pogačar has maintained his elite form in 2026 and started the year with four wins in his first five events. He then added four stages wins on the way to the GC crown at the five-stage Tour de Romandie.
How Tadej Pogacar Crushed Le Markstein In Tour de France 2026 Stage 14
Tadej Pogacar won Stage 14 of the 2026 Tour de France at Le Markstein, delivering another major statement in the mountains.
We hear from Pogacar after his Le Markstein win, plus reaction from UAE Team Emirates General Manager Mauro Gianetti, Sepp Kuss and Florian Lipowitz.
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