If you're talking to a serious cycling fan or an experienced rider, and you mention Alpe d’Huez, you might see a shudder or a wry smile, both of which tell you that person is familiar with the Tour de France and one of the most revered - and feared - climbs in the sport.
Obviously, the Tour de France 2026 is winding down, so if anyone is going make any big moves, it needs to happen sooner than later. If they're brave enough, why not do it in Stage 19, which concludes with the first summit of Alpe d’Huez.
This definitely is where legends can be made or dreams can be shattered. Even if it's the only shining moment for a rider in the TDF, good or bad, it will live on as part of the lore of the great mountain.
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- Who Won Stage 18 Of The Tour de France 2026? See The Full TDF Results Here
With the departure of Jonas Vingegaard due to a crash and broken collarbone in Stage 15, race leader Tadej Pogačar got an unexpected cushion over the new second-place rider, who, at the time, was Remco Evenepoel at five minutes.
After the rest day, in Stage 16, Florian Lipowitz suffered a similar fate and was forced out of the race. He was fifth overall after 15 stages.
Through 18 stages now, Pogačar's lead over Evenepoel remains at four and a half minutes, while Pogačar's teammate Isaac del Toro is third (6:51).
UAE Team Emirates - XRG did take a hit of its own Thursday when mountain lieutenant Brandon McNulty was forced to abandon the race. Adam Yates has been struggling with illness in recent stages, and Tim Wellens finished just ahead of the broom wagon in Stage 18.
The stage was won by Richard Carapaz, who rode free from the breakaway with 3.4 kilometers remaining in the 185.2-kilometer ride. It was his second Tour de France win overall, with the first coming in 2024. Mauro Schmid, who won Stage 13, was second, 45 seconds back, and American Matteo Jorgenson was third, finishing alongside Schmid.
For viewers in Canada, FloBikes coverage of Stage 19 will begin at 7:50 a.m. Eastern and is expected to conclude around 12:15 p.m. EDT.
Here’s what to know about Stage 19 of the Tour de France 2026, a 127.9-kilometer mountain ride from Gap up to Alpe d’Huez:
Stage 19: Tour de France 2026
For more than seven decades, since debuting in 1952, Alpe d’Huez has been a staple in the Tour de France and has been the backdrop for many unforgettable moments. It also is massive enough that it can be approached in multiple ways.
This year, the riders will have to endure a trio of climbs before reaching the grandaddy of them all to wrap up the short, but intense, 127.9-kilometer day.
For the first time, they'll reach Alpe d’Huez via Col Bayard (Category 2), Col du Noyer (Category 1) and Col d’Ornon (Category 2), with each averaging more than 6% gradient.
The next day, they'll do it all over again through a different route.
The four ascents in Stage 19 total more than 3,600 meters of climbing, with the final challenge spanning 13.8 kilometers at 8.1%.
Alpe d’Huez consists of 21 hairpin turns, with No. 21 coming at the bottom, and No. 1 coming at the top. Each one is dedicated to a past Tour de France stage winner.
The first rider to conquer the climb was Italy's Fausto Coppi in 1952. It was one of five stages he won that year on the way to taking home the yellow jersey. He also won the Mountains Classification.
His performance on Alpe d’Huez is still talked about and part of the reason why mountain stages are so prevalent at the Tour de France and often the most exciting.
Coppi. who also won the TDF in 1949, never started the race again. He raced three times and won twice, while collecting nine stage victories. He died in 1960 at age 40.
Along with it's role in the cycling world, Alpe d’Huez is one of the premier skiing destinations in Europe. Visitors can enjoy picturesque views and a top-notch ski resort.
The TDF riders probably won't be thinking much about hot chocolate by the fire, but they will be focused on how they're going to attack Stage 19 and Stage 20 of this year's race.
They've been racing for almost three weeks, and now they're looking at back-to-back days on Alpe d’Huez. Will it be about the GC contenders being as passive and safe as possible to survive the two stages, while potentially needing to be aggressive at some point? Will someone get ambitious and try to be the next legend of the mountain?
Kilometers To Miles: How Long Is Stage 19 Of The Tour de France 2026?
Stage 19 of the Tour de France 2026 is 127.9 kilometers, or approximately 79.5 miles long.
Tour de France 2026 Stage 19 Profile
Here is what the route looks like for Stage 19:
How To Watch The Tour de France 2026 Stage 19
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 19 Of The Tour de France In 2025?
Stage 19 of the Tour de France 2025 was changed at the last minute due to the discovery of a contagious disease in a herd of cattle located along the original route between Albertville and La Plagne.
Organizers modified the route to avoid the ascent to the Col des Saisies. The day went from 129.9 kilometers to just 93.1.
Dutch rider Thymen Arensman won the stage at La Plagne ski resort, for his second win at the 2025 race.
He crossed the Stage 19 finish line two seconds ahead of title contender Jonas Vingegaard and eventual champion Tadej Pogačar, who now was one step closer to his fourth overall win at the TDF.
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
- Stage 16: Who Won Stage 16 Of The Tour de France 2026? See The Full TDF Results Here
- Stage 17: Who Won Stage 17 Of The Tour de France 2026? See The Full TDF Results Here
- Stage 18: Who Won Stage 18 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 Remco Evenepeol Beat Tadej Pogacar In Tour de France 2026 Stage 16 Time Trial
Remco Evenepoel won Stage 16 of the 2026 Tour de France, taking victory in the time trial and beating Tadej Pogacar after winning Stage 15.
The time trial world champion backed up his mountain victory with another huge performance against the clock, taking his second stage win in a row and solidifying his place in second overall.
In this finish-line interview package, we hear from Remco Evenepoel, plus reaction from Tadej Pogacar, Isaac Del Toro, Paul Seixas, Derek Gee and many others.
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