The 2026 Tour de France Femmes route will cover a record 1,175km across Switzerland and France. The nine-stage race will also reach a record 18,795m of vertical gain.
Lausanne will host the Grand Départ, marking only the second foreign start in the race’s modern era. The race then moves through the Jura, Massif Central and Alps before finishing in Nice.
The route includes an individual time trial, repeated hilly transition days, and a major summit finish on Mont Ventoux. The final stage around Nice also offers terrain capable of reshaping the general classification.
Tour de France Femmes route opens in Switzerland
Stage 1 starts in Lausanne and covers 138km on a day classified as flat by race organisers. The label may mislead pure sprinters, because three categorised climbs arrive in the second half.
The Côte de Villars-le-Comte measures 4km at 5.8%, followed by the Côte de Vulliens at 3km and 5.3%. A stepped descent then leads into the final 20km.
The finish comes on the Côte Saint-François, a 2.5km climb averaging 4.6%. The first yellow jersey could go to a puncher with sharp timing on the rise.
Stage 2 remains in Switzerland, starting in Aigle and finishing in Geneva. Aigle is home to the International Cycling Union and the World Cycling Centre.
Organisers also classify this day as flat, despite five categorised climbs. The route includes the Côte de Chexbres, Côte de Savigny, Côte de Cossonay, Côte de Bougy-Villars and Côte de Monts-sur-Rolles.
The final categorised summit comes 42km from the finish. That distance should give dropped sprinters a chance to return before a likely bunch sprint in Geneva.
Jura roads and time trial could create early gaps
Geneva also starts Stage 3, before the peloton crosses into France. The climbing begins quickly, with the Col de la Faucille starting about 12km into the stage.
At 11.4km and 6.3%, the Col de la Faucille is the longest climb encountered to that point. It should also influence the mountains classification.
The stage then rolls toward Poligny. The Côte de Chaux-Champagny, at 1.8km and 6.4%, comes around 15.5km from the finish.
That late climb could help a breakaway survive. It may also force tactical choices from teams defending general classification ambitions.
The individual time trial returns on Stage 4 after being absent from the 2025 edition. The 21km course runs from Gevrey-Chambertin to Dijon.
This test differs sharply from the previous 6.3km flat time trial around Rotterdam. The Lacets de Marsannay, at 2km and 6.6%, interrupts the rhythm mid-course.
Riders who climb efficiently and descend well toward Dijon could gain meaningful time. The stage may set the first clear hierarchy among yellow jersey contenders.
Massif Central terrain brings relentless climbing
Stage 5 starts in Mâcon and finishes in Belleville-en-Beaujolais after 140km. Race organisers classify it as hilly, though the profile offers little recovery.
The riders face eight categorised climbs across the stage. The Côte de Cenves, at 9.6km and 4.4%, is the longest ascent of the day.
Mont Brouilly should shape the finale. The 3km climb averages 7%, and its summit comes just 7km from the finish.
That placement invites attacks from riders seeking stage victory or general classification time. It could also punish teams unable to control repeated accelerations.
Stage 6 covers 153.4km from Montbrison to Tournon-sur-Rhône. The road again rarely settles, with six categorised climbs on the route.
The Col de Lalouvesc is the toughest ascent, measuring 8.6km at 5%. It arrives as the penultimate climb and could reduce the favourites’ group.
The final climb is the Côte de Boucieu-le-Roi, at 3.8km and 5.7%. Its summit comes just under 20km from the finish.
From there, the race descends toward Tournon-sur-Rhône. A strong breakaway rider could use that terrain to attack and chase a solo win.
Mont Ventoux headlines the decisive mountain stage
Stage 7 brings Mont Ventoux into the Tour de France Femmes for the first time. Recent editions have featured one defining climb, including La Super Planche des Belles Filles, Col du Tourmalet, Alpe d’Huez and Col de la Madeleine.
The stage starts in La Voulte-sur-Rhône. The climbing begins after just 13.5km, well before the final ascent.
Before Ventoux, riders tackle the Col de la Grande Limite, Col du Colombier and Col de Suzette. None match the scale of the final climb.
Mont Ventoux measures 15.7km at an average gradient of 8.8%. Its exposed upper slopes add wind and psychological pressure near the summit.
The barren summit landscape often makes the climb feel even longer. The yellow jersey contest could change dramatically on this stage.
Nice finale leaves room for late drama
Stage 8 runs 171.9km from Sisteron to Nice and carries another flat classification. The route still includes obstacles that could upset the sprinters.
The Col des Robines and Col de Toutes Aures both come before halfway. The route then gradually descends toward Malaussene.
The final 20km bring the Côte de Colomars and Côte de la Ginestre. Those short climbs could offer launchpads for late attacks.
If the sprinters survive, the flat run into Nice gives them a chance. Teams will still need control after a long and uneven stage.
The race ends with the shortest road stage, excluding the time trial. Nice will host a finale built around repeated climbs of the Col d’Èze.
The peloton climbs the 7.7km side of Col d’Èze, averaging 5.9%, three times on a circuit. After the third lap, the riders tackle the climb again from a shorter and steeper side.
That final ascent measures 6km at 7.6%. It offers the last clear chance to attack before the technical descent back toward central Nice.
The 2026 Tour de France Femmes route therefore balances record distance with sustained climbing pressure. From Lausanne to Mont Ventoux and Nice, the race gives contenders few easy days.