Alpe d’Huez, Act II… and undoubtedly the toughest! Just a few hours after reaching this legendary Tour de France venue for the first time, the peloton will tackle it once more during the penultimate stage of the 2026 edition – the final mountain stage… and the one with the greatest total elevation gain: 5,450 metres! The riders will have to conquer the Col de la Croix de Fer (24 km at 5.2%), the Col du Télégraphe (11.9 km at 7.1%), the Col du Galibier (17.7 km at 6.9%) and the Col de Sarenne (12.8 km at 7.3%) to reach Alpe d’Huez once again. Montmartre and the Champs-Élysées have rarely felt so well-deserved.
Unbeatable yesterday, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates XRG) is the clear favourite to claim his 27th victory. But the Yellow King has also expressed his willingness to help his team-mate Isaac del Toro secure his white jersey, and his place on the podium between Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, 2nd) and Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM, 4th).
The Belgian clocked the second-fastest time on the Alpe d’Huez climb yesterday, building on his success on the Plateau de Solaison. The Lyon native, meanwhile, has one last chance to make up the 24 seconds separating him from the Mexican and third place, as well as to get France off the mark in this year’s race.
Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) came within 6 seconds of doing so yesterday; a second opportunity now presents itself for the rider who has moved up to fifth in the general classification. Third behind him after winning two days ago, Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) is expected to be among the attackers, at least to defend the polka-dot jersey he took at Alpe d’Huez.
Egan Bernal (Netcompany Ineos) saved his energy on Friday and has a chance to make his move this Saturday, able to count on the support of team-mates such as Thymen Arensman. Visma-Lease a Bike has given its riders free rein and tried to secure a win with Matteo Jorgenson at Orcières-Merlette, then Sepp Kuss on the first ascent of Alpe d’Huez; whose turn is it today?
