The Tour de France 2026 bids a spectacular farewell to the Pyrenees – how could it be otherwise? The total elevation gain of stage 6 exceeds 4,000 metres (4,100 m) for the first time in this year’s race, with five categorised climbs to tackle over 186.2 kilometres. The ascents at Loucrup (1.9 km at 7 per cent) and Mauvezin (3 km at 6.8 per cent) will serve as warm-ups before the historic Col d’Aspin (12 km at 6.5 per cent) and the legendary Col du Tourmalet (17.1 km at 7.3 per cent), the first of the Tour’s six Hors-Catégorie climbs. Pressure will be as high as the altitude, but riders must pace themselves, as a final climb to Gavarnie-Gèdre (18.7 km at 3.7%) will crown the day’s winner. And a potential new Maillot Jaune?
The daring Norwegian Torstein Traeen (Uno-X Mobility) will defend his jersey fiercely. First and foremost against his closest chasers, Sean Quinn (EF Education-EasyPost, +28‘) and Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek, +3'50’). But also, and perhaps above all, against the favourites for the general classification: Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates XRG, +7'53‘) and Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike, +7'53’). They are among the top favourites for the stage, alongside the rising stars represented by Isaac del Toro (UAE Emirates XRG), Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) and Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM), who are even more at home on long climbs than on the shorter ones tackled so far.
Pogacar and Vingegaard finished first and second in three of the last four stages that passed over the Tourmalet (stage 18 in 2021, stage 6 in 2023, stage 14 in 2024). But the most recent visit here, last year, went in favour of Thymen Arensman. We should therefore keep an eye on the climbers who have emerged as outsiders, such as the Dutchman. Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) has shown great signs of form so far, and one waits to see what Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5) has in store.
With 38 points up for grabs in the mountains classification, this stage is the third-most lucrative for the polka-dot jersey in 2026. Its contenders, such as Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) and the current holder Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost), are also likely to set the pace for the day.
