The 2026 Tour de France will pass through Alsace
- Jérémie Bourquenez
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
Cycling enthusiasts, get ready! The 113th edition of the Tour de France, taking place from July 4th to 26th, will once again pass through Alsace. This famous cycling race previously chose Le Markstein as a stage finish in 2023.
Three years later, the cyclists will once again link Mulhouse to Le Markstein for a spectacular 14th stage, tackling a series of mountain passes and peaks in the Vosges Mountains.
For fans of the renowned cycling race, this is a unique opportunity to experience it from the inside, either by bike or as a spectator. Why not rent a gravel bike from Alsace Gravel Bike to explore the route before the race arrives, or go there and witness the event firsthand?
The 2026 Tour de France in a nutshell
The 113th edition of the Tour de France will take place from July 4 to 26, 2026, starting in Barcelona, Spain, and culminating in the grand finale on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The race will last three weeks and consist of 21 stages covering 3,333 kilometers and 54,450 meters of elevation gain.
This will be the 27th time the Tour de France has started abroad and the 3rd time in Spain. In 2024, it started in Florence, Italy.
A unique feature of this year's Tour is that it will begin with a team time trial in the heart of the Catalan capital.
The figures of the 2026 Tour de France
184 riders in 23 teams
3,333 km of racing
54,450 m of elevation gain
21 stages: 7 flat, 4 hilly, 8 mountain stages with 5 summit finishes
Mountain ranges crossed: Pyrenees, Massif Central, Vosges, Jura, and Alps
The Col du Galibier (2,642 m) is the highest point of the 2026 Tour
7 French regions and 29 departments visited
10 new stage towns or cities
1 team time trial of 19 km at the Grand Départ in Barcelona
1 individual time trial of 26 km on stage 16
2 rest days
Details of Stage 14 of the 2026 Tour de France
In Alsace, this 14th stage will take place on Saturday, July 18. It will follow the longest stage of the competition (205 km) between Dole and Belfort, which will be held the day before. The stage between Mulhouse and Le Markstein promises to be intense for the cyclists. Approximately 155 km long, it features nearly 3,000 meters of elevation gain and promises a series of almost relentless climbs in the Vosges Mountains.
The stage will start in the Alsatian plain, in Mulhouse. After a few relatively flat kilometers, the riders will quickly head towards the Vosges mountains where the first steep climbs will already appear.
The main climbs on the route
The stage features several iconic climbs in the Vosges Mountains:
Grand Ballon: the first major difficulty of the day and the highest peak in the Vosges. A long, steady climb where the day's breakaway could form.
Approximately 21 km climb
Average gradient: ~5%
Altitude: 1,336 m
Col du Page: a more rolling, forested climb that continues to take its toll.
Approximately 10 km
Average gradient: 4.7%
Altitude: 959 m
Ballon d'Alsace: a legendary climb, first crossed in the history of the Tour de France in 1905.
Approximately 9 km
Average gradient: nearly 7%
Altitude: 1,173 m
Col du Hundsruck: an intermediate climb that continues to wear down the riders before the finale.
Approximately 6 km
Average gradient: ~6%
Altitude: 748 m
Col du Haag: on this final climb, the gaps between the favorites could widen.
Approximately 11 km
Average gradient: over 7% with sections exceeding 10%
Altitude: 1,233 m
After the Haag Pass (col du Haag), the riders quickly join the stunning Route des Crêtes (Crest Road) for the final kilometers to the finish at Le Markstein, located at an altitude of over 1,100 meters. With its magnificent panoramas of the Vosges Mountains and the Alsace plain, this finale promises a spectacular show for the fans who come to watch the event.
Experiencing the Tour de France by bike
Attending the Tour de France is a unique experience, especially if you come by bike. Unlike the often complicated access by car on race day, cycling allows you to easily reach the best spots along the route.
It's also a different way to experience the event:
You cycle on the same roads as the professional cyclists.
You feel the challenge of the Vosges climbs.
You enjoy the scenery and the atmosphere of the fans already gathered.
By setting off early in the morning, you can ride part of the stage, climb the mountain passes, and then find a good spot to wait for the caravan and the riders to pass. For cycling enthusiasts, it's an unforgettable experience.
Rent a bike to ride the Tour de France stage in Alsace
If you're visiting Alsace or are a local and would like to try out a new bike during the Tour de France, Alsace Gravel Bike offers rentals of bikes perfectly suited for exploring the stage route.
Our gravel bikes are particularly well-suited for this type of outing. Versatile, comfortable, and efficient, they allow you to ride both on roads to follow the Tour de France route and to explore the smaller paths around the course. The Vosges Mountains are full of forest roads, tracks, and alternative routes that allow you to create superb itineraries around the stage.
Gravel or road: the choice is yours
While gravel bikes are our specialty, we know that some cyclists prefer a setup closer to a road bike, especially when following a stage of the Tour de France.
That's why we also offer road tires for our bikes. With this type of setup, a gravel bike performs like an endurance road bike. It behave exceptionally well on asphalt while maintaining comfort and stability.
Choose the tires best suited to your planned itinerary:
Road tires are perfect for riding fast on the stage route.
Gravel tires are ideal for combining road riding with short off-road excursions around the Tour de France route in Alsace.
In any case, the route between Mulhouse and Le Markstein is perfectly doable on a gravel bike. The Vosges hills are very well suited to this type of bike, which often offers more comfort than traditional road bikes, especially on long rides.
Discover the Vosges Mountains in a New Light
You can take advantage of the Tour de France stage in Alsace to discover the Vosges Mountains by bike. The roads around Le Markstein are among the most beautiful in Alsace:
the Route des Crêtes and the mountain passes and peaks of the Vosges,
the forest roads towards the Grand Ballon,
the green valleys around Thann, Guebwiller, and Westhalten.
On a gravel bike, the possibilities for exploration become almost endless in Alsace, as elsewhere. Between paved roads and forest tracks, it's easy to plan a day trip or a multi-day adventure.
Ready to ride the Tour de France stage?
The 2026 Tour de France passing through Alsace promises to be a highlight for all cycling enthusiasts. The 14th stage on July 18th, between Mulhouse and Le Markstein, will combine stunning scenery, a sporting challenge, and a unique atmosphere.
Whether you're a passionate cyclist or simply curious, riding part of this stage before the professionals arrive is an experience not to be missed.
With Alsace Gravel Bike, you can rent a suitable bike, choose the configuration that suits you best – gravel or road tires – and set off to discover this legendary route. So, ready to pedal the roads of the Tour? 🚴♂️
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