“A very beautiful course”, “variety”… The peloton reacts to the route of the 113th edition

The route of the next Grande Boucle was revealed on Thursday, in front of several runners, generally seduced by the route of the 113th edition.

If the Palais des Congrès in Paris was full on Thursday, October 23, for the presentation of the Tour de France 2026 route, it was not overflowing with international stars from the men's peloton. At a time when the convicts on the road begin their annual vacation, some of them, however, made the detour via Porte Maillot to discover the route of the 113th edition of the Tour de France, which will start on July 4 from Barcelona.

“It's a very beautiful course, quite balanced and oriented towards the mountains, with quite a few quite difficult stages, with not very long mid-mountain passes. That can smile on a lot of runners, and on breakaways”noted Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step), who had signed his greatest career victory at the summit of Mont Ventoux on July 22.

“It’s a good tour offered. There are beautiful climbs, plains, and plenty to do”salivated not far from there Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies), also stage winner on the Tour (2024). “We will have five or six sprints, including superb finishes like Pau and Bordeaux, which are legendary places for sprinting on the Tour. I am satisfied with the route”added the young Paul Penhoët (Groupama-FDJ).

As expected since the officialization of the Grand Départ in Barcelona, ​​the Pyrenees will quickly invite themselves to the party, from the 3rd stage. Which is not necessarily bad news for adventurer Anthony Turgis: “It’s sure that it will happen quickly, yes. But thanks to that, the general classification will perhaps move faster, which could open up more opportunities for breakaways.” “We must not fall asleep at the start of the Tour, with a fairly tough second day. Then we have two beautiful Pyrenean stages, we will have to be in the game from the start”anticipates Valentin Paret-Peintre.

Even if the latter admits to focusing mainly on the last Alpine week: “The stages will suit me more with much longer climbs, not far from home”appreciates the one who tasted success on the Tour after having tamed the mythical “Giant of Provence”, and who will aim for another monument of the Grande Boucle in July: Alpe d'Huez, twice on the program. “It's certain that Alpe d'Huez would look good on the prize list, and here we are offered two chances to do it in 2026. I'm sure I'm going to try! As long as I'm not able to get close to the top 5, I prefer to concentrate on the stages”explains the Soudal-Quick step climber.

Obviously, the double arrival at Alpe d'Huez was on everyone's lips at the convention center. “Alpe d’Huez, it’s always a pleasure to climb there, behind the great leaders. We can savor, in a Tour de France which is always very long”notes Anthony Turgis. Relaunched with this infernal final bouquet, Valentin Paret-Peintre imagines, like many, that this is where the 2026 Tour will be won: “Everything can be decided from Thursday to Saturday, that's for sure, even if we could lose a lot of time before arriving in the Alps.”

“Before the Alps, there will be plenty of stages where normally we cannot make too many gaps, but on which we must not have a bad day for the leaders, so as not to lose a lot of time.”

Valentin Paret-Painter

at franceinfo: sport

The 113th edition will indeed give pride of place to the Massif Central. “It's a spectacular massif with its landscapes and its climbs for pure climbers but also for punchers. It often provides beautiful stages, with escapes”, warns Valentin Paret-Peintre, who can't wait to discover the Vosges novelty of Haag (“It seems to be hard”)while he is already familiar with the other new pass: the Solaison plateau. “We have already seen him on the Dauphiné and I often ride him in training. I know him well”smiles the Frenchman.

Many subjects which almost overshadowed the renewal of the final circuit in Montmartre, before the arrival on the Champs-Elysées. A slightly modified circuit, however, since the finish line will no longer be 6 km away but 15 km from the top of rue Lepic. “It’s a good thing, it was very pleasant last year. Plus access will be via the Etoile roundabout, so it will perhaps be a little less winding”thus anticipates Anthony Turgis. “It's a little extra to reach the Champs, so there may be groupings. We'll have to run at the front, in slightly scattered groups, but it won't be a single man like in 2025”finally imagines the sprinter Paul Penhoët.