I know what you’re thinking: “The 2025 season isn’t even cold yet! And we’re already talking about the 2026 Tour de France?!”
Sorry, that’s just how these things work. In two weeks’ time, on Thursday, October 23, the 2026 Tour de France route will be officially unveiled at an overly long ceremony in Paris. It will be presented by race director Christian Prudhomme and attended by numerous Tour riders, many in ill-fitting suits, which is all part of the fun.
Who wore it best at the Tour de France route reveal?
Seeing pro cyclists in casual clothing is like seeing a teacher on the weekend.
The question now is: “Why not wait, it’s only around the corner?” That’s not how the human psyche works. I (and, likely, you) want to know now. Fortunately, a bunch of sleuths (both professional and amateur) take it upon themselves to try and figure out the route ahead of time and beat the ASO bods to the punch.
Before we get to the potential particulars of the 2026 route we must ask more questions: How do they do this? How do we know we can trust these rumours? Well, there are a number of ways that information either leaks out or they uncover likely start and finish towns for themselves.
The most straightforward part of putting together the puzzle is that the Tour de France simply announces some of the route early, such as the Grand Départ. For 2026 we already know we’ll be heading to Barcelona (well, probably).
“Is the route out yet?” “Non.”
Additionally, there are a bunch of (presumably) grizzled local reporters all around France receiving tip-offs that the Tour is coming to (their) town. Or they notice Christian Prudhomme hanging out at the mayor’s office on a Tuesday morning. That can also work. Planning to host a Tour de France stage isn’t something you can keep a secret between just a few people, it requires a lot of work.
Armed with some information, one great trick the sleuths can pull is calling up local hotels and enquiring as to their availability 12 months (or more) into the future. Oh, a bunch of the usual available hotels in their fairly small town are fully booked already? The Tour is coming to town and has sorted where the riders and organisation will be staying.
Of course, this all gives only a partial view. The town could just be the nearest one to the finish line. But what emerges is a patchwork route of a logically logistical path for the lumbering (and beautiful) carcass of the Tour to heave itself along.
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