Tour de France Tour de France 2026 route rumours

[Ulle97]

We've seen a lot of annoyance with this route. Especially with Remco fans who yearn for more ITT kms.

Here's an alternative scenario, even on this route, let's say Pogacar and Jonas didn't go to the Tour in 2026, would Remco be able to win it?
Would he be able to fight off Almeida, Ayuso or even Lipowitz on his own team?

 

[houtdffan]

Poster citing 2012 Tour de France as example of 'real mountain stages'.

I had to do 3 takes on that.

it's because we had real mountain stages that year and several of them

Just because the sky train had no competition, does not mean there weren't real mountain stages

 

[Berniece]

We've seen a lot of annoyance with this route. Especially with Remco fans who yearn for more ITT kms.

I haven’t seen that

 

[Ulle97]

I am a Remco fan. And I am annoyed😄😄
Also, I saw on the Lanterne Rouge podcast where the made a valid point. They said the only terrain in the last 2 years where any rider has had an advantage over Pog has been Remco in the TTs.
Vingo is no longer Pogacar's master or even his equal on any decisive climb. Hence, the reason for people clamouring for more ITTs to at least give Pog something to think about.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I am a Remco fan. And I am annoyed😄😄
Also, I saw on the Lanterne Rouge podcast where the made a valid point. They said the only terrain in the last 2 years where any rider has had an advantage over Pog has been Remco in the TTs.
Vingo is no longer Pogacar's master or even his equal on any decisive climb. Hence, the reason for people clamouring for more ITTs to at least give Pog something to think about.

If Remco gets anywhere close to Pogi in the mountains then we can talk about ITT kilometers. He's not even his most dangerous Tour rival now, not even close to that.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I am a Remco fan. And I am annoyed😄😄
Also, I saw on the Lanterne Rouge podcast where the made a valid point. They said the only terrain in the last 2 years where any rider has had an advantage over Pog has been Remco in the TTs.
Vingo is no longer Pogacar's master or even his equal on any decisive climb. Hence, the reason for people clamouring for more ITTs to at least give Pog something to think about.

The problem is Vingegaard is the only guy close to Pogacar in the mountains and more kms of flat TTs will increase the gap between Vingegaard and Pogacar before the mountains.
I'm all in for more TTs (I would like 2 flat TTs, each one over 40 km) but I'm pretty sure the gap Remco probably created, would vanish in 2 hard MTFs (for example Solaison and Alpe d'Huez).
The only guy who could probably give some headaches to Pogacar is Remco + Vingegaard doing a Goten+Trunks and created a guy with Vingegaard's ability to climb and Remco's ability to do TTs. Unfortunately for the neutral fan, this is not gonna happen.

 

[proffate]

Remco should target RAAM next year (the 4th grand tour)

 

[Berniece]

If Remco gets anywhere close to Pogi in the mountains then we can talk about ITT kilometers. He's not even his most dangerous Tour rival now, not even close to that.

Indeed, finish a GT within 2 minutes first

 

[Rob5091]

Enviro protests for Queen Stage - Col de Sarenne questioned
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...gnings-on-a-petition-to-alter-the-queen-stage

Petition and info at
https://www.change.org/p/non-au-passage-du-tour-de-france-2026-au-col-de-sarenne

 

[Valv.Piti]

I just realized the route i kinda shite. I very much like the opening 6 stages actually, its a great opening IMO. Im considering going to Barcelona since you are able to get a lot of bank for your buck - TTT's are an absolute great event as a spectator, and so is 3 laps of Montjuic the next day. Stages 3 and 4 are open stages, and those kinda stages are always super interesting week 1 compared to week 3 where its most likely just an irrelevant break (in the larger scheme of things). Stage 5 to Pau is decently hilly and could see some sprinters dropped, and stage 6 is a rerun of stage 6 from 2023 which delivered. Nothing to complain about, BUT I would have liked another hard mountain stage once in the Pyrenees considering how backloaded the route is.

Stage 7 and 8 are irrelevant, stage 9 is a decent break stage and I really feel like stage 10 could use some addiotional juice. But considering we are dealing with Pogacar, and considering there arent that many options, it will see attacks at Perthus. 7,5 w/kg required.

Stage 11 and 12 again irrelevant, back to back sprint days again. Not great. Stage 13 to Belfort is very whatever, decent break stage again. Lots of chances for strong riders alá Simmons this race. Stage 14 could definitely be better knowing the terrain, and first time Solaison in TdF on stage 15. One of the harder MTFs in race history and hardest this race, but Im not really thrilled overall bu stages 7-15. We have seen better designed stages in the Puy Mary and Vosges area around Markstein

Dno about the last week. Medium length TT, meh Merlette, but an interesting take on Alpe d' Huez on two different stages. Again, if you're a spectator planning to go to TdF, it will be amazing, and it will most likely be very good on TV as well. At least it will feel different than the normal ADH stages we have seen recently. Nice with a good Paris stage again.

Honestly if you make stage 10 and 14 real hard proper stages and increase the TT length Im good. Especially if you scrath at least one of the b-2-b sprint stages