Tour de France 2026: All 21 Stages “Ride Every Kilometre” – The Ultimate Cycling Challenge

Your short tour experience begins in the captivating city of Barcelona. We will meet you at Barcelona-El Prat Airport and provide a dedicated transfer to your luxury hotel. After arrival and check in, the team will assist in the assembly of your personal bike or fine tune the fitting for your high-performance rental bike. If time permits, we will conduct a short, restorative welcome ride to stretch the legs and confirm the setup.
The day culminates with pre-dinner drinks, where the team will present your Grand Tours Project cycling kit and provide a detailed logistics briefing for the stages ahead. As a Grand Départ guest, you can also watch the electrifying Tour de France Team Presentations, fully immersing you in the opening atmosphere of the world’s greatest race.

Today you trace the official Stage 2 route from the historic coastal city of Tarragona back toward Barcelona. This long, 182 km stage is categorised as hilly, demanding significant endurance and careful pacing. An early start, for the 90 minute transfer to Tarragona, is required. The route features a constantly undulating profile as it skirts the beautiful Mediterranean coastline before transitioning inland through the challenging Catalan hills. You will be testing yourself over the exact roads where the sprinters’ teams and breakaway specialists will launch their decisive moves the following day.
Today is also the day to join fans at the finish line of the TDF Stage 1 TTT!

Beginning beneath the imposing walls of the medieval cité of Carcassonne, this is a classic transitional stage that connects the foothills of the Pyrenees. Covering 182 km with 2,750 metres of ascent, the day is characterised by sustained climbing across the beautiful, rugged terrain of the Aude and Ariège departments. While not featuring the climbs of the previous day, this stage demands continuous effort over numerous categorised ascents, providing constant vertical gain and testing recovery. The route culminates in the historic finish town of Foix, known for its dramatic castle overlooking the region.

Back in the Pyrenees – in the first week! Starting in Pau, the route is a monumental 186 km journey designed to be decisive, sending you straight over two giants of the Pyrenees. With an immense 4,150 metres of vertical ascent, you will conquer the legendary Col d’Aspin and the mighty Col du Tourmalet – climbs that are pivotal in any Tour de France and will test the limits of your endurance.
The stage culminates in the awe-inspiring finish at Gavarnie-Gèdre. The final kilometres lead into the spectacular natural wonder of the Circuit de Gavarnie, providing an unforgettable backdrop and memory of a TDF stage in the Pyrenees.

Day 9 delivers a true sprinter’s stage, serving as the official transition into central France. This route takes you from the historic city of Périgueux to the wine capital of Bergerac. With only 1,150 metres of gentle, rolling ascent, the day’s focus shifts from climbing endurance to sustained speed and teamwork.
The ride culminates in Bergerac, a beautiful town on the Dordogne River famous for its vineyards and literary connections. You will complete your REK challenge here and perhaps enjoy some wine tasting if time allows.

Day 11 mirrors the official TDF Rest Day, providing a crucial pause following the demanding first block of stages across the Pyrenees and the rugged Massif Central. Based near Aurillac in the dramatic Cantal region, this day is entirely dedicated to recovery and preparation. Riders are encouraged to prioritise deep rest and refuelling, though an optional, short flat spin can be arranged to keep the legs loose. This essential break allows the group to relax, absorb the stunning scenery, and mentally prepare after a long, intense Week 1.
The GTP team will changeover, and new riders for Week 2 will join the group.

Following the brutal climbing in the Cantal, this day offers a scenic and fast transition north. Starting in the famed spa town of Vichy, the route travels across the rolling plains and through classic French countryside. While not flat, the 1,400 metres of ascent are spread out, making this one of the quickest stages on the calendar and a chance to truly test your speed and recovery. This stage is strategically positioned to conserve energy ahead of the tough climbs later this week. The route concludes in Nevers, a key city in central France.

This is the longest stage of the tour’s second week, a demanding day that transitions riders from the agricultural plains into the formidable hills of the Jura and Vosges mountains. Starting in Dole, the hometown of scientist Louis Pasteur, the route steadily moves eastward, characterised by constantly undulating roads. The ascent total is collected across numerous significant climbs in the heart of the Jura mountains, demanding consistent effort. The long distance combined with the sustained climbing makes this a decisive endurance test before reaching the historic finish city of Belfort at the foot of the mountainous terrain ahead.

The final day for the Week 2 short tour is a genuine monument: a relentless, 184 km transition and climb from the Jura to the high French Alps. Starting in Champagnole, the route immediately challenges riders with sustained climbing as it tracks southeast, accumulating almost 4,000 metres of ascent. The day’s climax is the terrifying final ascent to the Plateau de Solaison. This massive, isolated climb is notorious for its brutal gradients and unforgiving ramps, serving as a spectacular, decisive summit finish. Conquering the Solaison guarantees a high-altitude victory and a defining memory for all REK riders during Week 2.
The team will transfer you to Geneva, where you can rest and enjoy this Swiss city.

The third and final week of the Tour kicks off with an individual time trial along the scenic French shores of Lake Geneva. This short, 26 km, maximum-effort stage is a pivotal day for the General Classification the next day. Starting in the famous spa town of Evian-les-Bains and finishing in Thonon-les-Bains, the route is flattish and fast albeit with traffic, requiring absolute power and razor-sharp focus on the technical turns. This is your chance to tap into your aerodynamic potential and experience the high-stakes discipline of the “Race of Truth” before the Tour turns south into the final, defining mountains of the French Alps.

Today is an early start and the first massive high-mountain stage of the final week. Starting in Voiron, the 185 km route heads south, directly into the Hautes-Alpes. The sheer distance and nearly 4,000 metres of ascent make this a big day. After a long approach, the stage concludes with the challenging climb to the ski resort of Orcières-Merlette, a climb deeply etched in Tour history – 5 times already, and you will feel the altitude and the accumulating fatigue as you tackle this final ascent.

Today is the culmination of the entire REK journey: The Official Queen Stage of the 2026 Tour de France. Starting very early in Bourg d’Oisans, the day is a gruelling alpine loop designed to break the strongest riders. The stage begins in Bourg d’Oisans but immediately heads out to conquer the most famous high-altitude passes in the French Alps. You will tackle the fearsome trio of the Col de la Croix de Fer, followed by the classic combination of the Col du Télégraphe and the majestic Col du Galibier – the highest point on the route.  After the epic descent from Galibier, the challenge is not over. The road continues the descent to a final, unique approach to the destination: turning off at Mizoen to climb the arduous Col de Sarenne before the final, dramatic push towards Alpe d’Huez. This stage is the ultimate test of endurance and the high point of the entire Tour. A quick escape to Allemond and then a transfer to Grenoble for a TGV journey to Paris.

Note: As this stage finishes on the same day and place as TDF Stage 19, guests will start the ride very early; slower riders may be directed to jump in the van to ensure the group is able to reach Alpe d’Huez before the roads are closed for TDF Stage 19 caravan and pros. 

Today is dedicated to relaxation, celebration, and experiencing the Tour de France finale as an honoured guest of Grand Tours Project. Enjoy a relaxing morning – a sleep-in, a leisurely breakfast after your monumental cycling effort. Around midday, the GTP team will escort you to the official VIP hospitality area strategically located on the Champs-Élysées circuit.
From this prime position, you can enjoy gourmet refreshments and witness the climax of the 2026 Tour de France. You’ll see the sprinters battle for victory and the Yellow Jersey winner cross the finish line for the final time. Stay for the final TDF celebrations and presentations before the GTP team escort you to a favourite restaurant and a celebratory Ride Every Kilometre dinner.