Paris - Tours 2026: Route

Sunday 11 October - Paris-Tours covers a total of 216.2 kilometres, but the race really comes down to the final 70 kilometres, which feature ten gravel sections and eight climbs. The Côte de Rochecorbon is the final climb, crested with 8.7 kilometres to go.

Published on 3 October

After the start in Chartres, the riders head south over rolling roads for 147 kilometres before tackling the first climb. The Côte de Cangey rises for 1 kilometre at an average gradient of 4.2%. Not long afterwards, the Côte de Limeray serves up 600 metres at 3.6%, immediately followed by the first dirt road. Another 4.7 kilometres later, near the village of Pocé-sur-Cisse, an unpaved sector of 1.1 kilometres is on the menu.

Shortly afterwards, the Côte de Gogueme - 700 metres at 7.7% - leads straight onto the Grosse Pierre dirt road. Château de Valmer is a short unpaved section on the approach to the Côte du Bois de Chançay, a 900-metre gravel climb at 4.3% that flows into the dirt road towards Reugny. When the riders pass through the village, there are just under 41 kilometres remaining.

After a period of relative calm, the final 31 kilometres are packed with obstacles. The Côte de la Vallée du Vau (1 kilometre at 4.2%) brings the Noizay gravel section in its wake, and the riders then head via the unpaved Épinettes section to the Côte de la Rochère, a short but extremely steep climb: 400 metres at 11%, followed by the 900-metre Vernou gravel section.

The Côte de la Vallée Chartier - 600 metres at 7.6% - leads onto the Peu Morier gravel section, while the Côte de Vouvray - 400 metres at 6.7% - comes before the gravel road at Rochecorbon. Just under 3 kilometres later, the Côte de Rochecorbon provides the final obstacle of the day. I's a 600-metre climb at 5.2% and the riders reach its peak 8.7 kilometres from the finish.

Last year, Matteo Trentin won Paris-Tours. He was part of a breakaway alongside 2024 winner Christophe Laporte, Albert Withen Philipsen, Paul Lapeira, Thibaud Gruel and Stefan Bissegger. The Italian got the better of his breakaway companions in the sprint.