Tour de France 2026 Favourites stage 6: Clash in the Pyrenees

fotobureau Cor VosWill we get a GC showdown on the final day in the Pyrenees? Given the demanding route, featuring both the Aspin and the Tourmalet, you would think – and certainly hope – so. Then again, the finale is not especially difficult. (Slideshow route/profile)

First published on 18 June

The key challenge comes in the back-to-back ascents of the Col d'Aspin and the Col du Tourmalet as the race enters the final 80 kilometres. The GC riders could make the difference on those climbs, particularly on the latter. After that, the route is far less demanding.

From the summit of the Tourmalet, there are just under 40 kilometres remaining. More than half of that is a fast descent to Luz-Saint-Sauveur, after which the final climb to Gavarnie-Gèdre begins. It rises for 18.7 kilometres at an average gradient of 3.7% – not exactly the sort of climb where you would expect a fierce battle between GC contenders. Then again, if the field has already been shattered on the Tourmalet, it may be a different story.

In short, the final Pyrenean stage could unfold in any number of ways. Following a largely uneventful opening 106 kilometres, the Aspin–Tourmalet double act takes centre stage, after which the finishing climb is little more than a long, gently rising false flat.

The big question hanging over this stage is: what do the GC riders want to do?

We’ll continue to update this article in the build-up to the Tour de France.

Favourites 6th stage - 2026 Tour de France

*** Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Paul Seixas
** Remco Evenepoel, Juan Ayuso, Mattias Skjelmose, Isaac del Toro
* Giulio Ciccone, Pello Bilbao, Ben Healy, Tom Pidcock, Lennert Van Eetvelt

Another interesting read: route 6th stage 2026 Tour de France.

Tour de France 2026, stage 6: profiles

profile

Col d'Aspin

Col du Tourmalet

finish climb