Tour de France 2026 Route stage 11: Vichy - Nevers

Wednesday, 15 July - Stage 11 of the Tour de France seems set for the sprinters. The route covers 161.3 kilometres between Vichy and Nevers, with around 1,800 metres of elevation gain.

Last updated 13 July: weather forecast updated

Suited to: sprinters
Key note: who will succeed Petacchi?

Vichy is a spa town in central France, best known for its thermal springs, though it also carries the weight of history. During the Second World War, Marshal Philippe Pétain’s government was based here, and the so-called Vichy regime collaborated with Nazi Germany. Nowadays, the town has returned to its roots as a health resort.

Vichy has hosted the Tour de France only once before. In 1952, Italy’s Fiorenzo Magni won the time trial from the Puy de Dôme to Vichy, finishing 2 seconds ahead of Belgium’s Stan Ockers.

The riders head off in a northerly direction, following the river that flows through the town, the Allier, for 57 kilometres. At Moulins, they leave the valley and head towards the Loire, crossing it before looping south into Nevers from the north. With just under 40 kilometres to go, the Côte de Billy-Chévannes (1.5 kilometres at 6%) is the day’s toughest climb.

Nevers welcomes the Tour peloton for the fourth time. The Belgian Eric Leman claimed the first victory here in 1971, followed by two Italian sprinters – Guido Bontempi in 1986 and Alessandro Petacchi in 2003. Which of today’s sprint heavyweights will add his name to that list?

Fancy riding the route yourself? Download GPX 11th stage.

Stage 11 of the Tour de France gets under way at 13:50 and the race is expected to finish around 17:40 - both local times (CEST). For details, see the timings in the slideshow.

Another interesting read: favourites to win in Nevers.

Weather forecast:
The riders are longing for a cooler day, but they won't get one just yet. However, there is a chance of a few showers during stage 11, although temperatures will remain high. Conditions are expected to stay dry at the finish, which is just as well with a bunch sprint likely.

Start: 34°C, sunny, chance of a shower, south-westerly wind (9 km/h)
Finish: 35°C, sunny, westerly wind (14 km/h)

We will update the forecast on the morning of the stage. For the latest weather conditions along the route, click the corresponding icons on the interactive weather map in the slideshow below this article.