Tour de France 2026 Route stage 15: Champagnole - Plateau de Solaison

Sunday, 19 July - Stage 15 of the Tour de France features around 4,700 metres of elevation gain across 184 kilometres, culminating in a gruelling 11.3-kilometre climb averaging 9.1%.

Last updated 17 July 2026: weather forecast updated

The start town lies on the River Ain, at the foot of Mont Rivel. The Tour last visited Champagnole in 2020, when Søren Kragh Andersen won solo from the breakaway.

Right from the start, the road tilts slightly uphill, and it continues that way for the first 22 kilometres, though there are some short descents along the way. Averaging just 2.1%, the gradients are negligible.

After a 6-kilometre descent, the riders reach Morez, where the Côte de Doppes begins. It's another easy ascent - 15.2 kilometres at 3.6% - this time preceding a sheer endless descent. The route goes downhill for nearly 50 kilometres, broken only by the Côte de la Mulaz: 3.6 kilometres at 4.2%.

The riders reach the valley floor in Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, at the confluence of the Valserine and Rhône rivers. Soon after, the road starts to rise again on the modest Côte de Vulbens, 4.3 kilometres at 3.1%. Without a descent to follow, the road keeps climbing gently for another 15 kilometres.

After a brief plunge downhill, the easy climbing changes into the opposite. The Col de la Croisette delivers 7.6 kilometres at an average gradient of 8.8%, with the final 4.7 kilometres ramping up to a brutal 11.2%. At the summit, there are just under 50 kilometres remaining.

Straight from the descent comes the Côte de la Moussière, 2.5 kilometres at 7.3%, followed by a long downhill into the Arve valley. Just beyond Bonneville, the final climb opens with 4 kilometres at double digits. After that, the gradient oscillates between 8 and 10%, easing only slightly over the final 1.3 kilometres. The climb to the Plateau de Solaison totals 11.3 kilometres at an average gradient of 9.1%.

In 2022, the final stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné finished at the Plateau de Solaison, with Jonas Vingegaard crossing the line alongside his then-leader Primoz Roglic. The Dane took the stage win - and rightly so, as he was clearly the stronger climber thay day - while Roglic secured the overall victory.

Fancy riding the route yourself? Download GPX 15th stage.

The 15th stage of the Tour de France starts at 13:10 and the race is expected to finish around 17:55 - both local times (CEST). For details, see the timings in the slideshow.

Another interesting read: favourites to win at Plateau de Solaison.

Weather forecast:
Excellent racing conditions are forecast for the penultimate Sunday of the Tour. Temperatures will be comfortable and the wind shouldn't cause any problems. Yes, there's a chance of the odd shower, but it's not expected to have much of an impact.

Start: 23°C, partly cloudy with a chance of showers, northerly wind (11 km/h)
Finish: 19°C, sunny and partly cloudy, westerly wind (9 km/h)

We'll update the weather forecast on the morning of the stage. For the current weather conditions along the route, please use the corresponding icons on the interactive weather map in the slideshow below this article.