Thierry Gouvenou, the architect behind the 2026 Tour de France route, has offered some insight into what the course has in store, a demanding layout through the Vosges and the Alps that was unveiled this Thursday in Paris.
In comments reported by Cyclism’Actu, Gouvenou admitted he expects the race to start splitting apart from the Vosges stage onward.
“I don’t think there will be big gaps after the Pyrenees, but the climb up the Col du Haag toward Le Markstein will be a tough challenge. It’s the hardest climb in the Vosges, and it should start to separate the general classification contenders,” he said.
Gouvenou also emphasized the significance of the summit finishes at Plateau de Solaison and Alpe d’Huez.
“From Solaison, the favorites won’t be able to hide and will have to show their strength. I believe that by the time the race reaches Alpe d’Huez, we’ll already have a major selection made.”
Regarding the double finish on Alpe d’Huez, Gouvenou explained the reasoning behind it.
“The double stage finish was Christian Prudhomme’s idea. When we recalled the battle between Hinault and LeMond in 1986, we realized we had to commemorate the 40th anniversary. The ascent via the Sarenne is very different, much more rugged, and could bring big surprises, especially after climbing the Croix de Fer and Galibier. It will be a marathon stage.”
When asked which rider the route favors, Gouvenou stated they tried to keep all suspense for the end.
“Right now, all races seem designed for Tadej Pogacar. There’s not much we can do against his talent, but we tried to maintain suspense by saving the toughest climbs for the final part. We’ll see what happens.”
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