Stage 19
Gap → Alpe d'Huez
Stage 19 is the shorter of the two consecutive Alpe d'Huez ascents — 128km from Gap to a first crowning at Alpe d'Huez. Coming on the second alpine day after the previous day's Orcières-Merlette finish, this is the kind of stage that rewards riders who paced themselves the day before.
Watch this stage
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What the stage looks like
Stage 19 is the shorter of the two consecutive Alpe d'Huez ascents — 128km from Gap to a first crowning at Alpe d'Huez. Coming on the second alpine day after the previous day's Orcières-Merlette finish, this is the kind of stage that rewards riders who paced themselves the day before.
What to follow
- First of two Alpe d'Huez summit finishes — the 2026 route is the first ever to ascend the 21-hairpin climb twice in 48 hours.
- Short distance (128km) means the GC riders go from the gun — no easing in via a long warm-up.
- Alpe d'Huez is the most iconic climb in cycling; ascending it twice in a row is route designer Christian Prudhomme's biggest gamble on the 2026 route.
When to tune in
Pacing decides: riders who attack on the first ascent may pay tomorrow. Watch for who saves matches for the encore on stage 20.