It's world cycling's highlight of the year, a race that generates well over 150 million viewers globally, with around 25 million people tuning in per stage. It is the world's most attended live annual sporting event, and an estimated 10 to 12 million spectators line the route each year.
For those of us burning the midnight oil and watching from Australia, SBS and SBS On Demand reach over 5.5 million viewers, including the Men's Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes (which starts on August 1).
The 2026 TDF is the 113th 'Grand Boucle', the 'big loop' of France. The men's race features 23 teams of 8 for a total of 184 riders.
They'll pedal through more than 3,330 km over the 21 stages that cover 7 regions and 29 departments of France. The route includes 7 flat sprint stages, 4 hilly and 8 mountain stages and 2 rest days. There's a total of 53,950 metres of elevation gain - more climbing than many of us sweat through in a year.
More than just the race of the year for the world's best road riders, the Tour helps with advocacy and promoting the cause as well.
The 'Les P'tits Velos' programme has helped guide more than 700,000 children toward cycling mobility since it was launched in 2018; more than 14,000 junior bikes and balance bikes have been donated to kids in need, and over 200 cities have been labelled an official 'Tour de France Cycle City' since 2021.
2026 Race Update
To the race itself, and 4-time victor Tadej Pogacar has a firm grip on what may turn out to be his 5th Tour de France victory. Currently leading rival Jonas Vingegaard by more than 3 minutes, 27yo Pogacar is targeting 3 consecutive overall wins of Le Tour after winning in 2025 and 2024. He also backed up his maiden 2020 win with his victory in 2021.
After Jonas, Remco Evenepoel is in 3rd place, Juan Ayuso is in 4th, and young French hopeful Paul Seixas is holding 5th.
To the Aussie riders in the top 100 - 2022 Giro d'Italia winner Jai Hindley is sitting in 31st position, Ben O'Connor is 52nd overall, Michael Matthews is 70th, Luke Plapp is 93rd and - again riding Le Tour as a fitting end to his final year as a pro - Damien Howson is 93rd.
Upcoming Stages
Riders enjoyed the first rest day of the 2026 Tour earlier this week, and hopefully the remaining 175 combatants are refreshed given the upcoming stages.
Thursday, July 16, delivers Stage 12 from Nevers Magny-Cours to Chalon-sur-Saône. A flat stage, the fast route covers 179.1 km.
Friday's Stage 13 is a hilly 205.8 km ride from Dole to Belfort. Saturday, July 18 brings the first big mountain test of this block, Stage 14, a 155.3 km stage from Mulhouse to Le Markstein Fellering, followed on Sunday, July 19 by Stage 15, another mountain stage covering 183.9 km from Champagnole to Plateau de Solaison.
Riders then get to enjoy a second rest day on Monday, July 20, in Haute-Savoie.
Racing picks back up on Tuesday, July 21 with Stage 16, a 26.1 km individual time trial between mineral water central, Évian-les-Bains and Thonon-les-Bains.
Wednesday, July 22 is a flat stage of 174.7 km from Chambéry to Voiron.
The mountains return with a vengeance over the following three days: Stage 18 on Thursday, July 23 covers 185.2 km from Voiron to Orcières-Merlette; Stage 19 on Friday, July 24 is a shorter but brutal 127.9 km haul from Gap to the iconic summit finish at Alpe d'Huez; and Stage 20 on Saturday, July 25 loops 170.9 km from Le Bourg d'Oisans back up to iconic Alpe d’Huez.
The Final Showdown
The Tour concludes on Sunday, July 26, with Stage 21 from Thoiry into Paris on the Champs-Élysées. But not before a return to the Olympic Games inspired Montmartre climb in Paris' 18th arrondissement. Once again, a Classics-style finish awaits the riders, with three passes up and down the cobbled Montmartre climb.
After the final pass, the finish line, on the Champs-Élysées, is 15 kilometres from Sacré-Cœur. This should allow a regroup for a thrilling sprint finale.
The remaining stages -
Stage 12 July 16: Nevers Magny-Cours to Chalon-sur-Saône, 179.1 km
Stage 13, July 17: Dole – Belfort, 205.8 km
Stage 14, July 18: Mulhouse – Le Markstein Fellering, 155.3 km
Stage 15, July 19: Champagnole – Plateau de Solaison, 183.9 km
July 20: Rest day #2, Haute-Savoie
Stage 16, July 21: Évian-les-Bains – Thonon-les-Bains ITT, 26.1 km
Stage 17, July 22: Chambéry – Voiron, 174.7 km
Stage 18, July 23: Voiron – Orcières-Merlette, 185.2 km
Stage 19, July 24: Gap – Alpe d'Huez, 127.9 km
Stage 20, July 25: Le Bourg-d'Oisans – Alpe d'Huez, 170.9 km
Stage 21, July 26: Thoiry – Paris (Champs-Élysées), 133 km