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STAGE 20 OF 21Saturday 25 July

Le Bourg-d'OisansAlpe d'Huez

Mountain170.9 KM5,600 M CLIMBINGAlpsSUMMIT FINISH

The queen stage and the route of the 2026 Étape du Tour. Croix de Fer, Télégraphe and the Galibier — the Tour's highest point at 2,642m — before a second straight finish on Alpe d'Huez. Around 5,600m of climbing. This is where the Tour is won.

KEY CLIMBS

HC

Col de la Croix de Fer

24 km · 5.2% avg · 2,067 m summit

HC

Col du Galibier

23 km · 5.1% avg · 2,642 m summit

C1

Col du Télégraphe

11.9 km · 7.1% avg · 1,566 m summit

HC

Alpe d'Huez

13.8 km · 8.1% avg · 1,860 m summit

THE TACTICAL READ

WHO IT SUITS

The strongest stage-racer in the field. Croix de Fer, Télégraphe, the Galibier at 2,642m and a final haul up Alpe d'Huez — 5,600m of climbing leaves nowhere to fake it.

WHAT TO WATCH

A long-range move on the Croix de Fer or Galibier. With the Tour on the line and the Étape crowd watching, this is the day a champion commits everything from distance.

ROADMAN PREDICTION

The Tour is won here. Whoever holds the yellow jersey over the Galibier and up the Alpe wins the race; the rider with the deepest reserves after three weeks takes the most important stage of all.

THE ROADMAN TAKE

WHAT THIS STAGE DEMANDS

5,600m of climbing is the ultimate test of fatigue resistance — the ability to produce power when you are already deeper than you have ever been. It is built over months of progressive long rides, not in a final hard week. If you are riding the Étape on this route, your training should rehearse being tired and still climbing.

WHAT LACHLAN MORTON WOULD PUSH

Durability over a monstrous day comes from base, fuelling and pacing held together for hours — ride within yourself early so there is something left for the Galibier and the Alpe.

THE DAILY DEBRIEF

Anthony’s daily Tour podcast lands here on the evening of the stage.

DAILY DEBRIEFSaturday 25 July

Stage 20 Debrief — Le Bourg-d'Oisans to Alpe d'Huez

The day's climbing decoded: the moves that mattered, the watts behind them, and the training that builds a body for Alpe d'Huez.

Get it First in SkoolDrops on the evening of the stage.

PLAY THE FANTASY TOUR

Pick your nine riders, score every stage, and settle it on the community leaderboard. Coming for July inside the Roadman community.