Published July 23, 2026 12:13PM
Tour de France Stage 19 Preview: First Strike in Alpe d’Huez Double-Header
Tadej Pogačar is just days from a record-tying fifth Tour de France, but Friday serves up the first of two back-to-back summit finishes atop Alpe d’Huez.
(Photo: ASO)
Stage 19 — Gap to Alpe d’Huez: 127.9km/3500m
START: 5:20 A.M. ET
EST. FINISH: 10:11 A.M. ET
This year’s Tour de France ends with a unique twist of a double dish serving of Alpe d’Huez, with the iconic climb closing out the final two mountain stages in the 2026 edition.
Friday’s stage climbs up the “classic” approach from Bourg-d’Oisans, with its famed 21 switchbacks and all the drama that comes with arguably the Tour’s most famous climb.
Reports say there are already nearly 1 million fans parked up on the mountain, so the first-ever back-to-back Alpe d’Huez summit finishes should be a spectacular climax to the 2026 Tour.
Add the wall of noise, the parting sea of fans, and the legends who’ve won here, and the vibes should be out of control.
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The Alpe d’Huez returns for the first time in the men’s race since Tom Pidcock won here with his thrill-ride attack over the Galibier back in 2022.
There will be a determined break with two hard climbs in the opening 25km, but you can guarantee that UAE will want to control everything to set up Pogačar.
King Pog has never won here.