L'Étape du Tour de France
Ride an official Tour de France stage on closed roads — the once-a-year chance for amateur cyclists to experience what the pros race.
The vibe
Your Tour de France moment
L’Étape du Tour is the one day a year that amateur cyclists ride an actual Tour de France stage. The same roads, the same mountains, the same switchbacks the pros will race — but on fully closed roads, with the same crowd-lined climbs and thousands of fellow amateurs suffering together at altitude. It’s a legitimately difficult experience and one of the most memorable days on a bike that most people ever have.
The stage route changes each year, selected from the Tour’s official route — usually a mountain stage in the Alps or Pyrenees with 4,000-5,000 meters of climbing. The 2026 edition will be announced after the Tour route is revealed in October 2025. Past editions have tackled the Col du Galibier, Alpe d’Huez, and the Col du Tourmalet.
Registration fills fast through a ballot system open to international participants. Logistics for traveling cyclists are well-developed — race villages have mechanics, feed zones mirror the Tour, and the infrastructure supports tens of thousands of riders. Book flights and accommodation in the region immediately after the route announcement if you’re serious about attending.