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Challenging 2020 Tour de France route unveiled in Paris

One time trial and 29 categorized climbs for the 107th edition

October 15, 2019
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Amaury Sport Organization revealed the route of the 2020 Tour de France in Paris on Tuesday, unveiling a course with six summit finishes and a single time trial. Except for the final day in Paris, the route bypasses Northern France, running counterclockwise around the southern half. Only one stage exceeds 200 km. To accommodate the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, the race takes place from Saturday, June 27 to Sunday, July 19.

Julian Alaphilippe, the gritty legend of this year’s race, approves.

Week 1

It’s been known for a while that the race will have its Grand Depart in Nice for the first time since 1981, with one of the few opportunities for the sprinters. Stage 2 climbs into the Nice Haut Pays, with an ascent peaking 9 km from the finish. Stage 4 boasts the first summit finish, although a not particularly steep one, on Orcières-Merlette.

Another summit finish on Mont Aigoual comes at the end of an climb-packed Stage 6.

The Pyrenees might disappoint some, as Stages 8 and 9 contain such classics as Port de Balès, Col de Peyresourde and Col de Marie-Blanque but no summit finishes.

Week 2

Week 2 utilizes the Massif Central, with Stage 13 finishing on the Pas de Peyrol among the extinct volcanoes of the Auvergne.

Six-day Week 2 ends with another summit finish atop Grand Colombier (17.4 km of 7.1 percent) after two ascents over 8 percent: Montée de la Selle de Fromental and Col de la Biche.

Week 3

Hang on to your casquettes. The final week kicks off with a trip into the Jura mountains before heading into the Alps. Stage 16 serves up a couple of giant mountains before the kick up to the finish in Villard-de-Lans. Stage 17 hurls the 17.1 km, 8.4 percent Col de la Madeleine at the riders before the 21.5 km, 7.8 percent Col de la Loze summit finish. It’s a new climb for the race and the highest point of the 107th edition.

Stage 18 is the final mountain road stage and features 1.8 km of gravel on the Plateau des Glières but has no summit finish.

The final showdown is a 36-km time trial on Thibaut Pinot’s home roads that clambers up the 6-km La Planche des Belles Filles.

The race then transfers to Paris for the traditional finale on the Champs-Élysées.

Tour de France 2020

Stage 1: Saturday June 27, Nice to Nice, 170 km
Stage 2: Sunday June 28, Nice to Nice, 190 km
Stage 3: Monday June 29, Nice to Sisteron, 198 km
Stage 4: Tuesday June 30, Sisteron to Orcieres-Merlette, 157 km
Stage 5: Wednesday July 1, Gap to Privas, 183 km
Stage 6: Thursday July 2, Le Teil to Mont Aigoual, 191 km
Stage 7: Friday July 3, Millau to Lavaur, 168 km
Stage 8: Saturday July 4, Cazeres to Loudenvielle, 140 km
Stage 9: Sunday July 5, Pau to Laruns, 154 km
Rest Day Monday July 6
Stage 10: Tuesday July 7, Ile de Re to Il d’Oleron, 170 km
Stage 11: Wednesday July 8, Chatelaillon-Plage to Poitiers, 167 km
Stage 12: Thursday July 9, Chavigny to Sarran, 218 km
Stage 13: Friday July 10, Chatel-Guyon to Puy Mary, 191 km
Stage 14: Saturday July 11, Clermont-Ferrand to Lyon, 197 km
Stage 15: Sunday July 12, Lyon to Grand Colombier, 175 km
Rest Day Monday July 13
Stage 16: Tuesday July 14, Tour du Pin to Villard-de-Lans, 164 km
Stage 17: Wednesday July 15, Grenoble to Meribel, 168 km
Stage 18: Thursday July 16, Meribel to La Roche-sur-Foron, 168 km
Stage 19: Friday July 17, Bourg-en-Bresse to Champagnole, 160 km
Stage 20: Saturday July 18, Lure to La Planche des Belles Filles, 36 km
Stage 21: Sunday July 19, Mantes-la-Jolie to Paris, 122 km