Sunday 19 July – Tour de France stage 15: Champagnole → Plateau de Solaison (183.9 km)

Route

The peloton rides on Sunday 19 July from Champagnole to the Plateau de Solaison. The stage is 183.9 km long and features 3,950 metres of climbing. With a hors-catégorie summit finish and three other categorised climbs, this is one of the hardest mountain stages of the Tour de France 2026.

The first 22 kilometres gradually rise on false flat towards the Col de la Savine, after which the road descends to Morez. There the Côte des Rousses begins (6.6 km at 5.1%), the first categorised climb of the day (third category, km 36.8). After the summit, the route descends almost 50 kilometres, via Les Rousses and through the Jura region towards Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, where the Ain meets the Rhône.

From the Rhône valley, the road climbs gradually via the Côte de Vulbens towards Le Salève. At kilometre 136, the peloton reaches the summit of Le Salève – Col de la Croisette (Cat 1): the final section covers 4.7 km at 11.2%. Immediately after the descent follows the Côte du Mont (2.1 km at 8.3%, Cat 3, km 146). The road then descends via La Roche-sur-Foron to Bonneville, where at kilometre 172.6 the final climb begins: the Plateau de Solaison (11.3 km at 9.0%, HC). The first 4 kilometres climb into double figures, after which the gradient fluctuates between 8 and 10 per cent. The finish is situated at 1,508 metres altitude.

Final kilometres

The final climb to the Plateau de Solaison starts at Bonneville and covers 11.3 kilometres at an average of 9.0 per cent. The opening 4 kilometres reach double figures. The gradient then stabilises between 8 and 10 per cent. The final 1.3 kilometres ease slightly. The finish line is at 1,508 metres altitude, with no descent or technical bends before the line.

Recent editions

The Plateau de Solaison features on the Tour de France programme for the first time. The plateau previously hosted summit finishes in the Critérium du Dauphiné (now Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes):

2026 – Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes stage 8
2022 – Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), Critérium du Dauphiné stage 8, ahead of Primoz Roglic and Ben O’Connor
2017 – Jakob Fuglsang (Astana), Critérium du Dauphiné stage 8: he took the leader’s jersey in the final stage from Richie Porte

Scenarios

Stage 15 is a key day for the general classification. Tadej Pogacar leads, followed by Jonas Vingegaard at 3 minutes 36 seconds and Remco Evenepoel at 4 minutes 6 seconds. The Col de la Croisette (km 136) offers an early opportunity for attacks, but the decisive phase lies on the final climb of 11.3 kilometres. The fatigue from the previous stages in the Pyrenees and the Massif Central plays a role in who can deliver the decisive effort on the flanks of the Solaison plateau.

Local

The Plateau de Solaison is located in Haute-Savoie, above the village of Brison at 1,508 metres altitude. The region has produced several active professionals: Aurélien Paret-Peintre and Valentin Paret-Peintre were born in the nearby town of Annemasse. The route passes through Bonneville, birthplace of cyclist Marie Herzog. The Solaison plateau is used in summer as an alpine meadow and is known in winter for its cross-country skiing area. The church of Brizon (Saint-Théodule, built 1850-1852) and the Château de Bonneville are the main historical monuments in the region.