Thursday 6 August 2026 – Tour de France Femmes stage 6: Montbrison → Tournon-sur-Rhône (154 km)

Route

Stage 6 of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes takes the peloton from Montbrison to Tournon-sur-Rhône, 154 kilometres away. The stage has 2,454 metres of elevation gain. After a calm opening, the climbing starts early and the route undulates for the rest of the day.

Near Montbrison, the Côte de Périgneux (1.4 km at 6.2%) and the Côte de la Prunerie (2.9 km at 4.9%) follow each other quickly. After a descent come the Côte d'Aurec (3.3 km at 6.1%) and the Côte de Praneuf (1.7 km at 5.6%). Roughly halfway through the stage, about 50 kilometres from the finish, lies the Col de Lalouvesc (8.6 km at 5%). Its summit sits at 1,450 metres, the highest point of the day. A descent of almost 30 kilometres follows the top.

One more obstacle awaits in the finale: the Côte de Boucieu-le-Roi (3.8 km at 5.7%). After the top, the road descends again towards Tournon-sur-Rhône on the Rhône.

Final kilometres

The top of the Côte de Boucieu-le-Roi lies around 12 kilometres from the line. From there, the road descends all the way to the finish in Tournon-sur-Rhône. The final kilometres are flat.

Recent editions

Tournon-sur-Rhône is a finish town in the Tour de France Femmes for the first time this year. In men's cycling, the town has hosted finishes before: the Critérium du Dauphiné finished there in 2016 (winner Fabio Aru, Astana Pro Team) and in 1996. Paris-Nice also finished there, in 1983.

Scenarios

The descending run‑in after the Côte de Boucieu‑le‑Roi gives early breakaway riders a chance to take the win, provided the gap to the peloton after the final climb is large enough. If the peloton keeps the break under control, the last climb, 12 kilometres from the finish, becomes the moment for puncheurs and classics specialists to open a gap or to win the sprint from a reduced group.

Local

None of the riders in this Tour de France Femmes were born in Montbrison or Tournon-sur-Rhône (source: cyclingflash.com). Tournon-sur-Rhône lies on the Rhône, opposite Tain-l'Hermitage, and has a historic centre with a castle overlooking the river.