Tour de France 2024: Burgundy Route & Cities Revealed

Tour de France Returns to Burgundy in 2026, Route Details Emerge

Burgundy is set to welcome the world’s most prestigious cycling race in 2026, with the Tour de France confirming its return to the region after a two-year hiatus. While the official route won’t be unveiled until October 23rd,details are emerging regarding the stages and locations set to host the Grande Boucle.

Did you know?-The Tour de France began in 1903 as a way to boost newspaper sales.It was originally a five-stage race covering 2,428 kilometers.

A Long-Awaited Return for Nièvre and Saône-et-Loire

According to sources, the 2026 Tour de France will feature a single stage traversing the Burgundian departments of Nièvre and Saône-et-Loire. The peloton is expected to begin the 12th stage in Nevers, Nièvre, and conclude in chalon-sur-Saône, Saône-et-Loire. This marks a significant moment for Nièvre, which hasn’t seen the Tour since 2003, when a stage ran between Nevers and Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire.

Saône-et-Loire, a more frequent host, will welcome the race for the seventh time, with Chalon-sur-Saône serving as a stopover town for the fifth arrival and first departure. Despite not hosting a stage since 2019, the city remains a key location for the event.

Pro tip:-Spectators shoudl arrive early to secure prime viewing spots, especially along narrow roads and at summit finishes.

Potential Start from Magny-Cours

Rumors suggest the 2026 Tour de France could potentially kick off from the Magny-Cours automobile circuit on Thursday,July 16,2026. However, officials have yet to confirm this detail.

Burgundy’s Recent Tour History

The “little queen,” as the Tour de france is often called,last visited Burgundy in 2024,spending three days in Saône-et-loire and Côte-d’Or. This included a challenging time trial between Nuits-Saint-Georges and Gevrey-Chambertin. Unfortunately, the department of Yonne will once again miss out on the action, having last hosted the Tour in 2009.

Expansion to Franche-Comté and a Historic First for Women’s Cycling

The Tour’s reach will extend beyond Burgundy in 2026,with neighboring Franche-comté set to host two stages: July 17 (Dole to Belfort) and July 19,starting from Champagnole.

In a landmark development, Burgundy is also slated to feature in the women’s Tour de France for the first time. The women’s peloton is anticipated to compete in a time trial in Dijon on Tuesday, August 4, followed by a stage between Mâcon and Belleville on Wednesday, August 5.

Reader question:-What makes Burgundy such a popular region for cycling? The varied terrain and picturesque villages are key.

looking Ahead to 2025

As anticipation builds for the 2026 race, cycling fans are also looking forward to the 2025 Tour de France, scheduled to run from July 5 to 27, with a Grand Départ from Lille and a finish on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The 112th edition will cover 3,320 km over 21 stages, featuring two individual time trials and five summit finishes,