The 2027 Tour puts time trials centre stage: Evenepoel gets two chances to put Pogačar under pressure

The Tour de France 2027 already has an official route. The organization has presented in Paris a course of 3,479 kilometers that brings back the prominence of individual time trials and concentrates its greatest difficulties in the Alps and the Pyrenees. The race will start on July 2 in Edinburgh and finish on July 25 in the Champs-Élysées, after 21 stages and three rest days.

The Tour de France 2027 changes the game: 71 km of time trial and decisive Pyrenees

The main novelty is the 71 kilometers of individual time trial spread over two stages, the largest accumulated distance since 2012, when Bradley Wiggins won the Tour. A decision that may particularly favor Remco Evenepoel, second in 2026, in his attempt to challenge the dominance of Tadej Pogačar, who will seek a historic sixth victory.

The route will have six mountain stages, six medium mountain stages, seven flat stages, and two time trials. In total, the riders will have to overcome 53,450 meters of positive elevation, with three summit finishes located at Grand Colombier, Les Saisies, and Col du Portet.

Two time trials that could determine the overall

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The 2027 Tour will recover an element that had lost prominence in recent years. The first time trial will take place in the seventh stage, on July 9, between Blois and Chambord, over 38 kilometers of practically flat terrain through the Loire Valley.

The second will arrive on July 20, at the beginning of the last week. It will be 33 kilometers starting and finishing in Toulouse, on a predominantly flat profile that will include the demanding Côte de Pech David, with 800 meters at 12%, in its final part.

This distribution could change the strategy of the favorites, as specialists will have opportunities to gain significant differences before the major mountain stages.

From Edinburgh to the Alps, with Grand Colombier as the first major test

The Tour will start with three stages in Great Britain. The first will connect Edinburgh and Carlisle, while the next two will traverse the Lake District and Wales, with undulating routes that could create the first differences.

After the rest day on July 5 to move to France, the peloton will continue through Normandy and Brittany before facing the first time trial.

The high mountains will appear in the ninth stage, finishing at Grand Colombier. Its 17.4 kilometers at 7.1% will mark the first significant confrontation among the climbers.

The second week will be marked by the Alps. On July 13, there will be a demanding day to Sallanches, with about 3,750 meters of elevation gain, while the following day will bring one of the great stages of the edition.

The route between Cluses and Les Saisies will have 150 kilometers and 4,750 meters of elevation gain, featuring Col de la Colombière, Col de la Croix Fry, Col de la Forclaz, and the final ascent via Montée de Bisanne, which is 12.4 kilometers at 8.3%.

Before the last rest day, the Massif Central will also play a role with the stage from Montpellier to Mende, which will accumulate 4,300 meters of elevation gain.

The Tourmalet and Col du Portet will headline the queen stage

The most demanding day will arrive on Thursday, July 22, just two days after the second time trial.

Stage 18, between Pau and Col du Portet, will cover 174 kilometers and 5,400 meters of positive elevation. The peloton will have to overcome Col du Soulor, Col du Tourmalet, and Hourquette d'Ancizan before tackling the final 16 kilometers at 8.7% of Col du Portet.

At 2,215 meters above sea level, it will be the highest point of the Tour 2027. This ascent has already been the scene of victories for Nairo Quintana in 2018 and Tadej Pogačar in 2021.

The following day will not offer any rest either. The stage between Hasparren and Laruns will accumulate another 4,300 meters of elevation gain, with ascents to Burdincurutcheta, Bagargui, Soudet, and Marie Blanque. The last climb, of 7.7 kilometers at 8.6%, will lead to a descent to the finish line.

The Tour will conclude on Sunday, July 25, in Paris, where the organization will maintain the route through Montmartre before the finale in the Champs-Élysées.

All stages of the Tour de France 2027

The Tour de France 2027 thus presents a race with fewer summit finishes than in 2026, but with long time trials and two consecutive Pyrenean stages capable of completely changing the overall classification. A combination that will force the favorites to perform both against the clock and in the major climbs.