This Week on the Roads: Tour de France, La Marmotte, and the Étape

THE 2026 TOUR DE FRANCE FINISHES BRUTAL

The final week of this year’s Tour is the hardest ending we’ve seen in years. Back-to-back stages finishing on Alpe d’Huez, a route over the rarely used Col de Sarenne, and a race that never once goes near the north of France. I’ve broken down the whole thing, the climbs, the transfers, and why the north gets nothing this year, in this video:

LA MARMOTTE 2026: DONE AND DUSTED

The 45th edition of La Marmotte ran on 28 June, and it delivered as always. Over 6,000 riders took on the Glandon, Télégraphe, Galibier, and down the Lautaret before the final climb to Alpe d’Huez, 177km and 5,000m of climbing in one day. Baptiste Lombardi took the win in 5:07:10, with Victoria Stansfield fastest among the women. If you’re thinking about tackling it yourself next year, my full route playlist breakdown is here:

THE ÉTAPE DU TOUR IS NEARLY HERE

19 July, 170km, 5,400m of climbing, four major cols finishing on the Sarenne descent into Alpe d’Huez. If you’re riding this year’s Étape, the cut-off times matter more than most people realise, miss the early barriers and you’re out regardless of how strong you’re feeling. I’ve covered exactly what you need to know before you start:

RIDING THE ALPS OR VENTOUX THIS SEPTEMBER?

If you’re planning a September trip to the Alpe d’Huez region or Ventoux, get in touch. I run custom cycling tours across both, built around your fitness and what you actually want to ride, with optional bike hire if you’d rather not fly with your own. Drop me a message and let’s talk about what a week out there could look like for you.