If you’ve ever sat down to watch a bike race and ended up wondering why these people are still riding three weeks later, you aren't alone. It’s a lot. Every year, the same question pops up like a recurring flat tire: how many stages of Tour de France are there, and why doesn’t that number ever seem to change?
Most years, the answer is a solid 21. Twenty-one days of pure, unadulterated suffering spread across 23 days total. You get two rest days where the riders basically just try to remember how to walk without clicking their cleats on the pavement. But honestly, it hasn't always been this way. Back in the day, the race was a completely different beast—shorter in stages but absolutely terrifying in distance.
The 21-Stage Rule: Why 21 and Not 20 or 30?
So, why the magic 21? It’s mostly about the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) regulations. They have these rules that keep Grand Tours—the big three of cycling: the Tour, the Giro d’Italia, and the Vuelta a España—within a specific window. Basically, they want to make sure the riders don't actually die of exhaustion before reaching the finish line.
The 2026 edition is sticking to this classic blueprint. We’re looking at 21 stages starting in Barcelona and ending, as tradition dictates, on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Well, usually. Sometimes they mess with the finish location—like they did with Nice recently—but for 2026, the plan is back to the heart of the capital.
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A Breakdown of What Those 21 Stages Actually Look Like
- Flat Stages: These are the "sprinter days." Big guys with massive thighs flying at 70 km/h toward a finish line. In 2026, we've got 7 of these.
- Hilly Stages: Think of these as "puncheur" days. Short, steep climbs that make your lungs burn but aren't quite the Alps. There are 4 of these on the schedule.
- Mountain Stages: This is where the Tour is won or lost. 8 stages in the high mountains. For 2026, that includes a double-header at Alpe d’Huez.
- Time Trials: The race against the clock. We have a 19.7 km team time trial (TTT) to start things off in Barcelona and a 26 km individual time trial (ITT) later on.
How Many Stages of Tour de France Exist Throughout History?
It’s kinda wild to look back at 1903. The first Tour only had six stages. You might think, "Oh, that’s easy!" Wrong. Those stages were gargantuan. Riders would go for 400 kilometers at a time, often riding through the night on dirt roads with nothing but a glass of wine and a prayer for "mechanical support."
As the race evolved, the organizers realized that more stages meant more towns could pay for the privilege of hosting a start or finish. It’s business, mostly. By the 1930s, they were hitting 24 stages. Eventually, it settled into the 21-stage format we see now because it fits perfectly into a three-week television broadcast window.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Stages
A common misconception is that every stage is just "a race." In reality, each stage is a tactical chess match. Sometimes the peloton (the main pack) decides they don't feel like chasing a breakaway. On those days, the "race" is actually quite chill until the last 10 kilometers.
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Then there's the "neutralized" stage. On the final day into Paris, the riders usually sip champagne and take photos for the first half of the route. It’s stage 21, but it doesn't really start until they hit the cobblestones of the city center. Unless you're the leader, in which case you just have to stay upright to win the whole thing.
Why 2026 is Special
The 2026 route is particularly gnarly. It starts with a team time trial—something we haven't seen as the opener in over 50 years. That’s stage 1. It immediately puts pressure on the big teams like Visma-Lease a Bike or UAE Team Emirates. If your team is slow on day one, you’re already clawing back seconds before you even hit the French border.
The Physical Toll of 21 Days
You can't talk about how many stages of Tour de France there are without mentioning what it does to a human body. Pro cyclists burn between 5,000 and 8,000 calories a day. Over 21 stages, that’s like eating 250 cheeseburgers. If they don't eat enough, they "bonk"—a polite cycling term for your body literally shutting down because it has zero fuel left.
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The fatigue is cumulative. By stage 18 or 19, even the best riders in the world look like they’ve aged a decade. Their immune systems are shot. A tiny cold can knock a guy out of the race. This is why the rest days (usually Mondays) are so vital. They aren't actually "resting" in the way you and I do; they still go for a 2-hour "recovery ride" just to keep the legs from seizing up.
Actionable Tips for Following the Stages
If you're planning to watch the 2026 Tour, don't try to watch all 21 stages from start to finish. You'll go insane. Instead, pick the "Queen Stages"—these are the hardest mountain days, usually in the Alps or Pyrenees.
Check the stage profiles for Alpe d'Huez. In 2026, they are doing it twice. That’s where the real drama happens. Also, keep an eye on the time trials. They might look boring to the casual observer, but they are often where the overall winner (the Yellow Jersey) secures their lead.
To truly understand the rhythm of the race, follow the "time cut." Every stage has a limit. If a rider finishes too far behind the winner, they are kicked out of the race. This makes the mountain stages a terrifying race against the clock for the sprinters who struggle on the climbs.
Start by marking your calendar for the Barcelona Grand Départ on July 4, 2026. Understanding the 21-stage structure isn't just about counting days; it's about recognizing the endurance required to survive three weeks of the hardest sport on earth. Watch the first three days in Catalonia to see how the team dynamics settle, then tune back in for the mountain showdowns in week two and three.