The 21 stages of the 2022 Tour de France including altitude profile and map
Where does the 109. Tour de France go and how difficult are the individual stages? Find all the answers here! The hard facts in advance: In total there will be two individual time trials, seven flat stages, seven mountain stages and five hilly stages on the 2022 Tour de France route that will start in Copenhagen and end in Paris after 3,346.5 kilometres.
Stage 1 | 1. July | Copenhagen – Copenhagen | 13.2 km
The 2022 Tour de France will begin with a time trial through the Danish capital of Copenhagen. The 13.2-kilometre course through Europe’s cycling capital is remotely reminiscent of the opening time trial in Düsseldorf at the 2017 Tour. It would also make for a great sightseeing tour, as the cycling pros pass famous sights such as the Little Mermaid and Amalienborg, home of the royal family, as well as the “usually” busiest cycle path in the world, Dronning Louises Bro.
Map of the 1st stage of the 2022 Tour de France.
Video: Preview of the 1st stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Stage 2 | 2. July | Roskilde – Nyborg | 202,2 km
The second Tour de France stage in Denmark runs past fjords and over some hills. Three category 4 mountain classifications – between race kilometres 60 and 85 – will determine the first winner of the mountain jersey at the end of the stage. The highlight of the second stage is the ride over the 18-kilometre suspension bridge over the Great Belt. Only a few kilometres before the finish in Nyborg, the wind could play a decisive role.
Map of the 2nd stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Video: Preview of the 2nd stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Stage 3 | 3. July | Vejle – Sønderborg | 182 km
The third and final Denmark stage of the Tour de France ends an – admittedly long – stone’s throw away from the Danish-German border. The little town of Sønderborg on the Baltic coast hosts the grand finale after a total of 182 kilometres. There, it will most likely come down to a sprint royale, as this day’s challenges mainly lie on the first half of the stage and the wind will probably not be an important factor.
Map of the 3rd stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Video: Preview of the 3rd stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Stage 4 | 5. July | Dunkirk – Calais | 171.5 km
The Tour arrives in France, its country of birth, after a day of rest and travel. Although start and finish are located on the Atlantic coast and a course leading along the seaside would offer a lot of drama due to the wind, the route planners decided to have the pros ride through the backcountry. The peloton needs to climb a total of six categorised cotes to get from Dunkirk to Calais. The last of these climbs is only about 10 kilometres from the finish line and could bring about a (pre-)decision. The profile favours the classics chasers and punchers rather than sprinters – if the race is (made) hard.
Map for stage 4 of the 2022 Tour de France
Video: Preview of the 4th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Stage 5 | 6. July | Lille – Arenberg Porte du Hainau | 153.7 km
The peloton needs to cover a total of eleven cobblestone sections on the 153.7-kilometre course from Lille to Arenberg Porte du Hainau. These sectors that add up to a total of 19.4 kilometres of toughest pavés – all to be found in the second half of the race – are not to be underestimated. The last time John Degenkolb was successful in bright sunshine on such a stage was back in 2018. For last year’s winner Tadej Pogačar this stage is a first and could also be an acid test, as he has never ridden on such a brutal cobblestones in a race.
Map of the 5th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Video: Preview of the 5th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Stage 6 | 7. July | Binche – Longwy | 219.9 km
The longest stage of this Tour of France is not made for sprinters. The stage covers 219.9 km, leads from Belgium through the Ardennes, and poses some additional challenges to the riders towards the end of the stage. The so-called “wall” of Pulventeux 6 kilometres before the finish (800 metres at 12 percent gradient) is very demanding, and also the finale itself leads uphill to the Cote des Religieuses – with an average gradient of 5 percent on 1.6 km.
Map of the 6th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Video: Preview of the 6th stage of the 2022Tour de France
Stage 7 | 8. July | Tomblaine – La Super Planche des Belles Filles | 176.3 km
La Planche des Belles Filles became La Super Planche des Belles Filles by adding a steep 24 percent ramp to the already difficult climb in the Vosges. The first mountain finish of this Tour de France will show who is still in the race for a top ranking at the end of the “Grand Boucle”. Maybe “Pogi” and “Rogla” will be in for an early duel on this climb – that may offer the latter a chance to take revenge.
Map of stage 7 of the 2022 Tour de France
Video: Preview of the 7th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Stage 8 | 9. July | Dole – Lausanne | 186.3 km
After Denmark and Belgium, the 109. Tour de France visits Switzerland. This stage leads the peloton to Lausanne where it will finish after 186.3 mountainous kilometres through the Jura. The last climb up to the Stade Olympique will probably be a battle for victory between some climb-happy breakaway riders and punchers. To take the win, 12 percent gradient need to be ridden that require some explosiveness as it is immanent in riders like Julian Alaphilippe, Biniam Girmay, Mathieu van der Poel or Wout van Aert.
Map for stage 8 of the 2022 Tour de France
Video: Preview of the 8th stage of the 2022 Tour de France.
Stage 9 | 10. July | Aigle – Chatel Le Portes du Soleil | 192.9 km
From Aigle in Switzerland, where the headquarters of the world cycling federation UCI are located, the second mountain stage of this Tour leads back to France and gives a foretaste of the coming sections in the high mountains. Via Col des Mosses (13.3 kilometres with 4.1 percent gradient), Col de la Croix (8.1 kilometres with 7.6 percent gradient) and the Pas de Morgins (15.4 kilometres with 6.1 percent gradient) the stage leads up to Châtel les Portes du Soleil.
Map of the 9th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Video: Preview of the 9th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Stage 10 | 12. July | Morzine – Megeve | 148.1 km
The A.S.O. route planners decided upon a moderate and varied course between the two winter sports resorts of Morzine and Megeve – they also could have chosen a more mountainous option. In a loop including a detour over the river Geneva the peloton needs to conquer three moderate climbs before it reaches the one and only challenge of that day: the final climb to Megeve airfield – a category 2 climb over 19.2 kilometres with an average gradient of 4.1 percent. The challenge of keeping the legs strong despite the previous rest day is, however, by far greater than the challenge the climbs pose.
Map of the 10th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Video: Preview of the 10th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Stage 11 | 13. July | Albertville – Col du Granon | 151.7 km
The first day in the high mountain region – and what a day it is. The stage is only 149 kilometres long and starts in the Olympic city of Albertville. It then heads in the direction of this year’s Tour roof via the Lacets de Montvernier: the Col du Galibier with its 2,642 metres, the highest point in 2022, and a souvenir of Henry Desgrange. Riders will climb it via the Col du Télégraphe – two passes that add up to 29.6 kilometres uphill all in all which are only interrupted by a short descent to Valloire. Via Col du Lautaret riders descend from the Galibier before they enter the difficult and final ascent to Col du Granon – a Hors Categorie climb like the Galibier. The 11.3 kilometres with an average gradient of 9.2 percent will very likely have an impact on the overall classification – maybe even a pre-decision will be made this early in the Tour.
Map of the 11th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Video: Preview of the 11th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Stage 12 | 14 July | Briancon – Alpe d’Huez | 165.1 km
Riders will experience a déjà vu on that day, as they will need to climb the mountain they were descending from yesterday. The ascent starts in Briancon and leads over the Col du Lautaret up to the Col du Galibier. Not an easy start to this day, which is a special one for the Grande Nation. 14. July is a bank holiday and loaded with expectations. Of course, they want a French rider to win today.
From the Galibier, the course leads over the Telegraphe down into the Maurienne valley. From Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne an ascent of almost 30 kilometres and an average of 5.2 percent leads the riders to the Col de la Croix de Fer, a Hors Categorie climb, like Galibier, and also to that day’s final climb: the mythical 21 hairpin bends up to Alpe d’Huez. The serpentines will be lined with tens of thousands of spectators and will make for the sporting fireworks of this holiday on the one hand and very likely tear large gaps between the groups of riders on the other.
Map of the 12th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Video: Preview of the 12th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Stage 13 | 15. July | Bourg d’Oisans – Saint-Étienne | 192.6 km
After the challenging Alp stages, the sprinters will get another go that day. Their first real chance of a stage win in France, by the way, after stage 3 in Denmark. But their teams need to be alert right from the start, they must not give the breakaway riders too much of a lead – as it happened on stage 18 of the 2022 Giro d’Italia – but also need to push their sprinters over the last difficulty of the day, the Cote de Saint-Romain-En-Gal, at race kilometre 138.6 at a reasonably fast and steady pace. If they succeed in doing so, it will come down to a sprint royale in Saint Étienne.
Map of the 13th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Video: Preview of the 13th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Stage 14 | 16. July | Saint-Étienne – Mende | 192.5 km
There will be two races in one on this stage through the Massif Central between Saint-Étienne and Mende. On the one hand, the battle of the breakaway riders for the stage win. The terrain is predestined for a group to successfully break away. The only question is when the group will form. On the other hand, GC contenders will fight for seconds on the final climb in Mende. The Côte de la Croix Neuve, also known as Montée Jalabert, is three kilometres long with a gradient of more than 10 percent, followed by a short descent across the airfield to the finish line.
Map of the 14th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Video: Preview of the 14th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Stage 15 | 17. July | Rodez – Carcassonne | 202.5 km
Will this stage again be a feast for the sprinters – or will some breakaway riders celebrate a win in the medieval city of Carcassonne? Before tomorrow’s rest day, energies will be mobilised once again – on both sides. The wind and who will benefit from it, will be a factor too. If a team aims to get rid of the top sprinters, the last climb of the day up to the Cote des Cammazes and the subsequent hills are predestined for an attack.
Map of the 15th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Video: Preview of the 15th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Stage 16 | 19. July | Carcassonne – Foix | 178.5 km
One of the few highlights of this Pyrenean stage will be to learn who will make it in a breakaway group. As it is the third and final Tour week, some teams will probably try to get more than one rider in – to have a better chance of winning in Foix after 178.5 and to extend their lead or reduce the gap in the team rankings. It will not be the most important day for the classification riders. However, they will keep a close eye on their competitors on the last climb of the day – the Mur de Péguère with a length of 9.3 kilometres and an average gradient of 7.9 percent. And if they detect a weakness, they will make their team work hard.
Map of the 16th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Video: Preview of the 16th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Stage 17 | 20. July | Saint-Gaudens – Peyragudes | 129.7 km
Copyright: ©A.S.O.
“You are murderers”, Octave Lapize accused Tour organisers of in the Pyrenees back in 1910. It is often said that the Frenchman exclaimed this while climbing the Tourmalet, but there are also historical records that attribute this quote to his ride over the Col d’Aubisque. The most likely case is, however, that Lapize only said this at the finish, after he had conquered four difficult Pyrenean summits in the course of a 326-kilometre (!) stage.
It won’t get that hard for the peloton on this stage. The roadbook reveals Col d’Aspin, Hourquette d’Ancizan and Col de Val Louron-Azet before the stage finishes in Peyragudes. The final climb up to the airfield is 8 kilometres long, with an average gradient of 7.8 percent – including a 16-percent ramp that will probably force some riders to zigzag temporarily. This stage very likely won’t change general classification, but especially on the final ramp riders may win or lose some seconds.
Map of the 17th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Video: Preview of the 17th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Stage 18 | 21. July | Lourdes – Hautacam | 143.2 km
Copyright: ©A.S.O.
The headline of this stage could either read “The last mountain finish of this Tour” or “What a finale in the Pyrenees”. The peloton needs to conquer two Hors Categorie climbs and one 1st category climb on just 80 kilometres. Starting from the pilgrimage of Lourdes the course leads again over the Col d’Aubisque (16.4 kilometres with an average gradient of 7.1 percent), then over the Col de Spandelles (10.3 kilometres with an average gradient of 8.3 percent), and to the final climb to Hautacam. Memories of dramas and victories starringe protagonists like Bjarne Riis (1996), Lance Armstrong and Jan Ullrich (both 2003) come to mind. What remained, however, is an average gradient of 7.8 percent over 13.6 kilometres and the chance for the best riders to gain minutes on their opponents.
Map of the 18th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Video: Preview of the 18th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Stage 19 | 22. July | Castelnau-Magnoac – Cahors | 188.3 km
In theory this is a sprinters’ stage. There are no major topographical difficulties – ideal prerequisites for a bunch sprint. It will very likely come down to manpower and team tactics, as after three weeks of racing no one can predict whether it will work out in the end. It is hard to tell, how many teams with sprinters will still be in the race at all, and they will probably try to get one of their riders in a breakaway group, too, in order not to be the ones that need to do the chase work. A sure bet at the beginning of the Tour, but after almost 3,200 kilometres of hard racing things could look a little different.
Map of the 19th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Video: Preview of the 19th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Stage 20 | 23. July | Lacapelle-Marival – Rocamadour | 40.7 km
It is a tradition that the penultimate stage of a Tour de France is an individual time trial. Not every time, but very often. Race organiser A.S.O. hopes that this discipline provides a little more drama in the fight for the overall victory. Whether this plan works out will depend on what happens on the previous stages.
At 40.1 kilometres this time trial is rather long, which usually plays in the hands of time trial specialists among GC contenders such as Primož Roglič. But three weeks of racing will have taken their toll on every rider, so that physiological parameters such as maximum oxygen uptake and maximum lactate formation rate will be decisive parameters – that are similar among the top riders.
It will very likely be a day for time trial specialists, that were able to pace themselves within means. Therefore, riders like “Pippo” Ganna, Stefan Küng and Wout van Aert will be the ones to beat in order to win, if they are still in the race.
The stage profile consists of a slight downhill which will likely make for a fast ride at the beginning (59- or 60-tooth chainring), and two climbs towards the end of the race which might determine the winner.
Map of the 20th stage of the 2022 Tour de France
Video: Preview of the 20th stage of 2022 the Tour de France
Stage 21 | 24. July | Paris La Defense Arena – Paris Champs-Élysées| 115.6 km
Copyright: ©A.S.O.
The overall winner of the Tour will already be known before the start of this stage. It is time for the Tour d’Honneur, and the leaders and runner-uppers can celebrate. The first 60 kilometres are more of a parade than a cycling race. There will be cheering, laughter and some champagne will be sipped.
But once the riders reach the Champs Elysées, they will switch back to race mode for the remaining 60 kilometres around the Arc de Triomphe, some of them on really bad paving. The breakaway riders will not be given much of a head start, because winning that stage on the French capital’s magnificent boulevard is far too prestigious. The 109. Tour de France will end with a real sprint royale in front of millions of viewers in front of their TVs.