- Stage 6 : Montbrison - Tournon-sur-Rhône
- Date : August 6, 2026
- Distance : 153.4km
- Elevation gain : 2600 metres
- Start time : 13:35 CET
- Finish time : 17:41 CET
Stage 6 of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes is a medium-mountain stage that covers 153.4km, passing through the eastern part of the Massif Central on narrow roads, almost always either climbing or descending. The stage will probably result in a breakaway fighting for the victory in Tournon-sur-Rhône.
After extending her lead in the climber's classification, Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech) could pick up mountain points on the way to increase her lead for the polka dot jersey, and if she can stay close to the best climbers of the break on the Côte de Lalouvesc, she could well win the stage.
The high temperatures which have been plaguing the Tour de France will continue on Thursday, with highs reaching 33°C (91°F) and an orange heat warning from Meteo-France.
Heading southeast from Montbrison, the road begins to climb after 12km, starting with the two fourth-category climbs of the Côte de Périgneux and Côte de La Prunerie, both parts of a longer ascent interrupted by very short downhills. The Côte de Périgneux has a steep part of up to 10%, and it is likely that a breakaway will form here.
A flat section through the gorges of the upper Loire river takes the riders to the foot of the Côte d’Aurec, a cat. 3 ascent climbing at an average 6.1% for 3.3km, with short sections of over 10%. Though the road flattens out somewhat after the mountain sprint, it continues to climb gently for another 6km.
Rolling roads lead to the intermediate sprint in Flaminges, situated on a gentle unclassified climb. A winding downhill then takes the peloton onto the Côte de Praneuf. The fourth-category mountain comes after 68km of racing, but once again, the road keeps climbing at gentler gradients for another 8km after that.
The riders enter the Ardèche department on rolling roads, and after a brisk 11km descent, they face the second-category Col de Lalouvesc. Averaging 5% for 8.6km, this climb will almost certainly split the breakaway but is unlikely to see any GC contenders test themselves after a brutal stage 5 that saw large time gaps at the front of the race, especially with the Mont Ventoux stage coming on Friday.
On the 15km descent, the peloton will pass the Col Robert Marchand – formerly called the Col du Marchand but renamed in 2011 to honour the centenarian cyclist who rode it several times. The final climb is the Côte de Boucieu-le-Roi, a third-category climb cresting with 15.9km to go.
The bonus sprint in Saint-Barthélemy-le-Plain, just 9.2km from the line, is situated on a short climb. It would be of little interest to a breakaway, but if the escapees should have been caught, it gives an opportunity for the GC contenders to snatch a few bonus seconds.
A 3km descent leads down to the Doux river which the race briefly follows before heading to the finish in Tournon-sur-Rhône on flat roads.
Sandwiched between the attritional stage 5 which saw GC action in the final and the race’s only summit finish on stage 7, this stage is likely to be won from a breakaway.
EF Education-Oatly, Fenix-Premier Tech, Liv AlUla Jayco, and Lidl-Trek all went into the Tour to hunt stages, and this is a perfect opportunity for them to send one or even several riders up the road and chase glory.
Stage 6 details
Climbs
- Côte de Périgneux (cat. 4, 1.4km at 6.2%), km.
- Côte de la Prunerie (cat. 4, 2.9km at 4.9%), km.
- Côte d’Aurec (cat. 3, 3.3km at 6.1%), km.
- Côte de Praneuf (cat. 4, 1.2km at 6.5%), km.
- Col de Lalouvesc (cat. 2, 8.6km at 5%), km.
- Côte de Boucieule-Roi (cat. 3, 3.8km at 5.7), km.
Sprints
- Flamingues (Saint-Pal-de-Mons), km. 63.5 - points only to first 15 riders
- Saint-Barthélemy-le-Plain, km. 144.2- time bonus only (6, 4 and 2 seconds)
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