Tour De France 2026 – Stage 10

Aurillac → Le Lioran | 166.6 km | mountain

Relentless Central Massif climbing will turn this into a war of attrition, with repeated ascents and technical terrain likely to expose any weakness after the rest day. The punchy drag to Le Lioran will favour explosive climbers and breakaway specialists, but GC riders could be tempted into an early skirmish if rivals start to falter.

The Route

From Aurillac the road will climb almost immediately, setting a restless tone in the rolling countryside of the Cantal. The short but vicious Côte de Marcolès, 0.9km at 9.1% and arriving early at km 15, will jolt the peloton awake and should help a strong breakaway form, but the terrain afterwards will never really relax: constantly undulating, with a series of rises and plateaus that will keep domestiques busy and make life hard for any riders who are not comfortable changing rhythm. As the race drifts deeper into the Massif Central, the Côte de Pailherols, 3.1km at 6.8% and cresting at km 66, will draw the bunch onto higher ground, and from there the profile will take on a more mountainous feel, with longer drags and a visible staircase towards the volcanic peaks on the horizon.

The second half of the stage will be clearly back‑loaded, stacking altitude and difficulty as the riders zig‑zag across wide valleys and shoulders of the range. The Col de Pertus near the finale, 4.5km at a punishing 8.3% and topping out at km 148, will come after a long sequence of climbs and descents that will already have worn down the legs, and could become the springboard either for a surviving breakaway specialist or for a reduced GC group to tear itself apart. The run to Le Lioran will stay lumpy rather than offering a clean descent, demanding punch, repeated accelerations and good positioning. This kind of finish will likely suit pure climbers and all‑round GC contenders who thrive on irregular efforts, while explosive breakaway hunters could also find their chance if the big teams decide to save energy rather than impose full control.

Key Climbs:

• Côte de Marcolès — 0.9km at 9.1%, km 15
• Côte de Pailherols — 3.1km at 6.8%, km 66
• Col de Pertus — 4.5km at 8.3%, km 148

*18.5km from final summit to the finish.*

Weather

29°C | Sunny | 14 km/h E

How It Might Unfold

From Aurillac, aggressive climbers and breakaway specialists will likely try to force a move on the Côte de Marcolès, using the short, steep slopes to establish a sizeable group before the stage really starts to climb. The middle of the day over Côte de Pailherols and the rolling terrain that follows will then turn into a tug-of-war: if the escape contains riders close on GC, the big teams will ride a steady but firm tempo, otherwise they might allow the gap to balloon. The heat and constant up‑and‑down will gradually thin both the break and the peloton, with domestiques shedding early and leaving GC leaders increasingly exposed as Le Lioran approaches.

The race is likely to crystallise on the run through the high Massif Central and especially on Col de Pertus, where GC teams could impose a brutal pace to isolate rivals and launch attacks. Pure climbers will see this as their springboard, while all‑round GC leaders might wait to strike on the final ascent to Le Lioran, which will favour repeated accelerations over a long grinding effort. A solo move over Pertus and its descent could stick if cooperation falters behind, but a small reduced group sprint among GC favourites and the strongest breakaway remnants remains a realistic scenario. Whatever the outcome, time gaps here could be significant for the overall standings.

Contenders

The pure GC leaders will likely set the tone once the race hits the final climbs. Tadej Pogacar will be hungry to rewrite the Le Lioran script after losing here in 2024, while Jonas Vingegaard will aim to manage the damage and strike if Pogacar falters. Remco Evenepoel could use the long efforts to test rivals, though the recent questions around his team support might influence how aggressively he races.

Behind them, emerging climbers and ambushers could shape the day. Paul Seixas will be closely watched as France’s new hope, and this kind of irregular climbing could suit him. Isaac Del Toro should also do well here.

Tobias Halland Johannessen, Egan Bernal and Tom Pidcock look like prime candidates either to anticipate the favourites or jump in a strong break, with stage glory and a GC gain both on offer.

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Predictions

1. ⭐⭐⭐ Tadej Pogacar

2. ⭐⭐⭐ Isaac Del Toro

3. ⭐⭐ Paul Seixas

4. ⭐⭐ Egan Bernal

5. ⭐ Remco Evenepoel

6. ⭐ Tobias Halland Johannessen

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Predicted Winner

Tadej Pogacar