2026 Tour de France: Vosges stage to Markstein becomes a climbing test

Mulhouse – July 18, 2026: The Tour de France leaves the flatlands behind and faces its next major test in the Vosges Mountains. Stage 14 runs from Mulhouse to Le Markstein-Fellering, covering 155.3 kilometres and gaining 3,800 metres of elevation over a relatively short distance. After three somewhat flatter race days, the peloton immediately returns to a rhythm of climbs, descents and intense battles for position.

Shortly after the start, the road rises towards the Grand Ballon. This is not merely a scenic opening: the favourites must organise their teams early, because under such course conditions, strong breakaway groups can quickly become a threat. Riders seeking time in the general classification need more than domestiques capable of setting the pace at the front; they also need teammates who can keep the situation under control after crossing several mountains.

The Ballon d’Alsace is the next prominent point in a stage that offers almost no prolonged opportunities for recovery. By the time they pass here on July 18, riders will already be carrying the fatigue of the previous day’s climbs, requiring not only fresh legs but also smart energy management. For riders targeting the polka-dot jersey, the successive climbs offer opportunities; for yellow-jersey contenders, the key is not to lose teammates too early.

The heart of the race drama lies in the final section. The Col du Haag is included in the Tour route via this mountain approach for the first time; it is a renovated forest road, 11.2 kilometres long, climbing at an average gradient of 7.3%. Its irregular changes in gradient prevent climbers from settling into a comfortable cadence for long. An attack here can not only gain seconds, but also break down an opponent’s support.

Only a short distance remains from the summit of the Col du Haag to the finish at Markstein. This changes the tactics: solo riders cannot hesitate at the summit, while chasers have almost no time to organise a structured pursuit. The finish area near Fellering will therefore reward riders who can not only produce maximum power, but also accurately judge the decisive moments in the mountains.

The official timetable schedules the neutralised start in Mulhouse for 13:10, with arrival at the finish in Markstein expected at 17:24. This stage is not an ordinary transition day before the Alps, but a compact mountain laboratory: here, riders whose form fluctuates may lose ground in the general classification; those who master the Vosges will send a signal for the second half of this Tour de France.

For spectators in the Thur Valley and the Doller Valley, race day also means extensive traffic restrictions along the route. From a sporting perspective, however, the stage belongs to the climbers. Mulhouse provides the start, Le Markstein-Fellering marks the finish line—and in between awaits a race day in which every kilometre rises and every decision is made under pressure.