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2027 Tour has three summit finishes, down from five in 2026
The 2027 Tour de France has three summit finishes, down from five in 2026, and two time trials totalling 71 km. Pogačar won the last three Tours by six, four and six minutes, so this route gives the field a chance at suspense, not a fix. Prudhomme says as much, acknowledging Pogačar's dominance.
What this means
Pogačar would seek a record sixth Tour title on this route. Tour officials deny designing the course for or against one rider.
The time trials are a 38 km stage 7 from Blois to Chambord and a 33 km stage 16 around Toulouse, with a short ramp about 10 km from the finish. The summit finishes are Grand Colombier, Les Saisies and Col du Portet, spread across six mountain days. Prudhomme told L'Équipe: «We can tell ourselves that there might be a chance of suspense and a great battle right to the end. Knowing, of course, that Pogačar has been so dominant in recent years» Cycling Weekly says the route looks designed to stop Pogačar domination, but sets it against margins of six, four and six minutes. Outside reads the same three summit finishes as real Pogačar opportunities. York's reading points elsewhere: «I get the feeling they are waiting to see where Paul Seixas really pushes Tadej Pogačar» Seixas finished fourth on his 2026 Tour debut.
Sources
'The route is designed for spectacular riders' – The 2027 Tour de France looks designed to stop Pogačar domination, but will it matter?The Tour de France Just Made the Anti-Pogačar Route for 2027'I get the feeling they are waiting to see where Paul Seixas really pushes Tadej Pogačar' - Philippa York analyses a 'non-traditional' 2027 Tour de France routeTour de France 2027 route - The complete stage-by-stage guide
Analysed 4 sources, written and summarised with AI · How we work