LE BOURG-D'OISANS, FRANCE · JULY
L'Étape Training Plan
A free cycling plan for the L'Étape du Tour de France, written by an AI coach around the event and the fitness you have now. It adapts every week as you log your training. Free account, no card.
- Formats
- 2026 route
- Course
- Hilly
- Usually held
- Each July
- Until race day
- ~43 weeks
Build your L'Étape plan
The instant browser builder only plans running races, so a cycling plan comes from the coach itself. It opens with the L'Étape already filled in (estimated for July until the date is announced), asks about your week and your current fitness, and writes every session. Free account (or start as a guest), no card. You are about 43 weeks out.
Start your L'Étape planL'Étape distances
- 2026 route170 km, 5,400 m of climbing
The L'Étape course
The 2026 edition started in Le Bourg-d'Oisans and finished at Alpe d'Huez, on the route of the Tour de France stage. It climbed the Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Télégraphe and Col du Galibier, then reached Alpe d'Huez via the Col de Sarenne. The route changes every year.
What to train for
Train for several long Alpine climbs in one day: 30 to 60 minute climbing efforts at a pace you can repeat, low gearing, and practice on long descents. Plan fueling for a very long day and respect the cut-off times.
Registration and official details: L'Étape official siteRace facts checked against the official site on September 19, 2026.
L'Étape training questions
How long should I train for the L'Étape?
Most athletes give a cycling twelve to sixteen weeks of focused training on top of an existing base. The coach counts back from your actual race date, so if you have less time than that it builds the best plan the remaining weeks allow rather than pretending you have longer.
What is the L'Étape course like?
Hilly. The 2026 edition started in Le Bourg-d'Oisans and finished at Alpe d'Huez, on the route of the Tour de France stage. It climbed the Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Télégraphe and Col du Galibier, then reached Alpe d'Huez via the Col de Sarenne. The route changes every year.
What is the weather like at the L'Étape?
The L'Étape does not publish typical conditions. Check the official site in race week, and train in whatever your own July weather gives you.
Do I need an account to get a L'Étape training plan?
Yes, a free one. The instant browser builder only plans running races, so a cycling plan comes from the coach itself. You can start as a guest and save the account later. No card, and the plan adapts every week as you log your training.