Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

The race is usually decided in the high mountains at the end of the week. In 2025 and 2026 each of the last three stages finished on a climb, and the 2026 race changed hands on the final ascent to the Plateau de Solaison. A time trial in the middle of the week provides the first separation among the contenders; in 2026 it was a team time trial of 28.4 kilometers. The opening stages are hilly and often go to breakaways or sprinters. The winner needs to climb well on several days in a row. Teams with Tour ambitions use the race to test their leaders in the mountains a few weeks before the Tour.