There will be a stage of the Tour de France in Dordogne next summer, the département has announced.
The authorities have for several years bid to host a full stage of the race, and the southwest region will now host one from 11th July 2026.
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The start and finish towns are not yet known, but the towns of Périgueux and Bergerac have put themselves forward as candidates, reports in the French press suggest.
The exact route will be revealed during the official presentation of the 2026 Tour on October 23rd in Paris. The race will begin in Barcelona on July 4th 2026.
Announcing the news on social media, the département emphasised the overall benefits the stage will bring to the region: "The Tour is much more than a sporting event; it is a driver of tourism, economic activity and media coverage for the entire department."
The last time the Dordogne hosted the Tour was in 2017, with a stage linking Périgueux to Bergerac and another from Eymet to Pau.
In 2023, the Tour passed through 19 communes in the north of the Dordogne between La Roche-Chalais and Miallet, covering around 100 kilometres.
The Women's Tour passed through the département a few weeks later, finishing in Montignac.
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