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France 27 May – 31 May 2026 Class 2.2 – Stages – Class 2
Website https://alpesiseretour.com/
Data powered by FirstCycling.com
The 35th edition of the Alpes Isère Tour (UCI Class 2.2) is scheduled to run from Wednesday, May 27 to Sunday, May 31, 2026.
The race features 22 teams (including UCI ProTeams, Continental teams, and national selections) covering a total of 739.2 km with an impressive 11,883 meters of elevation gain across 5 distinct stages.
The official program and stage breakdown:
Stage 1: Charvieu-Chavagneux ➡️ Charvieu-Chavagneux
- Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2026
- Distance: 133.7 km
- Terrain: Hilly loop taking the peloton from the Isle Crémieu plateau to the Viennois plateau.
Stage 2: Saint-Martin-de-Vaulserre ➡️ Bourgoin-Jallieu
- Date: Thursday, May 28, 2026
- Distance: 134.3 km
- Terrain: Shifting from the Vals du Dauphiné toward the Porte de l’Isère, with an expected final dash/finish near the Pierre Rajon stadium around 3:00 PM.
Stage 3: Arandon-Passins ➡️ Marché de Gros Lyon-Corbas
- Date: Friday, May 29, 2026
- Distance: 153.9 km (Elevation Gain: 1,995 m)
- Terrain: Departs the Balcons du Dauphiné at 1:00 PM and heads westbound into the eastern outskirts of Lyon.
Stage 4: Saint-Clair-du-Rhône ➡️ Saint-Maurice-l’Exil
- Date: Saturday, May 30, 2026
- Distance: 165.1 km
- Terrain: Tracks alongside the banks of the Rhône River before tackling the challenging climbs across the Plateau des Chambarans.
Stage 5: Le Cheylas ➡️ Miribel-les-Échelles
- Date: Sunday, May 31, 2026
- Distance: 152.2 km
- Terrain: The Queen stage. A brutal high-mountain finale deep in the heart of the Chartreuse mountain range to crown the general classification winner.
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
The Alpes Isère Tour is a prominent multi-day road cycling stage race held annually in May within the Isère department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France. Characterized by its challenging, mountainous terrain, the race has evolved from a local amateur showcase into a crucial proving ground for the sport’s future stars.
Evolution of the Name and Status
The race has undergone a couple of identity shifts since its inception to reflect its growing geographic footprint and partnerships:
- 1991–2005: Tour Nord-Isère – Founded as an amateur-only event focusing primarily on the northern reaches of the Isère region.
- 2006–2019: Rhône-Alpes Isère Tour – The race expanded its scope, reflecting the larger regional branding of France’s Rhône-Alpes territory.
- 2021–Present: Alpes Isère Tour – Following a brief hiatus in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the race rebranded to its current name, emphasizing its iconic alpine landscape.
A pivotal moment in the race’s history came in 2005 when it joined the UCI Europe Tour as a category 2.2 event. This transition allowed professional continental and developmental squads to compete alongside top-tier amateur clubs, significantly raising the level of competition.
Terrain and Race Characteristics
Staged over five days, the Alpes Isère Tour is notorious for its punishing elevation profiles. Navigating the foothills and valleys of major alpine massifs like the Chartreuse, Vercors, and Belledonne, the race rarely features flat transition days.
Because it demands superb climbing ability, excellent descending skills, and tactical resilience in unpredictable mountain weather, the race acts as a microcosm of a Grand Tour mountain week.
A Launchpad for Future Champions
The race is highly regarded in the cycling community as a premier “talent identifier.” Because it attracts the official development teams of major UCI WorldTour squads (such as Decathlon–AG2R, Lotto–Dstny, and Visma–Lease a Bike), its general classification podium is a reliable indicator of future professional success.
Several notable riders used the race to showcase their early-career potential:
- Thibaut Pinot finished 2nd overall in 2011 just before bursting onto the WorldTour stage.
- Jérôme Coppel won the race in 2010.
- Sam Oomen captured the general classification in 2015.
- Lennard Hofstede took home the crown in 2016.
- Lennert Van Eetvelt (2023 winner) and Jarno Widar (2024 winner) have continued the race’s tradition of crowning elite young climbing talents.
Only one rider in the history of the event has managed to win the general classification more than once: French cyclist Éric Drubay, who claimed victory in 1997 and 1999.
Recent General Classification Winners
| Year | Winner | Team |
| 2021 | 🇳🇱 Sjoerd Bax | Metec–Solarwatt p/b Mantel |
| 2022 | 🇨🇭 Yannis Voisard | Tudor Pro Cycling Team |
| 2023 | 🇧🇪 Lennert Van Eetvelt | Lotto–Dstny Development Team |
| 2024 | 🇧🇪 Jarno Widar | Lotto–Dstny Development Team |
| 2025 | 🇫🇷 Aubin Sparfel | Decathlon–AG2R La Mondiale Devo |
