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France 07 Apr – 10 Apr 2026 Class 2.Pro – Stages – UCI ProSeries
Website https://www.regionpaysdelaloire-tour.fr/
Data powered by FirstCycling.com
The 2026 Région Pays de la Loire Tour is currently underway, running from April 7 to April 10. This 4th edition covers a total of 719.6 km across all five departments of the region and has been elevated to the UCI ProSeries calendar.
Here is the program for the four stages:
| Stage | Date | Route | Distance | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tues, April 7 | Fontevraud-l’Abbaye > Vertou | 187.5 km | Hilly |
| 2 | Wed, April 8 | La Garnache > Les Sables-d’Olonne | 153.6 km | Flat |
| 3 | Thurs, April 9 | Avrillé > Sainte-Suzanne-et-Chammes | 199.0 km | Hilly |
| 4 | Fri, April 10 | Brûlon > Le Mans | 179.5 km | Hilly |
Key Highlights
- Stage 1 (Today): Features a technical finish with four laps of a circuit in Vertou.
- Stage 2: The clearest opportunity for pure sprinters, finishing on the coast at Les Sables-d’Olonne.
- Stage 3: The longest stage of the tour, ending in the medieval village of Sainte-Suzanne-et-Chammes; expected to be a decisive day for the General Classification.
- Stage 4: A nervous final stage concluding with the traditional finish in Le Mans.
How to Watch
In France, the race is broadcast daily on La Chaîne L’Équipe (TNT Channel 21), typically starting around 1:30 PM.
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 Région Pays de la Loire Tour is a relatively young race in its current form, but it carries the legacy of one of the most storied events in French cycling history. It was established as a direct successor to the Circuit de la Sarthe, which ran for nearly 70 years before being rebranded and expanded.
1. The Heritage: Circuit de la Sarthe (1953–2022)
Before the Pays de la Loire Tour existed, the region was famous for the Circuit de la Sarthe.
- Amateur Roots: Launched in 1953, it remained an amateur race for over twenty years.
- Professional Transition: In 1975, it opened to professionals, eventually becoming a staple of the early-season French calendar.
- Elite Winners: The race’s prestige grew significantly over the decades, boasting winners like Bernard Hinault, Greg LeMond, and Thomas Voeckler. It was known for its technical time trials and punchy stages that favored versatile riders.
2. The Rebirth (2023)
In 2023, the event underwent a major transformation. The regional council of Pays de la Loire decided to take over the organization to ensure the race visited all five departments of the region (Loire-Atlantique, Maine-et-Loire, Mayenne, Sarthe, and Vendée), rather than focusing primarily on the Sarthe department.
- Inaugural Winner: The first edition under the new name was won by Danish rider Alexander Kamp.
- Format Change: The modern race typically consists of four stages. Unlike its predecessor, it moved away from including a mid-race individual time trial, shifting the focus toward aggressive road racing and bonus seconds.
3. Elevation to ProSeries (2026)
A major milestone in the race’s history occurred this year. For the 2026 edition, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) promoted the race to the ProSeries status (the second tier of professional cycling, just below the WorldTour).
This promotion has significantly boosted the race’s profile, attracting a higher caliber of international teams and increasing the global media coverage of the event.
Historical Characteristics
- The Terrain: While the region is not mountainous, the race is famous for its “Chemins” (unpaved or narrow farm roads) and constant wind, which often causes the peloton to split into echelons.
- The “Circuit Final”: A hallmark of the race’s history is the finishing circuit. Almost every stage ends with several laps of a local loop, allowing fans to see the riders multiple times and creating a high-speed, criterium-style finale.
