Stage 3 of the Tour de France 2026 takes the race into the mountains for the first time, and it comes with both sporting tension and an important safety update for roadside fans.
The route runs 195.9km from Granollers in Catalonia to Les Angles in the French Pyrenees. It is officially listed as a mountain stage, with 3,850m of climbing, the category 1 Col de Toses and a short uphill finish at Les Angles.
The stage starts at 12:10 local time in Spain, which is 11:10 BST in the UK. The fastest schedule has the riders finishing at 16:54 local time, or 15:54 BST. A slower day would push the finish closer to 17:23 local time, or 16:23 BST.
For viewers at home, this is one of the most important early stages of the race. Jonas Vingegaard starts in yellow, but Tadej Pogačar is only six seconds behind after Isaac del Toro’s stage 2 win for UAE Team Emirates XRG on Montjuïc. The first mountain stage may suit a breakaway, but the general classification riders already have enough reason to race.
For a fuller tactical breakdown, see our Tour de France 2026 stage 3 preview, Tour de France 2026 full route guide and Tour de France 2026 Pyrenees guide.
Photo Credit: GettyTour de France 2026 stage 3 start time
| Country | Stage 3 start time | Expected finish |
|---|---|---|
| Spain and Central Europe | 12:10 CEST | 16:54-17:23 CEST |
| UK | 11:10 BST | 15:54-16:23 BST |
| US East Coast | 06:10 ET | 10:54-11:23 ET |
| US West Coast | 03:10 PT | 07:54-08:23 PT |
| Australia East Coast | 20:10 AEST | 00:54-01:23 AEST, Tuesday |
The key viewing window is likely to begin from around 14:20 BST, when the race approaches the Col de Toses. The must-watch final hour should begin from about 15:15 BST, with the Col du Calvaire, the run through the French section and the final climb to Les Angles still to come.
For the full daily timing picture, use our Tour de France 2026 TV schedule and daily start times.
How to watch stage 3 in the UK
UK viewers can watch stage 3 live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
Stage 3 is also one of the selected Tour de France stages being shown free in Welsh by S4C. That means UK viewers have a free live option through S4C, S4C Clic, BBC iPlayer and the S4C Chwaraeon YouTube channel.
There is no live free-to-air English-language coverage in the UK. Full live English-language coverage remains with TNT Sports and HBO Max, while 5 has nightly highlights.
For more detail, see our guide on how to watch Tour de France 2026 in the UK and our explainer on why you cannot watch Tour de France 2026 free on ITV and what to do instead.
How to watch stage 3 in the US, Canada and Australia
US viewers can watch every stage of the 2026 Tour de France live on Peacock.
In Canada, live coverage is on FloBikes and the FloSports app.
In Australia, the race is available live and free through SBS and SBS On Demand. Stage 3 starts on Monday evening Australian time and is expected to finish just after midnight on Tuesday.
For more international details, see our Tour de France 2026 live stream guide by country.
Stage 3 route: Granollers to Les Angles
Stage 3 begins in Granollers, north of Barcelona, before moving inland and gradually towards the mountains.
The opening part of the stage is not flat. The first categorised climb, the Côte de Saint Feliu de Codines, comes after only 17.2km. That makes the start important because the breakaway may not form cleanly on the flat. Riders chasing mountain points, stage freedom or early television exposure will all want to be active.
The middle of the stage moves through Campdevànol, where the intermediate sprint comes after 98.4km. After that, the road begins to build towards the main climb of the day, the Col de Toses.
The Col de Toses is the first category 1 climb of the 2026 Tour. It is 9.3km at 6.5% and crests with 68.2km still to race. That distance from the finish means it may not decide the stage on its own, but it should split the breakaway, reduce the peloton and give the GC teams the first proper climbing test of the race.
The riders then stay high before crossing into France and tackling the late sequence towards Les Angles. The Col du Calvaire comes at 172.3km, with 23.6km remaining, before the short final climb to the finish.
This is where the opening Catalan block gives way to the first Pyrenean pressure point. The wider context is covered in our Tour de France 2026 in Catalonia guide and Tour de France 2026 mountain stages ranked by difficulty.
Key stage 3 timings
| Race moment | Distance from finish | Approx UK time |
|---|---|---|
| Neutralised start in Granollers | 195.9km | 11:10 BST |
| Côte de Saint Feliu de Codines | 178.7km | 11:48-11:51 BST |
| Campdevànol intermediate sprint | 97.5km | 13:36-13:50 BST |
| Col de Toses | 68.2km | 14:23-14:43 BST |
| France border | Around 40km | 14:55-15:18 BST |
| Col du Calvaire | 23.6km | 15:24-15:51 BST |
| Les Angles finish | 0km | 15:54-16:23 BST |
These timings are based on the official 43km/h, 41km/h and 39km/h schedules, so the exact race situation will depend on breakaway strength, weather, heat and how much the GC teams push the pace.
Wildfire and roadside spectator update
Stage 3 is expected to go ahead, but the French finale has been affected by wildfire safety measures.
Authorities have closed the French finishing section around Les Angles to spectators because of nearby wildfires. The decision is designed to allow emergency services and security teams to focus on the fire situation and keep the route manageable.
The publicity caravan is also affected and is expected to be cut short before the race enters France.
For roadside fans, this is the important point: do not assume normal Tour access in the French section of the stage. Local road closures, police instructions and emergency restrictions take priority. The safest way to follow the finale is via live broadcast.
The racing should still provide the same physical test, but the atmosphere near the finish may be very different from a normal first mountain stage.
For newer fans following the race roadside or from home, our Tour de France 2026 caravan guide explains how the caravan normally fits into the daily Tour experience.
Photo Credit: GettyWhy stage 3 matters after the first two stages
The Tour has already started aggressively.
Stage 1 gave Visma Lease a Bike the opening advantage, with Vingegaard taking yellow in the Barcelona team time trial. Pogačar lost 12 seconds there, while Evenepoel finished 19 seconds back.
Stage 2 changed the mood. UAE Team Emirates XRG used the repeated climbs of Montjuïc to put Visma under pressure. Del Toro won the stage, Pogačar finished second, Evenepoel was third, and Vingegaard kept yellow by finishing fourth.
That leaves the GC very tight before stage 3.
Vingegaard leads Pogačar by six seconds. Evenepoel is 15 seconds down. Del Toro is fourth overall at 16 seconds, and Juan Ayuso is fifth at 19 seconds.
The first mountain day therefore arrives with the race already active. Visma have the jersey, but UAE have the momentum and two riders close to the very top of the standings.
The full stage 2 classification picture is covered in GC and jerseys after Tour de France 2026 stage 2, while the previous live schedule is available in our Tour de France 2026 stage 2 live viewing and start time update.
How the opening team time trial still shapes stage 3
The stage 1 team time trial still matters because it created the first time gaps before the race reached the mountains.
Visma’s win put Vingegaard into yellow and forced Pogačar, Evenepoel and the other GC contenders to chase from the start. Stage 2 reduced that gap, but it did not remove the basic race shape. Visma are still defending, while UAE are still pressing.
That matters on stage 3 because every decision has a jersey consequence. If a breakaway takes the bonus seconds, Vingegaard may benefit. If Pogačar contests the finish, yellow could change hands. If Del Toro or Ayuso move, the young rider battle and GC pressure both become more complicated.
The opening day is covered in our report on Team Visma Lease a Bike winning the Barcelona team time trial as Vingegaard takes yellow, while our Tour de France 2026 team time-trial explainer explains why the format created real gaps.
When should you start watching?
Full-stage viewers should tune in from the start, because the first climb comes early and the breakaway formation could be lively.
For most viewers, the practical time to start watching is around 14:20 BST. That should catch the Col de Toses, the first category 1 climb of the Tour, and show whether the breakaway or peloton is controlling the stage.
The must-watch window begins from around 15:15 BST. That should include the approach to the French section, the Col du Calvaire, the final 20km and the uphill finish to Les Angles.
If you only have time for the finish, be watching by 15:50 BST. The quickest schedule has the stage finishing at 15:54 BST, so leaving it later risks missing the decisive move.
What to watch for
The first question is whether Visma allow the breakaway to go.
There is a strong argument for doing exactly that. If a breakaway takes the stage and the bonus seconds, Vingegaard’s yellow jersey becomes easier to defend. Visma do not need to chase every stage win this early in the race.
The second question is whether UAE want to take yellow already. Pogačar is only six seconds down, and the finish offers bonuses of 10, six and four seconds. If he wins the stage, or takes time on Vingegaard, yellow could change shoulders.
The third question is whether Del Toro becomes a tactical problem. He is fourth overall, leads the points and young rider classifications, and has already shown he can win under pressure. Teams will treat him differently now.
The fourth question is how Evenepoel handles the first mountain test. Stage 3 is not the hardest mountain stage in the race, but it is long, high and awkward enough to expose anyone who is not recovering well from the first two days.
For the wider GC picture, see our Tour de France 2026 contenders preview and Tour de France 2026 GC favourites ranked.
Stage 3 climbs and points
| Climb | Position | Length | Gradient | Category | Points for first rider |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Côte de Saint Feliu de Codines | Km 17.2 | 7.6km | 4.5% | Category 3 | 2 |
| Col de Toses | Km 127.7 | 9.3km | 6.5% | Category 1 | 10 |
| Col du Calvaire | Km 172.3 | 11.4km | 4.1% | Category 3 | 2 |
| Les Angles | Km 195.9 | 1.8km | 6.5% | Category 3 | 2 |
There are 16 mountains classification points available across the stage. Alex Molenaar starts the day in the polka-dot jersey on five points, but the Col de Toses alone offers 10 points to the first rider over the top, so the mountains classification could change quickly.
For more on that contest, see our Tour de France 2026 climbers guide and best climbers at the Tour de France 2026. Our Tour de France 2026 jerseys explained guide also explains how the polka-dot jersey fits alongside yellow, green and white.
Stage 3 points and bonuses
The intermediate sprint comes at Campdevànol after 98.4km. The first rider there takes 25 points in the green jersey competition, with points down to 15th place.
The stage finish at Les Angles offers 30 green jersey points to the winner. Because this is a mountain stage, those points are less likely to go to the pure sprinters and more likely to be taken by the breakaway or GC riders.
There are also time bonuses at the finish: 10 seconds for first, six seconds for second and four seconds for third.
That is why the finale matters. Pogačar is only six seconds behind Vingegaard, so bonus seconds alone could change the yellow jersey if the right riders contest the finish.
Likely stage winner profile
Stage 3 can be won in two different ways.
The first is from the breakaway. A strong climber who is far enough down on GC could go early, survive the Col de Toses, then hold enough of a gap over the Col du Calvaire and final climb.
The second is from the GC group. If UAE, Visma or Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe keep the break close, the final 1.8km to Les Angles suits a rider who can climb and accelerate sharply after a long day.
That points towards Pogačar if the favourites fight for the stage. Vingegaard may be more interested in defending yellow, but he cannot ignore the bonus seconds. Evenepoel, Del Toro, Ayuso and Seixas will also be watched closely if the GC group reaches the finale together.
This is also one of the early days where the breakaway conversation matters. For more context, see our Tour de France 2026 route: best days for breakaways and Tour de France 2026 stage hunters to watch.
Quick summary
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What stage is it? | Stage 3 of the Tour de France 2026 |
| Route | Granollers to Les Angles |
| Distance | 195.9km |
| Type | Mountain |
| Elevation gain | 3,850m |
| UK start time | 11:10 BST |
| UK finish time | Around 15:54-16:23 BST |
| Best time to tune in | From 14:20 BST |
| Must-watch window | From around 15:15 BST |
| Main climb | Col de Toses, 9.3km at 6.5% |
| Finish | Les Angles, 1.8km at 6.5% |
| Yellow jersey | Jonas Vingegaard |
| Main live UK coverage | TNT Sports and HBO Max |
| Free UK live option | S4C, S4C Clic, BBC iPlayer and S4C Chwaraeon YouTube |
| US coverage | Peacock |
Final word
Stage 3 is the Tour de France 2026’s first mountain stage, and it arrives with the race already under pressure.
Vingegaard has yellow, but only by six seconds. Pogačar has momentum after UAE’s stage 2 display. Del Toro has a stage win, green jersey lead and a top-four GC place. Evenepoel is close but still needs to prove that the mountains can work for him rather than against him.
The stage starts at 11:10 BST and should finish between 15:54 and 16:23 BST. The key viewing point is the Col de Toses from around 14:20 BST, with the must-watch final hour from about 15:15 BST.
For fans hoping to watch at the roadside, the French finale is not a normal Tour finish because of wildfire restrictions around Les Angles. For everyone watching from home, though, stage 3 should be one of the first major clues about how real this opening UAE challenge to Visma might be.
