Alpe d'Huez: Road closed early due to record traffic at the Tour

Masses of fans arrived early in the Oisans region, ready to enjoy the double Alpine stage of the 2026 Tour de France . The main road linking Bourg d'Oisans to Alpe d'Huez , the famous RD211, was closed to motorized traffic uphill as early as 2 p.m. on Thursday , a full eight hours earlier than originally announced.

The RD211 is the serpentine road with its legendary 21 hairpin bends that winds up the mountainside: it's the most direct and iconic route to the Alpe d'Huez ski resort. Every summer, it transforms into a cycling highlight, and these days it's literally besieged by fans from all over Europe.

The official announcement was made by public safety officials for the Isère department, in collaboration with the Tour organizer, ASO : "Due to exceptionally high traffic, the climb to Alpe d'Huez (RD211) will be closed to all vehicles from the southern roundabout, from Thursday, July 23, 2026, at 2:00 PM until Sunday, July 26, 2026, at 12:00 AM. The descent from Alpe d'Huez will remain open until Thursday, July 23, 2026, at 10:00 PM and from Saturday, July 25, 2026, until 1:00 AM."

Access for pedestrians and cyclists will remain guaranteed, with the exception of race day, Friday, July 24th . No cycling on Friday morning to watch the peloton pass in the afternoon: RD211 will be closed to bicycles from 10:00 PM on Thursday until midnight on Sunday, July 26th, as announced in recent days.

The Col de Sarenne , the "hidden" side of the mountain behind the Alpe, also closed early: the road was closed to motor vehicles from 2pm on Thursday until 11am on Sunday, while for bicycles the closure starts at 6pm on Friday.

Anyone needing to reach the mountain resort will be able to do so with a valid ID on Thursday afternoon and early evening, before the resort closes at 10:00 PM. Station workers and visitors will be able to use the three cable cars from Allemond , which will also be used to transport passengers throughout the day on Friday 24th and after the start of stage 20 on Saturday 25th July.

From a sporting perspective, Friday's stage 19 will start in Gap and finish at the top of Alpe d'Huez via the classic route with its 21 hairpin bends. Saturday's stage 20 , meanwhile, will start in Bourg d'Oisans and tackle the uncharted route via the Col de Sarenne, with a final 14-kilometer circuit around the ski resort.