More than 15,000 amateur cyclists took on the roads of the French Alps on Sunday 19 July 2026 for L’Étape du Tour, the mass-participation race that gives everyday riders the chance to tackle an official Tour de France stage. This year’s route covered the race’s punishing Stage 20 profile, featuring the Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Télégraphe, Col du Galibier and the fearsome Col de Sarenne before finishing atop Alpe d’Huez after 170km and +5400m of climbing.
Italian Luca Cavallo, 26, delivered what he described as the biggest victory of his career for the OM.CC squad, soloing to victory in 05:20:20. He rode conservatively over the Télégraphe, reaching the summit in a select five-rider lead group before launching the decisive attack five kilometres from the top of the Galibier. He extended his advantage over the Sarenne and on the descent into Bourg-d’Oisans before climbing the 21 switchbacks of Alpe d’Huez alone.
Frenchman Thibaut Clément crossed the line 4 minutes 11 seconds later to finish second, while Antoine Berger, a professional with St Michel-Préférence Home-Auber93, completed the podium 12 minutes 5 seconds behind the winner.
In the women’s race, Victoria Stansfield added a second L’Étape du Tour title to her growing palmarès, stopping the clock in 06:19:12. The Briton, a former ultra-runner who switched to cycling in recent years, arrived in Bourg-d’Oisans in outstanding form after winning June’s Marmotte Granfondo Alpes, having already claimed the 2025 L’Étape du Tour Femmes title with victory atop the Col de la Madeleine.
Italian Martina Cavallo finished second 3 minutes 19 seconds behind, with Annalisa Prato completing the podium 8 minutes 49 seconds adrift.
With Sunday’s victories, Cavallo and Stansfield, both regular podium finishers on the European gran fondo circuit this season, secured the biggest wins of their cycling careers so far.
Photo Credit: L’Etape du Tour
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