Stage 5 Breakdown:

Stage 5 takes the riders on a 158.3km journey from Lannemezan to Pau. After two demanding days in the Pyrenees, the sprinters finally get their first real opportunity of this year’s Tour. The route is mostly flat with only a few short climbs in the final 40 kilometres, none of which should be enough to stop the fast men from fighting for the stage victory.

The stage begins in Lannemezan before heading west along the foothills of the Pyrenees. The roads are mostly straightforward until the riders reach a trio of small climbs inside the final 40 kilometres. The Côte de Casteide-Doat, Côte de Flancart, and Côte de Baleix may put a few tired legs under pressure, but with 26 kilometres of mostly flat roads from the final summit to the finish, the sprint teams should have plenty of time to bring everything back together.

Pau has hosted countless Tour finishes over the years and once again looks set to welcome a bunch sprint. After missing out on the opening stages, the sprint teams are expected to take full control of the race, leaving the breakaway with little chance of staying away. Barring crosswinds or crashes, this should be the first pure sprint finish of the 2026 Tour.

Favorites:
| +++ | Jasper Philipsen, Tim Merlier, Biniam Girmay
| ++ | Kaden Groves, Jordi Meeus, Dylan Groenewegen, Kaden Groves
| + | Arnaud De Lie, Paul Magnier, Pascal Ackermann, Phil Bauhaus