In short
Roads on the Tour route close to traffic about an hour before the publicity caravan, which passes one and a half to two hours before the riders. On the big mountain climbs, the road can close to vehicles from the day before, once the parking areas are full. The official 2027 orders come out in June or early July. Until then, this page shows what happened on recent climbs and what to expect on each 2027 climb.
The usual rule
On most of the route, roads close about an hour before the publicity caravan passes and reopen once the race, the team cars and the convoy have gone by. In towns, parking along the route is often banned from a day or two before.
Famous climbs and summit finishes start earlier. The department sets out parking areas, often some just for motorhomes, then closes the road to vehicles when they are full, often the afternoon or evening before.
What happened on recent climbs
Three recent examples, from the official traffic and parking notices. Each 2027 climb will have its own rules, but the pattern repeats.
| Climb | Motorhome parking | Road closed to vehicles | Bikes and walkers | Reopened |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mont Ventoux, 22 July 2025 | Only in three car parks, open from noon on 16 July and closed once full | From the day before, 21 July | Until about an hour before the caravan | Around 8 pm on race day |
| Col du Tourmalet, 9 July 2026 | Advised in the Tournaboup and Super-Barèges car parks | Both sides could close from 4 pm the day before, once parking was full | Bikes until noon, and a chairlift for walkers from Super-Barèges | Some roads only from 10 pm on race day |
| Col d'Aspin, 9 July 2026 | Parking could be banned from 8 am the day before | Often closed from 4 pm the day before for the night, then reopened in the morning until full | Bikes until noon | Not stated |
What to expect on each 2027 climb
The official closing times for 2027 are not out yet. Until they are, here is what to plan for on each climb, based on how similar climbs were run.
Grand Colombier
Sun 11 July 2027 · Tour de France, Stage 9: Villars-les-Dombes → Grand Colombier
Summit finish: plan for the road to close to vehicles from the afternoon or evening before, with the finish area set up days ahead. Arrive early, or walk or ride up.
Official 2027 order: not published yet · 15 campsites and RV areas near this stage
Montée de Bisanne
Wed 14 July 2027 · Tour de France, Stage 11: Cluses → Les Saisies
Climb in the middle of the stage: if the parking areas fill, the road can close to vehicles the afternoon or evening before. Otherwise expect it to close on race morning, about an hour before the caravan.
Official 2027 order: not published yet · 24 campsites and RV areas near this stage
Côte de la Croix Neuve
Sat 17 July 2027 · Tour de France, Stage 14: Montpellier → Mende
Summit finish: plan for the road to close to vehicles from the afternoon or evening before, with the finish area set up days ahead. Arrive early, or walk or ride up.
Official 2027 order: not published yet · 35 campsites and RV areas near this stage
Col du Tourmalet
Thu 22 July 2027 · Tour de France, Stage 18: Pau → Col du Portet
In 2026 both sides could close from 4 pm the day before, once parking was full, and motorhomes were sent to the Tournaboup and Super-Barèges car parks. Plan for the same in 2027, with the Col du Portet finish later that afternoon.
Official 2027 order: not published yet · 56 campsites and RV areas near this stage
Col du Portet
Thu 22 July 2027 · Tour de France, Stage 18: Pau → Col du Portet
Summit finish: plan for the road to close to vehicles from the afternoon or evening before, with the finish area set up days ahead. Arrive early, or walk or ride up.
Official 2027 order: not published yet · 56 campsites and RV areas near this stage
Col de Marie Blanque
Fri 23 July 2027 · Tour de France, Stage 19: Hasparren → Laruns
Climb in the middle of the stage: if the parking areas fill, the road can close to vehicles the afternoon or evening before. Otherwise expect it to close on race morning, about an hour before the caravan.
Official 2027 order: not published yet · 32 campsites and RV areas near this stage
Winnats Pass
Sat 31 July 2027 · Tour de France Femmes, Stage 2: Manchester → Sheffield
In England, closures are set by the local council and published nearer the race. Winnats Pass is narrow and steep, so expect it to close well before the race. Stay or park in Castleton, below the pass.
Official 2027 order: not published yet · 39 campsites and RV areas near this stage
Puy de Dôme
Sat 7 August 2027 · Tour de France Femmes, Stage 9: Clermont-Ferrand → Puy de Dôme
The road to the summit is closed to private vehicles all year. Stay below, in Orcines or Royat, and walk or ride up. The Panoramique des Dômes rack railway runs from Orcines, but check whether it runs on race day.
Official 2027 order: not published yet · 15 campsites and RV areas near this stage
Bikes and walking up
Bikes and walkers can usually go up for longer than cars. In 2026 bikes could climb the Pyrenean cols until noon, and on Mont Ventoux in 2025 walkers and cyclists could go up until about an hour before the caravan. After that, you watch from where you are.
Some resorts run a lift for walkers on race day, such as the Tourmalet chairlift from Super-Barèges in 2026. Check the local notice for 2027.
Leaving after the stage
Roads stay closed until the race has passed, the team cars and the convoy have come down, and the police reopen them. On summit finishes that can be late evening: around 8 pm on Mont Ventoux in 2025, and after 9 pm at Gavarnie in 2026.
If you parked a motorhome up the mountain, plan to stay another night rather than drive out with everyone else.
Where the official orders appear
In France, each prefecture sets the closures by order, and the department, the tourist office and the stage town publish maps and notices, usually in June or early July. In the UK, the local councils publish them. The City of Edinburgh Council already has a page for the Grand Départ.
We add each 2027 notice to the matching climb and stage page when it comes out, and log it below.
Update log
- 6 November 2026: page published. No 2027 closure orders are out yet.
Questions about road closures
What time do roads close for the Tour de France?
On most of the route, about an hour before the publicity caravan, so roughly two and a half to three hours before the riders. On big climbs and summit finishes, roads can close to vehicles from the afternoon or evening before.
When will the 2027 road closure times be published?
Usually in June or early July, by the prefecture, the department and the stage towns. We add them to the climb and stage pages as they come out.
Can I drive up a climb on race day?
Usually not on the big climbs, which close to vehicles from the day before or once parking is full. Smaller climbs and flat roads often stay open until about an hour before the caravan.
Can I cycle up the climb on race day?
Usually yes, until a set time: noon on the Pyrenean cols in 2026, and about an hour before the caravan on Mont Ventoux in 2025. Check the 2027 notice for each climb.
How long are roads closed after the stage?
Until the race, the team cars and the convoy have passed and the police reopen the road. On summit finishes that can be 8 pm or later.
Photo credits
- Vallee Ossau by Myrabella, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
· Sources: Hautes-Pyrénées department, Tour 2026 traffic and parking, Ventoux Provence, Mont Ventoux 2025 parking and closures, letour.fr