Cycling in Yorkshire & Beyond
Cycling in Yorkshire & Beyond
Stage 9 of the Tour de France 2026 is a 185km hilly stage from Malemort to Ussel.
The Suc au May is a steep climb about 80km before the finish, one of several sharp climbs on the stage. The total climbing is around 3,300m.
The race organisers expect a fiercely-contested breakaway, and the winner to come from the leading group.
Race Details | Poll | Map & Profile | Timings | Videos | Food & Drink | Route Notes | Favourites
| Date | Sunday 12th July 2026 |
|---|---|
| Stage classification | Hilly |
| Distance | 185km |
| Intermediate sprint | TBC |
| Climbs | Côte de Naves Suc au May Côte de la Croix du Pey Mont Bessou |
| Total climbing | 3,300m |
Vote for one of the main contenders to win Stage 9 (to be added later).
This is a map of the route of Stage 9, Tour de France 2026.
This is a zoom-able map of Stage 9 Tour de France 2026.
This is the profile of Stage 9 Tour de France 2026.
| Caravan | Fast Schedule | Slow Schedule | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start Time (départ fictif) | |||
| Start Time (départ réel) | |||
| Intermediate Sprint | |||
| Finish Line (185km) |
This is a video of the route of Stage 9 Tour de France 2026.
Marc Hirschi won Stage 12 of the 2020 Tour de France on a parcours that featured the Suc au May.
This video shows a reconnaissance of the Suc au May before the 2020 Tour.
Stage 9 starts is in the Corrèze all day, close to Limoges and part of the historic Limousin region.
The cuisine in Corrèze is in the Limousin tradition of rustic and hearty food such as Brejaude - vegetable and bacon soup. Limoges is well-known for Limousin steak.
Clafoutis is a Limousin speciality dessert. It's a type of flan with black cherries.
Two stages ago we were in Les Landes, and a wine from that area would be a good accompaniment to the stage.
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The stage starts in Malemort, a suburb of Brive-la-Gaillarde (départ fictif).
Stage 9 starts in Malemort, close to Brive-la-Gaillarde.
Around the year 1000AD, the Malemort family built a castle on high ground at Montemart. Only ruins of the castle remain.
The Battle of Malemort took place in 1177 when the Limousin nobles revolted against the Duke of Aquitaine, Richard the Lionheart.
The Breninges castle was built in the town in the 1300s. Two of its big round towers remain.
The racing starts on the D38 Avenue Jean Lurçat, south of Brive (départ réel).
The race goes through Jugeals-Nazareth and Turenne on the way to Collonges-la-Rouge.
Collonges was a stronghold of the Counts of Turenne.
Its buildings are red because they are built of sandstone that is rich in iron oxide.
Soon after, the race passes through Meyssac.
The terrain is already hilly.
The race descends to the river Roanne at Lanteuil then heads up to Beynat.
Beynat was controlled by the Counts of Turenne in the 1200s; later the Order of Malta settled here (at Puy de Noix).
Apparently when he was a child Kurt Cobain visited Beynat with his grandparents on several occasions.
The D921 Route d'Argentat climbs away from Beynat.
There's a left turn onto the D940 and the riders descend via Sainte-Fortunade to Tulle.
Tulle was a significant town in the former region of Limousin, and is the capital of the Corrèze département.
It is built on seven hills, but probably isn't the most famous settlement to be constructed on that number of mounds.
There may have been a Gallic oppidum hereabouts.
In Roman times there was probably a temple in honour of Tutela, a Roman god who protected travellers using the ford at Tulle. The town's name comes from Tutela.
A monastery was founded here in the 600s, but destroyed by Vikings in 846.
Renaissance-style houses were built in the 1500s. Paper mills appeared on the river in the 1600s.
The town developed a lace industry, and tulle is often used for wedding dresses. There's an international lace festival every August.
The railway came to town in 1871, and around this time a firearms factory was built. There's now a firearms museum.
Tulle is home to the Maugein accordion factory.
There is a Gendarmerie School in Tulle. Some scenes from the film The Day of the Jackal were filmed in Tulle.
François Hollande was Mayor of Tulle in the 2000s.
Stage 9 now heads up the Corrèze valley, before climbing towards Naves. This is the Côte de Naves climb.
I believe the Côte de Naves will be a categorised climb.
The peloton crosses the A89 autoroute soon after the village.
There's a descent to the confluence of the Vimbelle and the Menaude at Vimbelle.
Then the road climbs and passes peaks called the Suquet de la Buge and the Riol, and going through the village of Saint-Augustin.
Next the riders pass the Puy Blanc and the Puy Gaillard on the way to Chaumeil. In Chaumeil, the Suc au May climb has already started.
The Suc au May climb is 3.8km at an average 7.7%.
The categorised climb is really just the top part of a longer ascent.
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The descent is to Madranges and Treignac.
Treignac is designated 'one of the most beautiful villages in France.
It's on the banks of the Vézère, and national kayaking contests have been held here.
It was founded around 800AD, and became a stronghold of the Vicomte de Comborn.
The riders climb again soon after leaving Treignac; this is the Côte de la Croix du Pey.
The Côte de la Croix du Pey climb - details to be confirmed.
There's something of a descent to Gourdon and Bugeat.
After Bugeat is another climb, this one to Mont Bessou.
Details of the Mont Bessou climb are to be confirmed.
The descent is to Meymac.
Meymac is regarded as a gate to the Parc Naturel Régional de Millevaches.
The village's name probably comes from a Roman person called Maximus.
An abbey was founded here in 1085, and when the reputed relics of Saint Léger were brought to it that attracted numerous pilgrims.
The race continues on undulating terrain through Saint-Angel to Ussel.
Stage 9 finishes in Ussel.
The riders arrive on the D1089 and cross the Diège river.
They are then on the long finishing straight of Avenue Turgot, passing the Château de la Diège on the way to the line.
The Stage 9 finish town is Ussel.
It is on a hill between the Diège and the Sarsonne rivers, and on the edge of the Plateau de Millevaches.
It is known for its green spaces, and for contesting the 'towns and villages in bloom' events. The economy is based on wood products, food processing and pharmaceuticals.
There's a Musée du Pays d'Ussel.
The Transcorrezien steam railway, called le Taco, used to link Ussel to Tulle. The trackbed seems to have been turned into roads rather than a walking and cycling route, which is a shame.
This video shows some of the route and stations.
Favourites for Stage 9 of the 2026 Tour de France are the breakaway specialist such as Ben Healy.
Who do you think will win Stage 9 of the 2026 Tour de France?
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