The Tour de France returns to Haute-Savoie and Thonon-les-Bains is preparing to experience one of the highlights of the 2026 edition. While the finish of the time trial between Évian-les-Bains and Thonon promises an exceptional spectacle on Tuesday, July 21, it will also result in significant traffic and parking restrictions for several days. Residents, shopkeepers, and visitors will need to anticipate their movements.
A highly anticipated finish on the shores of Lake Geneva
After the spectacular mountain stage linking Champagnole to the Plateau de Solaison, the riders will enjoy a rest day in Haute-Savoie before hitting the road again with an individual time trial of 26.1 kilometers between Évian-les-Bains and Thonon-les-Bains. This route, alternating climbs, descents, and flat sections, could create significant gaps in the general classification.
The finish will be judged near the Ripaille castle, where several thousand spectators are expected to watch the passage of the best specialists in the discipline.
Restrictions put in place several days before the race
To install the Tour de France infrastructure, the first measures will come into effect from Friday, July 17. Parking bans will progressively extend around the main event sites, before traffic closures affect several strategic areas of the city.
The Ripaille area, where the finish line will be installed, will be particularly impacted with restrictions starting the weekend before the event.
Tuesday, July 21: traffic completely interrupted on the course
On race day, constraints will be at their maximum. Between 8:30 a.m. and 10 p.m., the entire route used by the riders will be completely closed to traffic. No vehicles will be allowed on this itinerary, including residents, except for emergency services intervention. Vehicles left parked on the course may be towed away.
Motorists are therefore invited to move their vehicles in advance and organize their trips before the different areas close.
Several heavily affected areas
The restrictions will notably affect:
- the area around the Ripaille castle and the finish;
- the parking lots hosting the Tour Village;
- the press center located near the Champagne gymnasium;
- several city center routes used by the time trial.
Certain streets will be prohibited for parking from July 17 or 18, while several roads will remain closed until the day after the event to allow dismantling of technical installations.
Park-and-ride lots and free transport
To limit difficulties accessing the city center, the City of Thonon-les-Bains will set up multiple visitor parking lots on the outskirts, notably near La Grangette, Vongy, Thuyset, the Maison des Sports, and the SNCF train station.
Good news also for spectators: the Star’t bus network will be free on Tuesday, July 21, as will the Thonon funicular, to facilitate travel to the various event sites.
A city celebrating for several days
Beyond the competition, Thonon-les-Bains will live to the rhythm of the Tour for several days with a Tour Village, family activities, stands, cycling-related events, and numerous activities proposed by local authorities.
Between the finish of the time trial, the presence of professional teams, and the festivities organized in the city center, several tens of thousands of visitors are expected on the shores of Lake Geneva, making this stage one of the great sporting events of the summer in Haute-Savoie.
