On Saturday 11 July 2026, the Tour de France treated itself to a day entirely in the Périgord. For one stage, the Dordogne became the centre of the world’s biggest sporting event — and the route passed just a stone’s throw from Les Terrasses.
Whether you were already our guests that day or are planning a future stay, here’s a look back at the stage — and, more usefully, how to turn its route into a lovely outing by bike or by car during your stay.
A 100% Dordogne stage
180 km Start in Périgueux, finish in Bergerac Elevation gain limited to 1,150 m
Stage 8 of the 2026 Tour de France linked Périgueux to Bergerac over 180.4 km, on a route very close to the one used in 2017. The riders set off from the Allées de Tourny at 1:15pm, heading south through the Périgord Noir: Montignac-Lascaux with a nod to the prehistoric cave, then Sarlat-la-Canéda and the dramatic clifftop village of Domme, before dropping into the Dordogne valley near Le Buisson-de-Cadouin.
The peloton then followed the river through Siorac-en-Périgord, Calès, Badefols-sur-Dordogne, Lalinde and Port-de-Couze, before a flatter, technical finale — full of roundabouts and narrow roads — into Bergerac, barely 30 minutes’ drive from Les Terrasses.
A sprint finish
Tim Merlier wins Mass sprint in Bergerac
With no notable climbs on the second half of the route, this flat stage was made for the sprinters. Belgian rider Tim Merlier took the win, ahead of Biniam Girmay and Olav Kooij, while Tadej Pogačar held onto the yellow jersey in the overall standings.
Ride the route at your own pace
Great by car or e-bike 45 min from Bergerac to Sarlat
You don’t need to wait for the Tour to come back to discover this road — it’s simply one of the most beautiful routes in the region, and it works just as well as a scenic drive as it does a cycling outing for the more sporty among you.
Our suggestion: set off from Sarlat-la-Canéda in the morning, take time to stop at Domme for the view over the valley, then follow the Dordogne down to Beynac. From there, head to Le Buisson-de-Cadouin and follow the river to Lalinde — one of the loveliest, almost flat riverside stretches — before finishing in Bergerac. Allow a relaxed half-day by car, with a few unmissable photo stops along the way.
- Full route: Périgueux → Bergerac, 180 km
- Recommended stretch: Sarlat → Bergerac, about 65 km
- Best time to cycle it: spring or September
- Suggested stops: Sarlat · Domme · Beynac · Le Buisson-de-Cadouin · Lalinde · Bergerac
Fancy a bike ride or a scenic drive in the Tour’s tyre tracks during your stay? We’d be delighted to point you to the best stops.