Tour de France cycling series brings global spotlight to Mysuru in 2026

Mysuru is set to host India's first L’Étape by Tour de France cycling event on October 4, 2026, bringing an internationally recognised amateur cycling series to Karnataka and placing the city in the spotlight as a potential cycling and sports tourism destination.

The event is being organised by NEB Sports in association with the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports and Karnataka Tourism, in partnership with Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), which organises the Tour de France. The event was announced at a press conference in Bengaluru, where organisers unveiled the route map.

L’Étape Mysuru will take riders along routes around Chamundi Hills and the city's outskirts. The event will feature four formats designed to accommodate different experience and fitness levels, from endurance cyclists to families and children.

According to the event's official website, participants can choose from a 100-km race, a 50-km ride, a 20-km family ride and a 1-km children's event. The 100-km route is listed with an elevation gain of 763 metres, while the 50-km route has a listed elevation gain of 1,000 metres.

The event will feature official timing, race support and closed-road routes, offering participants an experience inspired by the Tour de France.

Cycling and tourism opportunity

The arrival of L’Étape in Mysuru connects organised amateur cycling with the city's tourism infrastructure and surrounding landscape. The event is expected to attract riders from across India and overseas, while giving the city visibility among cycling enthusiasts and adventure travellers.

Škoda India has partnered with L’Étape Mysuru, associating the automotive brand with the event's first Indian edition. The partnership adds a commercial dimension to the event, combining sports participation, destination promotion, and brand engagement.

For Karnataka Tourism, hosting the series provides a platform to showcase Mysuru beyond its established cultural and heritage attractions. Routes around Chamundi Hills and the surrounding countryside offer a setting for cycling-led experiences that can be extended to visitors and sporting communities.

The event's multiple formats also create an entry point for recreational participants who may not compete in long-distance cycling. Family and children's rides broaden participation beyond experienced cyclists, while longer distances cater to endurance- and performance-focused riders.

L’Étape is an amateur cycling series inspired by the Tour de France, bringing elements of the professional race experience to mass-participation events. Its Mysuru debut introduces the format to India for the first time.

With the inaugural event scheduled for October 4, Mysuru's hosting of L’Étape places cycling at the intersection of sports participation, tourism and commercial partnerships, as organisers prepare to welcome riders to the city.