The 141.8 km opening stage of the 2026 Tour of the Alps, starting and finishing in Innsbruck, Tirol, is expected to get off to a fast, lively start. The first 25 kilometres run flat along the Inn Valley, the perfect terrain for an early break. Upon reaching Telfs, the route enters a 24-kilometre circuit to be covered twice, featuring the gentle climb to the Mieminger Plateau. During the second lap of this loop, the riders will find the first KOM.

After leaving the circuit, the course heads back towards Innsbruck and onto a second 18-kilometre loop, also to be ridden twice. This circuit includes the ascent to Götzens: four kilometres at an average gradient of 7%, with a central section exceeding double-digit slopes. Before the fast descent towards Kematen, a short uphill segment leads to Axams, where an intermediate sprint with time bonuses is placed on the second passage. From there, roughly twenty kilometres remain to the finish in Innsbruck, on the classic Rennweg finishing straight.