The Tour of Mauritius was created in 1980 at the initiative of the Mauritian Cycling Federation. For more than forty years, it has been the annual meeting place for Mauritian cyclists and the Indian Ocean region, with editions sometimes held over several days, sometimes on a closed circuit depending on the year.

The event reached a major milestone in 2023 when it was included in the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) calendar as a Category 2.2 race within the UCI Africa Tour. This recognition allowed participating riders to earn individual UCI points, opening the door to invitations to other African, Asian, or European tours. In return, the UCI designation imposes strict standards regarding organization and rider safety.

The Tour's list of winners includes a particularly prestigious name: Christopher Froome, future four-time winner of the Tour de France, won the 2006 edition while racing under Kenyan nationality.

The 2025 edition could not be organized due to uncertainties surrounding the African calendar. The race's return in 2026, presented as one of the highlights of the Mauritian sporting season, therefore marks a kind of revival.

Beyond the purely sporting aspect, the Mauritian authorities are highlighting two complementary challenges for this edition. First, the tourism promotion : le ministère du Tourisme positionne le Tour comme un levier d’image, présentant Maurice à la fois comme une destination sportive et une destination verte, avec une couverture médiatique internationale qui dépasse le seul cercle des passionnés de cyclisme. Ensuite, un volet de sensibilisation à la sécurité routière, dimension civique régulièrement rappelée par les organisateurs et soutenue par les forces de l’ordre mobilisées sur le parcours.

L’édition 2026 se dispute en quatre étapes consécutives, du mardi 2 au vendredi 5 juin. Chaque étape part à 10 heures du matin et s’achève en début d’après-midi, autour de 13h30-14h. Le tracé fait le grand écart entre nord, sud, plateau central et côte ouest. Le maillot jaune de leader est sponsorisé par Swan.

Étape 1 — mardi 2 juin : grande boucle nord et est

Départ et arrivée au stade Anjalay (Belle Vue). Le peloton descend vers Pamplemousses, traverse Calebasses, Bois Marchand et Verdun, rejoint Côte d’Or, puis bifurque vers le sud-est par Quartier Militaire, La Vigie, Plaine Magnien et Riche en Eau, avant de remonter par Midlands, Belle Rive, Salazie, La Nicolière et Ville Bague.

• Départ : stade Anjalay, 10h00
• Arrivée : stade Anjalay, vers 14h00
• Caractère : étape mixte, vallonnée, premier test pour la hiérarchie générale

Étape 2 — mercredi 3 juin : centre et plateau de Plaine Champagne

Départ et arrivée au complexe sportif SPARC de Cascavelle. Le peloton remonte par Palma, Pierrefonds, Forest Side et La Vigie, descend vers Plaine Magnien et Cluny, puis attaque la traversée du plateau par Grand Bois, Bois Chéri, Grand Bassin et le Pétrin, avant de redescendre par Tamarin Falls et Pierrefonds.

• Départ : SPARC Cascavelle, 10h00
• Arrivée : SPARC Cascavelle, vers 13h00
• Caractère : étape de moyenne montagne avec le passage en altitude du Pétrin

Étape 3 — jeudi 4 juin : l’étape reine

L’étape la plus difficile du Tour, et celle qui dessinera très probablement le classement général. Départ de Cascavelle vers Le Morne, Baie du Cap et Chamarel, puis ascension du plateau de Plaine Champagne, descente vers Forest Side, puis enchaînement par Savanne Road, Souillac, Riambel, Rivière des Galets, la montée vers Bassin Blanc via Chamouny et la Vallée des Couleurs, le Pétrin, Grand Bassin, et arrivée à Avalon Bois Chéri.

• Départ : SPARC Cascavelle, 10h00
• Arrivée : Avalon Bois Chéri, vers 13h50
• Dénivelé positif : plus de 2 100 mètres
• Character: a high mountain stage featuring Plaine Champagne and the climb towards Bassin Blanc, a climber's paradise

Stage 4 — Friday, June 5: Final around Moka

Start and finish at the Minissy Hotel in Moka. The peloton passes through Wellkin, Telfair, Helvetia, Verdun, Côte d'Or, Hermitage, Belle Rive, La Vigie, Union Park, Cluny and Midlands, before a dynamic finale with three loops around Belle RiveThe loop format facilitates public access to the end of the race.

• Departure: Minissy Hotel, Moka, 10:00 a.m.
• Arrival: Minissy Hotel, Moka, around 1:40 PM
• Character: final stage, terrain favorable to breakaway specialists and punchers

The areas crossed throughout the Tour

The 2026 edition covers most of Mauritius. Depending on the stage, the peloton will cross:

• The north : Grapefruits, Calabashes, Mapou, Ville Bague — fairly rolling terrain.
• The center and the plateau : Côte d'Or, Moka, Quartier Militaire, Belle Rive, Midlands, Forest Side — permanent undulations, altitude up to more than 500 meters.
• The west and the southwest Cascavelle, Tamarin, Le Morne, Baie du Cap, Chamarel, Plaine Champagne — area of the most demanding climbs.
• The south and the southeast : Plaine Magnien, Riche en Eau, Souillac, Riambel, Rivière des Galets, Bassin Blanc — hilly terrain with technical sections.
• The interior northeast : Salazie, La Nicolière — classic site of the event, used on stage 1.

The iconic climbs of this edition

• Chamarel and Plaine Champagne (stage 3): ascent from the southwest to the plateau of the Black River Gorges National Park.
• Bassin Blanc via Rivière des Galets and Chamouny (stage 3): climb placed in the second part of the queen stage.
• The Kneading Tray (steps 2 and 3): highest point of the central plateau, above 700 meters.
• La Nicolière (stage 1): northern dam reservoir, arbiter of the first stage.

A large-scale organization

The Tour of Mauritius mobilizes a significant force: road police, medical emergency services, local organizing committees, private partners, and public institutions. Several Mauritian sports venues host the starts and finishes: Anjalay Stadium in the north, the SPARC complex in Cascavelle, Avalon Bois Chéri for the queen stage, and the Minissy Hotel in Moka for the final.

On Sunday, June 7, 2026, two days after the Tour's arrival, the riders will meet again for the Classic Air Mauritius, a one-day online race classified UCI 1.2. This event, which extends the great Mauritian cycling week, is generally contested on a closed circuit repeated several times, making it an excellent format for the public: it is possible to see the peloton pass several times in the same place.

The Classique has the distinction of also awarding individual UCI points, making it an important target for sprinters and punchers present on the island at that time.

The 2026 edition brings together approximately one hundred runners, distributed as follows:

• Sixteen international teams, originating from Europe, continental Africa and the Indian Ocean area.
• Four national teamsincluding the entire Mauritian selection.

Several African and Indian Ocean nations have been invited by the organizers: Algeria, Benin, Madagascar, Rwanda, and Seychelles. An Indian team may also participate. In addition, continental African teams and regional clubs will be represented.

The Mauritian team: Team MCB

The national team, which runs under the name of Team MCBis led by Alexandre MayerHe was designated as the team leader. He is surrounded by Samuel Quevauvilliers, Hanson Matombé, Toréa Célestin, and Jérémy Raboude. Vincent Graczyk, the national coach, holds the position of sporting director.

Alexandre Mayer knows the course well: he won the Tour of Mauritius in October 2020 (39th edition) and finished second overall in 2024, behind the Pole Piotr Brozyna. He is logically among the favorites on home soil this year.

Alongside Team MCB, two Mauritian regional clubs are also taking part: the Plaines Wilhems Regional Club (BRSC/VCP) and the Moka-Flacq Regional Club.

For Mauritian riders, the Tour at home represents a major objective of the season, both for sporting performance and for the conquest of UCI points useful for international selections.

On site, by the roadside

The Tour of Mauritius is a free event open to everyone: simply position yourself along the roadside to watch the peloton go by. Here are a few useful tips if you're on the island during these dates:

• Locate today's route The routes differ each day. Checking the day before (local press, federation's social media) allows you to choose the best observation point.
• Arrive early : the police put in place detours and some sections are closed to traffic up to an hour before the runners pass.
• Favor hilly areas : the hills slow down the peloton and offer a better spectacle than the long straight flat stretches where the riders pass in a few seconds.
• Stage finishes These are the most exciting moments, with a final sprint, podium, local crowd and festive atmosphere.
• The final circuit of the Air Mauritius Classic : ideal for visitors who want to enjoy a more accessible format, with several passes through the same place.

It is advisable to bring water, a cap or hat, and sunscreen: early June corresponds to the beginning of the Mauritian southern winter, but the sun remains strong in the middle of the day.

On television

The 2026 edition will receive international television coverage. The Mauritian Cycling Federation has confirmed the broadcast of the images on Channel And TV5 MondeThe exact broadcast arrangements (stages broadcast in full, summaries, schedule) are specified by the broadcasters as the event approaches.

For visitors staying in hotels, most Mauritian establishments offer these channels in their standard television package. The official Tour of Mauritius Facebook page also broadcasts content throughout the week.

During the four days of the race, some roads on the island are temporarily closed or subject to detours, generally for limited periods corresponding to the race's passage. If you are staying in Mauritius during this week, a few precautions are necessary:

• Anticipate important journeys (airport transfers, excursions) by checking the roads involved the day before.
• Keep in mind that slowdowns can also affect taxi and ride-hailing services, especially around stage finishes.
• For car rentals, allow comfortable time margins on north-south or east-west journeys on race days.

Mauritian authorities communicate about the closures via the press, radio and local community social networks.

What are the exact dates of the 2026 Tour of Mauritius?

The Tour of Mauritius 2026 takes place from Tuesday 2 to Friday 5 June 2026. The Air Mauritius Classic, a one-day race attached to the event, takes place on Sunday 7 June 2026.

Is the Tour of Mauritius a professional race?

The race is listed on the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) calendar as a 2.2 event in the UCI Africa Tour. It welcomes continental teams, international clubs, and national teams. The level of competition is high, though not on par with the major WorldTour races.

How many editions have taken place since the race was created?

The 2026 edition is the 44th of the modern era. The race was created in 1980. The 2025 edition could not be organized due to regional scheduling conflicts.

Is there a famous cyclist who has participated in the Tour of Mauritius?

The most famous winner is undoubtedly Christopher Froome, future four-time winner of the Tour de France, who won the 2006 edition while racing under Kenyan nationality.

Do you have to pay to attend the Tour?

No. Like most road cycling races, the Tour of Mauritius is completely free for the public. You just need to go to the roadside along the course.

Where can I find the precise itineraries for each stage?

Detailed race routes are published by the Mauritius Cycling Federation, the local press, and the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority in the weeks leading up to the race. It is recommended to check as close to the date as possible for the most up-to-date schedules.

Is the Tour of Mauritius disrupting tourism this week?

Disruptions will remain localized and limited in time: only the roads crossed by the race will be affected, and only during the passage of the peloton and its caravan. The majority of tourist activities (beaches, day trips, cultural sites) will remain fully accessible.

Which foreign teams are participating in the 2026 edition?

Sixteen international teams are expected, from Europe, continental Africa, and the Indian Ocean. Several African national teams (Algeria, Benin, Madagascar, Rwanda, Seychelles) have been invited, as well as one Indian team. The final list will be published by the organizers before departure.

What is the difference between the Tour of Mauritius and the Air Mauritius Classic?

The Tour of Mauritius is a four-day stage race (UCI category 2.2). The Air Mauritius Classic is a one-day road race (UCI category 1.2). They are held in the same week to allow foreign teams to combine both events during a single trip.