How to Watch the Tour de France

It’s time for cycling’s most anticipated event of the year. The Tour de France brings the best professional cyclists in the world together for a three-week cross-country race. The route is different every year, but the destination remains the same: A grand finish on Paris’ Champs-Elysées. No other competition is quite like it. Even if you don’t normally follow professional cycling, you’ll find yourself drawn in, captivated by the 21-day drama on display. If you want to see it all, there’s one place you need to be. 

What Is the Tour de France? 

The Tour de France is a massive bike race that takes cyclists on a three-week journey through France. With the exact route changing every year, this is a unique challenge unlike anything else on the cycling calendar. The race is broken up into stages, with each day covering a certain portion of the route. Each stage has its own winner, and the winner of the entire event is the person who has the fastest time of all 21 stages. Every stage matters. Even winning one, even if the rider doesn’t win the tournament, will boost that rider’s standing significantly. Only the absolute best, most competitive riders make it to the Tour de France, so tensions are high for the entire three-week race. 

This year’s event will take 176 riders through 3,404 km of road, hill, and mountain terrain. Multiple stages will force cyclists to climb for more than an hour straight. It’s a tough route that encourages athletes to take risks to get ahead. This year’s edition of the Tour de France is sure to be the most memorable yet. 

When Can I Watch Each Stage of the Tour de France 

If you want to see it all live, you’ll have to set an alarm. Each stage starts early in the morning for those of us in the U.S. Check out the schedule below. 

July 1 at 6:30a ET: Stage 1 – Bilbao  

July 2 at 6a ET: Stage 2 – Vitoria-Gasteiz to Saint Sébastien 

July 3 at 6:30a ET: Stage 3 – Amorebieta-Etxano to Bayonne 

July 4 at 6:30a ET: Stage 4 – Dax to Nogaro 

July 5 at 6:30a ET: Stage 5 – Pau to Laruns 

July 6 at 6:30a ET: Stage 6 – Tarbes to Cauterets-Cambasque 

July 7 at 7a ET: Stage 7 – Mont de Marsan to Bordeaux 

July 8 at 6a ET: Stage 8 – Libourne to Limoges 

July 9 at 7a ET: Stage 9 – Saint Léonard de Noblat to Puy de Dôme 

July 10: Rest Day – No Coverage 

July 11 at 6:30a ET: Stage 10 – Vulcania to Issoire 

July 12 at 6:30a ET: Stage 11 – Clermont-Ferrand to Moulins 

July 13 at 6:30a ET: Stage 12 – Roanne to Belleville en Beaujolais 

July 14 at 7a ET: Stage 13 – Châtillo sur Chalaronne to Grand Colombier 

July 15 at 6:30a ET: Stage 14 – Annemasse to Morzine le Portes du Soleil 

July 16 at 6:30a ET: Stage 15 – Les Gets les Portes du Soleil to Saint Gervais Mont Blanc 

July 17: Rest Day – No Coverage 

July 18 at 6:30a ET: Stage 16 – Passy to Combloux 

July 19 at 6a ET: Stage 17 – Saint Gervaise Mont Blanc to Courchevel 

July 20 at 6:30a ET: Stage 18 - Moûtiers to Bourg en Bresse 

July 21 at 7a ET: Stage 19 – Moirans en Montagne to Poligny 

July 22 at 7a ET: Stage 20 – Belfort to Le Markstein Fellering 

July 23 at 10a ET: Saint Quentin en Yvelines to Paris Champs Elysées 

Where can I watch the Tour de France? 

The Grand Départ will be LIVE on both NBC and Peacock. After that, most stages will be exclusive to Peacock, but some will also be broadcast on USA. If you want to see every stage, including the finale on the Champs Elysées in Paris, you’ll want to make sure you have Peacock. 

Stage 1: NBC and Peacock 

Stage 2: Exclusively on Peacock 

Stages 3-7: USA and Peacock 

Stages 8-21: Exclusively on Peacock 

Can I Watch a Stage Later if I Can’t Catch it Live? 

Yes! In addition to full live coverage, Peacock will have full replays available of every stage of the Tour de France. You’ll also be able to stream highlights, recaps, interviews, and much more. Every replay will be available after the conclusion of each stage so you never have to miss a moment. The Tour de France is the most dramatic race on the calendar, so Peacock is making sure you get to see it all. 

Which Cyclists Should I Look Out For? 

Defending champion Jonas Vingegaard is definitely one to watch. He’s an absolute phenom and there’s absolutely a possibility of him repeating this year. He’s not the only favorite though. Tadej Pogacar, who won the Tour in 2020 and 2021, will likely fight for the top spot the whole way through. The battle between these two is one of the most-anticipated elements of this year’s race. 

Australian cyclists Ben O’Connor and Jai Hindley could also make some noise, as could France’s David Gaudu and Ecuador’s Richard Carapaz. They could even pose a threat to the top two favorites if things break their way. Cycling is a fickle and unpredictable sport, after all. There are also a few American cyclists worth paying attention to, particularly Matteo Jorgenson and Neilson Powless. Even if they don’t win the whole thing, or even podium, they have a definite shot at securing some stage wins. That alone is a career highlight for pro cyclists. 

There is no race quite like the Tour de France. It’s long, dramatic, and a true test of endurance. Emotions run high for the entire three weeks, making for the most thrilling race of the year. Get Peacock now to see it all. 

Watch the Tour de France on Peacock.