tour de france 2023 magazine premium

Everything you need to know about cycling in France your independent guide

2023 Tour de France program and race guide

Published by Lyn on 18 April 2023

The official Tour de France program and race guide ALWAYS SELLS OUT. It has all the info you need to plan your Tour de France trip, including stage times and maps. It's also great for viewing at home. You can order the UK edition here .

The Official Tour de France race guide is published in the months leading up to the race.   ASO, the Tour de France organiser, licenses the publication of the guide in each country each year. This is why the quality varies across countries.

The UK edition of the TDF race guide

In my view, the UK edition is consistently the best English-language edition. If you live in the UK, US, Canada, Australia or anywhere else and you are following the Tour de France in person, then this is the edition you want to get your hands on. It is more comprehensive than the English editions released in the US and Australia.

You need to have the UK edition sent to a UK address. It cannot be delivered outside the UK due to ASO's licensing agreements.

There are usually two UK editions.

1) The Standard Edition  of the Official Tour de France 2023 Race Guide (UK/English). You can order it here for £10.99 .

2) The Premium Edition of the Official Tour de France 2023 Race Guide (UK/English). You can order it here for £17.99 .

Readers outside the UK

As mentioned above, some of the versions below (published by local publishers on contract) are not as comprehensive as the UK English-language version. The UK edition is consistently more comprehensive than other editions and carries more maps, more route info, full stage times and more general race information.  If you are outside the UK and it's possible to have a friend in the UK send you a copy, then that would be my recommendation if you are travelling to the TDF.

* The Australian and New Zealand edition  can be ordered here  for $18.95 .  * For the US – I have no information on their being a US Edition this year.   * The original French-language version is released in France and is sold at newsagents and tabacs (corner stores). It is not as comprehensive as the UK edition.

The UK edition from the official publisher can only be sent to a UK address. There are two ways around this that readers have reported:

1)  Some readers outside the UK set up temporary UK postboxes  through this website .  They have the guide shipped there and forwarded to their US (or other overseas) address.

2) Some readers have reported success with this website . It is not the official publisher and I cannot offer any reassurance regarding their reliability. 

All other links on this page are to the official accredited UK publisher.

What's usually included in the UK English-language edition?

I cannot speak for the 2023 US and Australian versions – this info relates to the UK English edition.

We find the UK version of the guide invaluable when planning our trips to watch the Tour de France. It's got maps of every stage, plus full team and stage profiles, as well as stage start and end times (they are particularly useful to have in one place both when planning and on the day).

There is a 'premium' edition as well as a 'standard' edition  that includes stuff like:

Standard UK English-language edition 

The 2023 standard edition has :

• 204-page program/magazine with individual Tour de France stage maps + stage start/end times
• Tour de France Femmes info
• A2 double-sided Tour de France and Tour de Femmes wallchart
• Special Basque Legends magazine (the Tour this year starts in the Basque Country)
• Exclusive beer mats showcasing mountain passes on this year's route + historic moments from previous years

Premium UK English-language edition

The 2023 premium edition has :

• Souvenir TDF socks

(Image from a previous year).

Why get it?

We wouldn't go to watch more than one Tour de France stage without it. All the basic info is eventually replicated on the official TDF website, but having it in hard copy is handy (and easier/cheaper) if you're using phone data to access the web, if you're in a dodgy wifi zone or if your phone battery dies (yes, that was me in 2021).     

We get dozens of emails every day asking for information about following the Tour de France – I always tell them to get a copy of the official race guide to make planning easier.

This guide has lots of info that can help you plan your trip. While it is published too early to include all road closure information ( see this page for that ), having all the stage information in one place is really handy. It basically replicates the official TDF website but in a much more easily digestible format and in much more detail.

Each stage is profiled with a map that helps you put key cols and stage towns into perspective, and to see clearly where access roads may be. The pullout map then gives a full overview of how the stages interact.

Those UK links again ...

1) The Standard Edition of the Official Tour de France 2023 Race Guide (UK/English). Order it here for £10.99 .

2) The Premium Edition of the Official Tour de France 2023 Race Guide (UK/English). Order it here for £17.99 .

This guide SELLS OUT EVERY YEAR, often weeks before the Tour. If you are thinking of watching the Tour de France in person , you should order a copy as soon as it's released.  

• Accommodation on the Tour de France route here
• Road closure info here
• Full 2023 Tour de France route here

On the blog

2024 Tour de France program and race guide

AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW! The official Tour de France 2024 race program and guide includes all the route maps for each stage, plus stage start and end times, and team and rider profiles.

Posted: 23 Apr 2024

Cycling in France?

Search for tours & accommodation

What are you looking for? What are you looking for? All Accommodation - Campsites - Hotels, hostels and B&Bs - Self-catering All Tours - Guided - Self-guided

Where do you want to look? Where do you want to look? All France /r/n Alsace /r/n Aquitaine /r/n Auvergne /r/n Brittany /r/n Burgundy /r/n Champagne-Ardenne /r/n Corsica /r/n Franche-Comté /r/n Languedoc-Roussillon /r/n Limousin /r/n Loire Valley-Centre /r/n Lorraine /r/n Midi-Pyrénées /r/n Nord-Pas-de-Calais /r/n Normandy /r/n Paris-Île-de-France /r/n Pays de la Loire /r/n Picardy /r/n Poitou-Charentes /r/n Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur /r/n Rhône-Alpes /r/n

Popular articles

• Bespoke planning help
• Help with bike hire
• Buying bikes in France
• Shipping bikes to France
• Cycling insurance
• Easy way to buy train tickets for bikes
• Taking bikes on Eurostar
• Ferry tickets to France
• Canal de Garonne itinerary
• La Velo Francette itinerary
• Paris bike routes
• French dictionary for cyclists
• How to choose a cycle tour
• How to choose a bike route
• Cycling with a GPS
• MTB in France
• Cycling for charity

Share this:

Receive our newsletter.

Your details are safe and will not be sold to a 3rd party, we promise.

Twitter Facebook Pinterest RSS

© 2011-2024 Freewheeling France | Copyright, Cookies, Privacy and Advertiser T&Cs |

Official games

2023 Edition

• Stage winners
• All the videos

Tour Culture

• Commitments
• key figures
• Sporting Stakes

"Maillot Jaune" Collection

• The jerseys

"Tour de France Cycle City" label: soon 150 towns and 10 countries in the loop?

Tourtel twist to continue to add zest to the tour....

D-100: ITALY TURNS YELLOW

Discover the official Tour de France 2024 mobile...

2023 rankings

Stage 1 | 06/29 Florence > Rimini

Stage 2 | 06/30 cesenatico > bologne, stage 3 | 07/01 plaisance > turin, stage 4 | 07/02 pinerolo > valloire, stage 5 | 07/03 saint-jean-de-maurienne > saint-vulbas, stage 6 | 07/04 mâcon > dijon, stage 7 | 07/05 nuits-saint-georges > gevrey-chambertin, stage 8 | 07/06 semur-en-auxois > colombey-les-deux-églises, stage 9 | 07/07 troyes > troyes, rest | 07/08 orléans, stage 10 | 07/09 orléans > saint-amand-montrond, stage 11 | 07/10 évaux-les-bains > le lioran, stage 12 | 07/11 aurillac > villeneuve-sur-lot, stage 13 | 07/12 agen > pau, stage 14 | 07/13 pau > saint-lary-soulan pla d'adet, stage 15 | 07/14 loudenvielle > plateau de beille, rest | 07/15 gruissan, stage 16 | 07/16 gruissan > nimes, stage 17 | 07/17 saint-paul-trois-châteaux > superdévoluy, stage 18 | 07/18 gap > barcelonnette, stage 19 | 07/19 embrun > isola 2000, stage 20 | 07/20 nice > col de la couillole, stage 21 | 07/21 monaco > nice, tour culture, grand départ florence émilie-romagne 2024, grand départ lille-nord de france 2025, 2024 tour de france finale in nice, riding into the future, all the news, official tour operators, history of tour de france, accessories.

Receive exclusive news about the Tour

General Ranking

> Withdrawals

Accreditations

Privacy policy, your gdpr rights.

Cycling Plus' summer 2023 edition out now complete with two Tour de France guides

Issue 407 is out now, boasting not one but two pull-out guides to the Tour de France men's and Femmes races, plus fast gravel bikes and summer kit on test

The Summer 2023 edition of Cycling Plus is out now. And it's a biggie, coming with pull-out guides to the Tour de France men's and Femmes races, with all you need to know on the teams, stages and talking points of 2023's biggest cycling races.

If you subscribe today you'll save 33% and get a Cube bike helmet worth £50

Tour de France 2023

The start of the world's biggest bike race is nearly upon us. But what are the key stages, the teams on the start line and the areas in which the Tour de France will be won and lost? Our 36-page pull-out guide will answer your questions, plus much more, including our picks of the greatest climbs of the race's history.

Tour de France Femmes 2023

After 2022's massively successful edition, the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is set to return in July. In our 28-page guide, we boast exclusive interviews with British star Lizzie Deignan and event director Marion Rousse, debate the race's major talking points and provide the key stage, rider and team details.

The big bike test

Want to hit the gravel and ride it fast? Then you're in luck, as Warren Rossiter reviews four of the swiftest multi-terrain flyers from Specialized, Orbea, Focus and Basso in our major bike test.

Summer kit rated

In the market for a new summer outfit? We rate 12 men's and women's jersey and bib-short combos for their performance in the heat, comfort, carrying capacities and more.

Mental recovery

How can we combat the psychological comedown from crossing the line of that major cycling challenge? Anna Gardiner investigates, while a host of experts provide their proven ways to help you think like a champion.

Tasty fakeaway recipes

From nutrient-dense curries to veggie-packed pizzas, even pro riders now get to enjoy healthy twists on takeaway treats, We reveal how naughty but nutritious 'takeaway' food can satisfy your cravings and boost your performance.

Island escapes

Tired of crowded Mallorca or toasty Tenerife? We present our best under-the-radar island destinations for 2023 and beyond, including Madeira, the Azores, Ibiza and Guernsey.

Subscription offer

If you subscribe today, you'll get a Cube bike helmet worth £50 and save 33%

Whether you’re looking at investing in a new bike, trying a different kind of cycling or searching for new gear to make those days on the road more comfortable, Cycling Plus is the magazine for you.

Share this article

Editor of Cycling Plus magazine

• Privacy policy
• Cookies policy
• Terms & conditions
• Code of conduct
• Complaints escalation
• Manage preferences

How to Watch the 2023 Tour de France—and Who Might Win

From cable TV to live streaming, here are your options for watching the 2023 Tour, plus details about riders to watch.

The 2023 Tour de France begins on Saturday, July 1, 2023 in the Spanish Basque region, with a hilly 182K road race through the steep hills around Bilbao. So it’s time to start planning how you’re going to watch it.

Whether that means streaming from your phone, starting your morning with the previous day’s highlights, or inviting your friends over for a viewing party, the options for watching the Tour de France are plentiful.

For the Fanatics

You could cancel your subscription at the end of the Tour, but consider this: by subscribing to Peacock Premium or Peacock Premium Plus you’ll also have access to the full men’s and women’s Tours as well as other races covered by NBC and its partners, including the 2023 Vuelta a España and next year’s editions of Paris-Nice and Paris-Roubaix .

The Peacock app is available on Roku, Apple devices, Android and AndroidTV devices, Google platforms, Chromecast, Xbox devices, Playstation 4 and 4 Pro, VIZIO SmartCast TVs, and LG Smart TVs. You can also watch online via the Peacock website.

If you have a good cable package and prefer conventional viewing on your television, you’re in luck: NBC will offer the race to cable subscribers via the USA Network and CNBC. Live coverage often starts around 7 a.m. ET, so 9-to-5ers will likely need to record each stage and watch later. (Check the full schedule for details.)

No Cable? No Problem.

If you don’t have cable and want more than what’s offered on the NBC app, a subscription to FuboTV costs $70 per month. Add the $12 per month cycling package you’ll have full access to NBC’s coverage of the race. Fubo’s also great for those who love cycling year round, as FuboTV has a full-time cycling channel covering the major Tours, the Classics, some world championship events, and even BMX racing. (It’s also available in Canada.) If you’ve been looking for a streaming service that offers most if not all of the channels you enjoy watching, it’s a solid option.

Riders to Watch

Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma), the defending champion , should enter this year’s race as the top favorite. He’s spent much of the season at training camps with his teammates, but when he has raced, he’s done well, winning two of three stage races he entered and finishing third in the one that he didn’t. His squad is the strongest in the Tour and the course suits him. Assuming he makes it to the starting line in Bilbao without any unexpected mishaps (like crashes or illnesses), he’s the #1 contender.

Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) who won back-to-back Tours in 2020 and 2021 and absolutely CRUSHED the first part of the season (he won the Ruta del Sol, Paris-Nice, the Tour of Flanders , the Amstel Gold Race , and Flèche Wallonne ) would have been the top favorite had he not crashed and broken his wrist at Liège-Bastogne-Liège. The injury forced him off the bike for a while, interrupting his training for the Tour. But that might be a good thing: first because it means he’ll be peaking a bit later in the race; and second because he’ll be a bit more of a dark horse, which could play right into his hands. He has the added advantage of having beaten Vingegaard the only time they raced against one another so far this season: at Paris-Nice in March.

The INEOS Grenadiers will again come to the Tour led by Colombia’s Daniel Martinez, who’s so far failed to live up to the expectations the team had for him when they signed him away from EF Education a few years ago. He’ll be joined by his compatriot, Egan Bernal , the winner of the 2019 Tour de France (and 2021 Giro d’Italia ) who’s slowly been working his way back from a crash that nearly took his life in February 2022.

Other contenders include Spain’s Enric Mas (Movistar), a three-time runner-up in the Tour of Spain who has fifth- and sixth-place Tour de France finishes on his resume; France’s David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), who narrowly missed a spot on the final podium last year; and Ecuador’s Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost), who has podium finishes in all three grand tours including a win at the 2019 Giro d’Italia .

Tour de France Stage Schedule

The 2023 Tour is 21 stages long and includes two rest days. Here’s a look at the day-to-day stage schedule:

• Stage 1 : July 1 - Hilly - Bilbao to Bilbao - 182K
• Stage 2 : July 2 - Hilly - Vitoria-Gasteiz to Saint-Sébastien - 209K
• Stage 3 : July 3 - Flat - Amborebieta-Etxano to Bayonne - 185K
• Stage 4 : July 4 - Flat - Dax to Nogaro - 182K
• Stage 5: July 5 - Mountain - Pau to Laruns - 165K
• Stage 6 : July 6 - Mountain - Tarbes to Cauterets-Cambasque - 145K
• Stage 7 : July 7 - Flat - Mont-De-Marsan to Bordeaux - 170K
• Stage 8 : July 8 - Hilly - Libourne to Limoges - 201K
• Stage 9 : July 9 - Mountain - Saint-Léonard-De-Noblat to Puy de Dôme - 184K
• July 10 - Rest Day
• Stage 10 : July 11 - Hilly - Vulcania to Issoire - 167K
• Stage 11 : July 12 - Flat - Clermont-Ferrand to Moulins - 180K
• Stage 12 : July 13 - Hilly - Roanne to Belleville-en-Beaujolais - 169K
• Stage 13 : July 14 - Mountain - Châtillon-Sur-Chalaronne to Grand Colombie - 138K
• Stage 14 : July 15 - Mountain - Annemasse to Morzine Les Portes Du Soleil - 152K
• Stage 15 : July 16 - Mountain - Les Gets Les Portes Du Soleil to Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc - 180K
• July 17 - Rest Day
• Stage 16 : July 18 - Individual Time Trial - Passy to Combloux - 22K
• Stage 17 : July 19 - Mountain - Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc to Courchevel - 166K
• Stage 18 : July 20 - Hilly - Moûtiers to Bourg-En-Bresse - 186K
• Stage 19 : July 21 - Flat - Moirans-en-Montagne to Poligny - 173K
• Stage 20 : July 22 - Mountain - Belfort to Le Markstein Fellering - 133K
• Stage 21 : July 23 - Flat - Saint-Quentin-En-Yvelines to Paris Champs-Élysées - 115K

.css-1t6om3g:before{width:1.75rem;height:1.75rem;margin:0 0.625rem -0.125rem 0;content:'';display:inline-block;-webkit-background-size:1.25rem;background-size:1.25rem;background-color:#F8D811;color:#000;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-position:center;background-position:center;}.loaded .css-1t6om3g:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/bicycling/static/images/chevron-design-element.c42d609.svg);} Racing

Giro Organizers Planning a Women’s Milano-Sanremo

Tadej Pogačar Hits the Deck, But Still Wins

2024 La Vuelta Femenina: Stage Recaps & Highlights

2024 Giro d’Italia Riders to Watch

6 Must-Watch Stages of the 2024 Giro d’Italia

A Comprehensive Guide to the 2024 Giro d’Italia

Is the Giro d’Italia the Tougher Grand Tour?

Giro d’Italia’s Jersey Colors: What They Mean

Luke Lamperti Gears Up for Giro d’Italia Debut

2024 Giro d’Italia | Geraint Thomas to Lead Ineos

Highlights & Lessons From the 2024 Spring Classics

TOUR magazine available to pre-order now

With the Tour de France just a few months away, pick up the fans’ favourite guide to the race

• Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

The 2021 Tour de France is just a few months away and the ultimate guide to the race, TOUR magazine, is available to pre-order now.

This year, the 108th Tour de France will run from June 26 to July 18, raced over 21 stages and covering a total distance of 3,383km.

TOUR magazine, the ultimate fans’ guide to the Tour, will feature 172 pages of interviews, profiles, in-depth tech stories, and the history and legends of the Tour from the top writers in cycling.

The magazine, on sale from May 13, will feature the world’s leading pro riders including 2020 winner Tadej Pogačar, runner-up Primož Roglič, Brits Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas , as well as Tour de France stars Peter Sagan , Sam Bennett and Richie Porte.

The UK edition will also feature additional writing on Ineos Grenadiers, British Tour riders and the latest generation of superstars.

TOUR magazine will also include the complete 21-stage route with stage-by-stage maps, info and expert comment, along with every team lining up for the start in Britany, TV info and stage results you can fill in as the race progresses.

That’s just a taster of what to expect in TOUR 2021 magazine. It’s shaping up to be the best yet — join us as the countdown to July begins!

Get The Leadout Newsletter

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!

Tour de France 2021 at a glance

Start: Saturday, 26 June

Ends: Sunday, 18 July, 2021

The 108th  Tour de France will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,383km (2,102 miles)

Grand Depart: Brest

Final stage: Champs Elysees, Paris

Contested by 22 professional eight man teams totalling 176 riders

• Eight flat stages
• Five hilly stages
• Six mountain stages with three mountain-top finishes
• Two individual time-trial stages
• Two rest days

This year we have curated three special editions to choose from:

£8.99

172 pages packed full of everything you need to know about the 2021 Tour de France plus a free pair of yellow Tour socks

Pre-order: www.magazinesdirect.com/tour

 Tour Premium

£12.99

Tour magazine plus great free gifts! 3 pairs of Tour socks (classic yellow, polka dot and green) and an exclusive Tour bottle opener keyring

Pre-order: www.magazinesdirect.com/tourpremium

 Tour The Collector's Edition

£15.99

Tour magazine plus NEW Procycling Tour Collection bookazine worth £9.99 and a set of 4 limited edition art prints from the Cycling Weekly archives depicting unseen scenes from past Tour de France races dating back to 1951.

Pre-order:  www.magazinesdirect.com/tourcollectors

All editions will be available from Thursday 13th May in all good supermarkets and newsagents.

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers.  Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.

This is not a performance-based evolution but a customer-oriented one, lowering the overall cost of ownership and increasing the useful life of each hub

By Kristin Jenny Published 8 May 24

Kick Gen-Z’s bad rep to the curb, they’ve given cycling a much-needed facelift, says Emmie Harrison-West

By Emmie Harrison-West Published 8 May 24

Useful links

• Tour de France
• Giro d'Italia
• Vuelta a España

Buyer's Guides

• Best road bikes
• Best gravel bikes
• Best smart turbo trainers
• Best cycling computers
• Editor's Choice
• Bike Reviews
• Component Reviews
• Clothing Reviews
• Contact Future's experts
• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Cookies policy
• Advertise with us

Cycling Weekly is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site . © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

• Associated Press ,

• OlympicTalk ,

Trending Teams

Nbc sports, peacock to remain exclusive u.s. home of tour de france.

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 24: (L-R) Andrea Bagioli of Italy and Quick-Step - Alpha Vinyl Team and Guillaume Van Keirsbulck of Belgium and Team Alpecin-Fenix lead the peloton during the 109th Tour de France 2022, Stage 21 a 115,6km stage from Paris La Défense to Paris - Champs-Élysées / #TDF2022 / #WorldTour / on July 24, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

Getty Images

NBC Sports, Peacock and the Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.) today announced a six-year extension for exclusive U.S. media rights for the Tour de France.

Beginning with the 111 th Tour de France in June 2024, Peacock will become the exclusive home of the Tour de France in the United States through 2029 with live start-to-finish coverage of every stage . Select stages will also simulcast live on NBC throughout the three-week event. Daily coverage on Peacock will include NBC Sports-produced pre- and post-race studio shows, full-stage replays, highlights, stage recaps, rider interviews, and more.

As part of its previous agreement, NBC Sports and Peacock will present full live coverage of 110th Tour de France this summer (July 1-23, 2023). NBC Sports’ full coverage schedule for the 2023 Tour de France will be announced in the coming months.

“We’re excited to reach this long-term agreement with A.S.O. to present the world’s most prestigious cycling event live on Peacock for years to come,” said Jon Miller, President, Acquisitions and Partnerships, NBC Sports. “With the Tour de France and our extensive cycling portfolio, we are proud to continue as the home of cycling in the United States, while continuing to bolster Peacock’s best-in-class slate of live sports programming.”

“We are delighted to be able to extend our long-term partnership with NBCUniversal, which promotes the Tour de France and all the major A.S.O. sporting events to the American public on a cross-platform basis, including women’s cycling such as the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift that NBC Sports has supported since the first edition in July 2022. The combined coverage via Peacock, which will show the entire races from the beginning to the end, and network television, will ensure that everyone has access to the best of world cycling. Super fans won’t miss any of the twists and turns that cycling holds. NBC Sports will remain the home of cycling in the United States for another six years and in 2029 we will celebrate the 29th anniversary of a historic partnership that is proof of America’s sincere love for cycling and the Tour,” declared Yann Le Moenner, CEO of A.S.O.

As part of the agreement, NBC Sports will present many additional A.S.O. events throughout the year, including cycling events such as La Vuelta a España, which is the final Grand Tour event of the year following the Tour de France, La Vuelta Feminina by Carrefour.es, the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, the Spring Classics including the men’s and women’s Paris-Roubaix, Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift, the Ardennaises Classics (men and women) that are La Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Criterium du Dauphine, and Paris Tours. Also included are the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris, the world’s second-largest marathon, and the Dakar Rally , the world’s most challenging off-road endurance race.

Comcast/NBC Sports has served as the U.S. home of the Tour de France since 2001.

Sign in to your account

New customer? Create your account

Forgot Password

Recover password

Enter your email:

Remembered your password? Back to login

Create my account

Please fill in the information below:

Already have an account? Login here

Your cart is empty

• Home & Garden

• Sports & Recreation

• Auto & Motorcycles

Digital Delivery

Official Tour de France Race Guide Premium Magazine (Digital Version)

This is a digital subscription offered by Zino. These digital editions will be sent direct to your inbox. You can access them directly through your web browser or download the Zino app.

Country:              United Kingdom

ISSN Number:      160617052018

Published By:       Immediate Media Company London Limited

Category:            

Fulfilled By:          Zinio

Available On:        Web Reader, Desktop Reader, iPad, iPhone & Android

All Digital Subscriptions are fulfilled by Zinio. They will deliver digital editions directly to your inbox. You can access them through a web browser or download the Zinio app on your mobile device. Your issues are available to Read on Web, Desktop, iPad, iPhone & Android.

Estimate shipping

Payment & security.

Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.

• Opens in a new window.

• Subscribe to newsletter

It's going to be so great to have you with us! We just need your email address to keep in touch.

By submitting the form, I hereby give my consent to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of sending information about products, services and market research of ŠKODA AUTO as well as information about events, competitions, news and sending me festive greetings, including on the basis of how I use products and services. For customer data enrichment purpose ŠKODA AUTO may also share my personal data with third parties, such as Volkswagen Financial Services AG, your preferred dealer and also the importer responsible for your market. The list of third parties can be found here . You can withdraw your consent at any time.  Unsubscribe

Martin Jahn: “The Tour de France stands as a testament to the reliability and performance of Škoda vehicles.”

20th year of Škoda and Tour de France

The Most Notable Rule Changes In the Tour de France In the Last 20 Years by Matt Stephens

The Change in Team Dynamics in the Last 20 Years of the Tour de France by Matt Stephens

Celebrating the 20th year of Partnership: How Does Škoda Make the Tour de France Happen

20 Years and Counting: How The Bikes of the Tour de France Have Changed by Matt Stephens

Photogallery: The Legendary Moments of the Past 20 Years of the Tour

Recent news.

112th Tour de France: A Journey Through the Heart of Northern France

In a recent press briefing held in Lille, the capital of Nord, details about the 112th Tour de France were unveiled. The 2025 Grand Départ is set to showcase the beauty and strength of the Hauts-de-France region, including the Nord department and the European metropolis…

Mastering the Cobbles – Why Do Cyclists Like It?

Every time bicycle wheels start turning on cobblestones, they echo with history. Riding on pavé is not just cycling, it’s a rite of passage. Skill, adrenaline, history, and fulfilment are all reasons why cyclists are still drawn to this bumpy, unpredictable terrain. Let’s take a…

Test your extreme-cycling knowledge and win!

An exclusive le tour package for two..

Includes a helicopter flyover over the peloton!

Recommended

Which 2024 Races Will Feature Some (or All) of the Big Four?

If everything goes as planned, this year in road racing should be a watershed in the sport, with an unprecedented number of superstars racing against each other in some of cycling’s iconic races. Most of these riders’ schedules have now been made public so that…

Evenepoel on Racing Le Tour and the Olympics: “I have to perform at the highest level that I’ve ever done”

The 23-year-old Belgian cycling prodigy, already decorated with world championship titles and significant victories like a Grand Tour and a Monument, is now channeling his formidable talents and energies toward his debut in the Tour de France and a subsequent appearance at the Olympic Games.

Preparing for L’Étape Starts Now: How to Train

If you are among the those who secured a bib for next year’s L’Étape du Tour de France in France, the time for celebrations is over. It’s time to start your preparations for the event. Finishing L’Étape is not easy; this year, the route will…

16 Years of the Tour de France in a Single Interactive Map

Sometimes, in the heat of the race, it’s easy to forget that the Tour de France is more than just a bicycle race: it is also, as the name declares, a tour of France, which is surely one reason so many caravans are parked along…

• MAGAZINE OFFERS
• BIKE INSURANCE
• Best Products
• Maintenance
• Accessories
• Long-Term Reviews
• BikeRadar Podcast
• First Look Friday
• Bike of the Week
• Tech Features
• Routes and Rides
• Bike Galleries
• BikeRadar Bargains
• Buyer's Guides
• Fitness & Training
• Sizing & Fit
• Mountain Biking UK
• Cycling Plus

Six tech trends from the 2023 Tour de France | 1x drivetrains, all-rounder road bikes, divergent tyre philosophies and more

What’s hot at the most important bike race of the year

Simon von Bromley

Having gorged ourselves on bike tech and pintxos at the Grand Depart of the 2023 Tour de France , the BikeRadar team is now back home and digesting everything we learned.

As always, there was lots to see, and the archetypal Tour de France bike has evolved significantly since last year’s start in Copenhagen, Denmark .

From lightweight, aero all-rounder bikes and 1x drivetrains , to supersized tyres and ultra-expensive parts, this year’s Tour certainly has its own special flavour.

With that in mind, let’s dive into six of the key tech trends dominating the peloton at the sport’s biggest race.

After a stunted start to life in the pro peloton , 1x drivetrains for road bikes are back in the conversation.

At the time of writing, we’ve seen two riders using 1x SRAM Red eTap AXS drivetrains so far at this year’s Tour.

Do two riders make a trend, though? Well, they do when it’s last year’s yellow and green jersey winners, Jonas Vingegaard and Wout Van Aert.

As for why these two are choosing to run 1x instead of 2x, it’s hard to say.

On the right parcours ( Van Aert used a 1x drivetrain for this year's Milan-San Remo , for example), it’s possible to eke out a few marginal gains with a 1x setup, such as an improved chainline, marginally reduced aerodynamic drag and, of course, a simpler shifting setup with less risk of chain drops.

On the other hand, with only one chainring available, riders must choose between having lots of gear range but larger jumps between the gears, or less overall range and a tighter cassette, so there are compromises to it as well.

Could it be pressure from the team performance directors or sponsors? SRAM has, after all, pushed 1x for road and gravel much more than Shimano, who sponsor the majority of teams in the peloton.

We don’t know, of course, though we are sure neither Vingegaard or Van Aert would run it on their bikes if they thought it was a significant disadvantage.

Like the changes from rim to disc brakes , tubular to tubeless tyres and lightweight to aero road bikes in recent years, pro riders can sometimes be cautious about tech innovations, so we don’t expect the rest of the peloton to be jumping ship to 1x anytime soon.

We can still be sure other riders and teams will be paying attention, though, and if Jumbo-Visma does have success on 1x then we may see more of it at the Tour going forward.

Divergent tyre choices

Just when we thought things were calming down in terms of tyre choices, we actually saw a wide variety of types and widths at this year’s Tour.

As has been happening for a number of years, we’re seeing an ever-increasing amount of tubeless wheels and tyres and far fewer tubular options.

Interestingly, though, it appears teams haven’t simply settled on 28c tubeless tyres across the board.

Instead, each team appears to have optimised its tyre setup for the specific bike and wheel combinations it uses.

For example, when we saw Jonas Vingegaard’s Cervélo S5 at the Jumbo-Visma team hotel, it was equipped with 24mm-wide Vittoria Corsa Pro tubular tyres.

That’s quite narrow by modern standards, but given they were mounted to a set of Reserve 34|37 wheels , I suspect this was a lightweight combination intended to help get his bike weight down as much as possible for the lumpy opening stages.

We wouldn’t be surprised if Jonas switched this wheelset for something more aero, perhaps with tubeless tyres, for the flatter or more rolling stages of this year’s Tour.

Over at the UAE Team Emirates hotel, Tadej Pogačar’s bike had Continental GP5000 TT TR tubeless tyres mounted on ENVE SES 4.5 wheels .

These were nominally a size 28c, but on the ENVE rims – which have a super wide, 25mm internal rim width – these tyres were actually measuring up at a whopping 31.3mm at the front and 32.2mm at the rear.

As with Jumbo-Visma, we don’t know if this is what Pogačar will run for every stage. He might switch over to narrower, lighter wheels and tyres for the mountain stages, for example.

But it’s pretty wild to see tyres this wide being used for standard road stages at the Tour de France, and we suspect other teams will again be paying close attention to how they get on.

One bike to rule them all?

While we saw a smorgasbord of heavyweight aero road bikes at last year’s Grand Depart , this year it was all about the lightweight-aero all-rounders.

Of course, that’s perhaps unsurprising given this year’s opening stages around Bilbao, Spain, were significantly hillier than those around Copenhagen, Denmark, where last year’s race started.

The influx of a number of new bikes in this niche, such as the new Factor O2 VAM , a new prototype Ridley and the Look 795 Blade RS shows that many riders at the pointy end of the sport are still chasing those last few hundreds of grams.

Of course, we also know – thanks to the frequent comments we receive on the topic – that many outside of the pro peloton care a lot about bike weight too.

Is this just bike brands waking up to consumer demand then? Possibly – bike brands do exist to sell bikes, after all.

We might also wonder if many brands are looking at the popularity and success of bikes such as the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7 – arguably the archetypal lightweight-aero all-rounder road bike from the last few years – and thinking they’d like some of that success for themselves.

In terms of how much bikes actually weighed at this year’s Tour, we saw a real range – from just over 6.9kg for Simon Clarke’s new Factor O2 VAM, all the way up to 7.945kg for Mathieu van der Poel’s Canyon Aeroad CFR .

Interestingly, looks were fairly deceiving in this department.

Despite Pogačar’s Colnago V4Rs being adorned with an array of super expensive, weight weenie parts, including carbon chainrings and those TT tyres, it was – at 7.245kg – only 100 grams lighter than Ben O’Connor’s new prototype BMC aero road bike (which weighed 7.345kg, according to our scales).

If you want to see how much every bike we saw at this year’s Tour weighed, though, check out our videos from this year’s Grand Depart on our YouTube channel .

Time trial tech for road stages

Time trials typically see riders go all-in on speed, eschewing any worries about comfort and durability.

Increasingly, though, we’re seeing time trial-specific kit being used in road stages of the Tour de France too.

Aero helmets , skinsuits and aero socks , for example, are now almost ubiquitous throughout the Tour peloton.

Tadej Pogačar has also been wearing Rule 28’s Aero Base Layer – a base layer with ridged sleeves designed to reduce a rider’s aerodynamic drag – underneath the young rider classification leader’s white jersey.

The main cost for using these instead of standard versions is comfort, but some teams are going further and risking more punctures for marginal gains in rolling resistance.

So far, we’ve seen riders from UAE Team Emirates, Ineos-Grenadiers and Bahrain Victorious all using time trial-specific Continental GP5000 TT TR tyres for road stages.

Wout Van Aert also used Vittoria Corsa Speed G2.0 TLR tyres (Vittoria's time trial-specific tubeless tyre) for stage 4, while we saw a Team Jayco-AlUla Giant Propel Advanced SL 0 equipped with the same tyres in the days before the race start.

It’s notable that the riders and teams doing this seem to be ones using tubeless wheels and tyres.

We suspect the fact that tubeless sealant can potentially help seal any untimely punctures is encouraging some teams to take their chances.

Of course, there’s still the reduced wear life of the thinner treads to contend with on these kinds of tyres, but, when you’re not paying for your equipment, and have a small army of mechanics at your disposal, that’s less of an issue.

Handlebars are getting narrower

As most of us are aware, it doesn’t matter how aero your bike is if you don’t adopt an aerodynamic riding position .

With that in mind, most of the bikes we saw at this year’s Tour were fitted with long stems and narrow handlebars , to help the riders get stretched out and lower their frontal area.

Caleb Ewan, for example, had a Deda integrated handlebar on his new Ridley with an enormous 14cm stem and a super-narrow 36cm handlebar – perfect for helping the diminutive sprinter squeeze through tight spaces in the bunch.

While seeing the narrowest bar widths on the bikes of smaller riders isn’t a surprise, even taller riders are using skinny bars at the Tour these days too.

AG2R-Citroen’s Ben O’Connor, for example, is reportedly 188cm tall, but had a 36cm wide handlebar (also paired with a 14cm stem) on his prototype BMC aero bike.

Even climbers, such as Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) and Jonas Vingegaard, are using relatively narrow 38cm handlebars – presumably they don’t mind giving up a little leverage for the potential aero gain.

The widest bars we saw in Bilbao were just 40 centimetres wide – on Mathieu van der Poel’s Canyon Aeroad and Mark Cavendish’s Wilier Filante SLR , although, like many, van der Poel turns his brake hoods in, which effectively gives him a narrower position hand.

Of course, there likely are some riders in the bunch still on 42 or 44cm wide handlebars, but it’s certainly a dwindling number.

Haves and have-nots

There’s no budget cap in professional cycling and a race like the Tour de France can painfully expose the differences between teams even at the top of the sport.

Some UAE Team Emirates riders, for example, appeared to have every piece of bling available – from the time trial-specific GP5000 TT TR tyres already mentioned, to ENVE wheels and components, weight weenie parts such as Carbon Ti chainrings and brake rotors, and ultra-light custom carbon seat posts.

In contrast, though, Peter Sagan and his Total Energies teammates are still running the previous generation Dura-Ace Di2 R9100 groupset and Specialized Turbo Cotton clincher tyres that were launched nearly 10 years ago.

There’s nothing wrong with 11-speed Dura-Ace, of course – just because there’s something new available, doesn’t mean the old stuff is suddenly rubbish – and the Turbo Cotton tyres are still regarded as some of the fastest clinchers ever made.

However, it’s hard to ignore the obvious disparities between one of the best-funded teams in the peloton and one which perhaps isn’t quite as flush with cash.

That said, it's fair to question how much of a difference all of this makes.

It doesn’t matter how posh the bike is – the rider still has to turn the pedals, after all.

But considering the margins between winning and losing can be so small at this level, these small differences can add up, especially over the course of a three-week Grand Tour.

Maybe it’s time to introduce budget caps in cycling and level the playing field a bit? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Share this article

Senior technical writer

• Terms & Conditions
• Subscribe to our magazines
• Manage preferences

• Magazine Subscriptions
• Sports & Recreation

Official Tour de France Race Guide Premium Magazine (Digital)

About Official Tour de France Race Guide Premium

The number of issues included in a magazine subscription (frequency) is subject to change without notice. Additional double issues may be published, which count as 2 issues. Applicable sales tax will be added. Offer void in Vermont. Magazine covers are used for illustrative purposes only and you may not receive a copy of the particular issue depicted. Your subscription will include the most recent issue once your subscription begins. Magazine covers are the property of the publisher. This site is not officially affiliated with, associated with, or endorsed by Official Tour de France Race Guide Premium or the publisher.

Giro d'Italia stage 5 Live - Will Jonathan Milan win again?

How long is the Tour de France?

The 2023 Tour de France will cover 3,405 kilometres. We take a look at the historic distances of the Tour de France

The Tour de France has long been considered the crowning glory of the cycling calendar. Taking place over three weeks in July, the race features 21 stages, varying in length and style from day to day.

Typically with two rest days, the Tour de France usually lasts a total of 23 days, typically taking in around 3,500km in distance. 

In the 2023 race takes place from 1st July to 23rd July and clocks in at 3,405 kilometres starting from Bilbao, Spain with two punchy stages in the Basque Country that will most likely not end in a bunch sprint.

After eight flat stages, four hilly stages and eight days in the high mountains including four summit finales and a single time trial, the race will finish as is traditional, in Paris on the Champs-Élysées.

Three Grand Tours

The Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España make up the 'Grand Slam' of professional road racing. In terms of prestige and history, the Tour de France is top of the pile when it comes to Grand Tours, and as a result, it’s the most renowned. Is that reflected in the distance it covers, though?

Not this year. The Giro d’Italia takes the prize for the longest Grand Tour of 2023, at 3,448 kilometres, with La Vuelta a España the shortest at 3,153.8 kilometres. 

How hard is the Tour de France? Tour de France 2023: Everything you need to know Tour de France 2023 – Analysing the contenders

In recent years, though, the Giro and the Tour have been uncannily similar, in terms of their overall distances. The average overall distance from 2000-2020 was 3,490 kilometres over the three weeks for the Giro d’Italia and 3,491 kilometres for the Tour de France. 

Get The Leadout Newsletter

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!

La Vuelta remains consistently the shortest in overall distance for a Grand Tour, with its average distance over the same period a mere 3,195 kilometres, just under 300km shorter than either of its counterparts.

Longest Race in History

Historically speaking, you might assume that the Tour de France has become harder over the years, to compensate for the peloton’s access to rapidly-improving resources including diet and nutrition, performance apparel, and of course the equipment. 

This isn’t strictly the case. Overall, distances have come down over the years  although the number of stages has increased. 

The first three editions of the Tour were relatively short, all at under 3000km. In fact, the shortest ever editions of the Tour de France were the first two, in 1903 and 1904, both the same length at 2,428 km. It’s worth noting though, that this distance was divided into just six stages. 

From then on, overall distance increased dramatically. Between 1911 and 1929, riders covered over 5000km each year. The longest edition of the Tour de France took place in 1926 and clocked in at an eye-watering 5,745 km (almost the distance from Paris to New York).

This remained the case for some time, total kilometres regularly exceeding 4000km all the way through to the 1980s.

The Giro and the Vuelta tell similar stories of extremes. The longest Giro d’Italia was  the 1954 edition at 4,337km, and the longest Vuelta was 4,407km. Ultimately, though, neither come close to the Tour de France’s mammoth distances of old.

This also applies to the length of individual stages. While the longest stage of this year’s Tour will be a 220km slog from Binche to Longwy, it pales in comparison to what riders of the past had to contend with. 

The longest-ever stage of the Tour was the fifth stage of the 1919 edition; it was a whopping 482 kilometres long, over twice the distance that the riders will cover in this year’s longest stage. Once again, the Tour de France proves itself the ultimate Grand Tour, as the longest stages the Giro and the Vuelta can boast are 430km and 310km ,respectively.

How far is the 2023 Tour de France route?

These days, what the Tour lacks in overall distance compared with years gone by, it more than makes up for in varied days and challenging terrain. After the shortest edition of the Tour de France in 20 years last year, this year's route covers 3,405 kilometres.

However, the challenges that face the nearly 200 riders expected to compete across the span of a 23-day Grand Tour do not begin and end with sheer distance. There is the small matter of elevation gain – a very different proposition measured in metres – which will test the riders’ legs as they claw their way up France's most iconic climbs.

The race typically ascends a total 48,000 metres, the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest five and a half times.

Tour de France distances covered from 2013 to 2022 

• Tour de France 2023: 3,405 kilometres (2116 miles)
• Tour de France 2022: 3,328 kilometres (2,068 miles)
• Tour de France 2021: 3,414 kilometres (2,122 miles)
• Tour de France 2020: 3,484 kilometres (2,165 mile)s
• Tour de France 2019: 3,366 kilometres (2,091 miles)
• Tour de France 2018: 3,351 kilometres (2,082 miles)
• Tour de France 2017: 3,540 kilometres (2,200 miles)
• Tour de France 2016: 3,529 kilometres (2,193 miles)
• Tour de France 2015: 3,360 kilometres (2,088 miles)
• Tour de France 2014: 3,661 kilometres (2,275 miles)
• Tour de France 2013: 3,404 kilometres (2,115 miles)
• Tour de France 2012: 3,497 kilometres (2,173 miles)

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Katy is a freelance writer and journalist. She has published interviews, features, and previews in Cycling News, Rouleur, Cyclist Magazine and the British Continental. She also writes opinion pieces on her own website writebikerepeat.com and is a frequent contributor to the Quicklink podcast. 

She is obsessed with the narrative element of bike racing, from the bigger picture to the individual stories. She is a cyclocross nut who is 5% Belgian and wonders if this entitles her to citizenship. Her favourite races are Ronde van Vlaanderen and La Vuelta.

In her spare time Katy is a published short fiction and non-fiction author.

The World According to Maurice Burton: Britain's first Black cycling champion

Why are echelons never a factor at the Giro d'Italia?

Most Popular

Tour de France 2023 : TOUR Tech briefing for Stage 12

Robert Kühnen

 ·  13.07.2023

Tour de France 2023 - Stage 12: Roanne - Belleville-en-Beaujolais | 168,8 Kilometres

*) The calculations are based on the bikes tested by TOUR in the laboratory and wind tunnel. The bikes at the Tour de France may differ in details. Of course, we have not yet been able to examine last-minute prototypes either.