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Stage 15 Loudenvielle > Plateau de Beille

Length 198 km

Type Mountain

Rest Gruissan

Stage 16 gruissan > nimes.

Length 187 km

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Tour de france route 2021: stage profiles, previews, start times, dates, distances.

A stage-by-stage look at the 2021 Tour de France route with profiles, previews, distances, dates and estimated start times (all times Eastern). Check out extended highlights here.

• Click here to watch the 2021 Tour de France live on Peacock

Stage 1: BREST→LANDERNEAU

• Date : Saturday, June 26
• Start time : 6:00 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 197.8 km (122.9 miles) - Hilly
• Preview : The 1st stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers approximately 198 km. The race starts in Brest and ends in Landerneau in what should be an exciting finish to see who can claim the first yellow jersey of the Tour. It includes 6 categorized climbs, though none tougher than a Category 3, and an intermediate sprint at 135.1 km.
• Extended highlights: Click here to watch

Stage 2: PERROS-GUIREC→MUR-DE-BRETAGNE

• Date : Sunday, June 27
• Start time : 7:00 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 183.5 km (114 miles) – Hilly
• Preview : The 2nd stage of the 2021 Tour de France is a 183.5-kilometer hilly stage that starts in Perros-Guirec and ends on the Mur-de-Bretagne in Guerledan. It features another 6 categorized climbs, all Category 3 or 4, including two climbs of the Mur-de-Bretagne. Between bonus seconds behind awarded atop the first Mur-de-Bretagne ascent and an uphill sprint to the finish line on the last climb, there could be an early swap of the yellow jersey.

Stage 3: LORIENT→PONTIVY

• Date : Monday, June 28
• Distance : 182.9 km (113.6 miles) – Flat
• Preview : The 3rd stage of the 2021 Tour de France is simpler flat stage, covering approximately 182.9 km and only featuring a pair of Category 4 climbs. In between those two climbs on the route from Lorient to Pontivy is an intermediate sprint at 118.3 km. With a flat road to the finish line, this stage should see the “pure” sprinters compete head-to-head for the first time in this year’s Tour.

Stage 4: REDON→FOUGERES

• Date : Tuesday, June 29
• Start time : 7:15 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 150.4 km (93.5 miles) – Flat
• Preview : The 4th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 150.4 km, as the best sprinters in the world will be on display for a second straight flat stage. The race from Redon to Fougeres is the only non-time trial stage in this year’s Tour without a single categorized climb. The stage features an intermediate sprint in the 2nd half of the stage at 114.4 km before another bunch sprint is expected at the finish line.

Stage 5: CHANGE→LAVAL

• Date : Wednesday, June 30
• Start time : 6:05 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 27.2 km (16.9 miles) – Individual Time Trial
• Preview : The 5th stage of the 2021 Tour de France is the first of two individual time trials, this one starting in Change and ending in Laval. It’s the first year since 2017 that the Tour has featured multiple individual time trials, which suggests the yellow jersey could be decided by which of the GC riders are the best time trialists. The rider who finishes the 27.2 km route on Stage 5 could very well be the new leader until at least the second week of racing.

Stage 6: TOURS→CHATEAUROUX

• Date : Thursday, July 1
• Start time : 7:45 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 160.6 km (99.8 miles) – Flat
• Preview : The 6th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 160.6 km from Tours to Chateauroux and is another stage designed for a finish-line showdown between the sprinters. One Category 4 climb comes at 72.6 km before the green jersey race takes over. An intermediate sprint at 104.3 km precedes what should be another exciting bunch sprint to end the day.

Stage 7: VIERZON→LE CREUSOT

• Date : Friday, July 2
• Start time : 4:50 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 249.1 km (154.8 miles) – Hilly
• Preview : The 7th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 249.1 km, the longest stage since 2000. The race starts in Vierzon and ends in Le Creusot. The intermediate sprint comes before five categorized climbs, including the first Category 2 climb of the Tour, which will award bonus seconds atop the Signal d’Uchon. The course suggests it could be a successful day for the breakaway or a small group of all-rounders contending to wear yellow at the end of the first week.

Stage 8: OYONNAX→LE GRAND-BORNAND

• Date : Saturday, July 3
• Distance : 150.8 km (93.7 miles) – Mountain
• Preview : The 8th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 150.8 km and is the first mountain stage of the race. After a first week without a lot of difficult climbing, the stage from Oyonnax to Le Grand-Bornand features three Category 1 climbs. With bonus seconds being awarded at the top of the Col de la Colombiere, the final climb of the day, the attention turns to the best climbers in the peloton.

Stage 9: CLUSES→TIGNES

• Date : Sunday, July 4
• Start time : 6:50 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 144.9 km (90 miles) – Mountain
• Preview : The 9th stage of the 2021 Tour de France from Cluses to Tignes covers approximately 144.9 km and will be the most grueling stage of the Tour to this point. There’s five categorized climbs, all of which are Category 2 or higher, including the first HC climb of the Tour on the Col du Pre. Plus, the finish line marks the first of three summit finishes of the Tour, following a 21 km ascent up the Montee de Tignes.

Stage 10: ALBERTVILLE→VALENCE

• Date : Tuesday, July 6
• Start time : 6:55 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 190.7 km (118.5 miles) – Flat
• Preview : The 10th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 190.7 km following the first of two rest days. Unless there’s extreme crosswinds, expect a simple day on the course from Albertville to Valence. Just a single Category 1 climb and the intermediate sprint come in the first half of the stage before the peloton sets itself up for a probable bunch sprint at the finish line in a day suited for the green jersey contenders.

Stage 11: SORGUES→MALAUCENE

• Date : Wednesday, July 7
• Start time : 5:50 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 198.9 km (123.6 miles) – Mountain
• Preview : The 11th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers approximately 198.9 km and features two different climbs up the same mountain. After leaving Sorgues, riders will encounter five categorized climbs in total, the last two a Category 1 climb and an HC ascent both up Mount Ventoux. Bonus seconds will be awarded atop the final climb before the majority of the final 22 km are downhill to the finish line in Malaucene.

Stage 12: SAINT-PAUL-TROIS-CHATEAUX

• Date : Thursday, July 8
• Start time : 7:20 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 159.4 km (99 miles) – Flat
• Preview : The 12th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 159.4 km. The route from Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux to Nimes is another flat stage that suits the sprinters, with no obstacles until a Category 3 climb at 83.7 km, just after the halfway point in the stage. With a late intermediate sprint in play, the green jersey race will be the highlight of the day.

Stage 13: NIMES→CARCASSONNE

• Date : Friday, July 9
• Start time : 5:55 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 219.9 km (136.6 miles) – Flat
• Preview : The 13th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers a lengthy 219.9 km on the second straight day with a flat stage, starting where the previous day finished in Nimes. Once an early Category 4 climb is out of the way, the attention turns to the sprinters. While it does look like a straightforward day for the green jersey race, the finish town of Carcassonne has never seen a bunch sprint when it has hosted a finish line in the Tour.

Stage 14: CARCASSONNE→QUILLAN

• Date : Saturday, July 10
• Start time : 6:15 a.m. on Peacock , NBC
• Distance : 183.7 km (114.1 miles) – Hilly
• Preview : The 14th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 183.7 km. The race starts where it finished Stage 13 in Carcassonne and finishes in Quillan. The hilly stage features five categorized climbs, three of which are Category 2. The final climb of the day will award bonus seconds atop the Col de Saint-Louis. On paper, this looks like a day for the breakaway, with the heavier mountain stages still to come in the third week of the race .

Stage 15: CERET→ANDORRE-LA-VIEILLE

• Date : Sunday, July 11
• Start time : 6:10 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 191.3 km (118.9 miles) – Mountain
• Preview : The 15th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 191.3 km, a long mountain stage starting in Ceret and finishing in Andorre-la-Vieille. Let the third week of the Tour begin with four categorized climbs, including three Category 1 climbs, and bonus seconds up for grabs atop the Col de Beixalis. The riders will also endure the highest point of the Tour at over 2,400 meters on the Port d’Envalira.

Stage 16: PAS DE LA CASE→SAINT-GAUDENS

• Date : Tuesday, July 13
• Distance : 169 km (105 miles) – Hilly
• Preview : The 16th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 169 km following the final rest day of the race. Now that they’ve gotten another quick rest ahead of the most pivotal racing, the yellow jersey contenders might let the breakaway succeed on this hilly stage from Pas de la Case to Saint-Gaudens. Four spread-out categorized climbs make this an exciting opportunity for a strong breakaway specialist.

Stage 17: MURET→SAINT-LARY-SOULAN

• Date : Wednesday, July 14
• Start time : 5:45 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 178.4 km (110.9 miles) – Mountain
• Preview : The 17th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 178.4 km, kicking off the first of the final two mountain stages of the Tour, both of which are summit finishes. The GC battle heats up starting in Muret, where a flat lead-up to three tough categorized climbs will put the yellow jersey contenders to the test. The stage ends in Saint-Lary-Soulan on the Col du Portet - the HC summit finish taking riders to an elevation of over 2,200 meters.

Stage 18: PAU→LUZ ARDIDEN

• Date : Thursday, July 15
• Start time : 7:25 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 129.7 km (80.6 miles) – Mountain
• Preview : The 18th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 129.7 km, with the short-distance mountain stage a good indicator of a challenging day of climbing. After leaving Pau, the peloton will tackle two small Category 4 climbs in the first half of the day before two HC climbs in the second half. It’s the only stage in the Tour with multiple HC climbs, the latter a summit finish at Luz Ardiden. It’s the last opportunity for the GC riders to put themselves in good position ahead of the Stage 20 time trial two days later.

Stage 19: MOURENX→LIBOURNE

• Date : Friday, July 16
• Distance : 207 km (128.6 miles) – Flat
• Preview : The 19th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 207 km. Expect a casual day from the peloton on this flat stage following the last of the mountains the day earlier and the need for strong legs the next day in the time trial. If a courageous breakaway doesn’t take advantage of this, we should see another sprint finish in Libourne.

Stage 20: LIBOURNE→SAINT-EMILION

• Date : Saturday, July 17
• Distance : 30.8 km (19.1 miles) – Individual Time Trial
• Preview : The 20th stage of the 2021 Tour de France is the second individual time trial that covers 30.8 km. The stage starts in Libourne, where the previous stage finished, and ends in Saint-Emilion. After what happened on last year’s Stage 20 individual time trial, when the yellow jersey amazingly switched hands, brace for another exciting day that could decide the winner of the Tour for the second straight year.

Stage 21: CHATOU→PARIS - CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES

• Date : Sunday, July 18
• Start time : 10:05 a.m. on Peacock , NBC
• Distance : 108.5 km (67.4 miles) – Flat
• Preview : The 21st stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 108.4 km. The race starts in Chatou and includes a Category 4 climb at 7.4 km and an intermediate sprint at 68.3 km. The Yellow Jersey is traditionally often solidly settled on the shoulders of the final winner at the start of this last stage, but for the sprinters who dream of triumphing on the Champs-Élysées, it’s the opportunity to take on one of the toughest challenges of the year.

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2022 Tour de France preview: everything you need to know about the route

Profiles and details of all 21 stages..

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Story Highlights

Tour de France Stages Stage 1 – Opening TT || Stage 2 – Big scary bridge || Stage 3 – Final day in Denmark || Stage 4 – Dunkirk to Calais || Stage 5 – “Roubaix Stage” || Stage 6 – A visit to Belgium || Stage 7 – La Super Planche || Stage 8 – Arrival in Switzerland || Stage 9 – Medium mountains || Stage 10 – Montèe de l’Altiport || Stage 11 – Galibier round one || Stage 12 – Alpe D’Huez || Stage 13 – Respite for sprinters || Stage 14 – Mende || Stage 15 – Carcassonne || Stage 16 – Foix || Stage 17 – Peyragudes || Stage 18 – Hautacam || Stage 19 – Penultimate sprinters’ day || Stage 20 – Final TT || Stage 21 – Paris ||

Twenty-one stages across four countries. Sky-high bridges, cantankerous cobbles and mythical mountains. It is, and could only be, the Tour de France. The race that dominates all others, the event synonymous with professional cycling. It’s impossible to speak too superlatively about it and this year’s edition looks set to be a cracker.

The big picture: Where does the 2022 Tour de France go?

Copenhagen is the host of the 2022 Grand Départ, an opening day time trial for the first time since Düsseldorf in 2017. Two more Danish stages will take the peloton west and south towards the German border before a transfer day to Dunkirk.

The race then heads south via a Roubaix cobbled stage, a brief jaunt over to Belgium, and then the first summit finish on La Super Planche Des Belles Filles, a return to the scene of Tadej Pogačar’s usurping of Primož Roglič two years ago, albeit with a finish further up the mountain and without time trial bikes.

Then, after a foray into Switzerland, we arrive at the Alps. The Col du Granon Serre Chevalier , the Col de la Croix de Fer, the Galibier (twice) and, of course, Alpe d’Huez . Huge.

We then transfer westwards to the Pyrenees for a final mountain GC showdown with summit finishes at Peyragudes and Hautacam on the menu.

Finally, a relatively long penultimate stage time trial just to keep the nerves jangling amongst the overall contenders until the final kilometre of proper racing. A traditional Sunday finish on the Champs-Élysées wraps things up to celebrate the yellow jersey and give the sprinters a reward for three fairly inhospitable weeks for fast men at the French Grand Tour.

As Tadej Pogačar aims for a third yellow jersey in a row and potential dethroners line up behind him, countless storylines will unfold across three weeks of racing in Denmark, France, Belgium and Switzerland. Here is the route upon which all this will happen, the intricacies of each day, and the likely contenders for daily victory.

Nice one Christain Prudhomme, looks like it’s going to be, how you say, ‘un doozy’.

Stage 1: Friday, July 1 – Copenhagen, Individual Time Trial, 13km

God morgen! A year later than planned but the Tour de France has finally arrived in Denmark. A pan-flat, 13.2km time trial in Copenhagen will offer the time trial specialists a chance at the yellow jersey. Riders will pass iconic landmarks such as the Tivoli Gardens and the Little Mermaid . A few tricky corners make this a technical course, but, let’s be honest, when is a time trial course not described as technical? Remember that perfectly straight time trial from the Tour de Whatever a few years ago? Nope.

Who will win stage 1?

Quick-Step AlphaVinyl’s Kasper Asgreen will be a home favourite and the most likely Dane to take a win on home soil, as long as he’s recovered from injury. Trek-Segafredo’s Mads Pedersen has apparently been preparing meticulously and is also one to watch.

But they will face stiff competition. Whether Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) or Rohan Dennis (Jumbo-Visma) make the selection is still up in the air, while Dennis’ teammate Wout van Aert could have a first showdown with Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix). The Dutchman is no TT slouch and will be looking to at least keep himself in with a chance of taking yellow at a later date. Meanwhile, overall contenders Primož Roglič (Jumb0-Visma) and Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) should perform capably, and Groupama-FDJ’s Stefan Küng? He’ll be fourth, obviously.

Stage 2: Saturday, July 2 – Roskilde to Nyborg, 199km

The first road stage of the race traces the western coast of Zealand (old, not New), the island upon which the metropolitan area of Copenhagen sits. It is also the fourth most populous island in Europe, so that’s something to think about. And you will have time to ponder due to the fairly flat route, with three small classified climbs, that should set up like a ‘normal’ day at the Tour. That is until the final 15km when the peloton has to cross The Great Belt Bridge to get to the finish line. It will look fantastic but that will matter little to the peloton, who will be stressed by an exposed bit of road 18 km long and 65 m off the ground. It’s an understatement to say it could get windy.

Who will win stage 2?

We should have the first big showdown of 2022’s headline sprinters. Quick-Step AlphaVinyl’s Fabio Jakobsen , Lotto-Soudal’s Caleb Ewan, BikeExchange-Jayco’s Dylan Groenewegen, Bora-Hansgrohe’s Sam Bennett. Van Aert and Van der Poel will likely also be in the mix, and we might as well have that as a given for most stages this Tour, at least so we can save on digital ink. Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux’s Alexander Kristoff? Iain obviously thinks so.

​​Stage 3: Sunday, July 3 – Velje to Sønderborg, 182km

The final stage before we say ‘farvel’ to Denmark. A flat offering on the Jutland peninsula (the bit of the country actually connected to mainland Europe, we’re learning a lot about Denmark aren’t we?)

Three fourth category climbs punctuate the route, to intermittently wake you up from your Sunday afternoon nap as Pierre Rolland sprints for one KOM point three times in a row. Less wind is expected en route to the finish line in Sønderborg, so another chance for the sprinters to duke it out is expected.

With Sønderborg being a 45-minute drive from the German border (a more direct, wetter route can be found across the Flensborg Fjord) are there any Deutsche riders who could have a say as the Tour finds itself the closest to Germany since the 2017 Dusseldorf Grand Départ?

Who will win stage 3?

Long gone are the days of Marcel Kittel, and Pascal Ackermann will be absent and hasn’t quite filled his elder’s shoes. Could John Degenkolb (DSM) race like it’s still 2017 and bag a win? Unlikely. Maybe pin your slim hopes on a Nils Politt (Bora-Hansgrohe) late surge snatch and grab.

Stage 4: Tuesday, July 5 – Dunkirk to Calais, 172km

Finalement, La Belle France! Well, Dunkirk and Calais aren’t exactly the first destinations on any tourist’s wish list, but they’ll do for now. We go port-to-port via an inland route.

A litter of category four climbs lie between the start and finish, and although they’re all only around a kilometre in length they’re punchy enough to provide a launchpad to attackers.

The Côte du Cap Blanc-Nez, or white-nose cape, is supposedly a French equivalent to the British white cliffs of Dover on the other side of the channel, and acts as the final categorised climb of the day. At 900 m long it’s the shortest of the day and at an average gradient of 7.5%, it’s the second steepest. With a little over 10 km to go, it perhaps offers the best chance to any prestigious interlopers.

Who will win stage 4?

Mathieu van der Poel could make another bid for freedom (and a stage win/yellow jersey combo) as could Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step AlphaVinyl) if he’s fully healed after his Liège crash. Only four days into the race, it will take someone with the zeal of those two to hold off the sprint teams and a warp-speed peloton.

Stage 5: Wednesday, July 6 – Lille to Wallers Arenberg Porte du Hainaut, 155km

It’s been four years since the Tour’s last ‘Roubaix’ stage and stage 5’s offering is what race director Christian Prudhomme has described as “the most acrobatic challenge” of the opening week. Maybe the translation has added callousness, but the journey across the cobbles will, unfortunately, likely wreck at least one GC hopeful’s chances.

Both Pogačar and Roglič took time in the spring to get some bone-juddering experience under their belts, and of the two Roglič was the more impressive . With 11 cobbled sectors packed into the second half of the course, it will be a nervy day for all GC riders and their teams.

Who will win stage 5?

In 2018, the top 5 consisted of Degenkolb, Greg Van Aermaet (Ag2r Citroën), Yves Lampaert (Quick-Step AlphaVinyl), Philippe Gilbert (Lotto-Soudal) and Peter Sagan (TotalEnergies), all of whom will be present on the start line. But that was the pre-Van era. Expect to see the rest of the race scrambling to hang on to the coattails of Vans Aert and Der Poel as they steam away up the road, gliding over the cobbles. That is, if Van Aert isn’t saved to guide both Roglič and Jonas Vingegaard safely through a major hazard en route to yellow. 

Other contenders? Politt again could make a good go of it, as could Gilbert’s teammate Florian Vermeersch, both previous runners-up at Roubaix. Stefan Küng and Matej Mohorič (Bahrain-Victorious) could be good outside bets too.

Stage 6: Thursday, July 7 – Binche to Longwy, 220km

A bruised and battered peloton will set off from Binche, Belgium, the third of four countries the race will visit, for a day that starts out in the Ardennes. Soon they traverse back into France, and after a slog of more than 200 km, the bunch will arrive at the third category Côte de Pulventeux, 800m in length with an average gradient of 12.3% with just 6 km remaining until the line. The finish in Longwy, up the Côte des Religieuses (1.6km, 5.8%), should also see fireworks, a simply tantalising finale.

Who will win stage 6?

Another Alaphilippe sort of day? Quick-Step AlphaVinyl will be hopeful of a righting a poor spring campaign saved by Remco Evenepoel in Liège with victory when the Tour visits their home country. The likes of Mohorič and Dylan Teuns will also be stage hunting for Bahrain-Victorious. Michael Woods or Jakob Fuglsang for Israel – Premier Tech? 

After the cobbles and a day before and La Super Planche des Belles Filles, today is the likeliest so far that a break makes it to the line – so will depend on who makes that selection. Groupama-FDJ’s Valentin Madouas? Trek-Segafredo’s Toms Skujins? Ag2r Citroën’s Benoît Cosnefroy? Should be a corker.

Stage 7: Friday, July 8 – Tomblaine to La Super Planche des Belles Filles, 176km

Here we go then, the first mountain test of the race. After the exposed bridges, the perilous cobbles, and the troublesome little bergs, comes a challenge where luck gives way to legs.

Two third-category climbs provide something of a warm-up before the first summit finish of the Tour up La Super Planche des Belles Filles – the highest bit of road at the only ski resort in the Haute Saône region. 7.6 km in length at an average gradient of 8.2%, we will hopefully see the first blows exchanged uphill between the GC riders. Will the Ineos Grenadiers and Jumbo-Visma be able to isolate Tadej Pogačar or will the Slovenian simply demolish the competition at the first time of asking?

The middle section of the climb is the steepest with gradients of around 10%, before another final ramp of above 12% near the finish line. Keep your fingers crossed for a belter of a finale and pray the favourites don’t keep their cards close to their chest in the first week, simply looking to not lose the Tour on the first uphill struggle. 

Who will win stage 7?

A very good climber, surely.

Stage 8: Saturday, July 9 – Dole to Lausanne, 186km

Another stage, another journey outside French borders, this time to Switzerland. Moving down through the Jura mountains sees the bunch tackle a few lesser categorised climbs on the way to the punchy finish at the Lausanne Olympic stadium, which not only hosted the finale of the 1954 football World Cup but also concerts from Pink Floyd and Michael Jackson.

Who will win stage 8?

This is one of those stage profiles that seems to have breakaway written on it, and if the teams with the requisite punchier riders get their men in the move then expect to see them battle it out for the stage win.

Given that by stage eight the whole complexion of the race will be unrecognisable from any pre-Copenhagen predictions how about some adjacent Lausanne trivia? It’s the final resting place of fashion designer Coco Chanel, who lived in the city on Lake Geneva for 10 years to escape criminal charges of collaboration during World War II. The more you know!

Stage 9: Sunday, July 10 – Aigle to Les Chatel Portes du Soleil, 183km

We stay in Switzerland for the start of stage 9 in Aigle, home to the UCI headquarters, where David Lappartient makes sure cycling retains its squeaky clean image. Don’t expect any riders to get popped today! Not that that happens anymore…anyway, today marks “the first authentic mountain test” as the race makes its way to the Alps.

The final 50km features two first-category climbs. Firstly, the Col de la Croix, 8.1km at 7.6%, before a descent back down and through Aigle before the 15.4km-long Pas de Mogrins at 6.1%, the summit less than 10km from the finish line. 

Who will win stage 9?

A Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) sort of day, you say? I couldn’t agree more. Or maybe Alexey Lutsenko (Astana Qazaqstan)? Simon Yates (BikeExchange-Jayco)? Could even be one for Swiss rider Gino Mäder, or, now here me out, Groupama-FDJ’s Aussie Michael Storer. 

Stage 10: Tuesday, July 12 – Morzine to Megeve, 148km

After a well-deserved rest day, it’s one for the television cameras. Expect box office views of Lake Geneva, stunning mountains and sweeping valleys as the peloton transfers south from Morzine to Megeve, finishing on the Altiport that hosted the final stage of the 2020 Critérium du Dauphiné.

The result that day? Jumbo-Visma’s Sepp Kuss the victor, Dani Martínez (Ineos Grenadiers) second and Pogačar third. Roglič, who’d held the jersey before that final stage 5, didn’t take the start, so rather than having bad memories of Megeve, he has none, but will be hoping for a better day than two years ago nonetheless.

The climb to the altiport is a long one, 19.2km at 4.1%.

Who will win stage 10?

With two HC summit finishes looming in the coming days, the break may be given the keys once again, Giulio Ciccone or Simon Yates to have a crack here?

Stage 11: Wednesday, July 13 – Albertville to Col du Granon, 149km

Here we go then. The second category hairpins up Montvernier will get everyone settled in for what will be a huge day of climbing.

First up is the Col du Télégraphe (11.9km at 7.1%) en route to the Galibier (17.7km at 6.9%). We’re not done yet, though, as the peloton will tackle the first of two consecutive HC summit finishes, today it’s the Col du Granon Serre Chevalier, 11.3km long at an average gradient of 9.2%.

Who will win stage 11?

Will a breakaway survive? Will Pogačar launch a huge attack on the Galibier and solo to the finish line, taking a commanding lead in the yellow jersey? Or, with Alpe d’Huez tomorrow, will the riders play it safe?

Stage 12: Thursday, July 14 Bastille Day – Briancon to Alpe d’Huez, 166km

A stage starting in Briançon and finishing atop Alpe d’Huez while also taking in the Galibier (again) and the Col de la Croix de Fer. On Bastille Day!? You don’t get much more Tour de France than this. And this stage has heritage too, an almost exact replica of the same route from 1986, when Bernard Hinault was the winner on the day after his famous duel with Greg LeMond.

There will be plenty of stationary trainers in use at the start. Almost immediately, the peloton tackles the Galibier once again from the other side, going back on themselves, swooping down past the Col du Télégraphe this time, through the valley and up to the Col de la Croix de Fer. The first two classified climbs of the day see the peloton going uphill for 52km at an average gradient of around 5.2%. Then there’s 40km of respite as the bunch descends down onto the flat run-up to Alpe d’Huez. The Alpe is 13.8km long at an average gradient of 8.1%.

Who will win stage 12?

Geraint Thomas was the victor last time the Tour went up this mythical climb, the Welshman clad in the yellow jersey. Should Pogačar be in yellow, you can bet he’ll want to add to his Tour mythology with a similar statement. If the break is allowed to contest the most prized win of the race? Groupama-FDJ’s David Gaudu.

Stage 13: Friday, July 15 – Bourg d’Oisans to Saint-Etienne, 193km

The Alps done with, now the peloton will be relieved to open the road book and finally see a flatter profile.

Today is a 193km run from Bourg d’Oisans to Saint-Etienne with two second category and one third category climb littered throughout the day. A gradual rise up to the finale and the finish line is ever so slightly uphill. 

Who will win stage 13?

After days of suffering in the mountains, this will likely be a day for the sprinters, a reward for their work on gradients not suited to their talents. How many, and who of the fast men will still be in the race though? Will some teams ramp the pace up over the climbs to drop the purer sprinters, either dispensing with them for good or forcing a leg-sapping chase? Caleb Ewan could prosper here, as could Van Aert and Van der Poel, of course, with key green jersey points up for grabs.

Stage 14: Saturday, July 16 – Saint-Etienne to Mende, 195km

A lumpy day out as the peloton makes its way through the departments of Loire, Haute-Loire and Lozère. A day that screams breakaway for the riders who have kept their powder dry for the past two weeks. Two pairs of third category climbs bookend the stage before the finale, which will see the peloton tackle the Côte de la Croix Neuve Montée Jalabert, only 3km long but at 10.2%.

Who will win stage 14?

Can Esteban Chaves make it stick from the break? Dylan Teuns? Romain Bardet? Will there be any GC movement in the final kilometres?

Stage 15: Sunday, July 17 – Rodez to Carcassonne, 200km

A sprint stage to bring the second week of racing to a close, some pleasant, relaxing Sunday viewing after the excitement of the Alps.

The riders will set out for a hilly 200km from Rodez to Carcassonne, a couple of category three climbs for the day’s break to sort out before a downhill run from the Côte des Cammazes. 

Who will win stage 15?

Mark Cavendish and Michael Mørkøv managed a 1-2 when the stage finished here last year to equal Eddy Merckx’s record of 34 stage wins. This year, the Danish lead-out star will likely have Fabio Jakobsen as his fast man, who will be under pressure to win a stage if he hasn’t already, given the all-time Tour stage winner missed out on a place at his expense.

After today, there will only be two more days for the sprinters, on stages 19 and 21, so everyone will be in the hunt. After the finish, ahead of the final rest day, let’s hope the riders are allowed to treat themselves to a Cassoulet. They’ve definitely earned it.

Stage 16: Tuesday, July 19 – Carcassonne to Foix, 179km

Following the rest day, it’s straight into the Pyrenees for more mountain action. The climbing is backloaded today as the peloton makes its way to Foix. The first of the two first category climbs is the Port de Lers, 11.4 km at 7%, followed by the Mur de Péguère, 9.3 km at 7.9%, the site of sabotage in the 2012 Tour .

Who will win stage 16?

A descent into the finish could offer downhill maniacs like Matej Mohorič the chance to pull off something spectacular. Let’s just hope for no finger-to-the-mouth shushing again this year.

Stage 17: Wednesday, July 20 – Saint-Gaudens to Peyragudes, 130km

A short one at only 130 km, and the first 50km are flat. Let’s hope, then, that we see a proper race over four categorised climbs packed into 80 km.

First up is the Col d’Aspin, 12 km at 6.5%, immediately followed by the second category Hourquette d’Ancizan, 8.2 km at 5.1%. Then there’s a dip down into the valley before the final two first category climbs. The Col de Val Louron-Azet is 10.7 km long with an average gradient of 6.8%. Finally, it’s the summit finish of Peyragudes, 8 km long at 7.8%.

Who will win stage 17?

Who won the last two times Peyragudes has featured in the race? Romain Bardet in 2017 and Alejandro Valverde in 2012. While both riders are still active, the yellow jerseys on those stage are not, Fabio Aru and Bradley Wiggins. Peyragudes is also the third altiport to feature in the 2022 Tour, Prudhomme must be a fan.

Stage 18: Thursday, July 21 – Lourdes to Hautacam, 143km

Surely a day for the GC, and the riders will have a chance to pray for their chances in Lourdes before the start, hoping for a miracle on the 143km to Hautacam.

It’s the final mountain test of the Tour as the bunch tackles the Col d’Aubisque (16.4 km at 7.1%) and the Col de Spandelles (10.3 km at 8.3%) before yet another summit finish up Hautacam – 13.6km long at an average gradient of 7.8%. If Pogačar is in yellow, expect his rivals to throw everything and the kitchen sink at him (not yet confirmed whether the model of sink will be provided by domestic goods experts Bora-Hansgrohe).

Who will win stage 18?

Expect a final GC battle, which will see the contenders for the overall fight it out for the stage win, before Miguel Ángel López, lying in fifth, sneaks off the front to win the stage and sneak himself up into the podium spots.

Stage 19: Friday, July 22 – Castelnau-Magnoac to Cahors, 189km

Another gimme for the sprinters after tackling the Pyrenees. Only two fourth category climbs today, so a proper day for the fast men, finally. After 189km the race arrives in Cahors, which is home to the castle of Cayx, owned by the Danish royal family. Nice work from the Tour organisers tying a neat bow in the Denmark-ness of this race.  

Who will win stage 19?

The final kilometres once again rise towards the line, so if Caleb Ewan is still here (he’s only finished 2 of the 9 Grand Tours he’s started) then he could be a shoe-in for the final dress rehearsal before the Big One on the Champs-Élysées.

Stage 20: Saturday, July 23 – Lacapelle Marival to Rocamadour, 40km time trial

An intriguing, leg-sapping final time trial to decide the yellow jersey once and for all before the arrival of the race in Paris.

40km is as long as we’ve seen the Tour’s races against the clock in recent years and will hopefully throw up some final actual-race-day drama.

The majority of the course is pretty flat before two small climbs in the final 5km, just to amp up the pressure if the GC is still close. The Côte de Magès is first, 1.6 km at 4.7%, before an uphill final stretch to the finish line. The Côte de l’Hospitalet is 1.5 km long with an average gradient of 7.8%. With the Netflix cameras in tow, ASO have designed this one for potential fireworks. Fingers crossed.

Who will win stage 20?

With these third-week time trials, it often comes down to who is the freshest rather than time trialling ability. Maybe the likes of Kasper Asgreen will have held something back over the final week, or maybe it will be a straight-up Pog vs Rog bout to decide the yellow jersey via stage victory.

Stage 21: Sunday, July 24 – Paris La Défense Arena to Paris Champs-Elysées, 112km 

And here we are. After 20 days of racing, three rest days, four countries and nearly 2,000 miles, the final stage.

Before the men get underway, the women will race the Paris circuit to kick off the Tour de France Femmes .

Then, to the west, the hommes will set off from the Paris La Défense Arena for congratulatory champagne and to soak in what they’ve done the past three weeks.

One fourth category climb lies just after Versailles before the peloton loops back toward the city centre, and the laps of the Champs-Élysées begin.

Who will win stage 21?

Hopefully many sprinters have survived a non-sprinter friendly edition to contest what is often called the fast men’s world championship. Will Wout van Aert win again? More than likely. 

Correction: An earlier version of this article stated the bridge in Copenhagen was 250 m off the ground, which is obviously insanely high and not true. It’s the height of the support columns that are 250 high. The bridge is 65 m off the water. Sorry about that.

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The cyclists are back for stage 10 of the 2023 Tour de France   on July 11. The riders will set off for a 167.2-kilometer, or 103.89-mile route from Vulcania to Issoire. 

The Tour de France went for nine consecutive days until the first rest day. The first part of the race has been completed and teams likely spent their day off planning strategies on how to move forward. As the next phase of the race begins, the cyclist will need to push through extreme levels of fatigue. 

Michael Woods won stage 9 and became the first Canadian to win a stage this year. Woods beat Matteo Jorgenson to the finish line in one of the most challenging routes of the race so far . 

2023 Tour de France

Stage 10 will be physically demanding for both the climbers and the sprinters of the group. 

Unlike the routes seen in the race so far, there is no grand summit or sprint finale in this stage. The climbs will challenge the cyclist's endurance as they need to be aware of keeping their energy consistent while preparing for opportunities to attack. 

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Jonas Vingegaard wears the yellow jersey coming into stage 10. The defending Tour de France champion earned the jersey in stage 6 and has held on to it ever since. 

Here is what you need to know for stage 10 of the Tour de France

Tour De France Stage 10 Route

This stage is expected to be full of breakaways, the cyclists will have many chances to attack as they come in and out of the mountains. 

Stage 10 is five back-to-back climbs that aren't extremely challenging but will be difficult enough for the sprinters to struggle. 

The challenge here comes in the space between every climb. Breakaways are a chance for riders to establish huge leads between themselves and the chasing pack. 

Côte de La Chapelle-Marcousse is the final climb of the route appearing 138.6 kilometers, or 862 miles in. The longest climb of the route is the Col de Guery, which is 7.7 kilometers, or 4.78 miles. 

Tour de France Stage 10  

• Category 3, 5 km (3.1 miles)  at 4.8%
• Category 3,  7.7 km (4.78 miles) at 4.9%
• Category 3, 5.8 km (3.6 miles) at 6.2%
• Category 2, 2.6 km (1.62 miles)at 6%
• Category 3, 6.4 km (3.98 miles) at 5.8%

Tour de France Results

The de France is a 21-stage race that ends on July 23. There are winners for every day of the race, including colored jerseys awarded based on different classification performances. 

Here are all the results of every stage of the of the Tour de France so far:

• Stage 1  
• Stage 2  
• Stage 3  
• Stage 4 

How To Watch Tour de France USA

A live broadcast will be available on NBC and Peacock. FloBikes will provide updates, highlights, and behind-the-scenes coverage throughout the entire event.

How To Watch Tour de France Canada 

FloBikes will provide a live broadcast for Canadian audiences.

Tour de France 2023 Schedule

The Tour de France begins July 1 and finishes July 23 at the Champ-Elyees. The complete route is divided into 21 stages featuring different types of terrain and distance. Stages 1-3 are completed. 

Here is the full Tour de France schedule .

Tour de France Teams  

UCI WorldTeams

• AG2R Citroën Team | Fra
• Alpecin Deceuninck | Bel
• Astana Qazaqstan Team | Kaz
• Bora-Hansgrohe | Ger
• EF Education-Easypost | Usa
• Groupama-FDJ | Fra
• Ineos Grenadiers | Gbr
• Intermarché-Circus-Wanty | Bel
• Jumbo-Visma | Ned
• Movistar Team | Esp
• Soudal Quick-Step | Bel
• Team Arkea-Samsic | Fra
• Team Bahrain Victorious | Brn
• Team Cofidis | Fra
• Team DSM | Ned
• Team Jayco AlUla | Aus
• Trek-Segafredo | Usa
• UAE Team Emirates | Uae

UCI ProTeams

• Lotto Dstny | Bel
• TotalEnergies | Fra
• Israel-Premier Tech | Isr
• Uno-X Pro Cycling Team | Nor

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How Many Rest Days in the 2023 Tour de France?

The Tour de France is a three-week long race comprising 21 stages with a total distance of around 3,500km (2,188 miles). Racing for three weeks takes a heavy toll on the body, even for professional cyclists.

Hence, the need for rest days. The rest day is the day where there is no racing at the Tour de France.

Rest days at the 2023 Tour de France

In 2023, there will be two rest days. The first rest day is after Stage 9 on 10 July , and the second is after Stage 15 on 17 July . Both rest days are on a Monday.

Since 1999, there have been two rest days on Mondays in week two and week three. The rest days are preceded by a hard mountain stage on the prior day (Sunday) to allow the riders to rest and recover. In 2022, there are two rest days and a transfer day for the teams to transfer between Sønderborg, Denmark, and Dunkirk, France.

The rest days of the Tour de France started in 1934 with three days. The most number of rest days is 6 in 1936, 1937 and 1938. The last time the Tour de France didn’t have a rest day was in 1970. Since 1970, there have been either one or two rest days.

Fun fact : All three Grand Tours in 2022 will have two rest days and a transfer day as the race starts from outside the home country.

What do the riders do on a rest day?

Although the is no racing, the riders still go out for an easy, recovery ride . After the ride, the riders will get their daily massage, refuel and relax for the rest of the day. For those nursing an injury, it’s also a time to recover and visit a doctor if needed.

Depending on their fatigue levels, the recovery ride can be anywhere between one to two hours long under very low intensity. One of the main reasons to do the ride is for recovery and to keep the body going.

In recent years, the stages following the rest days are usually ridden at a harder pace, and riders who haven’t ridden on the rest day would usually struggle to keep up.

Rest days at Tour de France, 1933 to present

Tour de france past winners.

Tour de France Climber’s Classification Winners, 1933-2022

Tour de France Team Classification Winners, 1930-2022

Tour de France Young Rider Classification Winners, 1975-2022

Who Has the Most Tour de France Stage Wins?

Who is the Tour de France Lanterne Rouge?

Who Won the Tour de France Green Jersey?

Who won the Tour de France Yellow Jersey?

Alex Lee is the founder and editor-at-large of Mr. Mamil. Coming from a professional engineering background, he breaks down technical cycling nuances into an easy-to-understand and digestible format here.

He has been riding road bikes actively for the past 12 years and started racing competitively in the senior category during the summer recently.

Mr. Mamil's content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The content is not a substitute for official or professional advice. Please do your own due diligence.

Mr. Mamil participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. We also participate in various other affiliate programs, and at times we earn a commission through purchases made through links on this website.

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Reassessing the Tour de France on the Final Rest Day

Before the final week of the Tour de France, we grade teams, revisit predictions, and analyze questionable decisions.

The 2022 Tour de France is now 2/3 finished, and the race’s second rest day is always a time for teams to regroup and figure out how they want to finish out the biggest bike race in the world. Some are in fantastic shape; others have little to show for their efforts, or may be regretting the roster they brought to the race. Here’s a look at the scoreboard so far.

Team Scoreboard

In The Break With a Tailwind

No teams had more riding on the Tour than EF Education First-Easypost, BikeExchange-Jayco, and Israel-Premier Tech. All three are on the relegation bubble, at risk of being unceremoniously bumped from the top-rank WorldTour level to the second division. And all three scored stage wins (two for BikeExchange) that may well have saved their licenses.

Elsewhere, Trek-Segafredo and Quick-Step—Alpha Vinyl were almost bound to win stages and both have so far, with possibly more to come. While Ag2r-Citroën’s GC aspirations for Ben O’Connor fell apart, Bob Jungels salvaged their Tour with a stunning Stage 9 victory. And finally, even though Mathieu van der Poel completely fizzled with his inexplicable fade, Jasper Philipsen’s Stage 15 win was just the salve Alpecin-Deceuninck needed.

Chasing Hard Behind

Not for lack of trying, Cofidis, Movistar, Bora-Hansgrohe, and Bahrain-Victorious have all struck out so far. Cofidis may not break that 14-year winless streak in the Tour, but if Simon Geschke can manage to hang on to polka dots that’s a decent consolation. Of the other three, it’s entirely likely at least one will get the elusive stage win they’re hunting between stages 16-18. Unfortunately, those are the only options for them as stages 19-21 don't suit their riders. The biggest puzzler is what happened to Bahrain's Matej Mohorič, a double stage winner here last year who's been almost witness-protection-program levels of invisible; he hasn't even gotten in a break yet.

At Risk Of The Time Cut

Astana, Lotto-Soudal, and TotalEnergies have been almost invisible this Tour. Lotto sprinter Caleb Ewan must be the unluckiest rider in the race, with bad crashes ruining his chances, but the rest of the team bar Andreas Kron has been so inert we want to check them for vitals. Speaking of, Astana has Alexey Lutsenko in an anonymous 12th overall, and the rest of the team is riding like guys who suspect their paychecks may bounce. Which they might. TotalEnergies hasn’t been the breakaway hunters we expected, and Peter Sagan looks like he’s forcing it in the sprints. Literally, as in bouncing off guys like he’s playing hockey. Two-minute minor for roughing, buddy.

It’s odd to put three teams that account for six stage wins, 14 days in yellow, and a suffocating hold on the green jersey in the incomplete file, but that’s exactly where Jumbo-Visma, Ineos Grenadiers, and UAE-Team Emirates stand. For UAE and Jumbo, nothing short of yellow will be a disappointment no matter what kind of brave face the losing team puts on in Paris. After both teams’ leaders have led and showed they’re the best in the race at different points, it all comes down to week three. Wout van Aert’s near-certain green jersey will be an unsatisfying consolation prize for Jumbo if Jonas Vingegaard slips out of yellow, and at UAE, the sheikh (Emirates crown prince Mohammed Bin Zayed) doesn’t pay huge money for second places. As for Ineos, they still have multiple shots at more stage wins and a Tour podium. But not since 2014 has the sport's biggest-budget team failed to win at least one Grand Tour. If they miss out, is that a temporary miss, or the start of a slide?

Revisiting My Pre-Race Predictions

I said: Pogačar would win a third Tour

Grade: Incomplete

Right now Pogi has some serious work to do and his team is looking pretty shaky. He’s also racing like a junior who’s always been the strongest in the field and is frustrated to find now that he can’t just boss the other riders around with his legs. He needs to make up nearly two minutes (that final TT will be a banger if he does), and realistically has three chances left to get them. But he’s putting up a fierce fight. The final week of the Tour could be an unforgettable contest.

I said: Wout van Aert would win the green jersey

One of the most versatile riders in the sport, van Aert is running away with green: he’s almost 200 points clear of his closest challenger. He’s also a threat to win Stages 19, 20, and 21. So mathematically, this one’s toast unless he is forced to drop out.

I said: Stage 5 would be the wildest day from the first week

The Roubaix stage never disappoints and this one followed form: Primoz Roglič’s crash, Pogačar’s attack, the absolute demolition of O’Connor’s GC hopes, van der Poel’s weird disappearing act, the fracas over EF’s Alberto Bettiol appearing to pull for Pogačar with his teammate Neilson Powless up the road and in reach of yellow. But this is an easy pick, so I'll grade myself on a curve.

I said: Stage 15 would be the most unexpectedly consequential stage

I ended up being right (so far), but not for the right reasons. I was hedging this on heat and crosswinds making a wild day, and only heat showed up. But come Paris, we may yet look back at Stage 15 as the day that tipped the race back to Pogačar. Jumbo opted not to start Primož Roglič, citing his week-one crash injuries. That might have been an understandable choice at the time, but it was revealed 140km later as pure hubris when a crash took out Steven Kruiswijk. In one day, Jumbo lost two hugely important support riders. Why they didn’t try to get Roglič to the rest day at least is a choice that could come back to bite them. Vingegaard himself crashed with Tiesj Benoot, and was isolated at times over the past three days—not hard days on paper—in a way that may foreshadow problems to come.

I said: Stage 11 would be the must-watch mountain stage

We’re not done yet, so we’ll see if this holds up. But Stage 11 was a wallbanger from start to finish as Jumbo put forth a day-long assault that finally cracked Pogačar in a way we’ve never seen before. From van Aert’s early move in the break to Roglič attacking on the descent of the Col du Telegraphe to force a huge selection and then Vingegaard's searing attack on the final climb, it was one of the best mountain stages of the Tour's last decade, at least.

I said: Matteo Jorgenson would be the most interesting American to watch

Jorgenson has indeed been a joy to watch in his first Tour, with two top five finishes out of breakaways. I love seeing a guy who's often out of the spotlight on a Spanish team get some attention. But the biggest Yankee-centric story so far was Powless, jumping in the break on the Roubaix stage and coming within seconds of yellow, and then falling just short of a stage win on Alpe d’Huez.

I said: COVID-19 would affect the race

As with the Roubaix stage, this ended up being a fairly easy prediction. Due to changed UCI rules that let teams stay in the race even after two riders test positive, we haven’t seen whole teams withdraw. But COVID has done a number on the pack again, forcing out riders on a half-dozen teams. None has been harder hit than UAE, losing two riders, including top climber George Bennett. A third, Rafal Majka, continues in the race despite a positive test (that’s another of the UCI’s questionable rule changes). COVID may not be done, either. Riders will be tested on the rest day and more dropouts are possible.

The Worst Roster Decisions, Revisited

I also looked pre-race at what I called the most puzzling roster decisions : riders left off teams or given Tour starts despite scant results. How’d that work out?

I feel pretty good about my calls on roster snubs. Quick-Step’s decision to bring Fabio Jakobsen paid off right away, but he’s been underwhelming since. And on Stage 15, with a reduced bunch sprinting into Carcassonne, I couldn’t help but wonder what might have been had the team brought Mark Cavendish instead. Jakobsen’s Stage 2 win was superb. But there’s no story in the Tour that would have shined brighter than comeback Cav setting the outright record for most-career Tour stage wins.

Elsewhere, Jumbo may be regretting leaving Rohan Dennis at home in favor of Nathan van Hooydonck. The big Belgian is good at his job, but he does one thing: protect Vingegaard on flatter terrain. Dennis is a multi-talented rider who can climb and TT, and with Vingegaard’s climbing support down now to just bruiser van Aert and Sepp Kuss, Jumbo could absolutely use another big engine for the Pyrenees. And no one knows whether Greg van Avermaet’s peerless experience on cobbles would’ve provided the guide that team leader O’Connor needed to survive Stage 5, but the facts on the ground are that Ben had a terrible ride, no thanks to his team (O’Connor rode by himself for big chunks of the stage and was actually the second-best Ag2r rider on the day).

Finally, I thought Israel-Premier Tech’s choice to bring Chris Froome (and give him the team leader start number) was mostly an exercise in nostalgia, honoring a once-great rider who simply never got back to his previous heights post-injury. And true to that, Froome has been mostly anonymous this race, even on the climbs where he won in past years. But his Alpe d’Huez breakaway ride showed there’s some life in him yet, and he’s promised to try again in the Pyrenees. A stage win would be almost as big a comeback story as the Cav-all-time-wins tale that we were robbed of. That one I got wrong.

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FAQs of the Tour de France: How lean? How much power? How do they pee mid-stage? All that and more explained

Ever wondered why riders have such veiny legs? Do riders share rooms? How does a 60km ride count as a rest day? We take a look at the burning questions and those you never thought to ask

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The 2023 edition of the Tour de France is now underway - and if you’ve been following the racing action, there’s probably quite a fair few points that might have piqued your curiosity. That is to be fully expected - a lot is left going on behind the scenes that the cameras aren’t capturing.

Google's autocorrect can provide us with a wealth of information around the general public's deepest thoughts about the pros. For instance, it seems there are enough people desperately searching for ‘how do cyclists pee whilst racing the Tour de France?’ that the search engine is serving up this suggestion for everyone. 

Naturally, we couldn’t leave them hanging, and our answer to how exactly cyclists do pee during top level races can be found here. There’s an almost dizzying array of other questions, too, which we'll get fully stuck into here.

We will take a look at Tour de France performance trends and, continuing past the finish line, we’ll also reveal what the riders get up to in their team buses and talk more about how the pros deal with the hotel-to-hotel life that makes up the three weeks of a Grand Tour.

Why are Tour de France cyclist’s legs so veiny?

We’ve all got veins in our legs quite near to the skin surface, but they are hidden by a layer of fat just under the skin. 

Tour de France cyclist's legs appear to be uber-veiny for two main reasons: firstly, they have much less body fat than ‘ordinary’ people, and secondly, their veins and arteries have adapted to carry more blood around their bodies. The cardiovascular adaptations are numerous, but a large increase in vein and artery diameter is one of them. You can read more about the science behind why Tour de France rider’s legs are so veiny here.

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What do Tour de France riders do on their rest days?

They ride, and not just a little amble around the streets. Most will be on their bikes for two hours and some even more. 

In the early days of Team Sky, Russell Downing found out why after the first rest day of his Grand Tour debut in the 2011 Giro d’Italia: “It was a hard race, the weather was bad and by the first rest day I was really tired. The others asked if I was going with them, but it was cold and raining and I said I’d go on the turbo in the hotel basement instead. I did that for about 45 minutes, just very easy, then went back upstairs to lie down. Next day I was nailed for the whole stage, just hanging on. I was okay the day after, but I’d learnt my lesson and rode with the boys on the next rest day. If you don’t ride reasonably hard on the rest day , your body thinks you’ve stopped and switches off ready for deep recovery. You’ve got to keep it firing for the whole three weeks.” 

What is a soigneur in cycling and what are their duties during the Tour de France?

Soigneur is the French word for ‘carer’, and basically soigneurs care for riders. They prepare them for each stage, looking after them at the finish and back the hotel, with massage and rehab therapies. And they care in other ways too. 

Dirk Nachtergaele, a Belgian pro team soigneur for over 40 years says: “A soigneur is also like a priest. We are the one who riders can confide in, confident that anything they tell us goes no further. They can complain about another rider, the sports director even; they can talk about problems at home – anything. They know we will not tell anyone what they said. That role as confidante is as necessary in a team as being a skilled therapist.”   

How light and lean are the Tour de France climbers?

Double Tour de France stage winner, the recently retired Irish pro rider Dan Martin was a climbing specialist. His racing weight was 62kg, which is light for his 5ft 9in height, but some shorter climbers weigh under 60kg. However, being super-light is no longer the preserve of the pure climbing specialists. Defending Tour champion Pogacar is the same height as Martin and only slightly heavier at around 66kg, while 2019 winner Egan Bernal , also 5ft 9in, is a true featherweight at just 60kg. 

The riders mentioned start the Tour de France with body fat percentages well below 10 per cent, but nutritionists are careful not to allow ‘cutting’ to go too far. 

In fact, it can be better to offload a little muscle, as Dr Rob Child, a performance biochemist who worked with several World Tour teams, explains: “It’s sometimes worth losing a bit of muscle to reduce weight because very low body fat has health implications. Tour de France performance is governed by the cardiovascular system, not by the maximum force applied to the pedals. Pro riders don’t need huge amounts of muscle to pedal at 400 watts for 20 or 30 minutes, and that’s often the key to performing well overall in the Tour. They need a highly developed cardiovascular system, not big muscles.” 

Why do Tour de France riders drink Coca-Cola?

Most team nutritionists would rather the riders didn’t drink coca cola, and some teams even forbid it.

That said, there’s also always one small can of coke in the musettes Trek-Segafredo gives its riders. Drinking a regular fizzy drink such as a cold can of coke after a stage is good for morale – and preserving positivity in a brutal three-week race is vital.

Of course, the most important nutritional consideration for riders is getting enough calories to meet the extreme demands of the race. If you’re wondering how they achieve that, here we look into what exactly goes into fuelling the riders of the Tour de France .

What do Tour de France riders do to recover between stages?

The standard of hotels used by the Tour has improved a lot in recent years, so that helps with sleep and recovery . Even so, teams provide further ‘home comforts’ by carrying all their own bedding, including mattresses and pillows. They also have their own washing machines in the team buses and equipment trucks. Everything is done to promote good sleeping habits and hygiene. 

Riders generally do room-share, partly through tradition but also because it’s good to have company. Pairings are decided diplomatically, though.

Why and how do riders warm up before each stage?

The ‘why’ is explained by double Tour stage winner Steve Cummings: “There are two races in every stage: the first is to get a breakaway established, and the second is to win the stage. If I saw a stage that suited me, one where a break might stay away and give me a chance to win, I’d focus on the first hour to 90 minutes, nothing else. Typically it was attack after attack right from the start, then a huge effort to get the break established. You had to be fully warmed up for that.” 

As to the ‘how’, a Tour warm-up is usually done on a turbo trainer, allowing the whole team to warm-up in one compact space, everyone controlling their effort. Ineos-Grenadiers’s deputy team principal Rod Ellingworth says: “The idea is to prepare the rider’s energy systems for a fast start. They ride steady but progressively harder for at least 20 minutes, then do five minutes of capacity work to open everything up. After that they pedal easily and try to stay loose.”

How much do riders have to eat to meet energy demands?

Riders can burn twice or even three times their usual calorie requirement during a hard day at the Tour. Nigel Mitchell, a nutritional consultant who worked extensively with WorldTour cycling teams, says: “At a Grand Tour, riders can burn more than 5,000kcal on a single stage, depending on the terrain, and that means consuming a huge amount, both off the bike at meal times and on it during the race, in the form of energy drinks, bars and gels.” To put 5,000kcal into perspective, it is roughly equivalent to four large McDonald’s BigMac meals. 

What do the riders eat after each stage?

 Does each rider have their own bespoke meals? Who does the cooking?  

Three questions, but they are related and so are the answers, which come from a former Tour de France rider, UAE Team Emirates former sports director and current race analyst Allan Peiper. The man who oversaw Tadej Pogačar’s first Tour de France win in 2020 told us: “Each rider has a bespoke meal plan based on any needs flagged up by team doctors and physiologists, and on any personal physiological quirks such as intolerances or allergies. The medics talk with nutritionists, and the nutritionists tailor meals to meet specific needs. Each team also has its own chef who works with the nutritionist to prepare tailor-made meals.” 

How heavy are the heaviest riders in the race, and how do they get over the mountains inside the time cut?

There are very few riders of over 80kg in the Tour de France nowadays. The limiter when climbing mountains is power-to-weight ratio, and if a rider is too bulky they cannot overcome the disadvantage, no matter how mighty their power output. The heaviest Tour de France rider since 2000 was the Swede Magnus Backstedt, who says: “I had to be the lightest I could be for the Tour, which was around 90kg, and as fit as I could be. But at my weight, every hill is steep, and the mountains were a real challenge. On mountain stages, I’d hang on to the peloton for as long as possible, then look for a good grupetto – that’s what we call the groups of non-climbers who ride together to get inside the time limits. Once in a grupetto with experienced riders, it was just a case of digging deep, sometimes very deep, and hanging on.” 

Grit and stubbornness get heavier riders up the mountains, but they have an advantage to deploy on the other side, going down. Tour stage winner Sean Yates was a tall, well-built rider, and he says: “You have to get good at descending if you are bigger. You can’t regain all the time you lost going up, but you can get some of it back by really going for it on the descents.”

What’s the relationship between rider age and Tour de France performance?

It used to be that riders developed into Tour contenders gradually over many years. Those youngsters who did take part would be expected to help the team and gain experience, and possibly even drop out after the first week. That’s all changed. Tadej Pogačar was just 21 when he first won in 2020, and Egan Bernal was 22 when he won in 2019. Pogačar’s coach Inigo San Millan has this to say about his rider’s prodigious ability: “He has extraordinary physiological characteristics, and the correct mental attributes, so he was already good enough to win at 21.” 

Until Bernal’s win three years ago, it was thought that riders reached their peak in terms of physiology, psychology and skill at around 26 or 27. According to Allan Peiper: “This may still be true, we just don’t know what the young winners we have now will be like when they are 27 or 28. Will they still be winning, or will the next generation have surpassed them?” At the other end of the scale, the oldest Tour winner of modern times was Cadel Evans in 2011, at the age of 34.  

What do the riders’ musettes contain?

Nothing very surprising, just a re-supply of the gels, drinks and energy bars. Musettes were more interesting in times gone by, when they contained cakes and tarts for energy, small ham and cheese baguettes for protein, and all manner of delights. The food was individually wrapped and packed by the soigneurs. The first female soigneur Shelley Verses, who worked for US team 7-Eleven in the 1980s, used to wrap her riders’ food in pages from Playboy magazine. “It was good for their morale,” she commented. 

Do Tour de France riders drink alcohol during the three weeks?

Yes, but not much. Stage wins might be celebrated with a glass of champagne, and sometimes a small glass of red wine is taken with the evening meal, but that’s as far as it goes. Teams have tried total bans on alcohol, but most allow small amounts to protect morale. 

All rather sensible – not like Tour riders from previous eras. In the early days of the race, riders drank wine and beer during stages because it was less of a threat to health than the contents of some of the primitive water supplies. Right up to the 1960s, some riders enjoyed a mid-Tour tipple or two. One of the most notorious stories is about the 1964 Andorran rest day when race leader Jacques Anquetil went to a party and indulged to such an extent he was hungover the next day and almost lost the race. 

How do Tour de France riders stay hydrated through sweltering long stages?

Nigel Mitchell tells us: “I get riders to start drinking as soon as they wake. I mix water with a little fruit juice in a big bottle, because that makes it more interesting than plain water, and I ask them to finish it before breakfast. They drink fruit juice with breakfast for the electrolytes, and another bottle of diluted fruit juice travelling to the stage start.

“During the stage, they drink from two bottles on the bike, one plain water and one energy drink, and they keep getting fresh bottles from the team car or support motorbikes. They get more fluid in a protein shake after the stage, and an electrolyte drink if it’s been hot. I also provide rice cakes, which contain quite a lot of moisture from the water absorbed by the rice during cooking. 

“Even then, we still check on hydration by checking the rider’s weight each morning. If they are well hydrated, they will stay at pretty much the same weight throughout the Tour.” 

What’s the role of the bottle-carrying domestiques in the Tour de France?

The cycling community uses a lot of French words, with domestiques being one of them. Transporting bottles from the team car to team-mates in the peloton is just one of many duties carried out by domestiques. 

This supply chain is overseen by the sports directors, as Allan Peiper explains: “The sports directors have real-time information in the team cars on each rider’s performance metrics. They can tell if anyone is having a bad day, and they won’t ask that rider to drop back to the team car and pick up bottles, because it could just push them further into the red.” 

Each team has several domestiques and their role, although complicated in execution, is straightforward in mission. It’s to put the team’s leader (or leaders) in the best position to challenge for victory.

That could involve riding at the front to control the peloton’s pace, leading riders who’ve punctured back to the action, chasing when a breakaway needs to be brought back, leading out sprinters at the end of stages, setting the pace in the mountains, and many other jobs. They even perform a very unglamorous function in comfort stops.

Find definitions of the French cycling terms you hear during the Tour de France , such as domestiques, over here.

In terms of FTP and watts per kilo, what does it take to be a GC contender at the Tour de France?

In 2020 the power meter supplier to Team UAE Emirates, Stages, released the following information on Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar’s performance metrics from Stage Nine, a mountainous stage in the Pyrenees: 

Time: 3:58:16 

Average power: 301W (4.5W/kg) 

Normalised power: 351W (5.4W/kg) 

Peak 5min power: 473W (7.2W/kg) 

Peak 20min power: 429W (6.5W/kg) 

To put these figures in context, good amateur racers (i.e. cat two) are capable of five-minute power in the region of 4-5W/kg and 20-minute power of 3.5-4.1W/kg. Even for committed amateurs who train hard, a huge gulf in performance separates them from the likes of Pogačar. 

Do Tour de France riders use dietary supplements. If so, which ones?

They need lots of protein to help recover, so they drink recovery drinks and eat protein bars to augment the protein they get from food. They sometimes consume vitamin and mineral supplements too. Dr Rob Child says: “I try to meet a rider’s needs through well-cooked, nutritious foods, but I always know what their nutritional state is in detail. We take regular blood tests, and I can use supplements to make good any deficiencies.”  

Do riders pee during the Tour de France?

If the race pace isn’t too high, riders can stop by the side of the road, having picked a place where nobody can see – which can be difficult. Peeing on the move is a skill Tour de France pros must have in their toolbox. It’s tricky, as it’s impossible to pedal while peeing, so it’s up to the poor domestique to ride alongside and with a hand on the back to maintain forward momentum. 

And here’s how difficult peeing can be…In 1965 British pro Vin Denson rode the 1965 Bordeaux-Paris, a 365-mile single day race, in support of the race winner Jacques Anquetil. As he approached Paris late in the afternoon, Denson realised he hadn’t peed since the start at 2.30am, and he was bursting. He stopped at the side of the road, but found he couldn’t pee at all, even though his bladder was full. Desperate, he shouted to the stationary team car and his soigneur got out, poured a flask of hot coffee down the front of Denson’s shorts, and Denson recalled: “I went like a fountain – it was glorious!”

This full version of this article was published in the print edition of Cycling Weekly.  Subscribe online  and get the magazine delivered direct to your door every week. 

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Chris has written thousands of articles for magazines, newspapers and websites throughout the world. He’s written 25 books about all aspects of cycling in multiple editions and translations into at least 25

different languages. He’s currently building his own publishing business with Cycling Legends Books, Cycling Legends Events, cyclinglegends.co.uk , and the Cycling Legends Podcast 

Cameron Wurf is both a member of Team Ineos Grenadiers and an accomplished professional long course triathlete who has racked up numerous World Tour and Ironman race finishes across his career.

By Kristin Jenny Published 24 April 24

Joe on Joe. What does it take to make a fine mug of Joe? We sent Joe Baker to find out.

By Joe Baker Published 24 April 24

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Tour de France 2021: The Essential Race Guide

All you need to know, from the contenders to race and stage-by-stage analysis

The 2021 Tour de France is almost upon us with the Grand Départ set for June 26, and 21 mouth-watering stages to look forward to as the race takes in Brittany, two individual time trials, a double assault on Mont Ventoux and the customary finish on the Champs Élysées in Paris on July 18.

The 108th edition of the race will see defending champion Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) aim to defend his crown against Primoz Roglič (Jumbo-Visma), Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) and a host of other yellow jersey contenders over what is an intriguing and multi-layered route profile. 

After a mountain-heavy Tour de France in 2020, race organisers ASO have opted for a more traditional and classic affair this time around, with the race reverting to hosting two long individual time trials for the first time since 2013.

In fact, on the face of it, the profile and route of the 2021 edition of the Tour de France is somewhat of a throwback to a Jean-Marie Leblanc style of race – in that the route suits a strong time triallist and puts the pure climbers on the back foot almost immediately. However, there are deeper levels and dimensions to Christian Prudhomme’s opus. 

There are just three summit finishes in total, 58km of time trialling – a lot for a modern-day Tour – and eight stages for the sprinters. Prudhomme has also moved away from packing the route with a barrage of new climbs or prolonged periods in the Jura, Massif Central or Vosges mountain regions. 

That being said, Prudhomme has cleverly concocted a route that marries some of the most iconic of French cycling furniture – Mount Ventoux, Brittany, the Col de Port, Pau, and the Tourmalet – and blended those ingredients with several truly engaging aspects. 

There may only be three summit finishes, and many of the staple Alpine climbs are missing, but there are stages that could be defined just as much for their descents as the climbs they included, with ASO attempting to nullify the typically late mountain-top attacks by encouraging riders to go on the offensive even earlier.

Prudhomme may have built this Tour on traditional foundations, with two days in the Alps and five in the Pyrenees, but he has also taken risks too – something Leblanc rarely did. His 2021 route is peppered with stages that could easily be turned upside down by crosswinds and potential ambushes, especially around Narbonne, Nimes, and Carcassonne. The four days in Brittany – although a replacement for the Copenhagen Grand Départ – could see the race lead change almost daily, while the first time trial on stage 5 has enough road to create a pecking order and draw out the climbers ahead of the Alps.

Overall, this is a route that perhaps doesn’t ignite the immediate excitement or glamour that some of Prudhomme’s recent ventures have. Ventoux aside, there are no gimmicks, but this is still a highly engaging route and one that provides all the landscape the riders need to make compelling Tour de France.

The Tour de France contenders – Pogačar, Roglič and Ineos

Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) comes into the race as the reigning champion so the young Slovenian starts his Tour defence under completely different circumstances to last year, when he was somewhat of an underdog. His smash and grab at La Planche des Belle Filles last summer was nothing short of astonishing but it’s fair to say that he benefitted from the fact that he and his team didn’t need to control any of the race. Instead, they wisely allowed Jumbo-Visma to wear themselves out, but this time around Pogačar will not be afforded such comforts and from the moment he arrives in Brest for the Grand Départ the entire race will be watching his every move. That said, Pogačar’s UAE Team Emirates squad are far from average. In Marc Hirschi, David de la Cruz, Brandon McNulty, Davide Formolo, and Rafal Majka, the defending champion has the core of an excellent team. They aren’t the strongest team in the race but they don’t necessarily have to be. 

On paper, Pogačar’s main threat is the rider he crushed in the final time trial last year, Primoz Roglič . The Jumbo-Visma leader has spent the last few months secluded up at altitude, shunning the standard pre-Tour race programme for a tailor-made and extended period of training. He has not been seen at a race since Liège-Bastogne-Liège back in late April but the 31-year-old will no doubt bring his best condition to the race. There are reasonable questions over the current form of his team but while the Dutch outfit may not have the same sparkle they had last year, they are far from mediocre, with Sepp Kuss, Wout van Aert and Steven Kruijswijk providing worthy cover.

The strongest ensemble in this year’s race comes from Ineos Grenadiers who line up with 2018 winner Geraint Thomas , Richard Carapaz and Richie Porte among their cast. The British team, smarting from last year’s defeat, will be looking to win back-to-back Grand Tours after Egan Bernal’s Giro d’Italia success in May, and while they do not have a contender as lethal as Pogačar or Roglič, their collective muscle could be just as important. When the leading group are down to 10 riders in the mountains it’s possible that half of that contingent could be made up of Ineos riders and that's a level of dominance that cannot be ignored. Roglič and Pogačar cannot chase every move and while attacking might be the Slovenian pair’s best form of defense, they could just as easily become isolated.

For Ineos Grenadiers, the dilemma comes in the form of which leader to back. Thomas has the better Tour record, of that there’s no doubt, but he looked below his best at the Dauphiné while Carapaz dominated the Tour de Suisse. Porte is somewhat of a dark horse but the two time trials along the route probably edge Thomas ahead in the team pecking order.

Outside of the Ineos, UAE and Jumbo stables, there are a number of overall contenders with hopes of challenging for the podium. Marc Soler, Enric Mas , Miguel Angel Lopez and Alejandro Valverde are in line for protected spots at Movistar – although it’s surely Mas who leads the line after his fifth place last year. Julian Alaphilippe will shoulder Deceuninck QuickStep’s ambitions but will once again be forced to fend for himself in the mountains, while Rigoberto Uran (EF Education-Nippo) looks to be back to his 2017 level when he finished on the podium.

There are three Australians – leaving Porte aside – with genuine top-ten hopes. Ben O’Connor has finished top ten in his last two weeklong WorldTour stage races and it’s little wonder that AG2R Citroën recently extended his contract. Lucas Hamilton has been given the responsibility of leading Team BikeExchange's GC bid with Simon Yates targeting stage wins, while Jack Haig was fifth in the recent Dauphiné and has an in-form Bahrain Victorious at his disposal.

Wilco Kelderman forms part of a very strong Bora-Hansgrohe squad that includes Emanuel Buchmann and Patrick Konrad , and Nairo Quintana (Arkéa-Samsic) remains a threat even if his star has been waning for some time.

Along with Alaphilippe, the French have real hope via Guillaume Martin (Cofidis), who looks to be peaking on time this year after he faded in the second half of last year’s race, but it’s David Gaudu at Groupama-FDJ who instills the most belief from the home nation. With Thibaut Pinot still on the sidelines, Gaudu has the chance to stake his claim as a Tour de France contender in his own right. He was mightily impressive at the Vuelta last year, winning two stages and finishing eighth overall. This year the 24-year-old has been consistent and the next natural progression for him would be a top-five in Paris.

Israel Start Up-Nation arrives at the race with Michael Woods as their protected GC asset. That leaves four-time Tour winner Chris Froome to act in the unfamiliar role of road captain. 

Below those riders there are a number of talented outsiders worth watching, with Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious), Jakob Fuglsang (Astana-Premier Tech), Esteban Chaves (Team BikeExchange), Michael Woods (Israel Start–Up Nation), Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos Grenadiers), Dan Martin (Israel Start–Up Nation) and Warren Barguil (Arkéa-Samsic) are all flying under the radar.

The Tour de France sprinters – Ewan, Démare, Merlier, Cavendish or Bennett?

With up to eight stages within this year’s race intended for the sprinters, there’s no hiding away from the fact that the fastest riders in the world will be hogging their fair share of headlines in this year’s race. The first dedicated sprint stage arrives on stage three and other than the block of stages in the Pyrenees, the rest of the flat days are liberally dotted throughout weeks 1, 2, and 3. 

There are question marks over the participation of Sam Bennett , who is still recovering from a knee injury, and while Deceuninck-QuickStep boss Patrick Lefevere publicly announced that he has no ‘plan B,’ that’s not strictly true. Mark Cavendish – a 30-time stage winner – is waiting in the wings and after his recent exploits in Belgium, he looks like the fiery, competitive rider of old. Michael Mørkøv needs someone to lead out after all, and if Bennett proves unable to prove his fitness in time, the veteran Manxman could prove the perfect tonic for Lefevere’s unease. 

The fastest rider in the race, however, is likely to be Caleb Ewan , who looks like a prime contender for the green jersey, let alone a stage win or two. The Australian has almost the entire Lotto Soudal team at his disposal and, after his double at the Giro d’Italia, looks well on course to add to his tally of five Tour stages. 

When it comes to the WorldTour, Arnaud Démare has been a pale imitation of the rider who dominated the Giro sprints last year but his flat-track bully performances in recent months suggest that the Groupama-FDJ rider is approaching something like his best form just in time. Tim Merlier looks like a rider to watch after his stunning start to the year, while his Alpecin-Fenix teammate and leader Mathieu van der Poel can no doubt play a part on any stage that isn’t in the mountains or a time trial. 

Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) can sprint with the best riders but his disrupted run-in and operation to remove his appendix has left question marks over his condition. Even a Van Aert at 80 per cent is a threat but Peter Sagan – the seven-time Green jersey winner – remains the biggest threat for Bennett’s title defence if the Irishman does make it to Brest. Sagan won a stage in the Giro and the points competition and, despite Bora-Hansgrohe’s insistence on stacking a team with climbers, looks like the favourite for all but the flattest of stages. Sonny Colbrelli has never won a Grand Tour stage but was in blistering form at the recent Dauphiné, while Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Fenix), Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates), Mads Pedersen (Trek–Segafredo), Nacer Bouhanni (Arkéa-Samsic), Michael Matthews (Team BikeExchange) and Bryan Coquard (B&B Hotels p/b KTM) are all worth a mention. 

The Tour de France Route – a stage by stage guide

All times local – CEST. All finish times according to the earliest predicted schedule. 

Stage 1 / Saturday June 26 / Brest - Landerneau, 197.8km / Times: 12:10 - 17:00

The 2021 Tour de France kicks off with what could be a thrilling stage between Brest and Landerneau. This is the first time since 2008 that the Tour has started in Brest but rather than opting for a prologue or short time trial ASO have decided to cram six climbs within the opening 197.8km of this year’s race. Although none of the ascents will worry the peloton too much, this has all the makings of a difficult day in the saddle with the pace likely to be relentless throughout. With no yellow jersey or pecking order established, tensions will run high, while the added complication from possible cross-winds will leave several overall contenders nervous.

Crashes, splits and tactical mistakes will all play a part but the gradient on the final climb does at least ease in the final 500 metres before the line. That said, many of the pure sprinters will have been distanced by that point and it should be a puncheur who comes out on top to take the stage and the first maillot jaune of this year’s race.

Stage 2 / Sunday June 27 / Perros-Gueirec - Mûr-de-Bretagne, 183.5km / Times: 13:10 - 17:30

Stage 2 of the Tour de France is a day of two halves. Unlike the opening day of racing, when the climbs were evenly spread out, stage 2 between Perros-Guirec and the top of the Mur-de-Bretagne has most of the six categorised climbs crammed into the second half of the stage, with two ascents of the Mur-de-Bretagne thrown in for good measure. That said, there’s relatively little in the way of flat roads between the start and the first climb at 72.8 kilometres.  

The finale is technical and we’re likely to see the same riders who contested stage 1 once again take centre stage. Assuming the peloton starts the final climb in one piece, the gaps between the overall contenders should be relatively small come the line but last time the race finished here, back in 2018, Daniel Martin attacked with around one kilometre to go and everyone of the top-three finishers in Paris lost time. Once again, this isn’t a day for the peloton to relax.

Stage 3 / Monday June 28 / Lorient - Pontivy, 182.9km / Times: 13:10 - 17:24

After two days that catered for the puncheurs the sprinters of this year’s Tour de France will be finally let off the leash. The stage departs Lorient, the hometown of former King of the Mountains winner Warren Barguil, but that’s where any attention directed towards the talismanic Frenchman ends, with the race hugging the coastline before heading inland, through the department of Morbihan, but before reaching the finish in Pontivy the peloton must climb the Côte de Cadoudal – known as the Breton Alpe d’Huez – and where stages have taken place in both 2008 and 2015. All the fine-tuning and training before the race will count for little in the heat of the finale and with such a huge prize up for grabs it may well come down to which sprinter, and his leadout, make the fewest mistakes.

Stage 4 / Tuesday June 29 / Redon - Fourgères, 150.4km / Times: 13:25 - 16:52

The Tour de France’s mini Tour of Brittany ends on stage 4 with another outing for the sprinters. At just 150.4 kilometres in length, this is shorter than the previous day and its part of ASO’s plan to increase the intensity within the race on days that might ordinarily set out as slow burners before igniting in a fierce sprint battle to the line. There are no categorised climbs to speak of between the start in Redon and the finish in Fougeres but this is a must-watch stage nonetheless. The entire stage takes place in the Ille-et-Vilaine region. The last time the race ended in Fougeres was in 2015 with Mark Cavendish taking the stage. It’s an identical finish this time around with the sprinters set to enjoy their second straight day of action before the stage 5 time trial. 

Stage 5 / Wednesday June 30 / Changé - Laval, 27.2km / Times: 12:15 - 16:50

The Tour de France leaves Brittany on stage 5 and shifts up a gear with the first of two time trials in this year’s race, and while the opening two stages may have provided brief glimpses of a fight for the yellow jersey the 27.2 kilometre test between Changé and Laval Espace Mayenne will cause major changes to the overall standings. This is the longest individual time trial the Tour de France has held in the opening week since the 2008 edition. That year a vast amount of time separated the top contenders with the top 20 riders spread out over approximately a minute and a half and, in a race that has so far been judged by seconds, the aftershocks from this stage could determine the pattern of racing for the next two weeks.

Stage 6 / Thursday July 1 / Tours - Chàteauroux, 160.6km / Times: 13:55 - 17:26

After the stage 5 time trial and a reshuffling at the top of the overall standings the attention turns back to the sprinters. However, while the stage profile looks tailor-made for the fastmen, with a limited amount of climbing on the menu, there is a threat of crosswinds and echelon action in this region if the winds pick up.

The 160.6 kilometre stage leaves Tours and heads east. For the first few hours of racing there should be very little to trouble the peloton as the race heads out of the cathedral city and ventures into picture-postcard châteaux and vineyard country. This should be a day for the sprinters, and Mark Cavendish won his first-ever Tour stage in the finish town of Châteauroux back in 2008.

Stage 7 / Friday July 2 / Vierzon - La Creusot, 249.1km / Times: 11:00 - 17:05

Stage 7 of the Tour de France is a day that should be finely balanced between a break succeeding or a reduced group of all-rounders deciding the day’s honours. The stage, which sees the race head east from Vierzon is the longest Tour stage in 21 years, totalling a whopping 249.1 kilometres.

This may not look like a day for the GC riders but this has potential ambush written all over it. The distance, coupled with the demanding second half will ensure only a small group contest the finish, and we could potentially see yet another change in race leadership.

Stage 8 / Saturday July 3 / Oyonnax - Le Grand Bornand, 150.8km / Times: 13:10 - 17:06

The hills on stage 7 were mere an appetizer for what’s in store on stage 8 of the Tour de France as the race heads into the Jura and Alpine mountain ranges for the first time this year. There may not be a summit finish in store for the peloton but with five categorised climbs, plus an uncategorised uphill start, this will be a rude awakening for the riders after a week of relatively flat racing broken up by the odd short, sharp ascent.

The stage culminates with the first category ascent of the Col de la Colombière and a finish at Le Grand-Bornand but before then the peloton will tackle some rugged terrain and obstacles in just 150.8 kilometres of racing. 

The addition of the Cote de Mont-Saxonnex, new compared to the 2018 version of this finale, just adds another level of difficulty to the stage. Back in 2009, when the race also climbed the Romme-Colombière combo several GC contenders, including Lance Armstrong, were dropped with Frank Schleck taking the honours.

Stage 9 / Sunday July 4 / Cluses - Tignes, 144.9km / Times: 13:00 - 17:30

Two years after a stage on the Tour de France to Tignes was washed away by flash floods ASO have made true on their promise of bringing the race back, and this should be another mountain blockbuster with five climbs peppered along the 144.9-kilometre route between Cluses and the ski station at Tignes.

After taking in some of the most stunning scenery of the race so far the riders begin the long descent down into Bourg-Saint-Maurice followed by the long steady climb of the Montée de Tignes. It’s 21 kilometres in length and starts off relatively steadily but as the road continues the climb the gradient really digs in around the point of the Les Brevières. This a brute of a climb and the gaps between the overall contenders could stretch into minutes, and while this isn’t a summit finish – with the road flattening out with 2 kilometres to go – it’s still the hardest stage of the Tour so far. 

Rest day 1 / Monday July 5

Stage 10 / Tuesday July 6 / Albertviille - Valence, 190.7km / Times: 13:05 - 17:23

  Following the first rest day in this year’s Tour de France the racing recommences with a 190.7km stage from Albertville to Valence. The race takes us away from the Alps and it’s a day for the sprinters but the threat of potential crosswinds and echelons in the final part of the stage makes this anything but an easy day in the saddle. Michael Matthews won a stage in these parts back in 2017, beating Edvald Boasson Hagen and John Degenkolb to the line in Romans sur Isère, on a day that was also hit by crosswinds. That day Chris Froome and Team Sky put Dan Martin and Alberto Contador to the sword and even though their time losses were manageable every second counts at this point.

However, assuming that the sprinters’ teams remain in contention this could be a hugely important day in the battle for the Green jersey with a flat run into Valence perfectly suited to a bunch gallop. Chepe González – who certainly wasn’t a sprinter – won from a breakaway in Valence all the way back in 1996.

Stage 11 / Wednesday July 7 / Sorgues - Malaucène, 198.9km / Times: 12:00 - 17:18

Stage 11 is all about the climbers with the race taking on the highly anticipated doubled ascent of Mont Ventoux. Before the riders get to the first ascent they leave Sorgues and take on two small fourth category climbs, the Cote de Fontaine-de-Vaucluse followed by the first category Col de la Liguière. The riders will then descend into Sault before beginning the first ascent of ‘the Giant of Provence’. The first time up takes the easiest of three possible routes to the top but it’s also the longest, with 24.3 kilometres of climbing facing the riders. The toughest gradient come into view around Chalet Reynard with the riders emerging from the tree-covered landscape and reaching the barren slopes that make Mont Ventoux so revered. At the summit the riders drop down into Malaucène for the first time via one of the fastest descents they’ll face in the entire race before taking a short uncategorised climb to Bédoin and then the final ascent of the Ventoux. At 15.7 kilometres long, and with an average 8.8 per cent, the road is simply relentlessly steep from the very start. At Chalet Reynard they hit the roads they climbed earlier before cresting the summit and taking on a second breakneck descent into Malaucène for the finish.

Stage 12 / Thursday July 8 / Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux - Nîmes, 159.4km / Times: 13:30 - 17:12

After the double ascent of Mont Ventoux on stage 11 the race returns to less testing terrain with a 159.4 kilometre stage from Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux to Nîmes. As with stage 10, however, appearances can be deceptive and despite only one short climb positioned mid-way through the stage there’s another chance that echelons and crosswinds could play their part in proceedings. At Vallon Pont d’Arc the stage heads south and into the Gard department. The exposed roads at this point could be a key if the wind picks up before the peloton hits the third cat climb of the Côte du Belvédère de Tharaux. With less than 30 kilometres to go the road heads due south to Nîmes for the expected bunch sprint, where Alexander Kristoff and Caleb Ewan are both past winners. This could be either a relatively quiet day in the Tour or one of the most intense battles of the race so far.

Stage 13 / Friday July 9 / Nîmes - Carcassonne, 219.9km / Times: 12:05 - 17:15

After finishing in Nimes on stage 12, the riders still left in the Tour de France will leave the same city in the Occitanie region of southern France and head towards the historical city of Carcassonne. On paper this looks like a relatively straightforward transition stage as the race tip-toes towards the Pyrenees but the finer details of this 219.9 kilometre jaunt tell a different story. Once more the threat of crosswinds loom large and while there is only one fourth category climb between the start and Carcassonne the majority of route is rolling. It’s no coincidence that no stage has ever ended in a bunch sprint in Carcassonne with Magnus Cort Nielsen winning from the break last time the race reached the walls of the medieval citadel that dominate the hill-top town, back in 2018.

Stage 14 / Saturday July 10 / Carcassonne - Quillan, 183.7km / Times: 12:15 - 16:48

For a second day in a row the Tour de France departs from the previous day’s finish and stage 14 of the race heads out of Carcassonne for a 183.7 kilometre journey south to the small town of Quillan. On paper this looks like a nailed on day for the breakaway with five categorised climbs peppering the route all the way towards the 17 kilometre descent from the top of the last ascent into the finishing town. The most likely scenario will see the sprinters’ teams sit back after the last few days of hostilities while the GC riders opt for a calm day given what’s ahead of them in the coming days.

The stage could be decided by the final climb of the stage, the Col de Saint-Louis. The ascent is 4.7 kilometres long and has an average gradient of 7.4 per cent and will provide the perfect launch pad for the remnants of the break to attack each other before the final descent to the line.

Stage 15 / Sunday July 11 / Céret - Andorre-La-Vieille, 191.3km / Times: 12:20 - 17:28

Stage 15 from Ceret to Andorre-La-Vieille is one of the hardest in this year’s race. There are four categorised climbs along the 191.3 kilometre route but three of them are first category ascents, while the riders will reach the highest point in this year’s race, topping out at over 2,400 metres. What’s more the final climb of the day, the Col de Beixalis, has the potentially to blow the entire race apart. From the intermediate sprint at Olette the road continues to climb towards the summit of the Montee de Mont-Louis. A descent follows but there’s little valley road before the riders begin to climb the secondary Cole de Puymorens – a 5.8 kilometre climb with an average gradient of 4.7 per cent. That climb will bring the riders to just under 2,000 metres, and there’s only a short descent before the first category climb of the Port d’Envalira – with the Souvenir Henri Desgrange going to the first rider to reach the Tour’s highest point. The following descent brings the race deep into Andorra before the assault of the Col de Beixalis looms into view. At the summit the road plummets back towards the centre of Andorra with a steep and highly technical descent towards the line.

Rest day 2 / Monday July 12

Stage 16 / Tuesday July 13 / Pas de la Case - Saint-Gaudens, 169km / Times: 13:05 - 17:21

Stage 16 sees the race head back into France, and while the 169 kilometre jaunt from Pas de la Case to Saint-Gaudens is far from easy, the profile suggest that the win could be decided by a break. That said, racing after a rest-day can often throw up some surprises and if one of the riders in the top-ten is showing any signs of weakness or fatigue, expect no mercy from their rivals. After the Col de la Core the riders will descend into the valley before hitting the Col de Portet-d’Aspet. They then descend – passing the Fabio Casartelli memorial – before the last and shortest climb of the day, the Côte d’Aspret-Sarrat. It’s only 800 metres in length but there are certainly some difficult stretches and with the finish just a few kilometres away it should provide an excellent launchpad for any last minute attacks.

Stage 17 / Wednesday July 14 / Muret - Saint-Lary-Soulan Col du Portet, 178.4km / Times: 11:50 - 16:49

The Col du Portet, first introduced to the Tour de France in 2018, returns this year and comes at the end of a crucial day in the Pyrenees. Starting in Muret, the route heads southwest and the opening 115 kilometres or so are relatively flat until the peloton reach Bagnères-de-Luchon – exactly where the 2018 Tour stage started. From there the riders will on the first of three major ascents with the Col de Peyresourde first up. The riders will then make a breakneck descent into Loudenvielle before tackling the Col d’Avet. It’s shorter than the Peyresourde but with a gradient averaging 8 per cent it’s a severe test. Another fast but this time technical descent follows before the road kicks up for the final climb and the summit finish atop the Col du Portet. The 16-kilometre ascent suits the lightweight pure climbers perfectly with a tough opening section as the road climbs towards Espiaube. At that point the gradient briefly eases before the riders turn right, thus avoiding the road towards Pla d’Adet, and take on a relentless section of switchbacks. The gradient reaches over 10 per cent in the final kilometre and the time gaps here could be race defining.

Stage 18 / Thursday July 15 / Pau - Luz Ardiden, 129.7km / Times: 13:35 - 17:19

Stage 18, the final mountain stage of this year’s Tour de France is arguably one of the hardest days in the race, with two massive Pyrenean climbs – the Col du Tourmalet and a blockbuster finish at the top of Luz Ardiden. What’s more, the stage is just 129.7 kilometres in length, meaning that there will be little to no respite.

There are two small fourth category ascents in the first 54 kilometres of racing – the Côte de Notre-Dame de Pietat, and the Côte de Loucrup, before an intermediate sprint at Pouzac From there the race heads through Bagnères-de-Bigorre and gently rises south through Campan and Saint-Marie-de-Campan before the race really starts on the slopes of the Col du Tourmalet. There’s then a rapid descent through Barèges and into Luz-Saint-Sauveur before the race reaches the Pont du Napoleon bridge. The riders then start the second straight HC-category climb of the day to the summit of Luz Ardiden. The climb is 13.3 kilometres in length, and while the opening few hundred metres are relatively easy the climb ramps up drastically after the first kilometre.  

Stage 19 / Friday July 16 / Mourenx - Libourne, 207km / Times: 12:20 - 17:06

With the Pyrenees in the rearview the attention turns back to the sprinters on stage 19 with a 207 kilometre stage from Mourenx to Libourne. However it will be a tough day for the sprinters to control. The distance, coupled with the fact that peloton will be exhausted from five days in the mountains, will leave a number of teams somewhat unwilling to control a peloton for a long day in the saddle. This could also be the last chance for teams without a sprinter or a GC rider to potentially rescue their race and with a lumpy opening 50 kilometres a bunch sprint is far from a certainty. 

Stage 20 / Saturday July 17 / Libourne - Saint-Emilion, 30.8km / Times: 13:05 - 17:19

At 30.8 kilometre in length, the individual test between Libourne and Saint-Emilion is a flat affair with small rises and long drags that will perfectly suit the time trial specialists. 

This is the course for the power specialists and even the technical sections along the route should be no problem for them. Any concerns will be purely reserved for the climbers, who after three weeks of racing could see their advantages obliterated in a painfully short amount of time. 

Stage 21 / Sunday July 18 / Chatou - Paris Champs-Élysées, 108.4km / Times: 16:15 - 19:00

After three weeks of drama and excitement the Tour de France arrives in Paris for the final stage and a showdown between some of the best sprinters in the world on the Champs-Élysées. For the fourth year in a row the final stage of the race starts in Chatou, just west of the capital, but the route initially heads east for a brief while before doubling back on itself. At this point the pace will be relaxed with teams and riders soft-pedalling through the opening kilometres and using the opportunity to celebrate their achievements and reaching Paris to complete the Tour.

How to watch the 2021 Tour de France – live TV and streaming

Read on to find out how to watch the Tour de France   via live stream, no matter your location, with  ExpressVPN .

The 2021 Tour de France will be broadcast around Europe and Eurosport. A subscription to  Eurosport Player  costs £6.99 for a single month, £4.99 for a year-long monthly pass, or £39.99 for a 12-month pass.

GCN+  will also air the race in the UK and in  select other territories  around Europe. A year’s subscription to GCN+ now costs £39.99 / €39.99 / $49.99 after the end of a promotional price in February. 

ITV4  will also be showing the race in the UK, with full full live coverage and highlights available. In Wales,  S4C  will be airing the race.

The Tour de France will be available to view in the USA on  Peacock Premium . A seven-day free trial is available, while a subscription to Peacock Premium will set you back $4.99 (or $9.99 without ads) per month.

FloBikes  will air the Tour de France in Canada. An annual subscription will set you back $149.  SBS  will air the race in Australia.

Around Europe, broadcasters include  France TV  in France,  ARD  in Germany,  Sporza  and  RTBF  in Belgium,  Rai  in Italy, and  RTVE  in Spain

If you live outside a broadcast zone or are on holiday outside your country and find that the live streams to be geo-restricted, you can get around this by getting access to them by simulating being back in your home country via a 'virtual private network', or VPN, for your laptop, tablet or mobile.

Our sister site TechRadar tested hundreds of VPNs and recommends the number-one VPN currently available as Express VPN. With  ExpressVPN , you can watch on many devices at once including Smart TVs, Fire TV Stick, PC, Mac, iPhone, Android phone, iPads, tablets, etc.

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Daniel Benson was the Editor in Chief at Cyclingnews.com between 2008 and 2022. Based in the UK, he joined the Cyclingnews team in 2008 as the site's first UK-based Managing Editor. In that time, he reported on over a dozen editions of the Tour de France, several World Championships, the Tour Down Under, Spring Classics, and the London 2012 Olympic Games. With the help of the excellent editorial team, he ran the coverage on Cyclingnews and has interviewed leading figures in the sport including UCI Presidents and Tour de France winners.

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