tour de france travel guide

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Graham Watson's Tour de France Travel Guide: The Complete Insider's Guide to the Tour! Paperback – June 8, 2009

Purchase options and add-ons.

Graham Watson's Tour de France Travel Guide lets cycling fans experience all the excitement of the Tour while navigating its many daily obstacles with the confidence of a local.

As cycling's leading photographer, Graham Watson has been in the right place at the right time during every stage of every Tour de France since 1977. No one knows how to get around the Tour like Graham. Graham shares his 31 years of Tour de France experience in this beautifully illustrated guidebook. Featuring over 200 of his award-winning photographs along with full-color maps, travel tips, checklists, and travel resources, this book presents a fresh and unique strategy for getting around the Tour's many opportunities for frustration to find a front-row seat for all the action. Learn where to eat, where to sleep, how to get around, how to see and photograph the race, and how to enjoy the greatest show on two wheels.

• Print length 340 pages
• Language English
• Publisher VeloPress
• Publication date June 8, 2009
• Dimensions 6.1 x 0.95 x 8.14 inches
• ISBN-10 9781934030387
• ISBN-13 978-1934030387
• See all details

Editorial Reviews

"If you're heading to the Tour, or simply a cycling holiday in France, veteran cycling photographer Graham Watson's guide will prove to be a huge help, and entertaining too…Beyond its roots as a travel guide, Graham's book reveals photographic tips, includes 200 of his historic images, and provides the historical context that also makes this a great supplement for following the race at home, on TV or online." -- VeloNews magazine

"Surprisingly fresh and immediate, even funny at times. Graham really captures the reality of following the race. A book of random details could easily miss the bigger picture, the enormity of the event. His in-between-the-lines insights are what make this book a gem." -- RedKitePrayer.com

"Finally there is a practical guide for the traveller wishing to experience the Tour de France close up and personal. Graham Watson's Tour de France Travel Guide distills his 31 years of experience following la Grande Boucle into a compact but comprehensive volume that no fan of the Tour will want to be without. The final chapter is the pièce de résistance as Graham Watson, the celebrated photographer, reveals how you too can photograph the Tour de France. I suspect that this book will be the most expensive one you will ever buy since I defy anyone after reading Graham Watson's joyful-fan-prose to not want to book a flight to France." -- Pezcyclingnews.com

" Graham Watson's Tour de France Travel Guide is engagingly and accessibly written and conveys the writer's evident enthusiasm for the delights of French cuisine, landscape, and winemaking even as it explains how to get along with recalcitrant French waiters or choose wine in a way that will impress them. This book is not just a guide to the Tour de France, it is worth reading as a guide to France itself, with a bunch of cycle racing thrown in for good measure." -- RoadCyclingUK.com

"Engaging and informative. Watson's intimate knowledge of France is equal to his impressive creative talent and skills in photographing the Tour." -- BikeRadar.com

"After 31 years on the job, cycling photographer Graham Watson knows a few things: how to photograph a bike race, how to get around France, and how to track down a nice meal." -- PodiumCafe.com

"Even if you are not planning to visit the Tour next year, Graham Watson's Tour de France Travel Guide should prove to be an incredible travel resource for years to come. This book will leave you saying "some day, some day" and dreaming of the time that you will travel to see the grandest of the Grand Tours." -- BikeWorldNews.com

"More than just a another traveler's guide book, Graham Watson's Tour de France Travel Guide is an intimate, all-encompassing guide to both the country and le Tour. Whether or not your trip actually materializes, devotees of the Tour will appreciate an escape from the dreary woes of the world (including cycling's doping issues) with this colorful and nostalgic journey through summertime France." -- DailyPeloton.com

"Graham Watson is the only photographer ever pointed out by the commentary team while a race is in progress. This is a gem of a book and reveals a side to Watson that most of us probably didn't know existed--he's a very impressive and accomplished writer." -- TheWashingMachinePost.net

From the Publisher

• "Finally there is a practical guide for the traveller wishing to experience the Tour de France close up and personal. Graham Watson's Tour de France Travel Guide distills his 31 years of experience following la Grande Boucle into a compact but comprehensive volume that no fan of the Tour will want to be without. The final chapter is the pièce de résistance as Graham Watson, the celebrated photographer, reveals how you too can photograph the Tour de France. I suspect that this book will be the most expensive one you will ever buy since I defy anyone, after reading it and not want to book a flight to France." -- Pezcyclingnews.com

About the Author

Product details.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1934030384
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ VeloPress; Illustrated edition (June 8, 2009)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 340 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781934030387
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1934030387
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.5 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.1 x 0.95 x 8.14 inches
• #576 in Cycling Travel Guides
• #1,872 in General France Travel Guides

About the author

Graham watson.

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2024 Tour de France

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Stage Detail

Florence > Rimini

It’s rare for the Tour de France to start with more than 3,600 metres of climbing – in fact it’s never happened before! – and it’s also the first time that the race has visited the home city of Gino Bartali. The succession of hills in Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna are likely to be the setting for an immediate and testing confrontation between the contenders for the title, particularly the climb into San Marino (7.1km at 4.8%), where the race will add a 13th name to its catalogue of foreign visits.

Cesenatico > Bologna

The passage across the Emilia-Romagna region is straightforward enough to begin with as it takes the peloton to Imola and its famous motor racing circuit. The final part of the stage, featuring the climb to the Sanctuary of San Luca (1.9km at 10.6%), the traditional finale of the Giro dell’Emilia, which will be tackled twice in the final 40km, offers fertile terrain for the peloton’s puncheurs.

Piacenza > Turin

The sprinters will have started the 2024 Tour with their teeth gritted, but now they’ll have something to sink them into with the finish in Turin. Prior to that, the peloton will pay a passing tribute to Fausto Coppi by heading through Tortone, where il campionissimo died. By that point, though, the sprinters’ domestiques will already be hard at work, their focus on ensuring a sprint finale. There’ll be little room for manoeuvre for the breakaway riders.

Pinerolo > Valloire

The race leaves Italy after a long climb to the resort of Sestrières, where Coppi triumphed in 1952, the border subsequently reached at the Col de Montgenèvre. Then, after ascending the Lautaret pass, the riders will tackle the 2,642-metre Galibier. This will be the first opportunity for the favourites to test themselves in the high mountains.

Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne > Saint-Vulbas

The race’s temporary exit from the Alps will be made via Chambéry. Soon after, the peloton will be in La Bridoire, where the finish of the Classique des Alpes Juniors is regularly held. That’s a race for climbers, but they won’t get a look-in here as they head for Saint-Vulbas. After the Côte de l’Huis, tackled with 34km remaining, the wide roads beyond will be ideal for keeping a close eye on the breakaway riders. The winner’s bouquet looks destined to go to a sprinter.

Mâcon > Dijon

Fans of medieval architecture will be treated to aerial images of Cluny Abbey and much more. The breakaway will set off with the ambition of holding off the peloton’s pursuit though the vineyards of the Côte Chalonnaise, but the sprinters should have the last word on the 800-metre straight into the prefecture of the Côte-d’Or.

Nuits-Saint-Georges > Gevrey-Chambertin

Individual time-trial

Great wines for great riders! But before venturing into the heart of the vineyards, the time trial specialists will spend almost two-thirds of this time trial on forest roads. The climb of the Côte de Curtil-Vergy (1.6km at 6.1%), which comes in the final section, will test their tolerance to pain. On the face of it, there shouldn’t be any big gaps between the best riders, but who knows?

Semur-en-Auxois > Colombey-les-deux-Églises

Although no altitude records will be broken, the first two-thirds of this stage does feature five categorised climbs. The relentless ups and downs may put a strain on the legs at the point when the sprinters’ team-mates are starting to think about setting up a bunch finish. But the last three kilometres of the final straight, which rise slightly but steadily, could be the ideal place to bring the peloton back together.

Troyes > Troyes

The Tour’s first week concludes with a new feature: white roads, which are already an emblematic feature of Strade Bianche and Paris-Tours. The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift made the first passage across Champagne’s gravel roads close to Troyes in 2022. There will be 14 sectors, including six in the final part of the stage, extending to 32km in total, each sector pitching the riders onto the gravel and into the dust.

Orléans > Saint-Amand-Montrond

Heading through the Sologne forest, it’ll be difficult to predict the outcome of this stage, as the weather may play a significant role. After leaving Issoudun, the riders will find themselves on roads exposed to the crosswinds that scattered the peloton a decade ago. With three changes of direction in the last 30 kilometres, there’s a real chance of echelons forming.

Évaux-les-Bains > Le Lioran

There’s only one stage across the rugged Massif Central, but what a stage it is! With 4,350 metres of vertical gain, the riders will have to be on their mettle at all times, and particularly in the final 50 kilometres, when the degree of difficulty rises a level with a series of very challenging obstacles: the climb to the Col de Néronne, then to the Puy Mary Pas de Peyrol with its fearsome final two kilometres, then continuing on to the Col de Pertus, the Col de Font de Cère and the ascent to Le Lioran. They provide all manner of opportunities for eager climbers to attack.

Aurillac > Villeneuve-sur-Lot

The aesthetic landscapes of the Cantal and Lot regions won’t distract the baroudeurs (breakaway specialists) from the knowledge that there’s something for them to play for. The terrain here is all hills, with the climb to Rocamadour standing out – it’ll be tackled in the opposite direction to the route taken by the 2022 Tour time trial. The second part of the stage is more suited to the sprinters’ teams that are set on chasing the break down. However, on two previous and similar stages into Villeneuve-sur-Lot, the breakaway managed to hold off its pursuers.

The Lot-et-Garonne serves up some lovely balcony roads early in the stage, when the formation of the breakaway will be closely monitored by the sprinters’ teams, who will have studied the route carefully. If they judge their effort correctly, they won’t be caught out by the day’s escapees. However, amidst the hilly terrain approaching the finish, the Blachon and Simacourbe climbs could pose a problem for those sprinters who don’t feel comfortable in the hills.

Pau > Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet

The dynamic format of the first Pyrenean stage is accentuated by the fact that battle is unlikely to commence until the riders have gone through Lourdes. From that point, with 80 kilometres remaining, there’ll be a festival of climbing, featuring the Col du Tourmalet, the Hourquette d’Ancizan and the climb to Pla d’Adet. Fifty years on, the finish line will be exactly where it was when Raymond Poulidor celebrated victory in the 1974 Tour.

Loudenvielle > Plateau de Beille

The third Sunday of the Tour could prove crucial. Whatever’s happened on the previous days in the mountains, the terrain on this stage is ripe for revenge or confirmation, with 4,850 metres of vertical gain on the menu over almost 200 kilometres of racing. All manner of scenarios could play out, and it’s not unrealistic to imagine that team-mates of the GC contenders will attempt to infiltrate the breakaway climbing the Peyresourde. That would prove invaluable given what lies ahead, especially in a finale that features the climbs of the Col d’Agnes and the Port de Lers followed by the final haul up to Plateau de Beille.

Gruissan > Nimes

The sprinters may be heavily tipped for success when the race heads away from the coast near Narbonne, and maybe even when the riders pass over the Pic Saint-Loup. But the Mistral can blow fiercely at this time of year and could well upset the plans of the sprinters if those teams that feel at home when it’s windy end up scattering the peloton.

Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux > Superdévoluy

As the race homes in on the southern Alps, there will be no significant obstacles crossing the Drôme. The tests beyond that, though, are likely to encourage the formation of a large breakaway group, whose members will have a chance to shine, assuming they can deal with the climbs in the final 40 kilometres. We’ll get a clearer idea of this on the ascent of the Col Bayard, although the final selection should be made on the Col du Noyer (7.5km at 8.4%), with the final decision coming on the approach to the Superdévoluy ski station.

Gap > Barcelonnette

The altimeter drops temporarily, although the sprinters will still have to go right to their limits in order to claim the final bouquet within their grasp. That’s down to the fact that once the peloton has admired Lake Serre-Ponçon, the day’s attackers will have a few hills to exploit as they seek to maintain their lead. A strong puncheur might be able to go clear on the Côte de Saint-Apollinaire, and they’ll even more opportunity to do so on the Côte des Demoiselles Coiffées.

Embrun > Isola 2000

The menu for this ultra-mountain stage could well make you dizzy, but it’ll also whet the appetite of the very best climbers. Although the stage is less than 150km long, the riders will climb above 2,000 metres on three occasions, the biggest test the climb to the summit of La Bonette, the highest road in France at an altitude of 2,802 metres. Its 360-degree panorama is breath-taking.

Nice > Col de la Couillole

The Paris-Nice regulars will be racing over familiar terrain, but that won’t make things any easier if the contest for the Yellow Jersey is still raging, particularly over such a short distance. Battle could commence as early as the climb to the Col de Braus. There will then be no respite on the climbs of the Cols de Turini, de la Colmiane and finally de la Couillole, the final ascent extending for 15.7km at an average gradient of 7.1%. We’ll all be holding our breath!

Monaco > Nice

Everyone remembers the last occasion the Tour finished with a time trial, when Greg LeMond stripped the yellow jersey from the shoulders of Laurent Fignon on the Champs-Élysées in 1989, by just eight seconds. Thirty-five years on, we can but dream of a similar duel, involving two or three riders, an authentic athletic confrontation whose outcome would determine the final podium of the 111th edition, and the first to finish far from its familiar Parisian setting, the ultimate finale destined for Place Masséna, just a few pedal-strokes from the Promenade des Anglais.

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How to be a tourist at next year’s Tour de France

An insider's guide to watching the Tour de France in person.

Picture it! You’re on the side of an Alpine climb, your superhero suit fits perfectly, you’re warmed up and ready to run (at a respectful distance, of course) alongside the peloton somewhere in the Alps. You just ate your weight in cheese; you definitely drank an obscene volume of really cheap but quite delicious wine. You are sunburned. Earlier in the day, you met the Flat Earth guy, the perfect mascot for the rampant stupidity of our times, a man as ubiquitous at Tour stages these days as Didi the Devil was at the turn of the millennium. You don’t know it yet, but tomorrow you’ll meet Didi himself.

To do any of these things, you have to be in France in July. 

This story is all about how to be a tourist at the 2024 Tour de France . I’m your concierge. My name is Caley Fretz and I’m a serial Tour de France-goer. My credentials: 13 Tours covered, something like 200 French towns and cities visited, two years living on the edge of the Alps, a deep love and also healthy disdain for France and the French. 

For the purposes of simplicity, we’re going to assume you have roughly one week’s vacation to go watch the Tour. I’ll run through some of the basics: how to pick which week of the race to go to, how to structure that week, and how to get around. And then get into some finer details you won’t find anywhere else. 

This piece is for the rugged individualists, who want to fly free of tour busses and guided trips, and figure it out on their own. I’ll talk a bit about tour guides below, but that’s not the focus here. This is a primer for doing it yourself. I’ll also jump into the comments (as will our other Tour experts, plus hopefully some actual French people) to answer any other questions. 

When to go: Pick your week

The Tour de France is three weeks long.* A thorough look at the route after the presentation on Wednesday makes one thing clear: the middle week is not your week. There are some gems in there but, for the most part, they’re going fly past at 50 kph and you’re going to stay in a hotel with bedbugs. You want to go to the first or last week this year. 

This leaves two options: Grand Depart through stage 4 or so, or the last week, Pyrenees and back into the Alps. Let’s run through two sample itineraries. 

Option 1: The Italian Job

Dates: Arrive June 27, Depart July 4 Fly Into: Florence Fly out of: Lyon or Geneva

I like this option. Italy is great; Florence is beautiful. The food is way better than France and you’ll still get some time in the Alps, and even a TT and gravel stage if you stay long enough. If you’re fascinated by Marco Pantani, the finish of the first stage is in the coastal town where he died. There’s lots going on in this first week. Here’s how I’d do it:

Arrive: Thursday, July 27

Two days out from the race, you can get settled in Florence (stay on the south bank of the Arno river for slightly less touristy vibes) and then hit the team presentation. As a spectacle, the presentation is a bit silly, but a good time if you’ve never been to a major bike race. You’ll get a feel for the Tour and it will have some great Italian flavor as well. Go to Bulli and Balene for a spritz afterward. 

Friday, June 28

Hang out in Florence. It’s one of the coolest cities on Earth. Go for a ride to the southwest if you have a bike (and you should). No bike? Try one of Florence’s bajillion museums, including the often-overlooked gem of the Museo Opera del Duomo , which houses most of the art from the famed cathedral complex, including Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise, and doesn’t require timed entry like the Uffizi and Accademia galleries.

Saturday, June 29: Stage 1

Stage starts are the place to see the riders. They are much more chill, mostly because they are much less tired than they will be post-stage when they are just trying to get to the hotel as fast as possible.

The precise access protocol of any given day is subject to change. Generally, there is a fenced-off section for team busses, but the fences are not far from the busses themselves so you can hang over those fences and ask for autographs and stuff. Plus, they usually can’t fit all the teams in the fenced-off area (you’d think they’d get better at this – they know how many teams are there well ahead of time) so some team busses will be fully in the public, down some nearby side street.

Sometimes, there are no fences at all. No idea why. C’est la vie. 

Anyway, go to the start. It will be an absolute cluster in Florence proper, so don’t try to drive anywhere near it. This is why you need to book a place (soon!) near downtown, so you can walk. 

Once the race starts, go for a bike ride. Unless you really want to see Rimini and make a Pantani pilgrimage, it won’t be worth going to the finish. Head to the next day’s finish in Bologna next. 

Sunday, June 30: Stage 2

Today, we’re seeing a finish. If you avoided the Rimini/Cesenatico finish and start, you have all morning to enjoy Bologna, or to make your way from Florence. 

The race will finish around 5:30 pm local time. When the detailed course maps are released, take a close look at where the finish line is, and which direction the race course comes into town from. You want to enter from the opposite direction. It will be less busy. 

You’re going to have to walk, or ride, if you have a bike. Park where you can (legal parking is sort of optional when all local government employees are busy at the bike race) and make your way to the finish line. To get a spot on the barriers in the last 200 meters, you’re going to have to show up 2+ hours in advance or get very lucky. If you go to 400 m or so you can slot in pretty close to the riders arriving. The speed is crazy. Enjoy it. Go for dinner at Trattoria Bertozzi.

Option 2: Head to the slopes of the San Luca climb near the finish. Should be good fun. The same rules apply: drive as close as you can, ride or walk the rest. Better yet, check in at your accommodations in Bologna and ride to San Luca. 

Monday, July 1: Stage 3

Skip this whole stage. Head to Saint-Michele-de-Mauriene or Valloire. Ride the Galibier from the north side. Wait for the race to come to you. 

Tuesday, July 2: Stage 4

The first mountain stage of the Tour de France goes over both Sestrière and the Col du Galibier. If you did as you’re told and head straight for Valloire or Saint-Michele-de-Mauriene then you’re already in prime position. 

On the morning of the stage, pack lunch, a second lunch, a good jacket (a really good, insulated one – something you’d wear in winter) and climb up to the Galibier. It’s roughly 35 km and 2000 m of climbing from Saint-Michel-de-Mauriene. Not a small day. And you’ll have to get all the way back, though it is mostly downhill. 

Stop near the top of the Galibier. The farther you descend down the south side, which the race will be climbing, the more you’ll have to climb after the race. It’s beautiful up there. It’s also at more than 2,000 m and TRUST ME ON THIS the weather could turn from pleasant to absolutely deadly in minutes. 30°C to 4° and hailing? Hypothermia? Yeah. Bring everything you might need, even if the weather looks nice. Mountains create their own weather, it can get not nice real fast. 

They will close the Galibier to bikes at some point. When I find out when, I’ll add it here. But you’ll need to leave early. 

Wednesday, July 3: Stage 5

Stay wherever you find a place near the Galibier and ride. This is now a riding vacation. You’ve seen a few days of the Tour, a big mountain stage, a start and a finish, and now it’s time to ride some bikes for a few days. 

Thursday, July 4: Stage 6

See above. 

Optional add-on: 

Stages 7 and 9 are interesting. Stage 7 is a time trial. TTs are great for easy, all-day viewing. Stage 9 is the gravel day. If you wanted to go put yourself out on a gravel sector, that’d be a good time. But that makes much longer trip, and Troyes is not close to the Galibier, so this is definitely an optional extra. 

Option 2: Pyrenees to the Alps

Dates: Arrive July 12, Depart July 22 Fly into: Toulouse or Nice Fly out of: Nice

This itinerary starts in Pau and ends in Nice, for the first non-Paris Tour finale. It jumps straight into the action and features a bit of riding in the middle, plus a gorgeous finish. 

I’m also cheating a bit. This one is a longer stay, even before travel add-ons. One could remove the Pyreneean bit if you need it to be shorter.

Friday, July 12: Stage 13

Fly into Toulouse, drive into the Pyrenees. I recommend staying somewhere near Arreau, though finding accommodation up the valleys will be tricky with the Tour coming through. Get to your accommodation, unpack your bike, and get a nice ride in. There are dozens of amazing climbs nearby: the Col d’Aspin and Hourquette l’Ancizan, both straight up out of town, or Pla d’Adet and Val Louron just a bit up valley.

Saturday, July 13: Stage 14 

Staying in Arreau (or nearby) sets you up for stage 13, which starts in Pau and ends atop Plat d’Adet, a mountaintop finish. We’re getting straight into it. 

You have the option of heading to the final climb, Plat d’Adet, or the penultimate climb, La Hourquette d’Ancizan. Both will be great viewing; if we had to pick one, obviously the final climb is the one. 

Head up early. They close roads to bikes earlier than they used to, but if you roll onto the climb by 10 AM or so you should have no issues. Bring your superman costume, lunch, and a big jacket just in case. 

Sunday, July 14: Stage 15

Bastille Day! You cannot go to the start and finish today. It’s too far, and without some sort of official car sticker you will get stuck somewhere and not make it. You have to pick one. Because you’re already near the start, that’s my suggestion. Head to Loudenvielle. You can likely ride there from wherever you stayed the night before, and then ride back after the start for a solid day on the bike. Find a bar somewhere to watch the race itself, which will be worth watching. 

Monday, July 15: Rest Day

Go for a ride in the morning. You’re still near Arreau, and there are lots of great options. I highly recommend a loop that includes Tuc de Labatiadère. 

The race has headed toward Narbonne for its rest day, and will then head into the Alps. It’s a decent drive today; ride in the morning and then get going. You want to get all the way to Nîmes, four and a half hours away. Stay in Nîmes tonight. 

Tuesday, July 16: Stage 16, Gruissan to Nîmes

This is your opportunity to hang out in a nice French city and then catch the finish of a sprint stage, a very different feel from a climbing stage. Wake up, go find a coffee and a croissant, and scout the finish in Nîmes for later. You want to identify the finish line, obviously, but also keep an eye out for yellow signs with a P on them. The yellow indicates team parking; this is where the team busses will be parked later. When the time comes, head out and bang on the boards in the final 300m and then run to the team busses to see some riders up close. 

Wednesday, July 17: Stage 17

Drive to Nice. This means missing stages 17 and 18, but the riding in Nice is unbelievable and you will stay there until the end of the race. 

Once in Nice, go for a ride along the coast to get all the driving out of your legs. It’s gorgeous. Avoid any of the climbs you’ve heard of – Col d’Eze for example – because they are actually quite busy when a race isn’t on. Look for tiny squiggly lines on the map, these are where you want to be. If you can get out to Col de Braus, do it. 

Thursday, July 18: Stage 18

Go for a bike ride, watch the race from a bar. Maybe Col de la Madone, just to see what all the fuss is about? It’s the start of a lovely loop anyway.

Friday, July 19: Stage 19

If you’re up for it, do a day trip (via car, it’s about 90 minutes) up to Isola 2000. This is going to be an epic stage, and being at the finish could be worthwhile. The same rules apply as any other mountain stage: pick a spot to park, ride the rest of the way, leave early because the roads close.

The other option, and probably the one I’d take if the race is still close: Do a ride from Nice in the morning, watch the stage on TV all afternoon. Chances are you’ll miss what actually happens if you head to the stage itself, so if GC fireworks still seem likely, maybe just watch from afar. 

Saturday, July 20: Stage 20

Two options: head to the start in Nice for another shot at getting autographs and such, or ride out early and run in your superhero suit alongside the riders (again: respectable distance, people) on the gorgeous switchbacks of the Col de Braus. Can’t do both. 

Sunday, July 21: Stage 21

Time trials may not always be great viewing on TV, but they are superb in person. Instead of watching a peloton go by in 30 seconds, you get a riders slinging past at full tilt for hours.

This course is a classic, starting in Monaco and ending in Nice, going via La Turbie and Col d’Èze. You’re still in Nice, so the easy thing to do is map out a route from your accomondations to somewhere on course, preferably taking a bit of a long way to get there. My suggestion? Find yourself on Col d’Eze, which is short from this particular side, but steep. 

Fin! You made it. Go out and have a night on the town in Nice, maybe you’ll run into a few marauding pro cycling teams. Don’t expect to see them at the club until after midnight, at the earliest, as they all have big boozy dinners to attend first. 

How to get to the Tour

Most of our audience does not live in continental Europe, so it’s going to have to be a plane. Whether this trip is worth the carbon footprint is an existential question that lies squarely on your shoulders.

How to get around the Tour

It is possible to do a Tour trip without a rental car, but it won’t look much like the itineraries I’ve put above. You could also do a lot of this by train – that is yet another level of adventure for which I would salute you, but definitely increases complexity.

My suggestion: Get a rental car and bring a bike. Get one of those bikepacking frame bags to stick in the main triangle so you can carry your lunch, your extra wine, your big jacket, and all the rest. You’ll use the car to get from one home base to another, then use the bike to get to the actual race and of course to go for some great rides. Without official Tour accreditation stickers on your car, you will struggle to drive anywhere near the actual bike race.

Local governments put out information about road closures close to the stages themselves, and Google Maps is actually quite good at knowing which roads are inaccessible. But the rule of thumb is to ditch the car whenever possible and ride to the race.

Consider a camper van of some sort. This removes the stress around hotels and even dinner, if you have a little cook stove. Bring your bikes, find a good place to camp, and use the camper as a home base.

Tips and Tricks

I canvassed both my fellow Tour reporters as well as a few friends and colleagues who have done leisure trips to the Tour in recent years. Here’s what we came up with:

• Download maps to your cycling computer before you leave.
• Book restaurants in advance. This is best done by calling. French restaurants love this practice in general, and if you are on the edge of making it before the kitchen closes (often as early as 8 pm in more rural areas), they will sometimes wait for you. Not always, but sometimes. Plus these are often small towns with a huge influx of people for one night, restaurants fill quickly.
• Plan some ride routes before you leave. Have some big ones and some small ones ready. Get them loaded up on your cycling computer ahead of time.
• Do some non-iconic climbs … two of our most scenic outings were on unknown or never-raced climbs.
• If you have the opportunity to ride back to somewhere at the end of a stage, do it … riding with all the spectators and the caravan was a hoot.
• Definitely to take a jumper/jacket up the mountain with you no matter how sunny it is.
• Don’t waste time trying to find good coffee, it all tastes kind of bad and you’ve just got to suck it up.
• Roads generally close 3-4 hours before the race comes through, earlier for mountaintop finishes.
• It’s much more interesting and you’ll get a lot more out of standing by the buses at the starts and finishes than being anywhere near the podium.
• If you are in a reasonably sized town/city, there’s always a Vietnamese restaurant that will be open late, not very busy, and with good food.
• Know the stage timetable. This is available on the Tour de France website for each stage, and usually shows up a few weeks out. It includes arrival times in each town based on a few different average speeds – assume the fastest. It also includes when the caravan is going by, which is good fun.
• Don’t try to move with the Tour every day. You’ll spend half your life in a rental car. Skip stages, go for rides, and try to catch a few key moments.

What about guided options? 

There are some great, ASO-approved tour guides, but I know nothing about any of them, other than I sent my friend Jordan (that’s him in the feature image up top) and his lovely wife Emily on a trip with Sports Tours International and he routinely texted his recent wine intake volume followed by “I’M HAVING A GREAT TIME!” So I think safe to say they had a great time. 

Jordan and Emily did a full 14-day thing, and said they would go back and do another, but probably shorter this time (not because they didn’t enjoy 14 days, but because they’ve done it already). 

One highlight, Jordan said, was access. This is something you won’t get without going the ASO-licenced guide route. These companies pay the piper (the Amaury family) and therefore their clients get better access than a tourist rocking up on their own. 

Plus, seems like they’re just fun. “The benefit of the tour group is that you basically get pampered with food and wine for your five-hour wait for the peloton to come through and it’s in a very choice location with limited access,” Jordan said. “Plus it was fun meeting all the Americans, Euros, and Aussies that were part of our group.”

• If you’re going to drink too much wine on your birthday and then try in vain to rehydrate, do not do so with Pellegrino. Your hiccups will take a day and a half to go away. This tip is courtesy of Jordan. He texted “medically concerned” at one point.
• The gendarmes are not to be fucked with; these are the Scary Police. They can be spotted easily because they’re universally terrifying-looking and have big guns (actual guns and as well as enormous biceps). Just don’t.
• The Tour is massive. You will almost certainly get stuck at some point; in traffic, on the wrong side of the course, something. Be mentally prepared for this moment, don’t freak out, go with the flow.

*Four weeks! Most of these tips and tricks apply to the Femmes, except getting around will be far easier because of the slightly smaller crowds. I’ll do another piece on seeing the Femmes along with Abby soon. My early suggestion would be to either pick the Grand Depart or the Alps, and skip the bit in between.

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2023 Tour de France Stages and Guide

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Welcome to the Seek Travel Ride guide for the 2023 Tour de France. Here I take you through all the essentials for this great spectacle to get you prepared. As in previous years, I have included a brief summary of each of the stages in an easy-to-read table, the team listing, some history of past winners of the event, plus lots more.

The route details for the 2023 Tour de France were announced on 27 October 2022. I have added all the information we have at present about the 2023 Tour de France. As more information is released I will add it to the page to keep you up to date on everything you need to know about the event.

We also have our 2023 Tour de France mountain stages page and our page about Watching the Tour de France in person.

A Cycling holiday in France

If you are planning your own cycling holiday to watch the Tour de France be sure to check out the rest of The Seek Travel Ride website. There is a wealth of information about cycling in France to help you plan your own holiday.

If you don’t find the answers to what you are looking for on the site then consider joining our Cycling in France Facebook group . Our goal is to make it a great resource for anyone considering a cycling holiday in France and a place to come and ask all your questions. We also offer a paid Travel Advisory service where we can assist you directly with planning your cycling holiday in France. There are 3 different packages on offer for you to select from starting from an hour-long chat with us to answer your questions to a full itinerary planning service where we do all your planning and research for you.

The 2023 Tour de France by numbers

Start date: Saturday 1 July 2023

Start location: Bilbao

Number of stages: 21

Total distance: 3 404 km / 2 127 miles

Finish date: 23 July 2023

Finish location: Paris

Longest stage: Stage 2 at 209 km / 131 miles

Shortest stage: Stage 21 at 115 km / 72 miles (excludes time trial stage)

Greatest elevation gain:

Flattest stage:

Time trial stages: Stage 22

Flat stages: 6

Hilly stages: 6

Mountain stages: 8

Rest days: 2 (Monday 10 July and Monday 17 July)

Summit finishes: 4

Highest road: 2 304 meters / 7 672 feet (Col de la Loze)

Categorized climbs: (HC, Cat 1 and Cat 2)

Number of teams: 22

Number of riders: 176

Total prize money: €2.3M

Winner prize money: €500K

Tour de France 2023 teams

The full list of teams for the 2023 Tour de France has been announced and the list below includes all the teams for this years race.

Overview of the 2023 Tour de France stages

The Tour de France turns 120 in 2023 and heads to the Basque Country in Spain to start the 110th edition of this great race. Mountains are a key theme with the race visiting all 5 of France’s mountain ranges over the 21 stages, it will definitely be a race for the climbers. The second last stage will definitely test weary legs with no less than 5 categorized climbs to conquer before the traditional finish in Paris the following day. Perhaps the race will be decided in this last grueling mountain stage, we will have to wait and see.

Flat Stages for the Sprinters

There are 6 flat stages in this edition of the Tour de France. It will be a tough race for the sprinters as they will have to get up and over all the mountains within the allowed time in order to contest the sprint stages. There is talk of a return by Mark Cavendish to see if he can beat the record of 34 stage wins he currently holds jointly with Eddie Merkx. With the announcement of his signing with the Astana Qazaqstan Team confirmed in early 2023 we hope he can bag a stage and claim the record.

Individual Time Trials

This year’s race only includes 22km of time trialing on stage 16 in the Haute Savoir region. While it may only be short there are two climbs to get up and over keeping with the theme of mountains for this year’s event. A short but tricky stage for sure.

The Mountains

The overarching theme of the 2023 Tour de France is definitely mountains and it will be a race for the pure climbers. The race hits the Pyrenees on stages 5 and 6 so we will definitely get a look early on as to who is climbing well and who is not. Col du Tourmalet will feature once again this year before the riders drop down and head to the valley before the final climb and first summit finish at Cauteret-Cambasque.

After a couple of gentler stages, the riders will once again hit the mountains on stage 9 in the Massif Central. The stage finishes on the legendary Puy de Dôme which has not been used since 1988. This is the second summit finish for the race. Puy de Dôme has seen some epic battles play out in the history of the race. Most notably in 1964, when Raymond Poulidor and Jacques Anquetil went head to head up the mountain on stage 20. Anquetil held a 56-second lead, and the yellow jersey, going into the stage and Poulidor had planned to attack him on the climb. The two were neck and neck from the bottom before Poulidor finally broke loose with 500m to go. While Poulidor won the stage he did not manage to gain the 56 seconds required, falling short by a mere 14 seconds.

The race returns to the mountains on Bastille Day, Frances national day, with the third summit finish on the Grand Colombier in the Jura on stage 13. This marks the start of a grueling 5 stages in the mountains. Thankfully the riders have the second rest day in the middle of this block to get some rest before the final week. The riders move to the French Alps on stage 14 where they will tackle the highest climb in this year’s race, the Col de la Loze at 2,304m on stage 17, the final stage in the Alps.

Riders get the chance for some easier days on stage 18 and and stage 19 before tackling stage 20 in the Vosges mountains. There are bound to be many tired legs and it will be interesting to see how this all plays out. Will the stage decide the final winner? How will the sprinters fare? Only time will tell.

For more information on the 2023 Tour route on the official Tour de France, site click here.

2023 Tour de France route, stage by stage

In the table below we have included a summary of each stage to help keep you up to date with when and where each stage is. As more information about each stage becomes available we will add it so check back. If you would like some more information about all the categorized climbs of the 2023 Tour de France then head over to our other page which just focuses on that aspect stage by stage.

How to watch the 2023 Tour de France

There are two ways of watching the Tour de France. Firstly you can head to France and watch a stage live by the side of the road or secondly, watch the race on one of the many TV stations or online streaming services on offer. If you are planning to be in France you can choose one of the many tour companies that are offering trips to the 2023 Tour de France or choose to do your own thing.

2023 Tour de France Tour Companies

There are plenty of cycle tour companies that offer trips to watch the Tour de France if you would like someone to take care of everything for you. The Tour de France officially endorses seven different tour companies, three premium companies, and three official operators. These companies are given access to areas that are off-limits to the general public including the start area, hospitality, and finish areas. You will have the opportunity to ride on the course where the general public will not and meet the riders before the start of the stage. These companies have access to the accommodation through the organizers which means you will not have as far to drive at the start and end of the days as well as parking in restricted areas.

There are also plenty of other tour companies that offer holidays to follow the Tour de France. While these companies are unlikely to have the same access levels as the official tour companies you will still enjoy everything the Tour de France has to offer.

We have compiled a list of both the official Tour de France tour operators and the non-official operators. You can click on the name of the company to head to their website and see what is on offer. Whether you want a holiday just watching the race with no riding or lots of riding every day you will find a trip that is right for you.

Official tour companies of the 2023 Tour de France

The Tour de France partners with some tour companies each year to offer a range of options to come and see the race. The affiliated companies are classed as either premium or official. Both groups are able to access areas that general tour companies and the general public are unable to. Premium companies are able to access VIP areas in addition to the areas that the official companies can access.

The companies listed below are the official premium operators of the Tour de France:

Tompson bike tours – offering 4 different trips covering different sections of the race. From 6 to 10 days in duration.

Custom Getaways – offering 10 different options between 1 and 7 days in length. Options cover different stages of the race.

Sports Tours International – choose from 15 different options ranging from a single stage to 7 days. Tour de France official operators

The companies listed below are the official operators of the Tour de France:

Discover France – choose from 12 options ranging from single stages to 6 days. Options for start or finish line access or a VIP helicopter flight

mummu cycling – offering 7 different trips for 2023 ranging from 3 to 8 days in length. Some trips are hosted by ex-pro Stuart O’Grady.

Trek Travel – offering 5 different 2023 trips ranging from 1 to 10 days. Tour prices include the hire of a premium Trek bike. Non-official operators

The companies listed below all offer trips to watch the Tour de France but are not official partners of the race.

Bike Style Tours – 2023 tours not released

Escape Adventures – 2023 tours not released

Ride Holidays New Zealand – 2023 not released

Ride International Tours – offering a 10-day trip covering the final 10 days of the 2023 Tour de France.

Velo Tours – for 2023 choose from a Pyrenees or French Alps tour, both are 10 days in length.

Watching the Tour de France stages live

For any cycling fan, cheering the riders at the side of the road at the Tour de France is something we highly recommend. It is true that you stand at the side of the road for hours only to watch the riders flash past in a matter of minutes, but it is so much more than that. The mountain stages are generally the most popular and it is not unheard of to have hundreds of thousands of spectators line the road as it twists and turns up the steep gradients. We have an article dedicated to watching the Tour de France in person to get you up to speed.

Watching the Tour de France on TV

If you are traveling or not quite sure how to watch the Tour de France on TV we have got you covered. Head over to our How to Watch the 2023 Tour de France to see who is broadcasting it in your country.

Tour de France basics

If you are a newcomer to the Tour de France and cycle races in general you may not be aware of many of the terms used while you watching the race. To help we have put together some information so you better understand everything that is going on.

The Tour de France jerseys

There are four different competitions within the Tour de France the overall winner (yellow jersey), best sprinter (green jersey), best mountain climber (polka dot jersey), and the best youngest rider (white jersey). It is possible for a rider to win more than one jersey in a single race. In the 2022 edition of the race, Jonas Vingegaard won the Yellow and Polka Dot jerseys while Mark Cavendish won Green Jersey and Tadej Pogacar won the White jersey. We will explain each of these in turn below.

1. Yellow Jersey – this is the jersey everyone wants to win and is the overall winner of the Tour de France. The yellow jersey is awarded to the rider with the shortest overall time when all the stage times are added up. Riders can also be awarded bonus seconds for finishing in the top 3 of a stage where they are awarded 10, 6, or 4 seconds bonus for finishing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd.

2. Green jersey – this jersey is won based on an accumulation of points awarded to riders through intermediate sprint points during the stage and at the finish line. The first 15 riders are awarded points which vary based on the type of stage. For example, on a flat stage, the first over the line is awarded 50 points while on a mountain stage only 20 points are awarded for first place. This jersey rewards rider consistency and is awarded to a rider who can sprint well but also gain intermediate points.

3. Polka Dot jersey – this jersey is awarded based on the accumulation of points awarded at the top of climbs. The harder the climb the more points are on offer for the win. This jersey is suited to those riders who are good climbers.

4. White jersey – only riders under the age of 26 are eligible for this jersey and it is awarded to the rider with the shortest overall time in this category.

The A-Z of French cycling terms

While watching the Tour de France you will quite often see French language terms used either by commentators or on the screen. We have put together a list of some of the more common French cycling terms with their English translation so you know what they mean.

Arrière du Peloton – the rear of the main group of riders

Arrivée – Stage finish

Bonification – Bonus seconds

Chrono – time trial

Classement – classification or rank

Départ – Stage start

Director Sportif – the team director who sits in the following car and manages their riders

Domestique – these riders work for the team leaders and make sure they are looked after

Étape – stage

Étape de plaine – flat stage

Étape de accidentées – hilly stage

Étape de montagne – mountain stage

Flamme rouge – the red flag that designates 1km left to the finish

Grand Départ – First stage start

Grimpeur – a rider who is considered a natural climber

Hors catégorie – the hardest of mountain climbs, “beyond categorisation”.

Lantern rouge – the person in last position in the race

Maillot Jaune – Yellow Jersey

Maillot Vert – Green Jersey

Maillot Blanc À pois rouges – Polka dot jersey

Maillot Blanc – White Jersey

Massif – a mountain range

Musette – the bag that riders are handed at feed zones

Palmarés – a rider’s career achievements

Pavé – cobbled streets and roads. Made famous by the Paris Roubaix cycling race

Peloton – the main bunch of riders

Puncheur – riders who are good a rolling terrain and short steep hill climbs

Rouleur – a rider who is great on the flatter roads but not so good once it gets steeper

Soigneur – team helpers who look after the riders both during and after the race

Tete de la course – head of the race

A little bit of Tour de France History

The Tour de France first ran in 1903 and apart from a break during WW1 and WW2 has run every year since. 2023 is the 110th edition of the race. Over the years there have been some great records created and we list some of them below.

Most number of Tour de France wins – 5 Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain.

Most times in the yellow jersey – 111 Eddy Merckx

The greatest number of stage wins – 34 Eddy Merckx and Mark Cavendish

The greatest number of stages won in a single tour – 8 Charles Péllssier

The greatest number of podiums – 8 Raymond Poulidor

Most Tour de Frances ridden – 18 Sylvain Chavanel

Most Green Jerseys – 7 Peter Sagan

Most Polka Dot Jerseys – 7 Richard Virenque

Most White Jerseys – 3 Jan Ullrich and Andy Schleck

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Stage 1 | 06/29 Florence > Rimini

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

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Watching the Tour de France in person

Nothing quite beats the feeling of waiting in the french countryside or at the top of a mountain for the tour de france to roll by. roger dunne * has this guide to watching the world's largest annual spectator event..

A front row view in Brussels in 2010. Photo: Kmeron  

Click here for accommodation on the TDF route

• Watching the Tour de France in Paris
• First-hand account of watching the Tour de France
• Another first-hand report of watching the Tour de France
• Tour de France OFFICIAL RACE GUIDE

Stage-by-stage logistics (road closures, parking advice etc etc).

*** We strongly advise getting a copy of the Official Tour de France Race Guide to help your planning. It has all stage times and maps in one place. It sells out every year so order it early. ***

The Tour de France has grown over the years to be known as the greatest race on Earth. The sheer endurance needed to ride an average of 100km for a duration of three weeks in some of the most physically challenging terrain is testimony to the riders passion, drive and commitment to the sport.

For the French, the Tour is a national celebration and it is a great honour for ones town or city to be chosen as a host venue. Every year hundreds of thousands of spectators line the streets of every village, hamlet and roadside to be part of  the colour, smell, noise and atmosphere.

The Tour is also a great tourist attraction with fans coming from all over the world. There is such a build up to the race coming through and its important to get to where you want to see it at least two hours before as the gendarmes close the roads in preparation.

First through is the publicity caravan made up of many of France's major brands in dedicated vehicles advertising their wares and giving away free gifts. It's great fun trying to grab the freebie chocolates, key rights, and race caps from the moving vehicles but be careful not to get caught in the stampede. It's quite amazing what people will do to get a free gift! The caravan lasts about 45 minutes and is entertaining for the spectators who may have waited many hours to catch a glimpse of the riders. In fact, one survey found that 39% of spectators come to see the publicity parade rather than the actual riders.

George Hincapie is cheered up the mountain in 2004. Photo: bryan88

On the mountains

The mountain stages in the Pyrenées and the Alps are always a magnificent spectacle where thousands of people flock and create a great atmosphere. These stages are always popular as often you can see the pre-race cavalcade followed by the riders. The incline of the mountain naturally slows down the passing cavalcade and race so that its spectacle is slowly absorbed by the crowd.

It's also worth noting when the rest days are, as these give you a chance before or after a stage to see more of the surrounding area or to travel on to another stage.

Alpe d'Huez, 2011. Photo: www.instantes-cyclistes.fr

Finding Tour de France accommodation

The sheer number of people from around  the world that follow the Tour means the minute the Tour route is announced there is a rush to book accommodation , cycling holidays following the tour , car hire etc, so make sure you make arrangements as early as possible.

Zoom into the map below to find accommodation on your section of the route. It's a work in progress and we're adding to it all the time (suggestions welcome via [email protected] ).

You can also browse bike-friendly accommodation across all of France via our Where to Stay section .

If you're planning on camping out on top of the more popular mountains, try to arrive a good two days prior to the race coming through to get a prime parking and/or camping space.

Road closures

Once you have decided where you would like to see the Tour, check prior to arriving – or with the local tourist office as soon as you arrive – to see which roads are going to be closed (and when). You also need to find out what time the stage will be approximately coming through at the place you  hope to see it.  If you are following a particular stage on bike, it may be advisable to ride the route the day before to familiarise yourself with how long it will actually take so you don’t miss the race going through. I try and log Tour de France road closure information here as it comes to hand each year.

Official race guide

*** We strongly advise getting a copy of the Official Tour de France Race Guide to help your planning. It has all stage times and maps in one place. ***  

Waiting for the peloton. Photo: bishib70

What to take with you

*** Again, we strongly advise getting a copy of the Official Tour de France Race Guide to help your planning. It has all stage times and maps in one place. ***

It's advisable to bring as much water as possible with you as it is the summer and will generally be hot and sunny, particularly the further south you go. If you are on bike or even following the race in a car, it might be wise to take a small packed lunch with you as the French are very strict on when they serve food – generally 12-2pm and it may be difficult to find anything outside those hours, particularly if you are in a rural village. You should also bring sun cream, hat, camera, video camera , mobile phone and if you  are going by bike some form of identification, even if its a hand written note of your name and contact telephone number in case of accident.

Bike hire for the Tour de France

It can be hard to find a high-spec road bike to ride Tour stages before or after the peloton. Bike hire, like accommodation, tends to get booked up months in advance, particularly on popular mountain stages. Away from the mountains, standard road bike or hybrid hire is easier to find, but high quality carbon fibre bikes can still be difficult to find outside well-known road cycling areas. For bike rental options across France, see our bike hire pages . It is also worth considering bicycle hire services that deliver to your door . If you are taking an organised cycling holiday in France to tie in with the Tour de France, your tour company should be able to arrange bike hire for you.

If you're going to a stage by bike and need to park it up by the side of road either keep a very close eye on your bike or preferably bring a chain to lock it up. The majority of spectators are there to see the race but there’s always the opportunistic thief, so just have your wits about you.

If you're cycling to one of the mountain stages, you will be climbing the mountain with thousands of others which is a great experience as everyone is cheering everyone else on. However, the descent after the race can be nerve wracking as you are again surrounded by thousands of cyclists of all abilities and also pedestrians, cars and other vehicles, so again, be careful and be sensible.

Many people plan their whole year around following the tour and make a holiday out of it taking in the atmosphere in the lead up to the stage coming through, so just be organised. Also keep an eye on the weather forecast  to ensure you're kitted out for rain or sunshine.

More Tour de France information here  

See also A Beginner's Guide to the Tour de France and the Tour de France in Numbers .

*Roger Dunne was a retired semi-professional cyclist who represented Great Britain and rode with teams in France and Luxembourg. An early supporter of Freewheelng France, he passed away in 2015.    

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Here’s how to experience one of the most iconic Tour de France climbs while barely breaking a sweat

P erched among the towering mountain peaks of Isère is the resort of Alpe d’Huez. At 1,860m, it’s the third highest in the French Alps , famous for its family-friendly skiing , stunning views and bountiful alpine hiking trails. But when the snow melts away for summer, the mountain begins to attract a different type of tourist.

From early June to late October , the clatter of ski boots on cobblestone is replaced by clicking of cleats and the whoosh of rubber on hot tarmac, as cyclists flock to the area in their thousands.

Over the years, the winding mountain pass leading up to the resort has served as a backdrop for some of the most memorable moments in pro-cycling history. The late, great Marco Pantani famously completed the 13.8km climb in a still-unbeaten time of 37 minutes back in 1995, and it has featured in the Tour de France no less than 32 times.

To cyclists, it’s a sporting landmark akin to Silverstone or Wembley. The key difference is that anyone can come and pit themselves against the iconic 21 hairpin bends.

And I mean anyone.

Katia Lamb is an Alpe d’Huez local who has been running her bike shop, Cycle Huez , for 14 years with her husband Oli. The couple have watched firsthand as the proliferation of e-bikes has made the mountain more accessible.

“People who might have struggled to get up previously are now able to, thanks to e-bikes,” Katia explains. “Maybe you’re an older cyclist, a partner of a keen cyclist, or just someone who wants to explore the area – hopping on an e-bike will allow you to keep pace and enjoy the sights without the effort.”

Read more on cycling holidays :

• The best cycling holidays in Europe
• How to have a cycling holiday in Los Angeles
• Why you should explore the Cotswolds by bike

The Alpe d’Huez climb starts in the town of Bourg d’Oisans and snakes its way up 3,670ft to the resort. Both areas are home to countless ski shops, many of which turn their focus to bike rentals over the summer months. Katia’s shop provides high-end pedal-powered road bikes for those who want to cycle without the help of a battery, but there are lots of other establishments providing motor-assisted options to suit all body types and budgets.

I’m staying in Alpe d’Huez, so I chose to pick my e-bike up from a shop there. This way, I can zip down to Bourg d’Oisans, enjoy the climb at a leisurely pace and drop the bike back when I’m done – no car required. For those staying in Bourg d’Oisans, the opposite approach makes more sense.

Just getting down the mountain is a feat in itself. It takes roughly 30 minutes going at a modest pace, but gravity does the hard work. All that’s required of me is to feather the brakes as I roll down through the 21 hairpin bends.

After a quick coffee stop in Bourg d’Oisans, I begin the climb. The first section takes me along a straight, flat section of road. It’s easy to be lulled into a false sense of security, but the scale of the challenge becomes apparent as I take a sharp left and the road ramps up like a wall in front of me. Thankfully, I have my rented e-bike, and as I push harder on the pedals, the motor engages and scoots me on my way with little effort required.

Each of the bends on the way up is clearly numbered, from 21 at the bottom to 0 right before the summit. With stops, you can expect it to take roughly two to three hours to get through them all. The first few are steep and long, with little in the way of views due to tree cover. It’s not until I pass through the village of Le Garde-en-Oisans (home to the last café for 8km) that the trees give way to jaw-dropping mountain vistas, complete with colossal rock faces and soaring snow-capped peaks. These scenes only become more impressive as I continue to gain elevation.

The road surface is beautifully smooth as the route winds its way further up the mountain, the distance between bends gradually decreasing as I approach the village of Huez, roughly 5km from the top. Just before the village is bend 7, known affectionately in the cycling world as ‘Dutch Corner’. During the Tour de France, this 90-degree turn plays host to hundreds of famously booze-fuelled and raucous Dutch fans – a tradition stretching back many decades. On a Tour day, the corner turns orange as the spectators flock together in their national colour to cheer, drink beer, set off flares and even rock the occasional police car.

Today, it’s much quieter as I pass by, which is a pity, as by the time you’ve made it to this point, a bit of fervent encouragement probably wouldn’t go amiss.

Huez Village is situated between bends 6 and 4. It’s a great spot to rest tired legs while soaking in the epic mountain scenery. For those in need of a quick refuel, Maison d’Huez offers hot food, drinks and snacks with outdoor seating and spectacular views. But don’t get too comfortable, as there’s still a good chunk of climbing left to go. For those who can’t muster up the requisite strength to get back on the bike, there’s a free gondola that goes from the village directly up to the main resort.

Reenergised, I leave Huez Village and continue up the mountain. Coming around bend 3 the resort of Alpe d’Huez is visible directly ahead for the first time. The prospect of a post-ride beer now in clear focus, I pick up the pace and weave through the final few turns into town.

Alpe d’Huez is split into eight areas. Veil-Alpe is the oldest and most characterful of them all, and it’s the first part of town cyclists enter as they reach the end of the climb. It’s home to a number of bustling cyclist-friendly bars, bike shops and the fantastic La Roy Ladre – a cosy little restaurant serving world-class pizzas and French wines with a smile.

Those who wish to complete the official Tour de France Alpe d’Huez route can follow the markings on the road up to the top of Cognet, the northernmost area of town. Don’t forget to snap a picture at the summit and give yourself a pat on the back before heading back down into town for a well-deserved drink.

Where to stay

The Grandes Rousses Hotel & Spa is the oldest (and most luxurious) hotel in Alpe d’Huez, often hosting World Tour cycling teams during the Tour de France. Perched on the mountainside, it offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, a number of fancy restaurants serving local fare, and secure bike storage. You can even book a sports massage in the spa, as I did, to relieve your tired legs.

The hotel is situated centrally within the resort, so it’s conveniently placed for picking a bike up from one of the many local hire shops. I opted for an electric mountain bike from Richard 3 Sports, but there are hybrid and road options available too.

If you’re looking for something less lavish, there are plenty of reasonably priced self-catered apartments in the area too.

How to get there

The closest airport is Grenoble, which is an hour and a half’s drive away from Alpe d’Huez. Your best bet is to head there and pick up a hire car or book a transfer with one of the many local operators. If you can’t get to Grenoble from your local airport, you can also fly to Lyon or Geneva.

There’s also the option to hop on the Eurostar from London to Lille and grab a connection to Chambery. From there it’s roughly a two-hour transfer by car or coach to Alpe d’Huez.

From news to politics, travel to sport, culture to climate – The Independent has a host of free newsletters to suit your interests. To find the stories you want to read, and more, in your inbox, click here .

A beginner's guide to the Tour de France

Taking you through the format and jerseys of the world's biggest annual sporting event

The world's biggest annual sporting event, and the third biggest of all after the Olympic Games and football's World Cup, the Tour de France can legitimately claim to be the world's greatest race. This year, the Tour, which is celebrating its 103rd edition, begins on Saturday July 2 and finishes on Sunday July 24.

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Tour de France stage by stage guide

How to beat Chris Froome at the Tour de France

The 2016 Tour starts on French soil at Mont Saint-Michel, the UNESCO World Heritage site that has been recently returned to island status after extensive works. The tiny island with its steepling monastery, parts of which date from the 10th century, will provide a spectacular backdrop to the 198 riders from 22 teams as they set off on the opening day for a stage that runs across the Cotentin peninsula in Normandy to finish at Utah Beach, one of the beaches that featured in the D-Day landings in June 1944.

Over the subsequent three weeks, those 198 riders that form the bunch or, as the French call it, the peloton, will tackle a further 20 stages as the race loops around the country for 3,535 kilometres. The Tour de France finishes in Paris on July 24 with a stage that will be just as dramatic as the first, as the riders complete several laps of a circuit based on the Champs Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe.

Like any road cycling race, the Tour de France is effectively a team event for individuals. That is to say that the nine riders on each of the 22 squads compete according to team tactics, but those tactics favour just one or two riders on each of the teams on any given stage.

The biggest prize on offer, the Tour's fabled maillot jaune (yellow jersey), is worn by the rider who has covered the route in the lowest cumulative time. The overall Tour de France champion is awarded the final maillot jaune in Paris. Britain's Chris Froome , who rides for Team Sky, claimed the yellow jersey last year, beating Colombia's Nairo Quintana into second place, with Spain's Alejandro Valverde third. This was Froome's second Tour victory after a previous success the 100th edition of the race in 2013.

There are three other jersey competitions. The green jersey is worn by the leader of the points competition, which effectively rewards the Tour's most consistent high finisher. Slovakia's Peter Sagan has won the green jersey title for the past four years and is the favourite to claim it again.

The polka-dot King of the Mountains jersey is the Tour's most recognisable prize. Hills and mountains are classified into five categories depending on their degree of difficulty, with points available to the first riders to cross them. There are more points on offer on the toughest climbs, known as hors-catégorie (super, or above, category), than on climbs classified between first and fourth category. Consequently, the polka-dot jersey is intended to reward the Tour's best climber. In 2015, Froome claimed this jersey thanks to his dominance or his rivals in the Pyrenees and Alps.

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The white jersey recognises the race's best young rider. As with the yellow jersey, it is awarded each day to the rider who has covered the route in the lowest cumulative time, although in this case only riders who are aged 25 and younger in the calendar year are eligible. Last year, Quintana claimed this title.

The Tour also recognises the best team at the race. Like the yellow and white jerseys, this prize is awarded to the team that covers the route in the lowest cumulative time, with the time recorded on each stage by every team's three highest finishers counting towards this competition.

Going into this year's Tour, the favourites for the yellow jersey are defending champion Chris Froome, two-time runner-up Nairo Quintana, two-time winner Alberto Contador of Spain, and Italy's newest prospect, Fabio Aru , who is making his debut in the race. They represent Britain's Team Sky, Spain's Movistar, Russia's Tinkoff and Kazakhstan's Astana teams, respectively, demonstrating the global reach of cycling and, most particularly, of the Tour de France.

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Peter Cossins has written about professional cycling since 1993 and is a contributing editor to Procycling . He is the author of The Monuments: The Grit and the Glory of Cycling's Greatest One-Day Races (Bloomsbury, March 2014) and has translated Christophe Bassons' autobiography, A Clean Break (Bloomsbury, July 2014). 

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Watching the Tour de France in person: essential tips for following the Tour de France!

Watching the Tour de France in person is a magical experience. The Tour is the most famous cycling event in the world and you get the chance to experience the electric atmosphere and history being made in front of your eyes.

Yes, the television coverage and aerial shots of chateaus, mountains and charming villages are fantastic, but being on the ground is something else. Following the Tour de France and spectating it live is something special.

Epic Road Rides reader, Ben Davies, knows quite a bit about this – he’s planned trips for him and his friends to spectate the Tour de France every year since 2016. He has kindly written this DIY Tour de France bike tour/spectator guide to help make it easier for anyone wanting to do the same.

Ben says: “My first year following the Tour was spent chasing my tail around France due to being “over enthusiastic” in my estimation of what was involved. I hope my mistakes will help me to assist so you can avoid the same pitfalls!”.

So without further ado, here’s Ben’s Tour de France spectators guide. Enjoy!

If you’re looking for an organised tour to watch the Tour de France, read this in-depth article .

For the opportunity to watch the Tour De France 2024 in Nice don’t miss this article .

1. How do you decide which stages of the Tour de France to watch in person?

My usual starting point is to look at the route map and the location of the stages.  I look for a number of stages that are close to a central location in order to avoid too much travel.

From there I look for well known places and try and plan a cycle route for us taking in “icons” and as much of each stage as we can get away with (before getting booted off the course – more on that below !).

We’ve watched everything from a Grand Depart to flat sprint stages and stages in the high mountains too – but these days we tend to miss out long flat stages as there’s not a lot of action. The peloton comes past at a rate of knots so you don’t get to see a great deal.

Most week-long trips would allow you to fit in each type of stage, though our favourites are the mountains. You can get close to the action, test yourself out with the riding and get enough time to see the riders pass slowly enough to pick individual favourites out. The publicity caravan also passes slowly enough to give more chance of being able to pick up some Tour souvenirs (AKA “Tour tat”)!

One of my top tips is to think about the riders’ rest days. For example, last year I did a bit of research in the Roadbook (more info below ) and found the various hotels the teams were allocated. I decided Mr Cavendish and team Di Data would benefit from our company the following day.  We got up early and went by the team hotel to check things out.  After a chat with the mechanics, who were busy working on the bikes, we discovered the guys would be setting off around 10:00am on a “spin”.  After some breakfast we made our way back to the hotel car park and joined the team for a ride round Lake Annecy – spectacular!  We also saw Movistar and AG2R out with groups of fans too. This was one of my favourite days ever on a bike!

A note of warning: if you do this, use your common sense. Give the riders room to do what they are there to do – ride.  Don’t get in their group or too close as they don’t want you to be responsible for a crash. Don’t be too pushy and pester them for selfies and autographs. When the moment looks right, then ask, preferably either at the start or end, not whilst they are taking a nature break (as someone did when we were there…)!

2. What’s the best way of getting to the Tour from the UK?

Travelling across the Channel to France can be fairly cheap especially on the more unpopular timed crossings. However, be warned: the ferry companies often seem to raise the prices when the Tour is on as they know more people will want to cross.  Book early!

I use https://www.aferry.com/ to book crossings as soon as the dates/routes/plan becomes clear.

For planning your trip across France, ViaMichelin gives cost options and alternative routes for specific vehicles.

3. How do you find out detailed information on each Tour de France stage?

I always download the “Official Roadbook” (the one issued to the teams) that becomes available on the Velorooms website .

The Roadbook shows profiles, timings, road closures, team hotels – the lot!  It’s a fantastic resource.

I usually print off the pages for the week we’re doing and take the relevant pages each day so I can refer back to them regarding locations and times etc.

4. How do you decide where to stay?

Once I’ve decided how long we’ve got and what area we want to focus on, I try to find a few possible locations spread over a few days of the Tour being in the particular area.

I use Google maps try and make sure the location to park the motorhome and base ourselves in is central to the routes we’re going to watch.  I use www.searchforsites.co.uk which is a specific motorhome parking app to search for recommended parking spots for the motorhome. However, during the Tour, I’ve found most towns and villages are very relaxed about parking presumably as they know you’re not going to be there too long.

I’ve previously parked in sports centres, supermarket and railway station car parks with no problems at all. I’ve been welcomed into strangers’ houses and even joined a village street party (at their request) to celebrate the Tour passing through that day. It was great – we were fed and plied with beer/wine!

Of course, if you’re not in a motorhome it’ll still be a similar process: you’ll be looking for accommodation that’s central to the stages you want to watch.

Example: in 2018, we drove from Calais down to Annecy for the Tour’s rest day there (more on rest days  above !). From there, a central point somewhere near Annecy around Albertville and Bourg St Maurice worked well, giving us opportunities to ride out to each day’s route, take in a climb or two and catch a start and a finish whilst not needing to move the motorhome between stages. It meant we could enjoy cycling each day, usually taking in as much of the route as we could, and avoid too much travelling.

Don’t do what I did in my first year spectating the Tour de France. Due to bad motorhome positioning, we ended up travelling each night until after midnight trying to catch the next day’s stage.  After watching the stage, we had to cycle back, wash, change, load the bikes and travel hundreds of miles plus try and eat somewhere along the way! It wasn’t much fun!

5. How do you find accommodation and bike hire for your Tour de France spectator tour?

If you’re not in a motorhome, be aware that hotels and guest houses will get booked up very quickly once the route details are released by the organisers around October of the preceding year. This is particularly the case in the mountains and especially where the area you want to go is where the Etape du Tour is also being held.

In terms of bike hire, we’ve always taken our own bikes, but I’ve had friends who tried to hire bikes at Mt Ventoux over a Tour de France weekend and found they were sold out until the day after (when there were plenty available!). Admittedly this was an extremely busy location, but I think most places get booked up quickly when the Tour is in town. Again, book early!

6. How do you get to the Tour de France route on the day?

My advice is to cycle to the route and along as much of it as possible in order to scout out the best place to watch from (more on this below ).

I’ve found advertised Tour de France road closures are usually not too strict for cycling to your chosen viewpoint as they are meant for motor vehicles. That said, there are some very over-enthusiastic gendarmes that won’t let you past their posts once the “fermée” or “route barée” time kicks in.  They usually shout “pied” (walk) which we do until out of sight before hopping back on and continuing (if safe to do so) for as far as we can… Obviously we stay vigilant and if we hear any sirens, traffic or the caravan is near we dismount and get out of the way immediately.

7. Do you have any tips for picking your spot to spectate the stage?

Places on iconic climbs such as Mt Ventoux, Alpe d’Huez etc get filled up very quickly, especially near the finish line.

We generally aim to ride as much of the climb/route as possible early on whilst looking for good viewpoints, bars, cafés or any vantage points (rocky outcrops or overlooking gardens etc) that would be good as the peloton passes.

It’s then fairly easy to drop back down to our chosen spot on that day’s route once we’ve completed as much of the route as we can. The beauty of having the bikes is that if our chosen spot turns out not to be good enough then we can move on to another option.

Check the Roadbook. For example, the “feed zone” offers a different experience of the Tour and a chance to chat with soigneurs and watch them interact with their teams. Feed zones also have areas where bidons are to be thrown away by the riders. Sometimes they’re not that busy meaning there’s plenty of bidons to go around.  The soigneurs sometimes have “spare” bidons and musettes that the riders didn’t or couldn’t take whilst in the zone.  Often, they’re not interested in carting them about or won’t get another chance to pass them to their riders, so will hand them out once the peloton has passed.

Another thing to look out for is if the route does a loop and this will allow you to see the peloton in action more than once. For example you watch from point A then as they cycle more of the loop you can use the Roadbook to check the times and cycle to point B to catch them again.

Also look out for large car parks at a depart/arrivee village.  These are often used to stock up the caravan with goodies and provide a great opportunity to blag some swag.

Avoid the crowds.

If a stage finishes on top of a mountain there is sometimes no access for the team coaches/trucks who are left at the foot of the climbs. The riders have to make their own way back down to the coaches by cycle – blowing their whistles so the crowds part – and it’s quite easy to wait a while and join them as they make their way back down.  We’ve ridden down off Planche des Belles Filles chatting with various stars – very memorable!

8. What time should you get in position to watch the Tour come through?

This depends on how busy the location is. For example, Alpe d’Huez fills up from first thing in the morning, whilst lesser known stages are easy to get a spot on up to about an hour before the peloton comes through.

Occasionally we have been blocked by gendarmes and have been made to stay exactly where they say, but even then we’ve managed to move around a bit and found a better spot.

9. What should you take with you each day?

This depends on the length of your ride and what’s on route. Use Google Earth to do a bit of research beforehand and decide on supplies for your day.

There is normally a village of some sorts near to viewpoints where supplies can be bought, as well as local entrepreneurs that set up pop-up snack bars. However obviously they cannot be totally relied upon, so we also usually take some extra sandwiches and a few cans of pop/water in a rucksack which is replaced with Tour stuff (see below ) as the day progresses.

Make sure to take a bag or rucksack to put all your “Tour tat” in! They they throw loads out as the caravan passes through and everybody loves a madeleine or an LCL branded cap, right?!

10. Do you have any tips for how to be a good Tour de France spectator and make the most of your day?!

We’ve all seen the videos and pictures of spectators causing crashes whilst watching the Tour. The following “rules” should help make sure you don’t get caught up in disaster.

• Don’t swing on or lean too far over the barriers. Riders passing close can get caught up in disaster this way.
• Don’t leave it until the last minute to step back from your “brilliant” vantage point directly in front of an approaching rider.  Someone may be stood directly behind you; next thing you’re all on the tarmac. Not the best way to get your face on TV!
• Be careful of camera straps, rucksacks and bags that may get caught, tripping you (and maybe the yellow jersey) up.
• Take all your litter home, including gel wrappers, or find a convenient bin/bag to place them in.
• Smoke bombs and flares… Really. Just don’t even think about it.

On a more positive note, I’d also suggest not spending too much time focusing (get it?!) on your pictures/videos. The peloton passes quickly in most places and if you’re concentrating on getting images then you’ll miss them. There’s always chance for a few snaps, just try not to miss the main event!

Once the peloton, and more specifically the “broom wagon”, has gone through there will be a car with a flashing headboard telling you the road is re-opened. At this point you’re free to cycle away. Beware that the roads can be very busy and there are plenty trying to imitate the descending skills of their heroes, though usually nowhere near as good!

11. Any final thoughts?

Don’t forget that the Tour will only take in certain climbs in certain areas that you may be in too.

For example, it’s a shame to be on the doorstep of the Ballon d’Alsace and only go up Planche des Belles Filles. So do some research in the area you plan to visit and maybe even take a day off from the Tour to tick off some bucket list adventures.

Epic Road Rides gives great information (the France cycling guides are all here ) and suggestions on various routes in your chosen area but www.cyclingcols.com and www.cycling-challenge.com can also be useful resources.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this short guide and that it helps you avoid some of our early mistakes.  If you would like any further information, then please just ask in the comments below.  Safe travels and enjoy your trip!

Big thanks to Ben for all his Tour de France tips! There are some really useful pointers in here on how to watch the Tour de France in person –  we hope you use them to have a fantastic trip! Planning on heading out for the 2024 race? Read this article to see how you can spectate the final stages in Nice .

Have you planned a DIY Tour de France spectators tour?

Have you got some tips for watching the Tour de France in person?

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Let us know in the comments below!

And finally, if you want to go on a supported tour to watch the Tour de France, where all the planning is done for you, read this article .

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A sneak peek behind the scenes of the Tour de France

Inspiration

Reading time: 0 min Published on 1 July 2024

Each pedal stroke becomes a metaphor for life’s challenges, with the road ahead symbolising the unpredictable twists and turns that one must navigate. The adrenaline rushing through, a scenery nothing short of breathtaking and a profound exploration of human potential. The Tour de France returns this year from 29th June until 21st July for another thrilling and challenging race pushing riders to their limits. A journey of self-discovery and resilience, where riders delve into the depth of their mental and physical abilities. Today, we follow lifelong fans of the race, Canadians Casey and Debra Edge on their honeymoon cycling tour during the 2023 Tour de France just hours ahead of the peloton. A behind-the-scenes of the most talked about 3500 km cycling race in the world!

Welcome to the City of Love 

To start off their epic journey, the couple decided to spend a few days in Paris before heading down to meet the tour in Bordeaux. Its charming terraces where people-watching becomes a slow and immersive pastime, romantic atmosphere, cultural richness, culinary delights all while discovering its authentic, vibrant energy and witnessing the beauty of its everyday life; Paris offers a perfect blend of romance, a perfect start to their honeymoon and their cycling journey in the sun-kissed south of France. 

“After walking around the Eiffel Tower, we walked along the Seine past the Flamme de la Liberté and the Jardin des Tuileries to the Louvre,” said Debra.

The rich and velvety wine city – Bordeaux 

At two and a half hours by train from Paris, designed by Gustave Eiffel and known for its beautiful architecture, Bordeaux’s train station is a mix of modern and classic design elements. With its 19th-century stone building, sun beaming through its high ceilings and wide windows illuminating every corner, and the smell of the cannelés (a Bordeaux speciality) lingering in the air, the Gare St Jean perfectly reflects the city’s rich tapestry, blending history and elegance seamlessly.

A great city for a memorable event - 

Upon arrival in Bordeaux, Casey and Debra were greeted by the Tour de France festival, hosting a village of free events for the race on one of the largest city squares in Europe, covering 31 acres around the iconic Monument aux Girondins, a beautiful fountain commemorating the Girondist politicians who were executed during the French Revolution! 

After spending their first night in Bordeaux, they met up with ex-Olympian Stuart O’Grady, former Paris – Rouboux winner and 17 times Tour de France contender, at the Mummu Cycling Tour Group for their most anticipated cycling expedition. 

After fitting their bikes and preparing for the upcoming week, they made their way to the Izoard finish line hospitality, one of the best viewing spots of the finish line. 

“The Tour de France is something we saw for years on television, so we were thrilled to be part of the crowd wearing our yellow Tour de France caps and shirts, purchased the day before at the Tour de France fan park. The excitement of everyone as the peloton drew near (as noted by the TV helicopter approaching above) was amazing. We were right on the barriers as the riders flew past us at speeds of up to 70 km per hour! The hospitality was great – we had refreshments, chairs and umbrellas shielding us from the sun while waiting for the sprint”.

Stage 8 - exploring the surrounding vineyards in Libourne and Saint Emilion 

“We rode through the countryside and visited a selection of wineries that have been in the families for generations. It wasn’t just about tasting the wines, they thoroughly explained the entire process including the climate, soil, barrel-making, and cellar tours!” said Casey.

On day 5 of their trip and Stage 8 of the race, the couple were transferred to the departure village, the Tour de France hospitality in Libourne Saint Caprais. 

After embarking on their first cycling trip to the medieval village of Saint Emilion, with its cobblestone streets and potent aroma of the grapes, they wine hopped from two stunning chateaux. These were the family-owned Chateau Laniote originally created by Pierre Lacoste, a Bordeaux negociant, and Chateau Mauvinion which has been in the Tribaudeau family since 1962 and covers 6.5ha of Saint Emilion Grand Cru vines. Certified organic since 2020!  

Stage 9 – Pontamur & Clermont Ferrand 

The scent of freshly baked croissants mingling with freshly brewed coffee, the taste of creamy French butter melting on warm baguette… this fuelled both body and soul before the couple’s four-hour transfer to Pontamur where they cycled up to Clermont Ferrand. 

“We don’t do a lot of climbing in Victoria (British Columbia), so the ride was a challenge initially. But the Factor bikes we got were excellent. We received great encouragement from all the Tour de France fans yelling “allez allez” so we just kept pedalling…”.

“… we also learned a lot in terms of taking fluids, electrolytes, carbs and protein bars for the rest of the trip,” said Casey.

With each turn of the pedal, surrounded with centuries-old chateaux and churches standing still witnessing the journey, the scent of blooming flowers and fresh grass mingling with the earthy aroma of the forests, they cycled all the way to the volcanic gem that is Clermont-Ferrand. A city rich in history with a vibrant culture bubbling beneath the surface. As they approached the city, the majestic silhouette of the Puy de Dome loomed in the distance with its towering peak.

After the 11km climb around Clermont Ferrand, the group met British ITV and NBC commentator Phil Liggett at his hotel. 

“It was a thrill meeting NBC’s Phil Liggett. He has been the television’s voice of cycling in North America for 51 years, and he had great stories to tell about the many tours and riders. He chatted with us for over an hour and shared his 2023 race which was his 51st Tour de France.

“Our 11 km climb that day was part of a longer ride and the inspiration for Casey’s song ‘Allez Allez (Is What They Say),’ which can be heard on Spotify. It was a very long climb and as mentioned in my song dedicated to our trip, “I could not see the forest for the trees” and I was “searching for the peak up in the sky”.

“A memory to last a lifetime,” said Casey.

As the French would say, “après l’effort le reconfort” at Brasserie Madeleine with 17-time Tour de France rider Stuart O’Grady. A special place to go if you want to taste the perfectly cooked choucroute, fillet steak and pies!

The Cave des Beaux Arts – Clermont Ferrand

Enveloped in the vibrant energy of Clermont Ferrand, where over 400,000 tourists flock each year, lies the Cave des Beaux Arts, a sanctuary for wine enthusiasts seeking to delve into the essence of French gastronomy. Here, under the guidance of the passionate oenologist Philippe Gallon, guests are treated to a sensory journey like no other. Philippe Gallon, a true maestro of wine, curates an experience that transcends mere tasting; a symphony of flavours that dances on the palate and ignites the soul. As a cellarer for independent winegrowers, he unveils the secrets of terroirs, showcasing the essence of each vineyard with reverence and respect. Through his dedication to environmentally friendly viticulture, he not only preserves the land but also nurtures a deeper connection between nature and the art of winemaking. In the heart of this intimate setting, surrounded by the whispers of history and the aroma of aged barrels, guests are invited to savour not just wine but a story—a tale of passion, tradition, and the boundless beauty of French wine culture. The Cave des Beaux Arts is not just a place; it is an experience that lingers in the heart long after the last drop has been savoured. 

“Cave des Beaux Arts has a wonderful selection of wine, cheese, and speciality foods. They provided a taste test to distinguish the different bouquets and flavours, from floral to fruit to leather. Wonderful hospitality,” said Debra. 

The Relais Etape

Highlighted by the passing of the caravan, riders, and entertainment all day long, and whether you're a Tour de France fan or not, the Relais Etape is a real generator of good vibes and smiles.

On 11th July, going east, at just under an hour from Clermont Ferrand, Debra and Casey rode from Mont Dore past Bessie en-Saint-Anastaise for the Relais Etape. A 30 km ride passing through the Chaudefour Valley Nature Reserve. 

If you decided to cycle down there, you may come across the Cabane aux Miroirs, which stands as a tribute to a bygone era in a valley of pasture and to the people who once thrived in the buron de Venzoux nearby. These stone structures, used by herders and hikers, provided shelter and reflected life like mirrors. While the pastoral tradition has faded, the buron de Venzoux remains a fragile reminder of a cherished history. The Cabane aux Miroirs symbolises the endangered mountain heritage, blending seamlessly with the landscape. Covered in mirrors, it pays homage to a time when humans and nature coexisted harmoniously. 

“The scenery was fabulous with mountains, lakes and polka dot hats and jerseys everywhere. This was a category 2 climb at the Tour de France.” 

As the sun dipped low in the sky, a lone rider on an electric bike zipped past, leading the way up the challenging climb. Casey gratefully tucked in behind, feeling the rush of wind and the thrill of the ascent. The descent that followed was a heart-pounding adventure, each twist and turn a dance of speed and skill. Arriving at the Relais Etape tent after the summit, the air was alive with the sounds of a local band playing and the clinking of glasses filled with Bordeaux wine. The aroma of rich cheese wafted through the air, inviting Debra and Casey to indulge in the simple pleasures of good food and good company. “As the lead riders and peloton whizzed by, their support vehicles in tow, we couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the dedication and passion of these athletes. It was a moment to savour, a snapshot of camaraderie and competition that would stay with us long after the race had ended.”

A final stop in the city of Lyon 

A symphony of flavours and tapestry woven with threads of history, culture, and passion nestled between the rivers Rhone and Saone, Lyon pulsates to a rhythm of its own – a rhythm that resonates through its cobblestone streets and ancient alleyways. Lyon offers a diverse and vibrant nightlife scene, with each district showcasing its own unique atmosphere. From British pubs in Vieux-Lyon to trendy cocktail bars in Place des Terreaux, there is something for everyone. The river boats along the Rhône provide a lively setting during the summer months, while the Brotteaux district attracts a trendy crowd. For live entertainment, Lyon's cultural scene is thriving with the Opéra de Lyon, Auditorium, Maison de la Danse, and Théâtre des Célestins offering a variety of performances throughout the year. 

A city where time seems to stand still and yet rush by in a whirlwind of sights and sounds. A paradox, a juxtaposition of old and new, tradition and innovation. Lyon embodies the spirit of rebirth and reinvention, constantly evolving while staying true to its roots.

A Transformative Journey

Attending the Tour de France is an experience like no other. The adrenaline rush, breathtaking scenery, and exploration of human potential make it a truly unforgettable event. From the romantic atmosphere of Paris to the rich wine city of Bordeaux, every moment is filled with cultural richness and vibrant energy. Exploring the surrounding vineyards and medieval villages, tasting the wines, and meeting cycling legends like Stuart O'Grady added layers of excitement to the journey. 

The city of Clermont-Ferrand, with its rich history and vibrant culture, offered a unique backdrop for the race. And the Cave des Beaux Arts provided a sensory journey into the essence of French gastronomy. The Relais Etape, with its good vibes and smiles, offers a chance to witness the dedication and passion of the athletes up close. 

Attending the Tour de France is not just a trip, but a transformative experience that will stay with you for a lifetime. 

By Kimberley Rino Lightfoot

Content Coordinator at Atout France and Travel Writer.

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Tour De France travel guide

This annual three-week international cycle race covers around 3,600km (2,200 miles) in about 20 stages, including arduous Alpine climbs.  Check  www.le tour .fr  for exact dates.

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What to Know About This Year’s Tour de France (Which Begins in Italy)

Two previous winners are the leading contenders to win cycling’s most famous race, which, in a rarity, does not end in Paris.

By Victor Mather

For three weeks starting Saturday, the world’s best cyclists will do battle in the Tour de France, racing through valleys, hills and high mountains. Though 176 riders will start, most eyes will be on a pair of two-time winners who seek title No. 3.

After more than 2,000 miles and dozens of punishing climbs, will the winner be Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark, who took the last two Tours de France but was hurt in a crash this year? Or Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia, the 2020 and 2021 winner ? Or will an unexpected contender jump up and surprise them?

And, wait: Is it really the Tour de France if the race doesn’t finish on the Champs-Élysées? Here’s a primer to read before the race gets underway.

Where will they race?

For the first time, the race will start in Italy , with the opening stage beginning in Florence and winding through the Apennine Mountains to Rimini, a city on the Adriatic coast. It will be more difficult than most opening stages, with several uphill climbs.

After a few days in Italy, the race will enter France, then go counterclockwise around the country, passing through the Alps, the Massif Central, the Pyrenees and then the Alps again.

Who are the favorites?

Vingegaard won last year’s event by an emphatic seven and a half minutes. But after a good start to the 2024 cycling season, he crashed badly in the Tour of the Basque Country in April and spent 12 days in the hospital with a broken collarbone. He is expected to ride in the Tour de France, but there is uncertainty as to what kind of shape he will be in.

As a result, Pogacar, who has been in fine form, is the favorite to win and regain his crown.

Pogacar rode in the Giro d’Italia, or Tour of Italy, in May. Unlike riders in that race who hold back to preserve their strength for the Tour de France, he gave it his all, winning by almost 10 minutes. If Pogacar claims the Tour as well, he will be the first cyclist since Marco Pantani, in 1998, to win the Giro and the Tour in the same season.

After the big two, other possible contenders include Primoz Roglic of Slovenia, the 2023 Giro winner, and Remco Evenepoel of Belgium, who won the 2022 Tour of Spain.

Though an individual wins the Tour, his team can help a lot, pacing him in the mountains and blocking attacks from rivals. Last year’s leading team, Jumbo-Visma (now Visma–Lease a Bike) has broken up; Vingegaard is still its leader, but Roglic left to join Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. UAE Team Emirates will support Pogacar with a squad that includes Adam Yates of Britain, a rider with the talent to win the Tour himself; he placed third last year.

Tell me the days that really matter.

The first stage to focus on is July 2, when the riders travel from Italy to France. It includes a climb up the Galibier, one of the Tour’s toughest mountains, and one that still has snow on the side of the roads.

In the midst of a week of flat stages that won’t change the leaderboard much, there is a time trial on July 5 in Burgundy wine country. The riders will race alone against the clock, with no help from teammates, which is why a time trial is known as “the race of truth.”

The real action comes at the end, with five mountain stages. The July 13 stage is particularly notable; it includes a climb up the Tourmalet in the Pyrenees and ends with an uphill — or more accurately, up-mountain — finish that is sure to winnow out any pretenders. Also make note of July 14, 17, 19 and 20 as four more brutal mountain stages where the Tour is likely to be won, or lost.

But even the flat stages, which are usually won by sprinters and seldom affect the overall standings, may have some extra interest this year. The great sprinter Mark Cavendish, 39, has 34 career stage victories and needs one more to break the record he shares with Eddy Merckx, the dominant rider of the 1960s and ’70s.

What’s different this year?

The day after that last mountain stage, the race will end, but not with the traditional ceremonial cruise down the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Instead, the field will hold a time trial to finish the Tour for the first time since 1989. If the race is close, the winner could be decided on that final day, as it was in 1989. That year, the American Greg LeMond snatched the Tour from Laurent Fignon of France in a time trial by a mere eight seconds, still the closest margin in history.

To avoid the Paris Olympics, which open five days later, the time trial will run from Monaco to Nice. It is the first time since 1974 the race has not ended on the Champs-Élysées and the first time ever it has not ended in Paris or its environs.

Remind me what the jerseys mean.

In each stage, whoever is the overall leader wears the yellow jersey to make him easier to spot for TV viewers and the thousands of fans along the route.

But there are other jerseys, too. Finishing near the front in individual stages, especially flat ones, earns points toward the green jersey for best sprinter. Last year’s winner of this jersey was Jasper Philipsen.

The first riders to reach the top of the race’s many mountains earn points toward the garish polka-dot jersey for best climber. The top contenders for yellow are also favored to win this jersey, as is Giulio Ciccone of Italy, who won last year.

Are there any Americans racing?

The days of American favorites like LeMond and Lance Armstrong are over for the time being. Moreover, Sepp Kuss, the American who won the 2023 Tour of Spain, is out because of a Covid-19 infection.

Matteo Jorgenson, 24, on the Visma team, is the top-ranked American. He won this year’s weeklong Paris-Nice race, and some think he can contend for the tour’s title in the future, or maybe, if all goes well, this year.

How can I watch?

Stages generally start around 6 or 7 a.m. Eastern time and last four to five hours. In the United States, Peacock will stream every stage live. Some stages will be shown on NBC and USA as well.

Other broadcasters include ITV and Eurosport (United Kingdom), SBS (Australia), FloBikes (Canada), France Televisions (France), ARD (Germany) and J Sports (Japan).

Victor Mather, who has been a reporter and editor at The Times for 25 years, covers sports and breaking news. More about Victor Mather

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As an  Official Tour Operator of the Tour de France and Team Lidl-Trek , in 2024 we will once again bring you to the race’s best moments with the greatest access to key mountain stages, and an exclusive event to witness the exciting time-trial race finale, this year taking place for the first time in Nice, France! Our Tour de France Femme bike tour also returns this year, and for the first time in its history, the race will conclude with an exhilarating finish on Alpe d’Huez. With incredible VIP access to the race, exclusive events with the Lidl-Trek team, perfectly located hotels, and the world’s best bikes and guides, nobody does the Tour like we do.»

Two Ways to Experience the Tour

As an Official Tour Operator of the Tour de France and Team Lidl-Trek, we have the best experiences for every cycling fan. From VIP race viewings, podium pictures, and Lidl-Trek meet and greets, Our Tour de France bike tours will give you access that no other tour operator can. Our two trip experiences are featured below:

Experience the most exciting parts of the race with our VIP Access to view the major stages of this year’s tour.

• Official Tour Operator VIP Race Access Passes
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• ­­Ride the Trek Domane SL 7 Disc, included in the trip price or upgrade to a Domane + SLR 7 (subject to availability)
• Enjoy first-class, fully dedicated VIP support from the Trek Travel team
• ­Non-rider trip options available

Ultimate Experience

With our Ultimate Experience trips, you’ll see the tour from an insider’s perspective, featuring all of the pro race essentials, plus a meet and greet with the Lidl-Trek team.

• Lidl-Trek access – Q&A cocktail hour with team representatives
• Tour the team bus and meet the team mechanic (subject to race regulations)
• Ride the Trek Domane SL 7 Disc, included in the trip price or upgrade to a Domane + SLR 7 (subject to availability)
• Non-rider trip options available

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On select cycling vacations, you’ll stay at a mix of Explorer and Luxury hotels. Rest assured, no matter which hotel level you’re at, our trip designers carefully select every accommodation.

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Hiking: 2-4 hours of hiking. 4-8 mi (6-12 km). Up to 1,500 ft (450 m).

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Gravel: 3-5 hours of riding. 20-40 mi (35-60 km). Up to 3,000 ft (900 m).

Hiking: 3-5 hours of hiking. 6-10 mi (9-16 km). Up to 2,000 ft (600 m).

Road : 4+ hours of riding. 40-70 mi (60-110 km). Up to 8,000 ft (2,400 m).

Gravel:  4+ hours of riding. 30-50 mi (45-80 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).

Hiking: 4+ hours of hiking. 7-15 mi (11-24 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).

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Results have arrived, tour de france explained: how you win & how it really works.

What do the Yellow, Green, and Polka-Dot Jerseys mean? How do you win? How do cycling teams work? Who are the favorites? We explain the basics of bike racing in this guide to the Tour de France.

Written by: Spencer Powlison & Bruce Lin

Published on: Jun 18, 2024

Posted in: Features

Did you recently get bit by the  road bike  bug? Did you watch Tour de France: Unchained and feel hungry for more? Or have you always been puzzled by the daily deluge of Tour de France news? This guide is for you.

We’ll cover the fundamentals of how this “game” is played. Also, we’ll delve into cycling’s paradoxical balance between being simultaneously a team sport and an individual sport, and many ways riders and teams play to win. 

• How the Tour de France Works
• How To Win The Tour de France - the Yellow Jersey

Other Ways to "Win" at the Tour de France

How cycling is actually a team sport... sort of.

• What Types of Riders Make Up a Team?

What Types of Stages Are in the Tour?

Strategies and tactics, three tips to watch like a pro, more fun tour de france info.

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How The Tour de France Works

The tour de france: infographic.

What is the Tour de France?

• The Tour de France is the world's most prestigious bike race which has been running for over 100 years. 
• The Tour takes riders all across France, through the Alps and the Pyranees, and finishes in Paris. 
• This year it will take place: June 29 - July 21, 2024
• The total race distance this year: 3,492 Km / 2,170 Mi 
• The Grand Départ - The Tour de France often starts somewhere outside of France so other cities and countries can experience the excitement of the Tour. This year, the Tour will start in Florence, Italy. The first 3 stages will head north, back into France. 

Key Details 

• 22 pro cycling teams will compete with 8 riders each ( 176 riders total )
• The race is split into 21 stages
• Riders race 1 stage per day
• Each stage has a stage winner. Winning a single stage at the Tour is a big deal. 
• On average, racers will ride over 100 miles per stage .
• Riders will get 2 rest days , one after the first week, and another after the second week.  
• The overall winner of the Tour de France is the rider with the fastest time after all 21 stages . 

How To Win The Tour de France - the Yellow Jersey

The winner of the Tour de France is the rider who has the fastest time after all 21 stages. Every stage is timed from start to finish, and every second counts toward the race's General Classification (GC). Every day, the current leader of the race will wear the Yellow Jersey so they are easy to spot. The rider wearing the Yellow Jersey when the race reaches the last stage Paris is the winner . 

Yellow Jersey Favorites & Riders to Watch:

The big favorite this year is  2020 & 2021 winner Tadej Pogačar. He is on good form and his top rival,  2022 & 2023 winner Jonas Vingegaard , suffered a bad crash/injury this spring that affected his preparation. 

The two other main favorites this year are Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel .  Carlos Rodriguez is also looking very good, but has yet win or podium a 3 week Grand Tour. This could be his breakout year and he's my dark horse pick. 

Outside contenders include Jonas Vinegaard's teamates, Sepp Kuss  (edit: Sepp won't be going due to illness) and Matteo Jorgenson , and Tadej Pogačar 's teammates, Juan Ayuso and Adam Yates . They'll really only have a chance at Yellow if their team leaders struggle or drop out.  

[newsletter]

The Yellow Jersey is the biggest prize, but there are multiple secondary prizes on offer too. Some teams and riders don’t even bother racing for the Yellow Jersey and instead focus on these prizes . 

Just like the Yellow Jersey, the current leader in each classification wears a special jersey color so they're easy to spot.

Points Classification - the Green Jersey

Also known as the sprinter’s jersey , this award goes to the rider who scores the most points throughout the race. Points are earned by finishing in the top-15 in a stage.

This classification favors “pure” sprinters (riders who don't compete on mountain stages), and more points are offered for winning flat stages. Riders can also earn points in mid-stage "intermediate sprints" that are usually stationed in towns to please the fans.

Green Jersey Favorites & Riders to Watch:

Jasper Philipsen dominated the sprint stages last year and he is currently the fastest sprinter in the world. He's already taken some big wins this spring, showing that he's in great form. I wouldn't bet against Philipsen, but t he best-ranked sprinters behind him are Arnaud De Lie and Dylan Groenewegen .

Other contenders include all-rounders like Mads Pedersen , who could go for green by nabbing consistent finishes on hilly and mountain stages where pure sprinters might struggle and stealing points throughout the race in  intermediate sprints.  Wout van Aert  is similar, and he has also won green before (and 9 stages), but his form is unknown after a major crash/injury sidelined him this spring. 

One sprinter to watch is Mark Cavendish . He is currently tied with Eddy Merckx for the all-time Tour de France stage win record (34 wins) and is coming back for one last year to try and score a record-breaking 35th win. 

King of the Mountains Classification - the Polka-Dot Jersey

The Tour gives the Polka-Dot “ King of the Mountains ” Jersey to the rider who collects the most points over the course of the race by reaching the summit of categorized climbs first.

The climb categorization system is opaque and subjective. What you need to know is that there are five climb categories. From easiest to hardest they are: category 4,  category 3,  category 2,  category 1, and hors category (HC - French for “beyond categorization”). Riders get more points on harder climbs. Riders also get more points on mountaintop stage finishes, especially if they win.

Polka-Dot Jersey Favorites & Riders to Watch:

Giulio Ciccone beat Neilson Powless last year for the Polka-Dots. Photo: A.S.O./Pauline Ballet

This one is tough to call until you reach the high mountains. Because the Yellow Jersey winner tends to gain the most time on climbs, anyone who’s in contention for the Yellow Jersey is a good bet. I'd put my money on Tadej Pogacar .

However, some riders might specifically target the Polka-Dot Jersey — 2023 winner,  Giulio Ciccone,  battled over the Polka-Dots with Neilson Powless last year. Maybe they will go for it again. 

Other Prizes

Best Young Rider Classification - White Jersey

This classification works the same way as the Yellow Jersey but is awarded to the highest-placed rider under 26 years of age. On rare occasions, a phenomenal young rider will win both the Yellow and White Jerseys. 

White Jersey Favorites & Riders to Watch:

Tadej Pogačar . This is an easy pick. Tadej is still 25, and as the favorite for the  overall win, it's doubtful anyone else can challenge him. 

Time to pick a new favorite since Tadej is finally too old! (The rule is " cyclists who will remain below 26 in the year the race is held are eligible" and Tadej turns 26 in September.)  In that case, Remco Evenepoel , Carlos Rodriguez , and Juan Ayuso are likely candidates. 

If the White Jersey leader also happens to be the overall leader (This happened in previous years when Tadej was in Yellow), then the next highest placed rider under 26 will generally wear the jersey during the race (this is mainly ceremonial).

Best Team Classification - Yellow Helmets

Like the Yellow or White Jerseys, this award is given based on overall time in the race and the team with the lowest overall time wins this prize . Each team tabulates the finish times of its three best riders on every stage. The team leading this classification usually wears yellow helmets, helping them stand out in the bunch.

Teams don't necessarily target this, but if a team realizes they're leading in week two or three, they definitely fight to try and hang on to it. 

Most Aggressive Rider - Red Number

Also known as the Combativity Award , this is likely the most mysterious prize in the Tour. In every stage (except time trials), a jury decides which rider in the race was most aggressive — usually, that means attacking a lot or gambling on a breakaway. Late in the broadcast, the announcers usually note which rider was given the combativity prize. If you spot a rider with a red number on their jersey, then he was named most aggressive the stage prior. At the end of the Tour, one rider gets the Super Combativity award.

Why are there teams if only one rider can win the Tour de France? Professional road cycling has a curious tension between the team and the individual. The key thing to remember is this: If a cyclist wins a stage or holds one of the leader’s jersey for a single stage, it is viewed as a team success . 

So if only one rider “wins,” what do the other seven riders on the team do to contribute to this elusive concept of teamwork? Here are some ways a group of individual cyclists comes together as a team to support their leader:

• Getting into breakaways (small groups that attack off the front of the main group) — that way his team doesn’t have to work to chase the breakaway down.
• Chasing down breakaways — to give the leader a chance to win or place well.
• Retrieving food and water for the leader or other key riders — bottle service on the road … what could be more luxurious!
• Pacing the leader up key climbs — although drafting isn’t as crucial, it can be a psychological advantage to have a teammate at your side.
• Pacing the leader back to the peloton in the event of a crash, mechanical, or split in the group — without teammates to draft, it might be nearly impossible to rejoin the peloton on some fast-paced stages.
• Giving the leader their bike or a wheel in the event of a mechanical — this can often be quicker than waiting for a team car or neutral support to show up with a spare.

What Types of Riders Make Up a Team? 

GC (general classification) riders - These are the riders vying for the Tour de France overall win. They need to be solid all-rounders who are also good climbers and time trialists. They are usually the team leader and the rest of the team works to support them. 

Sprinters - Sprinters don’t contend for the overall win, and are more interested in winning individual stages. They often wait to attack at intermediate sprints and the finish line of each stage. Some teams are built entirely around a sprinter and focus on winning stages or the Green Jersey. 

Climbers - Climbing specialists excel at going uphill. Climbers compete for stage wins on the tough mountain stages or work to support their GC leader in the mountains. 

Domestiques - Most riders on the team will work as “domestiques” to support their team leader. They allow their leaders to draft behind them to conserve energy, pace them up climbs, cover attacks from competitors, keep them in a good position, bring them food and water, and provide support in case of crashes or mechanicals. Good domestiques are essential for success. 

Time Trialists - Some riders specialize in time trialing. They can compete for wins on time trial stages or work as powerful domestiques on flat and hilly stages.  

The Tour de France route is different every year. Each stage is unique and offers different challenges to the riders. Here are the types of stages riders will contend with over three weeks:

Flat Stages - Flat stages are the ideal hunting ground for sprinters. Teams with sprinters will often work to keep the peloton together on flat stages, to ensure it ends in a bunch sprint where their sprinter has the best chance of winning. 

Hilly Stages - Hilly stages mix it up with rolling hills that make it more difficult for the peloton to stay together. These types of stages can be won by sprinters, climbers, or breakaway specialists. 

Mountain Stages - This is often where the Tour de France is won and lost. Mountain stages climb up into the high mountains in the Alps and the Pyrenees and it's where GC contenders will fight to gain time on their rivals.  

Time Trials - The Tour de France always features at least a couple of time trial stages. Riders set off individually to set the fastest time on a set course. With no riders to draft, it’s less about race tactics and more about pure speed and power.

So we just covered some team dynamics, rider types, and stage types. How does it all fit together? Teams often settle on strategies prior to the race. They assess their strengths and weaknesses and find ways to succeed — whether that means winning the yellow jersey or simply wearing a King of the Mountains jersey for just one stage. Here are some examples of how teams might set their strategies, and how they might execute them with the right tactics:

Team with a top GC rider: Naturally, they’ll try to win the yellow jersey. This means surviving inconsequential flat and rolling stages to conserve energy for key mountain stages and individual time trials. The leader’s teammates will try to get into breakaways so that their team won’t spend energy chasing all day. They’ll also set up the team leader to attack on key climbs or at least follow his rivals to defend his position.

Team with top sprinter: To win the green jersey, they’ll target the flat stages. This means controlling the peloton and chasing down breakaways to set up a sprint finish. Like the GC team, they might also put a rider in the breakaway to ease the burden on the team, forcing rival sprint teams to chase. On mountain stages, the team might have to call riders back from the peloton to help pace their sprinter to the finish so he doesn’t get time-cut.

Team with top climber: Winning the King of the Mountains (KOM) classification is often less of an obvious team effort. These pretenders to the throne tend to be opportunistic. However, it is advantageous to have a teammate in the breakaway on a key mountain stage when points are up for grabs. Also, when defending the polka-dot jersey, teammates can contest the climbs and finish ahead of KOM rivals to spoil their attempt to take over the classification lead by scoring points.

Smaller team without top leader: These are the teams that always try to put a rider in the day’s breakaway. This could earn them the Combativity Prize, or if they play their cards right, a stint in a leader’s jersey or even a stage win. This strategy requires constant attacking in the early kilometers of the race — something most fans rarely see on the broadcast. It is a hectic, painful part of the stage, but it’s crucial in establishing a break. Meanwhile, a breakaway rider’s teammates might patrol the front of the peloton to disrupt the chase.

Now that you understand the basics of how the Tour de France is raced, what do you, the new cycling fan do? There are daily stages for three weeks. That’s a lot of cycling!

Even if you don't have a way to watch the TV broadcast, it's easy to find highlights and extended highlights on YouTube. Fortunately, you don’t have to put your life on hold to watch the Tour de France. There are some reliably important stages you can focus on to catch the key action.

Can’t watch daily? Pick the key mountain stages. There are usually about 5-8 key mountain stages when the overall race is won and lost. Most of them are summit finishes, and they’re split between France’s two key mountain ranges: the Alps and Pyrenees. The first few ordinarily come in stages 6-9 before the first rest day, and the second round is often scheduled for the final week of racing. Occasionally, another summit finish, such as Mont Ventoux in Provence, will be on the list of important stages.

Watching daily? Tune in when things really heat up. On most flat stages, you can wait until the final 20 kilometers to tune in and see the sprinters fight it out. Some rolling stages might be entertaining in the final 50-60 kilometers if late breakaways occur. On mountain stages, it’s best to start watching as early as possible because sometimes, crazy things happen on the day’s first climbs.

Watching a LOT of TDF? Look for the nuances. If you’re going to have the race on all day, every day, you’ll need to dig a little deeper to enjoy the subtleties of the race. Try keeping track of riders who are often making the breakaway. Watch the sprint teams work together — or not — to chase an escape. Who looks to have strength in numbers, and who is not present at the front of the race? Are the GC riders staying out of trouble or tail-gunning at the dangerous back of the peloton? Usually, at any given time in the race, any given rider is positioned where they are for a specific reason. Look for clues to sort out what is happening.

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2024 Tour de France • June 29th – July 21st, 2024

Tour de france trips, want to experience the best of the 2024 tour de france.

From the Grand Depart to the podium in Nice, Custom Getaways offers the largest selection of both cycling and spectator trips to the Tour de France!

Custom Getaways’ trips for the 2024 Tour de France are now ready and are published below! We have had a great deal of interest in the 2024 Tour and hope you will book your trip before we sell out.

We are the longest-tenured official tour operator for the Tour de France…22 years in 2024!  We are also one of three premium level partners. Our experience and relationship with the Tour allow us to offer outstanding VIP access to the race for our guests. We cater to travelers worldwide and to all cycling abilities. We offer the largest selection of both cycling and spectator trips so you can find the perfect trip to fit your timeframe and budget. If you want something different or want to limit your interaction, we also have the ability to create a private trip for you and your group!

The 2024 route will begin with 3 amazing stages in Italy, then go into the French Alps for some early mountain stages.  Next is a few days in the Burgundy region before winding through central France and hitting the Pyrenees mountains. After the Pyrenees, the Tour will spend some time in Provence and finish with a final stage time trial from Monaco to Nice! Please contact us now   by email or call us at +1 863-292-2017 to have your questions answered about how trips to the Tour de France work and how we can make your dream trip come true.

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Grand Depart Cycling

VIP access to 3 stages, riding across the finish line, pictures on the podium, riding the Alpe d'Huez climb

5600/person 7 days, 6 nights

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• VIP viewing of 3 stages
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• Riding the Alpe d’Huez climb

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VIP access to 3 stages, riding across the finish line, private viewing of race in Bologna, pictures on the podium,

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This trip is for both Spectators AND Cyclists! VIP access to 3 stages, pictures on the podium, riding the Col du Tourmalet

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• Access to Izoard VIP venue near finish area
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VIP access to 4 stages, riding across the finish line, pictures on the podium, riding the Mont Venoux climb

5800/person 7 days, 6 nights

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Luxury Final Week

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6300/person 7 days, 6 nights

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VIP access to 2 stages, tour in Nice, VIP viewing of stage 21 time trial

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Tour de France 2024 guide: Talking points, route map and how to watch

Due to the olympic and paralympic games taking place in paris, the 111th edition will not finish in the french capital for the first time.

The 111th edition of the Tour de France gets under way on Saturday with the world’s four best stage racers all vying for the fabled yellow jersey.

Bookended by the race’s first start in Italy and first finish outside Paris, the 2024 Tour de France boasts a groundbreaking route like none other before.

With a record 3,700m of climbing on the opening day and the legendary Col du Galibier as early as day four, the battle for the yellow jersey should be intense from the get-go. And with the race concluding with a tough time trial between Monaco and Nice – as opposed to the usual bunch sprint after a processional plod into Paris – the main contenders will be going head-to-head right up to the last pedal stroke.

Let’s take a closer look as some of the main talking points ahead of the most important bike race of the year.

Pogacar in pole position as fellow favourites falter

For the first time, the so-called “Big Four” general classification riders – Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel – will all be at the start line of a Grand Tour along with the two classics kings, Wout van Aert and the world champion Mathieu van der Poel.

Mark Cavendish boasts the speed and support crew to break Tour de France record

If there’s no doubting the stardust of the start list then one rider currently towers above the rest: the Slovenian showman Pogacar. The two-time Tour winner added the Giro d’Italia to his swelling palmares this May and returns to Italy for the Grand Depart in Florence in the form of his life. His UAE Team Emirates is also arguably the strongest of the lot, with teammate Adam Yates also capable of finishing on the podium.

While Pogacar was winning six stages and securing the Giro’s pink jersey in May, his three main rivals were all recovering from injuries sustained in a single horror crash that marred the Itzulia Basque Country race in April.

The big question now – and one that will shape the dynamic of the next three weeks – is whether double defending champion Vingegaard is competitive enough to take the fight to Pogacar. The Dane suffered multiple broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and a broken collarbone in the incident – and he has not raced since.

Deprived of a host of key team-mates at Visma-Lease a Bike – including the Covid-stricken Vuelta a España winner, Sepp Kuss – Vingegaard starts his fourth Tour on the back foot. It remains to be seen if this will prove more detrimental to his chances than fatigue from the Giro does to Pogacar’s as both riders aim to become the first to win three Tours.

More British riders than ever before

Four-time champion Chris Froome may have been overlooked by his Israel-Premier Tech team, but a record 11 British riders feature on the startlist – more than ever before.

Isle of Man sprinter Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) is the pick of the bunch as the 39-year-old attempts to become the outright leading stage winner of the Tour in his 15th and final appearance.

Twins Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) and Simon Yates (Team Jayco-AlUla) are most likely to make a splash in the general classification, while Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers), debutant Stephen Williams (Israel-Premier Tech) and Welsh veteran Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) will be targeting wins on the hillier stages.

I've seen the solution to England's problems. Now let's pray Southgate has too

Bastille day to savour.

Not only does the mythical Col du Galibier come as early as stage four as the riders head over the border from Italy, but also the peloton will tackle 32km of gravel roads in an intriguing ninth stage in north-central France.

But it’s so often the summit finishes that make the Tour so memorable – and this year’s route features five of them for a total of seven days in the high mountains. The pick of the bunch comes on the French national holiday of Bastille Day on 14 July when the riders face the best part of 5,000m of climbing ahead of the second rest day.

Stage 15 is arguably the “queen stage” of the race and features four gruelling Category 1 climbs in the Pyrenees ahead of the brutal ascent to Plateau de Beille, with its series of double-digit pitches and unforgiving gradients devoid of tree cover or hairpin bends.

New kits aplenty – and a new man in white

There will be no fewer than nine teams sporting new kits for the Tour – most notably Visma-Lease a Bike, who have swapped their usual yellow for a slick blue patterned kit echoed on the frames of their Cervelo bikes.

After welcoming Red Bull on board as a new lead sponsor, Roglic’s Bora-Hansgrohe team have also updated their green and yellow colours for a foreboding dark blue kit.

Meanwhile, for the first time since Pogacar made his debut in 2020, a new rider will take the young riders white jersey. Now 25, the Slovenian no longer qualifies for the maillot blanc competition which will open the doors to the likes of Belgian debutant Evenepoel, Spaniards Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) and Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers), and perhaps even Pidcock.

First ever finish outside Paris

The Paris 2024 Olympics means that for the first time in the Tour’s 121-year history, the race will not finish in the French capital. Since 1975, the final stage of the Tour has become synonymous with sprints on the Champs-Elysees. But not only will the 111th edition finish on the French Riviera, it will do so after a final-day individual time trial between Monaco and Nice.

It will be the first time since 1989 that the Tour has concluded with a race against the clock – and the organisers will be hoping for similar drama to that famous showdown between Greg LeMond and Laurent Fignon, when the American ended up coming from behind to win the Tour by just eight seconds, the smallest margin in the race’s history.

How to watch Tour de France 2024 in UK Dates:  29 June – 23 July (rest days on 8 and 15 July) Start times:  Vary day by day, but typically between 11am and 1pm in the UK – the final Stage 21 starts at 1.40pm TV:  ITV4, Eurosport and Welsh-language channel S4C Live stream:   ITVX , Eurosport’s  website  and  discovery+ Highlights:  Daily highlight shows will be broadcast on ITV4 and Eurosport, with replays, interviews and analysis on both  ITV.com  and  Eurosport.co.uk

Tour de France 2024 daily schedule

• Stage 1: Sat 29 June, Florence to Rimini, 206km (hills)
• Stage 2: Sun 30 June, Cesenatico to Bologne, 199km (hills)
• Stage 3 : Mon 1 July, Plaisance to Turin, 230.5km (flat)
• Stage 4: Tue 2 July, Pinerolo to Valloire, 140km (mountain)
• Stage 5 : Wed 3 July, Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Saint-Vulbas, 177.5km (flat)
• Stage 6: Thu 4 July, Macon to Dijon, 163.5km (flat)
• Stage 7: Fri 5 July, Nuits-Saint-Georges to Gevrey-Chambertin, 25.3km (individual time trial)
• Stage 8: Sat 6 July, Semur-en-Auxois to Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises, 183.5km (flat)
• Stage 9: Sun 7 July, Troyes to Troyes, 199km (hills)
• Rest day: Mon 8 July
• Stage 10: Tue 9 July, Orleans to Saint-Amand-Montrond, 187.5km (flat)
• Stage 11: Wed 10 July, Evaux-les-Bains to Le Lioran, 211km (mountain)
• Stage 12: Thu 11 July, Aurillac to Villeneuve-sur-Lot, 204km (flat)
• Stage 13: Fri 12 July, Agen to Pau, 165.5km (flat)
• Stage 14: Sat 13 July, Pau to Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet, 152km (mountain)
• Stage 15: Sun 14 July, Loudenville to Plateau de Beille, 198km (mountain)
• Rest day: Mon 15 July
• Stage 16: Tue 16 July, Gruissan to Nimes, 189km (flat)
• Stage 17: Wed 17 July, Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux to Superdevoluy, 178km (mountain)
• Stage 18: Thu 18 July, Gap to Barcelonnette, 180km (hills)
• Stage 19: Fri 19 July, Embrun to Isola 2000, 145km (mountain)
• Stage 20: Sat 20 July, Nice to Col de la Couillole, 133km (mountain)
• Stage 21: Sun 21 July, Monaco to Nice, 33.7km (individual time trial)

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The Biggest Champions in Tour de France History

While we anticipate who will rise to glory this year, let’s look at the legends who have already cemented their place in Tour history.

Can Tadej go for back-to-back Grand Tours? Will Jonas be able to defend his double titles? Is 2024 finally the year that Primož Roglič—at the front of a new team—can exorcize the demons of the Super Planche des Belles Filles? Will Remco finally deliver on all of the promise and raw talent he’s long exhibited? Or will some sleeper pounce on a golden opportunity and surprise us all the way Sepp Kuss did in last year’s Vuelta?

All of these questions will be answered in just a few days. But for now, instead of looking forward, let’s look back. Rather than speculate on the unknown, let’s remember the known. Let’s talk about some of the most famous (and at least one infamous) winners in the history of the Tour de France, men whose names and exploits have become synonymous with Le Tour.

The Classic Era

Maurice garin – 1903.

Any list of Tour de France winners has to include Garin for no other reason than the Frenchman won the first-ever. In 1903, Garin won the six-stage Tour, covering its 1,509 miles in under ninety-five hours. But don’t let those six stages fool you, as the race averaged over 250 miles each day. Garin defended his title the following year, only to be stripped of the win following allegations that he was transported by a car or a horse at some point during the race.

Phillipe Thys – 1913, 1914, 1920

Thys’s first Tour victory wasn’t without issue, as the Belgian won the 1913 race despite suffering a broken fork. He was penalized ten minutes after it was discovered he repaired the fork at a bicycle shop, yet still won the race by nine minutes. He repeated this in 1914, again overcoming a major penalty. This time, he was hit with a thirty-minute deduction for an unauthorized wheel change. As the race was not run between 1915 and 1918 due to the First World War, Thys had to wait until 1920 for his third and final Tour victory. Following that win, Tour de France founder Henri Desgrange wrote of Thys, “France is not unaware that, without the war, the crack rider from Anderlecht would be celebrating not his third Tour, but his fifth or sixth.”

Gino Bartali – 1938, 1948

Though Coppi was perhaps better known for his trio of wins at his native Giro d’Italia (which included seven King of the Mountains wins), he was twice the winner of the Tour de France. After withdrawing from his first Tour in 1937, where he wore the leader’s jersey for a time, Bartali returned the following year and won, immediately becoming an icon in Italy. A decade later, Bartali returned to the Tour, leaving a nation of people to choose between him and his countryman Fausto Coppi. Bartali won seven stages en route to both the yellow jersey and the KOM classification. Years later, it was discovered that Bartali secretly used his training rides to shuttle documents back and forth between Florence and Assisi in order to aid Jews who were being persecuted by the Nazis.

The Golden Era

Fausto coppi – 1949, 1952.

Fausto Coppi kicked off what many call cycling’s Golden Age and is perhaps most well-known for the fact that he won the Giro/Tour double twice. Coppi was the first to achieve the double. Only eight other riders have achieved the result. Coppi’s early career was interrupted due to the Second World War, leaving generations of pundits to wonder what he might have done in the early 1940s. However, he did win five Giris d’Italia and scores of classics in addition to his pair of Tours. He frequently clashed with his biggest rival, Gino Bartali, dividing a nation of fans down into “Coppiani” and “Bartaliani.”

Jacques Anquetil – 1957, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964

Over the course of eight years, Jacques Anquetil won the race five times. His first victory came on debut, just months after he was discharged from military service. Following a rocky few years spent chasing an elusive Giro/Tour double, Anquetil returned to the top of the podium in 1961. He repeated as Tour champion the following year doubled up the next two years, with the Tour and the Vuelta a España in 1963 and the Tour and the Giro in 1964.

Eddy Merckx – 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974

There might be no more famous bicycle racer than Eddy Merckx. The Belgian legend remains forty-five years after his retirement, as the name to which everyone else is compared. “Is he the next Mercxk?” is asked every few years. And to this point, everyone has fallen short of the mark. And though he’s tied with three other riders on this list with five Tours de France on his resume, his name rises above all due in large part to the rest of his palmarés, which includes victories at virtually every other race of import. And for all of his yellow jerseys, he’s equally known for his thirty-four stage wins at the Tour, matched only by Mark Cavendish, and six stage wins clear of the next closest racers (Bernard Hinault with twenty-eight).

Bernard Hinault – 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1985

In Mercxk’s final year, his heir apparent was coronated when Frenchman Bernard Hinault won his first Tour de France. He won again the following year and was leading the race in 1980, expected by many to three-peat. However, “The Badger” was forced to abandon due to a knee injury. He came back the following year and the year after that, again going back-to-back. His final Tour victory came in 1985 thanks in large part to the work of his teammate, a young Greg LeMond.

The New Era

Greg lemond – 1986, 1989, 1990.

Greg LeMond finished his first-ever Tour de France in third place. The following year, he took one step further on the podium, finishing second after he spent the race working in service of his La Vie Claire team leader Hinault. The year after that, in 1986, the reins came off, and LeMond entered Le Tour as La Vie Claire’s co-leader. He won that race, besting Hinault by just over three minutes. After being shot in a hunting accident, LeMond missed the next two Tours de France, only to return in 1989, winning what many call the greatest Tour of all time. LeMond entered the race with little hype or expectation. He hoped for a top-twenty finish. However, over the course of the Tour, LeMond’s strength and position grew as he battled back and forth with his French rival, Laurent Fignon. LeMond headed into the race’s final stage, a time trial fifty seconds short of Fignon. He finished it eight seconds clear of the Frenchman, winning the race in what remains the smallest margin of victory ever. Later that year, he won his second World Championship (his first came in 1983) and followed up his performance with a repeat Tour de France victory the next summer.

Miguel Indurain – 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995

There was a time when it was presumed that no one would top Eddy Mercxk’s record of four consecutive Tour de France wins (1969-1972). But then came Miguel Indurain, who unseated LeMond in 1991 (LeMond finished second), snatching his first of a then-record five straight Tour de France victories. In addition to his stretch of Tour wins, Indurain twice doubled up, winning the Tour and the Giro in 1992 and 1993.

Marco Pantani – 1998

Unlike most of the others on this list, Marco Pantani’s renown doesn’t come from repeated success at the Tour de France. In fact, Il Pirata only won the yellow jersey once, in 1998 (after a pair of third-place finishes in 1994 and 1997). However, that year, he doubled up, winning his home race, the Giro d’Italia. Much of Marco Pantani’s legacy is couched in legend and lore, owing in large part to his elusiveness while racing and untimely death at just thirty-four years old.

The Modern Era

Lance armstrong – 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 (all vacated).

Lance Armstrong had all seven of his Tour de France titles stripped and received a lifetime ban from all sports that follow the World Anti-Doping Code.

Alberto Contador – 2007, 2009

Alberto Contador is one of just seven riders to have won all three Grand Tours more than once. He’s also a four-time winner of the Vélo d’Or, the only person to win the award for the year’s best rider four times. He was the first man in the twenty-first century not named Lance Armstrong to win the Tour de France. However, after being implicated in a doping scandal (he was later cleared), Contador didn’t even have a pro contract going into the 2007 season. He went on to win that race by just twenty-three seconds over Cadel Evans (who would go on to win the Tour in 2011). Two years later, he notched his second Tour victory, beating Andy Schleck by just over four minutes.

Bradley Wiggins – 2012

Like Marco Pantani, Bradley Wiggins has just one Tour de France victory. That win came in 2012 after the British track champion fully committed to road racing. Wiggo won over many European fans after a fan threw carpet tacks onto the course during stage 14. Unaffected, Wiggins commanded the peloton to slow down and wait for his competitors—namely Cadel Evans, who suffered a puncture—to catch up. Since his 2012 victory, Wiggins has remained in the spotlight as a pundit, a rower, a published author, and lately, an advocate for mental health awareness.

The Contemporary Era

Chris froome – 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017.

After displaying strong form as a super domestique during the 2012 season, riding in support of Bradley Wiggins, Froome entered 2013 with massive expectations. He took on the leader’s role in some early-season races and headed into the Tour de France as the heavy favorite, fulfilling bets with a four-plus-minute win over Nairo Quintana. The following year, he crashed out of the race on stage 5. However, Froome returned with a 2015 victory, the first in three consecutive Tour de France wins.

Tadej Pogačar – 2020, 2021

In his short career, Tadej Pogačar has won just about everything there is to win. And he’s often done as much with aplomb and style, with many experts saying his versatility, pure strength, and insatiable will win make Pogačar the closest thing we’ve seen to Eddy Merckx since the real thing. His first Tour de France victory came in 2020 after he snatched the win from fellow Slovenian Primož Roglič. It was there that he won on the race’s penultimate stage, going from fifty seconds down on Roglič to one minute up in the span of one final climb. The following year, he defended with relative ease, beating then-newcomer Jonas Vingegaard by more than five minutes.

Jonas Vingegaard – 2022, 2023

Jonas Vingegaard’s backstory is already the stuff of legend. While working in a Danish fish factory, he was discovered after posting a ride to Strava. Within a few years, he won his first Tour de France, beating the seemingly invincible Tadej Pogačar. The following year, he went head-to-head with Tadej, winning his second-straight Tour on the back of one of the greatest time trials in the history of the Tour (and arguably ever). He then put the final nail into the coffin by doing what was then unthinkable: cracking Tadej Pogačar up a brutal climb.

Michael Venutolo-Mantovani is a writer and musician based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He loves road and track cycling, likes gravel riding, and can often be found trying to avoid crashing his mountain bike. 

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Buy the Official 2024 Tour de France Guide now

The build-up to the 2024 Tour de France starts here

Stan Portus

Buy the UK’s only official Tour de France Guide now to prepare for this weekend's Grand Départ .

This year's 204-page Official Tour de France Race Guide is packed with profiles of every team, exclusive interviews with key contenders of the men’s and women's races, key rider stats, stage maps and plenty more, plus an exclusive Italian Masters magazine, double-sided A2 map of this year's routes and beer mats featuring current GC, points and mountain winners.

Or upgrade to the Premium Tour de France Guide and get all the same great content plus exclusive Italian Masters magazine, a double-sided A2 map of this year's routes, legendary mountain climb-themed coasters and souvenir cycling socks.

Each copy comes with a free SiS water bottle and three SiS nutrition gels at selected WHSmith High Street and Travel stores (subject to availability).

• Buy the Official Tour de France Guide 2024 now
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• Celebrate this year’s men’s Grand Depart with our exclusive Italian Masters magazine
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Tour de France 2024 stage-by-stage guide: Route maps and profiles for all 21 days

The 2024 Tour de France is a truly unique race beginning in Florence and ending – for the first time in its 121-year history – outside Paris .

This year’s Tour will wrap up without the usual procession to the Champs-Elysees, where security resources will be focused on the Paris Olympics starting five days later. Instead, organisers have opted to end the race with an individual time-trial in Nice, adding the possibility of the yellow jersey changing hands on a dramatic final day.

Before that, riders face a typically gruelling challenge, with a hilly start in Italy before crossing to France where a perilous gravel stage awaits in Troyes. Week two leads the peloton south to the Pryenees and the monstrous Col du Tourmalet, before a series of days in the Alps including a particularly brutal stage 19 with a summit finish in Isola.

It all concludes in Nice on Sunday 21 July, where the race winner will be crowned.

Stage 1: Florence to Rimini (hilly, 206km) | Saturday 29 June

The opening stage of the 2024 Tour de France will be a beautiful ride, starting with the Grand Depart on the banks of the Arno river in the centre of Florence before heading through Tuscany to the finish line on Italy’s east coast, on the beachfront of Rimini. The route also takes in San Marino, the Tour’s 13th country. But it will be tough on what is the most hilly first stage in the race’s history with 3,600m of climbing to conquer. It could be a day for Tadej Pogacar to immediately make his mark, or for an outstanding classics rider like Mathieu van der Poel to target, while young puncheurs like Ireland’s Ben Healy and Belgium’s Maxim Van Gils could be outside bets.

Stage 1: Romain Bardet shakes off peloton to finally claim yellow jersey

Stage 2: Cesenatico to Bologna, (hilly, 199km) | Sunday 30 June

The second day throws up a more gentle ride, though it still contains six categorised climbs to test the legs. The purest sprinters will get left behind but the small ascents are unlikely to put off the more hardy fast men, like Wout van Aert , who will like the look of the fast finish in Bologna.

Stage 2: Kevin Vauquelin earns debut win as Tadej Pogacar assumes yellow

Stage 3: Plaisance to Turin (flat, 231km) | Monday 1 July

The long third stage will be the first opportunity for a bunch sprint to the finish line. Expect Alpecin-Deceuninck to try and control the final kilometres in an effort to position Jasper Philipsen for the win, but there is a stacked list of sprinters ready to challenge him including Arnaud de Lie, Dylan Groenewegen, Sam Bennett, Wout van Aert and Mark Cavendish, chasing a record 35th stage win to finally eclipse the great Eddy Merckx.

Stage 3: Biniam Girmay makes history as first black African to win a Tour stage

Stage 4: Pinerolo to Valloire (mountainous, 140km) | Tuesday 2 July

A tough fourth stage takes the riders into France via a couple of testing category-two climbs and to the foot of the Col du Galibier – the first hors categorie ascent of the race. The gradient averages only 5.3% but at 23km long, it is a draining slog of a climb to the top and the strongest climbers will come to the fore. Expect some attacks among the big hitters like Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard as we get our first real sense of the battle for overall victory.

Stage 4: Tadej Pogacar makes statement with dominant win to regain yellow

Stage 5: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Saint-Vulbas (flat, 177km) | Wednesday 3 July

The second sprint finish of this year’s Tour contains some small hills but nothing that should disrupt the power riders from reaching the finish near the front, where they will expect to battle for victory.

Stage 5: Mark Cavendish makes history with record-breaking 35th win

Stage 6: Macon to Dijon (flat, 163km) | Thursday 4 July

An even flatter day looks ripe for a bunch sprint on the streets of Dijon. One small categorised climb early in the stage precedes an intermediate sprint which might be targeted by those hunting the green jersey, and a breakaway will almost certainly then take to the front of the race. But it is likely to be caught by the sprinters’ teams before the finish as the peloton’s power riders fight for the stage win.

Stage 6 guide: Sprinters set to shine in Burgundy wine country

Stage 7: Nuits-Saint-Georges to Gevrey-Chambertin, (ITT, 25km) | Friday 5 July

The first individual time-trial of this year’s Tour de France sweeps through thick forest before opening out into the picturesque vineyards of Burgundy. The only climb is the short Cote de Curtil-Vergy (1.6km at 6.1%), followed by a descent into Gevrey-Chambertin, and here Remco Evenepoel – the reigning time-trial world champion – will plan to take some time from his general classification rivals who are less adept against the clock.

Stage 8: Semur-en-Auxois to Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises (flat, 176km) | Saturday 6 July

It may be officially listed as a flat day, but stage eight contains five categorised climbs and plenty more undulation, along with an uphill drag to the finish which should be enough to shake out some of the pure sprinters from contention. This could be a bunch sprint, a day for the breakaway or even a bold solo attack if the situation presents itself for an opportunist near the front of the race.

Stage 9: Troyes to Troyes (hilly, 199km) | Sunday 7 July

The Tour de France takes on the gravel roads of the Champagne region to see out the first week, and the white dusty terrain could take down a few unfortunate victims. The 14 sections of gravel span 32km in all, and they are similar to the roads of the iconic Italian race, Strade-Bianche. The past winners of Strade-Bianche – Tom Pidcock, Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert and Tadej Pogacar – will fancy their chances here.

Rest day: Orleans | Monday 8 July

Stage 10: Orleans to Saint-Amand-Montrond (flat, 187km) | Tuesday 9 July

The Tour heads down to the centre of France, where on paper it is a nice-looking day for the sprinters, but they will need to stay alert to winds which could split the pack along this twisting route south to Saint-Amand-Montrond in the Loire Valley. A short, sharp climb 8km from the finish could be the launchpad for a brave attack, though the muscle men of the peloton will hope to fight it out against each other at the finish in Saint-Amand-Montrond.

Stage 11: Evaux-les-Bains to Le Lioran, (mountainous, 211km) | Wednesday 10 July

Six categorised climbs pepper a hard up-and-down day through the Massif Central. The third-from-last ascent is the toughest, the Puy Mary Pas de Peyrol (5.4km at 8.1%), with a painfully steep final 2km to conquer, and strong climbing legs will be needed to win the stage. A good day for a breakaway to escape and potentially stay away to the end.

Stage 12: Aurillac to Villeneuve-sur-Lot, (flat, 204km) | Thursday 11 July

The ‘flat’ categorisation disguises the numerous small hills dotted through this picturesque route to Villeneuve which will drain legs if the pace is high. Expect a determined breakaway to make it difficult for those teams hoping to set up a bunch sprint at the finish – twice before, the day has been won by a rider in the breakaway here.

Stage 13: Agen to Pau, (flat, 165km) | Friday 12 July

Pau is a staple of the Tour de France over the years, acting as the gateway to the Pyrenees mountains. The hilly finish to the stage might slow down some of the pure sprinters but they will be determined to reel in a breakaway – especially if they failed to do so a day earlier, and with so much hard climbing to come.

Stage 14: Pau to Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet, (mountainous, 152km) | Saturday 13 July

The iconic Col du Tourmalet stands in the middle of this mountain stage, with the road peaking at 2,115m above sea level. The 19km climb averages 7.4% gradient and once it’s conquered, two more big climbs await including a summit finish at Pla d’Adet. The GC contenders will surely trade blows on this brutal day.

Stage 15: Loudenvielle to Plateau de Beille (mountainous, 198km) | Sunday 14 July

A nice relaxing weekend in the Pyrenees is rounded off with five climbs over a 200km route, all rated category one or harder. Expect fireworks among the yellow jersey contenders as they race to the finish atop Plateau de Beille.

Rest day: Gruissan | Monday 15 July

Stage 16: Gruissan to Nimes (flat, 189km) | Tuesday 16 July

This is the final chance for the sprinters to bag a stage before the road kicks up into the mountains once more. Those in contention for the win will need to keep their composure as roundabouts punctuate the long final strip into the line in Nimes.

Stage 17: Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux to Superdevoluy (mountainous, 178km) | Wednesday 17 July

The peloton reaches the Alps for a day that will be draining as the road tilts from the start. There are bonus seconds to be collected at the top of the category-one Col du Noyer, before a fast descent to a small summit finish which caps a tough second half to this stage.

Stage 18: Gap to Barcelonnette (hilly, 180km) | Thursday 18 July

A breakaway will certainly have a go at escaping up the road to clinch this stage, and they should be able to make it stick. The five official climbs are all category-three ascents which might mean some of the well-rounded sprinters, like Wout van Aert, can clamber over them and be a threat at the finish.

Stage 19: Embrun to Isola 2000 (mountainous, 145km) | Friday 19 July

Perhaps the most eye-catching stage when the 2014 route was unveiled was this one: three monstrous Alpine climbs, back to back, with a summit finish at Isola. The middle climb of the trio is the giant Cime de la Bonette (22.9km at 6.9%), the highest road in France at 2,802m. If the fight for the yellow jersey is still alive at this point in the race, this will be a thrilling stage for the story to unfold.

Stage 20: Nice to Col de la Couillole (mountainous, 133km) | Saturday 20 July

It may be a little shorter at only 133km, but this is another brutally tough mountain stage featuring four climbs and another summit finish, atop the Col de la Couillole, and it is another day when the yellow jersey could be won or lost.

Stage 21: Monaco to Nice (ITT, 34km) | Sunday 21 July

The race will finish without the usual procession through Paris and instead see the riders contest an individual time-trial from Monaco to Nice that could decide the outcome of the Tour. The last time-trial finale saw Greg Lemond pinch the yellow jersey on the Champs-Elysees, beating Laurent Fignon by eight seconds. This route is longer than the stage-seven time-trial, and a little more hilly too, so there is potential for some significant time gaps.

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Tour de France Results

• Copy Link copied

Thursday, July 4

A 101.6-mile ride from macon to dijon ..

1. Dylan Groenewegan, Netherlands, Team Jayco, 3:31.55.

2. Biniam Girmay, Eritrean, Intermarche-Wanty, same time.

3. Fernando Gaviria, Colombia, Moviestar Team, same time

4. Phil Bauhaus, Germany, Bahrain Victorious, same time.

5. Arnaud De Lie, Belgium, Lotto Dstny same time.

6. Wout Van Aert, Belgium, Visma Lease a Bike, same time.

7. Arnaud Demare, France, Arkea-B&B Hotels, same time.

8. Alexander Kristoff, Norway, Uno-X Mobility, same time.

9. Pascal Ackerman, Germany, Israel-Premier Tech, same time.

10. Piet Allegaert, Belgium, Cofidis same time.

42. Matteo Jorgenson, United States, Team Visma/Lease a Bike, 3:31.55.

117. Sean Quinn, United States, EF Education-EasyPost, 3:32.24.

163. Neilson Powless, United States, EF Education-EasyPost, 3:35.13.

Overall Standings (Yellow Jersey)

1. Tadej Pogacar, Slovenia, UAE Team Emirates, 26:47.16.

2. Remco Evenepoel, Belgium, Soudal Quick-Step/Bel, :45s behind.

3. Jonas Vingegaard, Denmark, Team Visma/Lease a Bike, :50s.

4. Juan Ayuso, Spain, UAE Team Emirates, 1:10s.

5. Primoz Roglic, Slovenia, Red Bull-Bora-Hansbrohe, 1:14s.

6. Carlos Rodriguez, Spain, Ineos Grenadiers, 1:16s.

7. Mikel Landa, Spain, Soudal Quick-Step, 1:32s.

8. Joao Almeida, Portugal, UAE Team Emirates, same time.

9. Giulio Ciccone, Italy, LDL-Trek, 3:20s.

10. Egan Bernal, Colombia, Ineos Grenadiers, 3:21s.

11. Matteo Jorgenson, United States, Team Visma, 3:21s behind.

45. Neilson Powless, United States, EF Education-EasyPost, 20;52s.

96. Sean Quinn, United States, EF Education-Easypost, 1:00.21s.

Team Standings

1. UAE Team Emirates, 80:25.01.

2. Ineo Grenadiers, 4:54s behind.

3. Soudal Quick-Step, 5:02s.

4. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, 6:34s.

5. Bahrain Victorious, 11:27s.

6. Movistar Team, 13:24s.

7. Team Visma/Lease a Bike, 17:39s.

8. EF Education-Easypost, 24:06s.

9. LIDL-Trek, 28:41s.

10. Team DSM-Firmenich Postnl, 34:33s.

Climber (Red Polka Dot Jersey)

1. Jonas Abrahamsen, Norway, Uno-X Mobility, 26pts

2. Tadej Pogacar, Slovenia, UAE Team Emirates, 20 pts.

3. Valentin Madouas, France, Groupama-FDJ, 16 pts.

4. Jonas Vingegaard, Denmark, Team Visma/Lease a Bike, 15 pts.

5. Remco Evenepoel, Belgium, Soudal Quick-Step/Bel, 12 pts.

6. Stephen William, Great Britain,Israel-Premier Tech, 10 pts.

7. Carlos Rodriguez, Spain, Ineos Grenadiers, 10 pts.

8. Frank Van den Broek, Netherlands, Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL, 9 pts.

9. Ion Izagirre, Spain, Cofidis, 8 pts.

10. Juan Ayuso, Spain, UAE Team Emirates, 8 pts.

Youth-U26 (White Jersey)

1. Remco Evenepoel, Belgium, Soudal Quick-Step/Bel, 26:44:09.

2. Juan Ayuso, Spain, UAE Team Emirates, :25s behind.

3. Carlos Rodriguez, Spain, Ineos Grenadiers, :31s behind.

4. Matteo Jorgenson, United States, Team Visma, 2:36s.

5. Santiago Buitrago, Bahrain Victorious, 3:25s.

6. Ilan Van Wilder, Soudal Quick-Step, 4:56s.

7. Ben Healy, Israel, EF Education-EasyPost, 7:27s.

8. Javier Romo, Spain, Movistar Team, 9:04s.

9. Tom Pidcock, Great Britain, Ineos Grenadiers, 11:38s.

10. Oscar Onley, Great Britian, Team dsm-firmenich Post/NL, 11:57s.