tour de france pyrenees stages

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TOTAL: 3 498 km

This will be the first Grand Départ in Italy and the 26th that’s taken place abroad  First finale in Nice. Due to the Olympic and Paralympic Games taking place in Paris, the race will not finish in the French capital for the first time.

Two time trials. 25 + 34 = 59km in total, the second of them taking place on the final Monaco>Nice stage. This will be the first time the race has seen a finale of this type for 35 years, the last occasion being the famous Fignon - LeMond duel in 1989.

Apennines (Italy), the Italian and French Alps, Massif Central and Pyrenees will be the mountain ranges on the 2024 Tour route.

The number of countries visited in 2024: Italy, San Marino, Monaco and France. Within France, the race will pass through 7 Regions and 30 departments.

The number of bonus points 8, 5 and 2 bonus seconds go to the first three classified riders, featuring at strategic points along the route (subject to approval by the International Cycling Union)these will have no effect on the points classification. Bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds will be awarded to the first three classified riders at road stage finishes.

Out of a total of 39, the locations or stage towns that are appearing on the Tour map for the first time . In order of appearance: Florence, Rimini, Cesenatico, Bologna, Piacenza, Saint-Vulbas, Gevrey-Chambertin, Colombey-les-Deux-Églises, Évaux-les-Bains, Gruissan, Superdévoluy, Col de la Couillole.

The number of sectors on white roads during stage nine, amounting to 32km in total .

The number of stages: 8 flat, 4 hilly, 7 mountain (with 4 summit finishes at Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet, Plateau de Beille, Isola 2000, Col de la Couillole), 2 time trials and 2 rest days.

The number of riders who will line up at the start of the Tour, divided into 22 teams of 8 riders each.

The height of the summit of the Bonette pass in the Alps, the highest tarmac road in France, which will be the “roof” of the 2024 Tour.

The total vertical gain during the 2024 Tour de France.

PRIZE MONEY

A total of 2,3 million euros will be awarded to the teams and riders including € 500,000 to the final winner of the overall individual classification .

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Tour de France 2024 in the Pyrenees

Detailed stage map     .

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Stages 14 (blue) and 15 (red) - from Pau tothe Plateau de Beille

Riding in the pyrenees.

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Argeles Gazost

7 Days (Sat - Sat)

This your of the classic Cols of the Pyrenees is a bespoke holiday and dates can be arranged to suit. As you may have guessed from the title, this week is a incredible challenge riding some of the toughest Tour de France climbs of the Pyrenees!

This week comprises three historic stages of the Tour de France in the Pyrenees. The rides will be done on the Sunday, Tuesday and the Friday on the weeks below. On the other days, you’re free to relax or ride any other Cols you may want to try while you’re here with us.

Our day off is the Wednesday, but you can take our advice on finding some local hidden secrets that the Tour has never touched.

On our first day of our tour of the classic Cols of the Pyrenees, we take on the notorious slopes of the Col du Tourmalet, which have put the world's greatest cyclists to the ultimate test. This is was a tough stage 17 ridden by the amateur Etapists in 2010, 2 days before the Tour and stage winner Andy Schleck finished in 5 hours 3 minutes on the 22nd July 2010. Now, we're not expecting a time like that, but you're free to give it a go! On this ride you'll follow in the tracks of the great riders by crossing the Col du Marie-Blanque, Col d’Aubisque and a grand finish on the Tourmalet.

A 2001 tour stage played out over some of the toughest climbs of the Pyrenees. Lance nearly lost the Tour here in 2003 when a spectator's bag caught his handlebars! Lance never won this stage 14 on the 22nd July 2001, but this climb enabled him increase his lead over his rivals and give him a massive winning margin of over 5 minutes in Paris. Roberto Laiseka won the stage in 4 hours 24 minutes. 21km Haut-De-La-Côte 34.50km Côte De Mauvezin 37.00km Côte De Capvern-Les-Bains 80.00km Col d’Aspin 109.50kms Col Du Tourmalet 144.50km Luz-Ardiden

We go all the way back to stage 9 on the 10th July 1989 for this one, when Greg Lemond won the Tour from Laurent Fignon (RIP). A gripping last day on the Champs-Élysées, one of the best Tours in history, it went all the way down to the wire on the final time trial: after 3 weeks and 3,279 km of racing, Greg clawed back a 50 second deficit in the final individual time trial to win by only 8 seconds on the final day of the Tour! For Greg LeMond, the victory was sweet. After his life threatening hunting accident, LeMond’s return to full form generated great emotion. The Tour de France had just witnessed the greatest race in its legendary history. This particular Stage to Cambasque was won by Miguel Indurain, who we all came to know over the next few years when he became the first person to win the Tour five consecutive times. He rode this stage over the Marie Blanque , Col d’Aubisque and won on top of Cambasque in a time of 4 hours 24 minutes.

Historic Stages of the Tour de France dates

This is a bespoke Tour, so please contact us for potential dates for your group.

Pricing and Fees

Prices for a bespoke package start from £895.00 per person, including half board accommodation.

Single Supplement

£185.00 if applicable.

Included on this tour

• Half board including breakfast, afternoon tea and fantastic home-cooked 3 course meals every night (Except Wednesday, our night off).
• Return transfers from/to Pau airport (1hr 15min Transfer), Lourdes airport (40 min transfer), or train station (30 min transfer).
• Cereal bars and energy drinks to keep you fuelled-up.
• Experienced ride leaders.
• Secure storage for your bikes - we know how much you love them!
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What's not included

• Food on the road.
• Transfers to from Toulouse or Biarritz unless previously agreed - extra charges apply.
• Wine, beer or any hotel extras e.g. washing of kit (this can be added to the price of your room and paid for on check-out).
• 6 day Raid Pyrenees
• Training Camps Girona
• Paris - Roubaix Challenge 2024

Tour de France 2024 Route stage 13: Agen - Pau

Pau is finishing venue on the Tour de France for the 63th time. But, with 66 stage starts, the town in the foothills of the Pyrenees is even more experienced in that regard. Last year the Tour left from Pau to finish in Laruns, where Jai Hindley took both the stage win and the yellow jersey.

The last time that Le Tour finished in Pau was in 2019. It was the heyday of Julian Alaphilippe. Dressed in yellow, the Frenchman stormed to an ITT triumph. In 2018, Pau was last included as a finish of a race in line. Arnaud Démare sprinted to victory ahead of Christophe Laporte and Alexander Kristoff.

Starting venue Agen saw its last Tour de France peloton in 2000. The race went to Dax and Paolo Bettini took a sprint victory. In 1980, the Tour featured a stage with the same start and finish as this time. Gerrie Knetemann bested Ludo Peeters in a sprint-à-deux at the end of a 194 kilometres long race.

The route looks promising for the fast men this time, although they have to digest a series of hills in the last 40 kilometres before getting the chance to do what they do best – sprinting.

The first three riders across the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6, and 4 seconds.

Ride the route yourself? Download GPX 13th stage 2024 Tour de France.

Stage 13 starts at 13:30 and the race is expected to finish around 17:30 – both are local times (CEST). For details, see the scheduled times in the slide show below.

Another interesting read: favourites to win in Pau.

Tour de France 2024 stage 13: routes, profiles, videos

Click on the images to zoom

I love this part of France and the farmers market on Wednesday nights is a definite must if your around. As for the riders just hope the sprint in Nogaro is safer than last year’s finish

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Tour de France 2022: Hugo Houle wins stage 16 as race hits the Pyrenees – as it happened

Houle becomes only the second Canadian winner of a stage, the top three emerge unscathed, and Nairo Quintana goes fourth

• 19 Jul 2022 Jeremy Whittle's stage 16 report
• 19 Jul 2022 Stage 16 classification
• 19 Jul 2022 Hugo Houle speaks!
• 19 Jul 2022 Provisional GC standings after stage 16
• 19 Jul 2022 Canada's Hugo Houle wins stage 16 for Israel Premier-Tech!
• 19 Jul 2022 Eekhoff takes intermediate sprint
• 19 Jul 2022 Today's main breakaway is formed
• 19 Jul 2022 General classification after stage 15
• 19 Jul 2022 Preamble
• 19 Jul 2022 Stage 16 guide: Carcassonne to Foix (178.5km)

Jeremy Whittle's stage 16 report

As we close down for the day, word emerges that Marc Soler failed to finish within the stage’s time limit. Tadej Pogacar therefore loses another UAE Team Emirates colleague in his push to defend the title.

That’s all from me today. Thanks for reading, and hope those experiencing excessively toasty weather are remaining safe and well. Tomorrow: more mountains as stage 17 tears from Saint-Gaudens to Peyragudes. Join us then!

Points standings 1 Van Aert 399pts 2 Pogacar 182 3 Philipsen 176 4 Pedersen 158 5 Jakobsen 155

King of the Mountains standings 1 Geschke 58pts 2 Meintjes 39 3 Powless 37 4 Vingegaard 36 5 Ciccone 35

Youth rankings 1 Pogacar 2 Pidcock 3 Jorgensen

Team 1 Ineos 2 Groupama-FDJ 3 Jumbo-Visma

Stage 16 classification

1 Hugo Houle (Israel-Premier Tech) 4hr 23min 47sec 2 Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) +1min 10sec 3 Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech) +1:10 4 Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar) +1:12 5 Michael Storer (Groupama-FDJ) +1:25 6 Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe) +1:40 7 Dylan Teuns (Bahrain-Victorious) +1:40 8 Simon Geschke (Cofidis) +2:11 9 Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies) +5:04 10 Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Victorious) +5:04

Hugo Houle speaks!

“I never won a race – I guess it’s the right place to win my first! They let me go. I went out, full gas. At the end I hang on, hang on, hang on. At the end in a technical section I gained some more time. When they showed me ‘one minute’ I thought – ‘Unreal, I’m going to do it!’ I was getting some cramp because I was missing some food as I couldn’t get my car for the last 60km.

“I had one dream – win the stage for my brother, who died when I turned professional. I won it for him. It’s incredible … I’m just so happy.”

Provisional GC standings after stage 16

1 Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo Visma) 64h 28min 09sec 2 Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) +2min 22sec 3 Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) +2:43 4 Nairo Quintana (Arkéa-Samsic) +4:15 5 David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) +4:24 6 Adam Yates (Ineos Grenadiers) +5:28 7 Louis Meintjes (Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux) +5:46 8 Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe) +6:18 9 Romain Bardet (DSM) +6.37 10 Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) +10:11 ------ 11 Enric Mas (Movistar) +12:45

Bardet still had around 1.5km left when the leaders finished. Horrible day for both the DSM rider and writers of cycling liveblogs namechecking potential winners of a stage.

There’ll be no change in the top three – Van Aert tries to drag the pace on to eke a bit of time for Pogacar among the yellow jersey group. No dice: Vingegaard, Pogacar and Thomas cross the line together.

Huge emotion for Houle. His brother Pierrik was killed by a drunk driver while out running in 2012. Today’s victor saluted the sky as the line approached – I think it’s fair to say there’s no mystery over who that was for.

Canada's Hugo Houle wins stage 16 for Israel Premier-Tech!

Tongue out on the final corner. He punches the air in delight.

There is no North American 1-2-3 – Madouas gets back up with the chasers, almost from nowhere, and takes second. Woods takes third on a great day for IPT.

1.5km to go: This is the last couple of minutes that anyone can say Hugo Houle has never won anything of note. What a performance.

3.5km to go: The Canadian takes the lead out to over a minute. He gulps in the air and takes the corners safely and comfortably. We’re closing in on a North American 1-2-3.

5km to go: As delight looms for House, spare a thought for Soler, 47:29 back and only just at the foot of the second climb.

7km to go: Quite a nasty gash on Jorgenson’s arm but he’s back on his bike and has caught Woods. The lead is 55 seconds for Houle. It’s absolutely his to lose.

The yellow jersey contenders are 6:25 back and are very much in sticking rather than twisting territory.

🇺🇸 @MatteoJorg has rejoined 🇨🇦 @rusty_woods and is straight on the chase! 🇺🇸 @MatteoJorg rejoint 🇨🇦 @rusty_woods et repart de plus belle ! #TDF2022 pic.twitter.com/lfy9q8fElh — Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 19, 2022

10km to go: Barring calamity, Houle is about to join his team’s sports director as a Canadian winner of a Tdf stage. Woods is now 45 seconds back.

13.5km to go: Jorgensen is down! He gets it wrong on a tight hairpin, and takes a tumble. Thankfully he’s safely up, but that could have handed the stage to Houle, who has taken the lead out to 35 seconds. Woods now chases.

17km to go: Houle is 24 seconds clear. Steve Bauer is the only Canadian to have won a Tour de France stage, the opener in 1988.

19.0km to go: No full-on aggression on the way down from any of the GC contenders, and as things stand it’ll be as you were on the podium. What a day for Quintana though – he’s looking like ending the day fourth. Bardet has only crested Péguère’s peak.

21.5km to go: Vingegaard, Pogacar and Thomas reach the peak, and they’ve done their climbing for the day. Will the Slovenian stick or twist?

24.5km to go: Always a little misleading when the leader is over the hill and there are groups still grimacing in the closing stages of their way up. However, with a 6:12 gap from front to yellow, about to crest the peak it’s safe to say the lead in reality is shortly to show as significantly under six minutes now – possibly more like five.

27km to go: Houle is the first to hit downhill, with a 25-second advantage. Jorgenson, Storer and Woods are the chase trio.

Bardet currently is 1:45 down on Quintana and Yates. In the live standings he’s dropped out of the top five.

27.75km: Dicey moment as Rafal Majka (UAE Team Emirates) grinds to a halt as part of the yellow jersey group. Thankfully he just needs a new bike and those immediately behind respond in time to avoid a collision.

29km to go: Tom Pidcock and Chris Froome are among many, many people suffering on the Péguère climb.

Vingegaard and Pogacar have taken some distance from the peloton. Quintana is clinging on to them and both he and Adam Yates look like leapfrogging Bardet today. Yates is dragging Thomas along to keep his Ineos teammate in sight of the GC leaders.

30km to go: The chase group is down to three: Jorgensen, Storer and Woods. They’re starting to munch a little time out of Houle.

Bardet, after looking like being dropped by the peloton, is now safely back with the pack, but certainly doesn’t look the freshest among it.

30.5km to go: The lead is holding steady around 50 seconds. Houle fancies this. Can he manage one more push on the climb?

Caruso hits the wall (thankfully not literally) – suddenly he looks like I felt in the closing stages of a horrible treadmill trudge at the weekend. Storer and Woods (the latter Houle’s teammate, let’s not forget) look the strongest of the chasers.

🇮🇹 @CarusoDamiano and 🇫🇷 @tonygallopin are dropped from the first chasing group. 🇮🇹 @CarusoDamiano et 🇫🇷 @tonygallopin sont distancés du groupe des poursuivants #TDF2022 pic.twitter.com/JL9RWar3cT — Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 19, 2022

32km to go: Some 4.5km to the climb, Houle goes 46 seconds clear. Gallopin is reeled in by a group of five – Madouas, Caruso, Jorgenson, Storer and Woods. Van Aert and Vlasov are now in a group of six 1:18 off the front.

🏁 34KM 🇨🇦 @HugoHoule 🇫🇷 @tonygallopin +14" Chasers/Poursuivants +35" Gr. 💚🔴 +57" Gr. 💛 +7'41" #TDF2022 pic.twitter.com/u7sz21EbXA — Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 19, 2022

34km to go: Up they go again, with the big-time climb of the Mur de Péguère looming. Houle now 25 seconds clear. The yellow jersey group is exactly eight minutes back. Will Pogacar try and press again either side of the peak?

37km to go: As always, the downhills prove as much of a test as the climbs. Houle is on the move up front. He opened up 15 seconds on Tony Gallopin (Trek-Segafredo), who is suddenly on his own around 40 seconds clear of a bunch of five – Madouas, Caruso, Jorgenson, Storer and Woods. Vlasov was there but has fallen away.

Confirmation now emerges that Soler is still there, 36 mins back.

Update: I might have gone a bit early there on Soler …

@stuartgoodwin I see Soler more than 34 minutes back. I have no idea how he hopes to finish within the elimination time. And it's far too late for his team to help him. — Beau Dure 🇺🇦🌈🖖☮️ (@duresport) July 19, 2022

43.5km to go: The effort ebbs again from the defending champion, enabling Thomas to get back on terms. The indication is that Pogacar definitely wants to take time out of his podium rivals today.

46.5km to go: Pogacar hits the top of the climb and goes again! Vingegaard scrambles once more, and gets back on his wheel. Thomas initially wants no part of it this time, on an extremely technical descent. The top two in GC briefly go toe to toe, but Pogacar sees nothing but yellow polyester over his shoulder.

49km to go: Pogacar attacks! All those scratching their heads wanting a move from the Slovenian get what they want as he swings rightwards and slams down the hammer.

But Vingegaard responds, as does Thomas …

53km to go: Am awaiting confirmation, but Soler is no longer being picked up by the official tracking. That might be that for the Spanish rider.

Geschke takes 10 KoM points at the top of Port de Lers, followed by Van Aert (8), McNulty (6), Jorgensen (4), Caruso (2) and Woods (1).

⚪🔴 10 points for the polka dot jersey 🇩🇪 @simongeschke at the Port de Lers. ⚪🔴 10 points pour le @maillotapois au Port de Lers. #TDF2022 pic.twitter.com/8CFhagbGHY — Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 19, 2022

On the downhill, Dylan Teuns (Bahrain-Victorious) flies down to join the group up front.

54.5km to go: The lead group now numbers seven, and Van Aert is right up there. Caruso, Storer and Woods are also joined by Geschke, McNulty and Jorgensen before the Port de Lers summit.

55.5km to go: Movistar are on the move at the front of the peloton, possibly as a response to the threat posed up the road by Vlasov. Enric Mas started the day in 10th. Teammates Carlos Verona and Gregor Mühlberger join him and they burst 30 seconds clear of the bunch.

57km to go: Green jersey holder Van Aert looks almost terrifyingly at ease in the chase group, possibly wanting to improve the day for Jumbo-Visma.

The group, consisting of Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates), Van Aert, Vlasov (!), Hugo Houle (Israel-Premier Tech) and Geschke are 25 seconds off the front.

60km to go: Caruso, Storer and Woods are now a trio up front.

3⃣ riders in the lead, with the @WoutvanAert group trailing by 1' 3⃣ coureurs en tête à présent, le groupe @WoutvanAert est à 1 minute. 🇮🇹 @CarusoDamiano 🇦🇺 @mjstorer_au 🇨🇦 @rusty_woods #TDF2022 pic.twitter.com/jcods0Sbrg — Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 19, 2022

Joanna, writing from Turks and Caicos, emails:

“Was just pondering over Soler clearly struggling to stay in the race to potentially aid Pog. If he feels better in coming days and the fact that Rog seemed to have left the tour with a few miles left in him (compounded by Steven crashing and leaving) … Do you think the Rog decision will come back to haunt TJV?”

Soler is now almost 24min off the front. I think immediate concerns for the team is that he ends the day able to get off the bike himself rather than with assistance.

In terms of the context of the race, the 21 stages are always a case of survival of the fittest, and I’m certainly not one to tell anyone feeling the aftershocks of earlier injuries sustained whether they should or shouldn’t grin and bear it through discomfort.

If Pogacar can’t find a way back to yellow, however, team meetings at Jumbo-Visma are going to be moody, no question about that. Anyone betting against him before last Thursday was a very brave individual indeed.

62km to go: Caruso opens up a half-minute gap as the peloton reaches the climb. Vlasov is 56sec back among a group of 14. Michael Storer (Groupama-FDJ) and Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech) are betwixt group and leader.

64km to go: The lead group shatters as the gradient ramps up.

Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Victorious) makes a break and opens his jersey to more or less wear it as a cape. Straight away on the climb 10 riders are staring at their pedals and rocking alarmingly. Caruso won the Giro di Sicilia in April and looks strong.

⛰ The breakaway has started the climb up the Port de Lers. 🇮🇹 @CarusoDamiano and 🇫🇷 @leGacOlg have attacked. ⛰ L'échappée entame la montée au Port de Lers. 🇮🇹 @CarusoDamiano et 🇫🇷 @leGacOlg ont pris quelque longueurs d'avance. #TDF2022 pic.twitter.com/3DLZiRG2xC — Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 19, 2022

66km to go: Things get very, very real for those with heavy legs in just over 1km. Soler now 10mins 30 off the back. I’m not sure he’s getting to the downhill on the other side of this climb.

In real-time, Vlasov is more or less level with Pogacar in second on the virtual GC. We’ll get a lot more interested in that if it’s still the case two mountains down the road.

68km to go: Soler-watch: he’s still on the bike, over nine minutes behind the peloton, which is 8:05 behind the lead.

Live-tracking suggests the lead group has already shed a member (now numbers 28) before hitting the serious climb. Unclear who that is at this stage. More will doubtless fall away as the heave increases.

71km to go: Grumbles among the riders in the lead group about the distribution of effort up front. The leaders have been moving upwards for several km now and the real ramp up is imminent.

76km to go: Inbox lights up a bit in relation to Thomas (good afternoons to Pete Younger, James Abbott and Tom Stuart respectively).

All suggesting his waiting game is the right one, which indeed is as the man himself said yesterday .

“Oh come along now Stuart, it’s not as if Thomas is just swanning about out there, he knows what he can and can’t do better than us,” says James.

People only call me Stuart when I’ve been naughty as well, so that’s me told.

“It’s been pretty clear from the racing so far that both Pog and Vingegaard are stronger than him on the climbs,” adds Tom, “and it’s not as if he has an enormous time gap behind him to 4th place on GC. If he wants to win, certainly a big move is needed, but if the people ahead of you don’t show signs of weakness such that the move might stick, then it’s no longer a risk – more like throwing away a podium place.”

“Perhaps on Thursday if there’s no big change ahead of G,” reckons Pete. “But the race may fall into his lap if riders keep withdrawing. These tactics paid off in Tour de Suisse last month after all.”

It’s clear Ineos are absolutely fine with how the stage is panning out, and that doubtless includes Soler’s plight. Whenever there’s an overhead shot the Ineos jerseys leap out in train as a visual demonstration of the strength they still have out there.

80km to go: Reminder: what’s happening to Soler isn’t a sprinter feeling the heat in the hills – he’s seen as a key player in the mountains. He departed last year’s race after a first stage crash.

Peloton 7:37 back, Soler now 13:18 and probably feeling like he’s riding a Raleigh Budgie with hamstrings made of rope.

An important teammate for 🇸🇮 @TamauPogi , 🇪🇸 @solermarc93 is struggling at the back, over 3' behind the Yellow group. Équipier de 🇸🇮 @TamauPogi , 🇪🇸 @solermarc93 connaît des difficultés à l'arrière de la course, avec plus de 3' de retard sur le groupe Maillot Jaune #TDF2022 pic.twitter.com/WDWU9RrM6O — Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 19, 2022

82km to go: Around 9km to go before the gradient starts to laugh at everyone and say: “Oh yeah, that was the easy bit lads.” And then chortles again twice more further up the road.

Rash prediction: by the peak of Port de Lers, there will not be a lead group of 29 riders.

87.5km to go: Soler’s going to do extremely well to finish today and that’s potentially awful news for his teammate Pogacar. Now 10:34 off the lead and dropping fast. Alberto Contador, on the back of a motorbike for Eurosport, suggests his compatriot looks all but done.

Still no response further back to the lead group challenge being laid down by Vlasov.

90km to go: A glorious sight of the peloton snaking across the full width of the road. They’re 7:28 off the lead group.

We’re in calm before the bleurgh territory for those who fear climbs. Solar is deep in that territory right now however – he’s 1:40 off the back of the bunch. He just cocked the camera operator a snook that suggests he’d much rather they’d just bugger off and shove a lens at someone, anyone else.

The Port de Lers is a gruelling climb, and @JumboVismaRoad are well aware of dangerous it can be In last year's @RondeIsard , their @TJVacademy turned the race upside down and @GLeemreize set the @Strava KOM on his way to 🏆 #TDFdata #TDF2022 pic.twitter.com/OtOGgsrepw — letourdata (@letourdata) July 19, 2022

98km to go: The peloton’s over 7 mins back. Dropping off the back alarmingly, Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates, started the stage 79th) – he looks more than a little green around the gills. Imagine taking on a cat 1 climb when you feel rough. Good luck Marc.

Paulo Biriani writes:

“I love Geraint Thomas (as does my wife for a different reason) but can someone just get it through to him that he will need to take a risk if he wants to win rather than waiting and waiting and waiting …”

I don’t have his pager number but it’s a point well made. Ineos look organised today and don’t seem too displeased about how the stage is panning out. It feels hideously unlikely that he can just stay on the coattails of Vingegaard and Pogacar and then overhaul both in Saturday’s time trial, so it feels like he must put in a telling effort at some point. Friday’s flat stage 19?

Local interest corner: As the peloton rolled by the intermediate sprint marker, the official Tour feed offered the splendid titbit that Lavelanet is the hometown of Fabien Barthez – who has apparently been spotted roadside today.

The former France goalkeeper is still enjoying a second wind as a racing driver.

108km to go: With a rise in pace up front for the sprint, the gap to the bunch is up to 6:40. Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe), well in there with the lead group, is now into the top five on virtual GC as things stand.

The Russian rider is no mug, having won the Tour de Romandie and the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana this year. He started the stage 11th, 10:32 off the lead, and all other top 10 GC riders are among the peloton.

Eekhoff takes intermediate sprint

111km to go: Wasn’t an eyeballs-out effort in the end – Van Aert looks like waltzing to another 20 points under minimal pressure before DSM’s Nils Eekhoff almost jokily pulls ahead … and takes the sprint. The Jumbo-Visma rider almost bursts out laughing in response.

112km to go: Green jersey group looks like it will be hitting the sprint with a gap around the 6:25 mark. 1km to go before all hell breaks loose for a bit. Van Aert is very handily positioned.

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2024 Tour de France Preview: Key Contenders & Stages to Watch

From seasoned champions to rising stars, the 2024 Tour de France race will test every rider. You won't want to miss these key stages, intense GC battles, and emerging subplots

The Tour de France is back, and the 2024 edition promises to deliver some of the most thrilling and dramatic racing of the year. With a comprehensive and challenging route, the race will test champions looking to defend their titles and new contenders eager to make their mark. Experienced riders aim to break decades-old records, while young talent seeks their first wins on cycling’s biggest stage . Here’s what you need to know for this year’s race.

The GC Battle

The Tour de France always hinges on how well competitors prepare, but this year brings even more complications than usual. Crashes have defined the 2024 cycling season, reminiscent of the chaotic 2020 season. Key contenders Jonas Vingegaard , Primož Roglič , and Remco Evenepoel were all derailed by a crash in April’s Tour of the Basque Country, leaving only Tadej Pogačar with an unblemished preparation.

Pogačar is the man to watch. Unlike his rivals, Pogačar’s year has gone exactly to plan. However, this year he has also won the Giro d’Italia, adding more miles to his legs. The big question is whether his form will hold against rivals with less fatigue and more training time. Pogačar’s challenge for the overall victory will be tougher than ever.

The Race Within the Race

Beyond the General Classification (GC) battle, the Tour de France is rich with subplots and secondary competitions. The 2024 route offers a balanced mix, ensuring opportunities for sprinters, climbers, and breakaway specialists alike.

Sprinting Showdown

Last year’s top sprinter, Jasper Philipsen , faces stiff competition if he hopes to dominate again. Dylan Groenewegen , Fabio Jakobsen , and the legendary Mark Cavendish —looking to break Eddy Merckx’s record of 34 stage wins—are all serious contenders. Additionally, versatile sprinters like Mads Pedersen , Biniam Girmay , Arnaud De Lie , and Wout Van Aert will aim to shine not only on flat stages but also from breakaways and reduced group sprints.

Breakaway Specialists

American riders Matteo Jorgenson and Neilson Powless may find themselves on team duty, reducing their breakaway chances. However, keep an eye on newcomers like Sean Quinn , Ben Healy , Derek Gee , and Kévin Vauquelin . All are riding their first Tour de France and have already proven they can win races. The stage wins promise excitement when the GC battle is momentarily paused.

Stages to Watch

For those who want to catch the most thrilling parts of the Tour, here are the must-watch stages:

Stage 2: Cesenatico to Bologna

While Stage 1 will surely bring its own excitement, Stage 2 will most likely deliver a more dynamic race. Starting in Italy, this stage features two laps of the San Luca climb, known in the Giro d’Italia and the Giro dell’Emilia cycling racing. Expect attacks on both ascents as GC favorites and stage hunters test their competitors. 

San Luca’s famous crowds are sure to take to the roads around Bologna, and riders will have the added adrenaline from the fans to add to the early-Tour nerves. The stage win may come from a small group sprint if no rider can distance themselves on the climb.

Stage 9: Gravel Roads Around Troyes

Put anything other than pristine pavement into the world’s biggest bike race, and there is sure to be some discussion. This year, Stage 9 will see riders face gravel farm roads around Troyes. The roads will be similar to those seen in Paris-Tours and Tro-Bro-Leon. In these races, it has often been the cobbled specialists who take the win. 

While not exactly cobblestones, gravel will still make the GC riders nervous. The stage has 13 gravel sectors, with the majority coming in the back half of the race. Any stage in which GC contenders and breakaway hopefuls have competing interests is sure to cause chaos. Add the limited line choice that farm roads can bring, and you’ll find bike racing at its most dynamic. Mechanicals could be disastrous, and good legs could be the difference between staying in the race and being cast out before the first rest day.

Stage 14: The Pyrenees Challenge

Up until this point, riders can compensate for weak legs with strong teammates and determination. With climbs over the Tourmalet, Hourquette d’Ancizan, and a summit finish on Pla d’Adet, Stage 14 is a decisive mountain stage. Time gaps will open here, and any GC hopeful must show their strength. A repeat of Julian Alaphilippe’s 2019 heroics could unfold if a non-GC rider holds the yellow jersey.

Stage 21: Monaco to Nice Time Trial

In the Tour de France, we’ll always have Paris. Well, not this year. With the French capital holding the Olympics, the Tour de France has opted to forgo the traditional laps around the Champs-Elysees. Instead, the 2024 Tour will conclude with an individual time trial from Monaco to Nice. Riders will face La Turbie and Col d’Eze before a fast descent into Nice. 

Many riders in the professional peloton call Monaco and Nice home and will have ridden these roads dozens of times. If the battle for the yellow jersey is still up for grabs at this point, expect riders to turn themselves inside out on the short climbs before taking any risk necessary on the technical descent.

This stage could determine the final GC standings, making for a nail-biting finish.

The 2024 Tour de France is set to deliver three weeks of dramatic racing, with battles for the yellow jersey and stage wins. Make sure to follow every twist and turn of this iconic race.

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Gordon Saur is a writer with a focus on professional cycling, and the role cycling has in daily life. Born and raised in Colorado’s Front Range, sport has always been a part of Gordon’s life, and he is passionate about combining his pursuit of writing with his love for cycling. Check out his cycling adventures, thoughts in philosophy, and everything in between on his substack, Stages on Life’s Tour .

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Top 5 Must-Do Rides Across the Pyrenees Mountains Tour de France Route

The Pyrenees mountain range located in southwestern Europe, specifically in south-south-west France, stretches from the Atlantic Ocean, reaching the Mediterranean Sea. The snow-capped chain of mountains is believed to have been formed 100 to 150 million years ago, which means they are older than the French Alps. Today, they act as a natural border separating France and Spain. The mountainous region is remote, with relatively unspoilt spots that are perfect for exploring, hiking, and of course, cycling. The area is raw and underdeveloped, with an exciting landscape and history that will captivate any cycling enthusiast.

It’s why Ride International’s good friend and partner Phil Anderson loves to cycle here and has hosted a number of tours in the French Pyrenees. Phil is well known for his Tour de France performance back in 1981, which is still an essential part of the event’s history up to this day.

Phil Anderson was a young rider who was one of the Tour de France’s participants and a member of the French Peugeot team. During the final Pyrenean stage held to the beautiful ski resort Pla d’Adet, Phil became the first non-European to win the honour to wear the coveted yellow leader’s jersey.

The beauty of the Pyrenees is not just about the breathtaking scenery; it’s also because the routes are for everyone, including relatively inexperienced riders or seasoned roulers on the bike. This blog showcases our top five Pyrenees rides (in no particular order), which are suitable for all neophytes and pros and cyclists of all fitness levels.

Col d’Aubisque via Col du Soulor

• Overall Ride Distance (out and back): 60km
• Overall Ride Vertical climbing: 1850m
• Climb Rating: Hors Category (HC)
• Climb Overall (Col d’Aubisque via Col du Soulor): 30km – 1550m
• Undulating Climbing: 4.1% average
• Col du Soulor: 19km – 1050m climbing
• Col d’Aubisque: 11km – 500m climbing

Did you know that Alberto Elli from Italy won Stage 16 of the 1999 Tour de France over the Col de Peyresourde? Alberto’s a fantastic guy, he’s relaxed yet still super strong on the bike, he’s also one of our great Super Domestic tour hosts.

Introduced into the Tour de France in 1910, the Col d’Aubisque route is a Pyrenean must-try ride, it’ll also help you to understand why numerous cyclists prefer the Pyrenees over the French Alps. It’s a challenging route with no flat terrain. Still, the entire route is amazing as it captures the essence of the Pyrenees Mountains. 

The first 15km requires some climbing through the hills and meadows, an authentic green French paradise. You will then move past the gushing streams and glades, climbing through the isolated Pyrenean valley and towns of the Gave d’Ossau. Kilometres 4 to 38 make up the final portion of the 2018 Tour de France Stage 19.

The climb is undisputed, and it’s hard to do it justice with just some photos. But be sure you don’t miss the opportunity to take a selfie in front of the Col du Soulor signboard, as well as with the massive steel bike sculptures at the top of the Col d’Aubisque.

While on the topic of things you mustn’t miss, here are some suggestions that are sure to satisfy your caloric requirements:

• Sip on morning tea or enjoy a coffee and a snack at the top of Col du Soulor
• For lunch, try the Col du Peyresourde Chalet menu, specifically the Confit du Canard with roast potatoes. The locals stand by the deliciousness of the homemade tarte, so we recommend trying it as well.
• Delight in afternoon tea, coffee, or ice cream in the Hautes-Pyrenees commune of Argelès-Gazost.

And if you think you’ve seen it all, the glorious route traversing across Col d’Aubisque on the Cirque du Litor is perhaps the most stunning and one of the best roads we’ve ever seen. But don’t take our word for it. Ride it to believe. 

Port de Balès to Col de Peyresourde – Pla d’Adet

• Distance: 95km
• Vertical climbing: 3850m

This course is similar to the final portion of Stage 17 of Tour de France 2021, running deep into the border region of the French Pyrenees. Don’t miss Port de Bales. You’ll most likely spot some Pyrenean eagles once you get to the top of the climb. Le Pla d’Adet, as we have mentioned, was where Phil Anderson’s historic day took place. The ski resort area of Le Pla d’Adet and Saint-Lary, has hosted Tour de France stage finishes on 10 occasions.

Crepes are a French must-try, enjoy one at the Chalet’s cafe while at the top of Col de Peyresourde. They’re not only delicious, but you’ll get the fuel you need to keep you going.

Let’s also not forget that the ski station and mountain altiport served as the filming locations for the hit 1997 Pierce Brosnan – James Bond movie, Tomorrow Never Dies . And 20 years later, it was also the Tour de France 2017’s Stage 12 finish.

Col du Tourmalet Loop

• Ride Distance: 105km
• Vertical climbing: 2200m
• Col du Tourmalet: 17.5km 
• Elevation Gain: 1275m
• Elevation or Altitude at Top: 2115m
• Average Climbing Gradient 7.5%
• Max Climbing Gradient 10%

When speaking about the Pyrenees and Tour de France, Col du Tourmalet will always be a classic route. So, if you’re an avid cyclist, you should definitely have this on your bucket list. A significant portion of the 2021 Tour de France Stage 18, in particular the last 70km of the stage follows much of this big mountain route.

At 2,115m, Col du Tourmalet is one of the highest road passes in the Pyrenees mountain range. We’re highlighting the loop ride, which is remarkable and unforgettable for any cyclist. It begins with an easy 11km, serving as your warm-up and will pass the rolling countryside for the next 70km. And when it’s sunny or clear sky’s, you might spot the Pyrenean bearded vulture or lammergeier (Scientific name: Gypaetus barbatus). It’s easy to spot with its huge wingspan that can reach 2.9 metres or 9.3 feet.

The village of Sainte Marie de Campan enroute to the Col du Tourmalet featured an old metal forge, which has become a historical monument for the Tour de France. In 1913, Le Vieux Gaulois (the Old Gaul) Eugène Christophe, a renowned cyclist, repaired his broken bicycle in this area after descending the Tourmalet. Because part of the rules of the race was not to get assistance, he had to do it all by himself, causing him to walk 15km for the repairs. Although the incident cost him his victory, this moment did not go unnoticed. The plaque or monument commemorates his efforts to bring his bike back to life.

Now, if you’re looking to re-energise yourself, enjoy a cup of coffee or a hot chocolate at the mountaintop chalet at the Col du Tourmalet.

Hautacam & Luz Ardiden

• Ride Distance: 95km
• Vertical Climbing: 2800m

Luz Ardiden Climb

• Height: 1720m
• Length: 14.7km
• 1,010m climbing
• Average Gradient: 6.9%
• Maximum Gradient: 10%.

Hautacam Climb

• Height: 1,635m
• Length:17.3km
• 1,170m climbing
• Average Gradient: 6.8%

Are you looking to achieve two climbs with just one ride? Here’s the answer. Luz Ardiden and Hautacam are classic Tour de France climbs in the summer and ski resorts in the winter. Luz Ardiden may be where the Tour de France winner of 2021 will be declared. The location is set to be the final climb for the Pyrenean Mountain stages this year. 

It won’t be the first time Luz Ardiden is a part of the Tour de France. It has been a part of the event since 1985, while Hautacam has been used five times starting in 1995. Hautacam has always been deemed the harder of the two, especially when getting into a rhythm, despite what statistics say. Nevertheless, both climbs will reward you with gorgeous sights of the Pyrenees Mountains from the beginning of the route until you reach the mountain tops.

Don’t miss Napoleon Bridge at Luz Saint Sauveur, which Napoleon III inaugurated in 1863. The area is right at the foot of Luz Ardiden. When you get to Luz Saint Sauveur, take the chance to try the local artisan beers at Brasserie du Pays Toy. It’s a popular microbrewery that features four craft beers, including Cuvée du Col du Tourmalet (Amber Beer).

Lourdes, The Locals Loop 

• Ride Distance: 65km
• Vertical Climbing: 1000m

Did you know that the town of Lourdes has the greatest number of hotel beds in the country of France outside of Paris? After all, it receives well over six million people from around the world annually. Some points of interest are Lake Lourdes and Grottes (Caves) de Bétharram. 

See the town of Lourdes like a local through this “local training route.” It follows a small road with a number of bodies of water and valleys before you climb up the hills to reach the views back down over Lourdes. Upon getting there, we highly recommend that you don’t miss the beautiful views over the town and up to the Pyrenees. Once you’re ready to return, take the “secret” local route, along Lake Lourdes. 

Enjoy a cup of coffee or sit down for lunch while sipping on a cool drink – all while admiring the serene views that the lake offers. For some lunch options by Lac de Lourdes, sample the plat du jour dishes (Plate of the Day) at the restaurant café. And you know you can never go wrong with grilled salmon paired with fresh salad.

Once you’re recharged, it’s time to head to the Grottes (Caves) de Bétharram. These underground caves have welcomed visitors for more than a century now. 

And that’s it! We’ve covered five of the most spectacular and iconic climbs shaping the Pyrenees Mountains – Tour de France experience.

Ready to Explore France?

Are you excited to explore France or the Tour de France more? You could be cycling through France in summer enjoying the amazing culture, food and wine experiences, seeing the Tour de France and challenging yourself on the beautiful rides on this list!

We’re taking bookings for our 2022 Ultimate Tour de France , 2023 Ultimate Tour de France and Pyrenees Signature tours . For more information, contact us below.

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Tour de France Stage 17 Preview: A Potentially Decisive Mountain Stage

The second day in the Pyrenees should prove to be a pivotal GC stage with plenty of opportunities for attacks.

Stage 17 - Saint-Gaudens to Peyragudes - 129.7km - Wednesday, July 20

The second of this year’s three Pyrenean stages, Stage 17 crams four categorized climbs (including a summit finish in Peyragudes) into only 129.7km, making it maybe the toughest–and certainly the most intense–of the three.

The day begins in Saint-Gaudens, a semi-regular stop when the Tour visits the Pyrenees. The riders will head west on valley roads, gradually grinding their way uphill and through the Intermediate Sprint in La Barthe-de-Neste. The first hour should be fast and aggressive as teams still looking for a stage win try and place a rider or two in the breakaway and teams with GC contenders attempt to put a support rider up the road to help their captains later in the stage (a tactic we saw work well on Stage 16).

The climbing begins with 76.1km to-go with the Category 1 Col d’Aspin (12km @ 6.5%), one of the more famous climbs in the Pyrenees and an ascent the riders know well (it’s included in just about every Tour). Long but fairly gradual, the Aspin’s most intense fight should be reserved for the riders chasing the King of the Mountains points available at the top, as Germany’s Simon Geschke (Cofidis) seeks to extend his 19-point lead. A short descent brings the riders to the base of the next climb, the Category 2 Hourquette d’Ancizan (8.2km @ 5.1%), the easiest of the day’s four summits.

If there’s a chance for the riders to catch their breath or grab a bottle or snack, it’s now, as there’s 16km from the top of the Hourquette d’Ancizan to the base of the next climb, including about 5km on a valley road that’s the perfect place for team cars to come up and service their riders before the final two ascents.

With 32km left to race, the riders turn left into Saint-Lary-Soulan, which marks the official start to the day’s penultimate climb, the Category 1 Col de Val Louron-Azet (10.7km @ 6.8%). The stats on this climb are deceiving, as the first two kilometers are pretty gentle. Arriving with less than 30km left in the stage, it’s the perfect place for a rider like Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) to launch a not-quite-so-long-range attack to try and dislodge Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) from the top of the Tour’s General Classification.

The riders crest the summit of the Val Louron-Azet with just a 10km descent separating them from the foot of the day’s final climb, the Category 1 ascent to Peyragudes (8km @ 7.8%). By now the race should be in full swing, with the descent leading into possibly proving to be as decisive as the climb itself.

Like the Col de Val Louron-Azet, the climb begins gently, but then settles into a fairly consistent gradient of about 8% for the next five kilometers. Then the steeper pitches arrive: the first averages 9% with about 3km to-go and the second hits 16% inside the final kilometer, as the riders climb onto the airstrip that sits atop the mountain, where the finish line awaits. Weather-wise, the day should be cooler, with temperatures hovering around 80 degrees and partly cloudy skies. Given the last few days, it might feel downright cold.

The Tour last finished in Peyragudes in 2017. France’s Romain Bardet (now riding for Team DSM) won the stage for Ag2r-La Mondiale, and Great Britain’s Chris Froome (then riding for Team Sky) lost the yellow jersey to Italy’s Fabio Aru (then riding for Astana and now since retired). Froome took the jersey back a few days later, but the stage finish was one of the most exciting of the Tour. We expect no different this year.

Riders to Watch

It’s tempting to predict Stage 17 to play out in a fashion similar to Stage 16, with a large group of riders escaping to build a large lead and settling the stage win among themselves. But Stage 17 is about 50km shorter than Stage 16–which means less room for large gaps to form–and the GC contenders’ teams will want to keep any support riders who go up the road close enough to be able to lend a hand in the finale. That’s a roundabout way of saying that we think one of the GC contenders will win the stage in a manner similar to how Vingegaard took Stage 11 on the Col du Granon. Much to everyone else’s dismay, the steep finish is perfect for Vingegaard and Pogačar.

When to Watch

With Pogačar seemingly averse to waiting until the final climb to try and crack Vingegaard, we’re planning to tune-in as the riders start the Col de Val Louron-Azet, the first of the day’s two final climbs. That means we’ll be sitting down at around 10:00 a.m. EDT and watching the final hour of the stage. Note that the stage is expected to end a little earlier than usual: at about 11:00 a.m. EDT.

Since getting hooked on pro cycling while watching Lance Armstrong win the 1993 U.S. Pro Championship in Philadelphia, longtime Bicycling contributor Whit Yost has raced on Belgian cobbles, helped build a European pro team, and piloted that team from Malaysia to Mont Ventoux as an assistant director sportif. These days, he lives with his wife and son in Pennsylvania, spending his days serving as an assistant middle school principal and his nights playing Dungeons & Dragons.

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Tour de France coverage from Cycling Weekly, with up to date race results, rider profiles and news and reports.

The Tour de France 2024 begins on Saturday 29 June and marks the 111th edition of cycling's flagship race. In the first Grand Départ for Italy, the race starts in Florence and traces a path east across the country, before heading back west towards France and into the Alps. 

The riders will also take on the Apennines, Massif Central and Pyrenees mountain ranges, and pass through Italy, San Marino, Monaco and France.

With Paris busy preparing for the Olympic Games in August there will be no room for the Tour de France's traditional final stage finish on the Champs-Elysées. Instead the race will finish in Nice – the first time it has ever finished outside the capital.

The world's best riders are set to vie for overall victory, with newly crowned Giro d'Italia winner Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) due to take on Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease A Bike) and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) – both of whom are currently returning from injury – and Primož Roglič (Bora-Hansgrohe).

The three-week event is the second in the trio of Grand Tours, coming after the Giro d'Italia and before the Vuelta a España .

Check out our page on the  Tour de France 2024 route  for everything you need to know about the 21 stages from Florence to Nice, and look at  our almost complete start list for the race .

This will be the first Tour since  GCN+ closed down , so make sure you read our how to watch the Tour de France guide carefully to make sure you can be fully tuned in. 

Tour de France 2024: Overview

Tour de france 2024: the route.

One for the climbers, the 2024 Tour de France route incorporates four summit finishes, spans four mountain ranges, and features the hilliest opening stage in Tour de France history.

One of the most interesting and intriguing routes of recent years, sitting between the predominantly hilly week one and week three sits a flatter week two, and stage nine – with an abundance of white roads; 14 sectors in total.

There's plenty for the sprinters as well as the general classification and climbing specialists, although there are going to be some tough mountains to get over to reach the sprint stages, and to finish the three weeks.

For the first time in 35 years, a final stage means the yellow jersey won't be decided on the penultimate day, but with a time trial in Nice.

• Tour de France 2024 route: Two individual time trials, five summit finishes and gravel sectors
• Opinion: Is the 2024 Tour de France too hard?
• FAQs of the Tour de France: How lean? How much power? How do they pee mid-stage? All that and more explained

Tour de France 2024 route: Stage-by-stage

Tour de france 2024: the teams.

There will be 22 teams of eight riders at the 2024 Tour de France. This includes all 18 UCI WorldTour teams, as well as the two best-ranked UCI ProTeams, and two further squads invited by the organiser, ASO. 

The teams racing the 2024 Tour de France are:

• Alpecin-Deceuninck
• Arkéa-B&B Hotels
• Astana-Qazaqstan
• Bahrain-Victorious
• Bora-Hansgrohe
• Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale
• dsm-firmenich PostNL
• EF Education-EasyPost
• Groupama-FDJ
• Ineos Grenadiers
• Jayco-AlUla
• Intermarché-Wanty
• Israel-Premier Tech
• Lotto Dstny
• Soudal Quick-Step
• TotalEnergies
• UAE Team Emirates
• Uno-X Mobility
• Visma-Lease a Bike

Tour de France 2024: General classification riders

When it comes to potential yellow jersey winners, there are four riders due to take the start line in Florence on June 29. 

The quartet comprises Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), who has just won the Giro d'Italia; Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step), Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease A Bike), and Primož Roglič (Bora-Hansgrohe) . 

Reigning champion Jonas Vingegaard is the only rider over whom hangs a significant questions mark for the race. Along with Roglič and Evenepoel, he came down in a nasty crash on stage four of the Itzulia Basque Country in April. All were injured but the Dane came off worst, and he only began riding outside in May. All three will still go, but it is not known how well they will perform.

Following the route announcement in October, Tadej Pogačar said that the "end of the journey makes me smile", with the final two stages starting and finishing close to his home in Monaco. Pogačar is hoping to take back the top step in 2024 after two years of missing out on yellow to Vingegaard. The Slovenian won the Giro earlier this year.

Remco Evenepoel will make his Tour de France debut in 2024. Although he took a win in 2022 at the Vuelta, his performance in other Grand Tour races has been either inconsistent or blighted by illness. If he's to compete against the likes of Vingegaard and Pogačar, he'll have to up his game. After coming 5th overall and taking a stage win in his Tour debut in 2023 , Carlos Rodríguez will lead Ineos Grenadiers .

Tour de France 2024: Sprinters

It's going to be a tough year for the sprinters. Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Deceuninck was one of the star men of last year's Tour de France, taking four stage wins and the green sprinter's jersey at the end of the three weeks. He has had a fine season so far, with a win at Milan-San Remo and second at Paris-Roubaix and is likely to be the rider to beat at the Tour.

Like Philipsen, Mads Pederson of Trek-Segafredo has enjoyed a successful early season, with a win at Gent-Wevelgem and (unlike Philipsen) a hatful of sprint victories. He's likely to be the Belgian's main rival in the bunch finishes.

All eyes will be on Mark Cavendish in the 111th Tour de France after he postponed retirement to target the Tour win record, currently shared with Eddy Merckx, and gain his 35th win. He said, however, that he was "in shock" and that this was the "toughest course" he had ever seen , when it was revealed in October. 

Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty), Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-AlUla) and Fabio Jakobsen (dsm-firmenich-PostNL) are also set to be there and should challenge for wins.

Tour de France 2024: On TV

As you'd expect the Tour de France will be avialable to watch in a lot of places this July.

The race is expected to be live-streamed on Discovery+ and Eurosport , as well as ITV4, in the UK and in Europe. Subscription costs are £6.99/month or $8.99/month, and £39.99 or $49.99 for a year.

A Flobikes  annual subscription will cost you $209.99 if you want to watch in Canada, while in the USA  NBC Sports  via Peacock Premium ($4.99 per month) will show the race. Australians can can watch the Tour for free on SBS on Demand.

And, of course, if you want to watch your local stream from anywhere in the world you'll need a VPN from a trusted company like ExpressVPN .

Tour de France: The jerseys

Much like every year in recent memory, the Tour de France jerseys and classifications are yellow for the overall leader, green for the leader in the points standings, polka-dot for the mountain classification, and white for the best young rider.

Along with the jersey prizes, there is an award for the most combative rider of each stage, with the winner wearing a red number on the following day. This is awarded each day, with a 'Super Combativity' award decided by a jury at the end of the race for the most active rider throughout the entire event.

There is also a team classification where the time of the first three riders from each team is put together to create a single time. This is then done in a similar way as the individual general classification.

In addition, there are plenty of bonus seconds up for grabs at the race. There are ten, six and four bonus seconds available at the end of each stage for the first three riders, as well as bonus sprints that are dotted throughout the race on key climbs to try and make the racing more entertaining for spectators.

Of course, there's also prize money up for grabs. For winning the 2023 edition of the race, Jonas Vingegaard collected €535,220 (£463,100), a sum which is customarily shared out among the team's riders and staff.

Tour de France past winners in the last 12 years

• 2012: Bradley Wiggins (GBr) 
• 2013: Chris Froome (GBr) 
• 2014: Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) 
• 2015: Chris Froome (GBr) 
• 2016: Chris Froome (GBr) 
• 2017: Chris Froome (GBr) 
• 2018: Geraint Thomas (GBr) 
• 2019: Egan Bernal (Col) 
• 2020: Tadej Pogačar (Slo) 
• 2021: Tadej Pogačar (Slo)  
• 2022: Jonas Vingegaard (Den)
• 2023: Jonas Vingegaard (Den)

Tour de France FAQ

How does the tour de france work.

The Tour de France is one of a trio of races that are three weeks long, known as the Grand Tours, alongside the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España. The Tour is the best known and arguably the most prestigious.

It is the second of the three races in the calendar with the Giro taking place in May, the Tour usually in July, and the Vuelta in August and September.

The Tour, like all Grand Tours, takes on varying terrain with flat days for sprinters, hilly days for puncheurs and mountains for the climbers and GC riders, along with time trials, so that a winner of the race has to be able to perform on all types of road.

The main prize in the race, known as the general classification, is based on time with the overall leader wearing the yellow jersey. The race leader and eventual winner is the rider who has the lowest accumulated time over the 21 days of racing. Riders can win the Tour de France without winning a stage, as Chris Froome did in 2017. Time bonuses of 10, six, and four seconds are given to stage winners though, creating incentive for those general classification riders to chase individual victories and lower their overall time.

In 2020 it took race winner Tadej Pogačar 87 hours 20 minutes and 5 seconds to complete the race with the second-place rider overall 59 seconds slower. That continues all the way down to the last place rider, which was Roger Kluge (Lotto-Soudal) who finished 6 hours 7 minutes and 2 seconds behind.

The white best young rider's jersey is worked out in the same way but only riders under the age of 26 are eligible for the jersey.

The polka-dot mountains jersey and the green points jersey are based on a points system and not time. The only reason time would come into account would be if riders are tied on points, then it would go to who is the best placed in the general classification.

The team classification is based on the general classification times of the first three riders of a team on each stage. The time of those three riders is added up and put onto their team's time, creating a GC list much like in the individual classifications. The leading team gets to wear yellow numbers and helmets on each stage.

The final classification available is the combativity prize. This is decided by a race jury or, in more recent years, Twitter. This takes place just before the end of each stage and often goes to a rider from the breakaway who has put in a daring performance or attempted to liven up the stage by attacking. The winner of the combativity award gets to wear a special red race number on the following day's stage.

There is a final prize added to this with the Super Combativity prize being awarded on the podium in Paris. This is decided in a similar fashion to pick out the most aggressive, entertaining, and daring rider of the whole three weeks. Again, usually going to a rider who has featured regularly in the breakaway.

Stage winners do not wear anything special the day after apart from getting a small yellow jersey to stick on their number on their bike, this can be replaced if they win multiple stages.

Teams used to come to the race with nine riders but the UCI, cycling's governing body, decided that nine riders from each team was too dangerous and dropped it to eight, however more teams now take part.

How long is the Tour de France?

The Tour de France takes place over 23 days with 21 of them being race days. The riders get two days of resting; they usually fall on the second and third Monday of the race.

This year's race is 3,492km long, which is 2,170 miles, around the same distance from Washington DC to Las Vegas, or Helsinki to Lisbon. 

Road stages can range from anything around 100km to something approaching 250km, sometimes more. This year the shortest road stage is stage 20, from Nice to Col de la Couillole, with the longest being 229km on stage three in Italy, from Plaisance to Turin.

Road stages often take around four to five hours with the longer days sometimes nudging over seven hours.

Time trials are always much shorter. Team time trials have long since gone out of fashion in the world of road racing so individual time trials are the main focus these days. 

In 2024, the Tour has two individual time trials for the riders to tackle, the first on stage seven at 25km long from Nuits-Saint-Georges to Gevrey-Chambertin, and the second on the final stage from Monaco to Nice, at 34km long.

When does the Tour de France start?

The 2024 Tour de France starts on June 29 in Florence, Italy, with a road stage. There will be three full stages in Italy, before the fourth heads into France. The race finishes in Nice three weeks later.

The 2024 edition of the race runs from 29 June - 21 July, covering 21 stages. 

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TOUR DE FRANCE 2025

€ enquire.

EXPERIENCE THE WORLD'S BIGGEST RACE

Undoubtedly, this is the ultimate Tour de France experience. Watch the race from the roadside on multiple days, drink in the incredible atmosphere, and combine it with guided, supported rides on the same roads as the pros race.

We will ride out together, stopping for lunch on the way, watch the race, and either ride back or jump in the car depending on the day's stage.

On the other riding days we will ride famous climbs and stage routes from  this and previous Tours de France. You will be fully supported on the road, so all you need to carry is one bottle and your next homemade energy bar. Everything else you need will be in the follow car. The routes each day will have easier and harder options, depending on how your legs feel. The routes include Cols d’Aubisque and Soulor, Hautacam, Luz Ardiden, Col d’Aspin, Col du Tourmalet and more!

Stage XX: from - to

XX  July 2025

Route 

Route details

WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR

Airport transfer from Lourdes or Pau

Six days of guided riding

Support vehicle with food, drink, spare clothing, tools and spare wheels

Accommodation, sharing a twin room

Breakfast, with lots of options

Homemade ride snacks and drinks

Homemade post-ride snacks and drinks

Evening meal, three-courses, table wine

Use of secure garage, tools, track pump, cleaning kit

Laundry, as needed

Use of massage gun, foam rollers and yoga mats

Option to rent a bike and/or Garmin

And we have loads of spare gear you can borrow if you forget something  

Please contact us with any questions you may have.

Note: This is an unofficial spectating experience at the Tour de France. No official partnership is implied (see letour.fr for official events).

Tour de France 2022 stages

• Tour de France past winners
• Tour de France 2022 route
• Tour de France 2022 – The Essential Preview

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Search Results

Tour de France Pyrenees VIP Spectator Tour

2024 Tour de France VIP Spectator Tour – Pyrenees

The Pyrenees Mountain package!

This mini trip showcases everything the Tour de France has to offer! A VIP mid View, a VIP Start and a VIP Mountain Viewing!

Live Race Viewing

Next departure.

July 11th 2024

USD $ 3,995

5 days / 4 nights

Join us to see 3 epic stages, in the Pyrenees, on the 2024 Tour de France. A legendary area in the World’s greatest race, it’s a trip not to be missed! A hat trick of VIP Viewing experiences, this Mountain mini package has it all!

Discover the area and stages with minimal travel time as we stay in a great location in Arreau, at the foot of the Col d’Aspin & Col de Peyresourde.

Official Premium Tour Operator – Thomson Bike Tours is one of only 3 Official Tour Operators awarded “Premium” status to the Tour de France. Our partnership with the race organizers allows us to provide the ultimate insider Tour de France experience, complete with exclusive VIP hospitality and unprecedented race viewing opportunities.

Pau > Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet

Loudenvielle > plateau de beille.

Not advised for Non-Riders

Mike Madison, USA — 2023

Tour de France VIP Spectator Tour - Alps

There aren’t enough adjectives to describe how amazing our trip was! From the moment we got on the bus with the hand-picked playlist from Jacinta to the moment we were popping champagne with our new friends, and every moment in between, this trip made all of my dreams come true. Just an amazing, unforgettable trip that I can’t wait to do again!

Richard Barton, USA — 2018

Larry Palguta, USA — 2023

Far exceeded my expectations; there is so much more to the TDF than the riders; can’t imagine trying to do the things Thomson did to get us into the heart of the activities.

Exclusive VIP Access

You can’t get closer to the race unless you join a World Tour team

Insider Access

Meet the riders and Tour celebrities before the race start at the Departure Village and mix and mingle in the team area with Team Paddock access — a Spectator favorite!

Relais-Etape VIP

A great view of the race and more. Start with an aperitif at the bar and a seated lunch before watching the peloton race by in the company of an ex pro.

Izoard VIP Tribune

The Izoard VIP Tribune, situated opposite the Finish Line, offers VIP hospitality and unparalleled viewing of the stage finish.

A Passionate Team

Our passionate and knowledgable Spectator team are dedicated to providing you with a truly exceptional time at major Pro Tour bike races. The infectious personality of our team add an extra dimension to an unrivalled VIP experience. Simply the most fun you can have at a bike race.

ASO Premium Status

As the number one Official Premium Tour de France Tour Operator we can offer the ultimate in race access and exclusive goodies, such as the Tour de France Roadbook - the holy grail only given to teams & press (digital form) and a special 25% discount card for Official Tour de France stores.

Our guide has relationships with the commentators, teams and an extensive network of insider contacts, that means on the rest days you will be treated to a backstage pass experience

Itinerary Detail

Bienvenue en France!

Our staff will meet you at Toulouse airport. From the airport we’ll transfer in our private shuttle to our hotel in Arreau,.  We’ll have a welcome lunch, where you’ll get a chance to meet your fellow Tour de France fans, followed by a short orientation meeting where we’ll run through the plans for the upcoming days. After lunch we will head up and over Col de  Peyresourde, which the race will tackle in 3 days, to go to Bagnères de Luchon. This col has featured in many tours and will be already lined with fans. After a couple of hours free time we will head back over to our Hotel. The drive back will have a view of the famous  Col d’Aspin, as we weave down to our Hotel for dinner.

LIVE Race-Viewing: VIP Relais Etape

Situated in a key location on the course  this exclusive area offers a 3 course meal, a free bar, live viewing  and commentary, plus entertainment! Even better news is they LOVE Thomson Spectators and spoil us rotten. Be showered with Tour de France hospitality and enjoy a chilled exciting  atmosphere, photo booths, VR games, sit at  dedicated tables and enjoy the race, before it passes by LIVE!  The premium roadside location  will offer amazing opportunities to get some great stress free shots of the riders as they ride past us on the course. Then it’s back to the live viewing to see who will win today’s stage. A fabulous gift rounds up the day

LIVE Race-Viewing: VIP Izoard Pla d'Adet

Today we’ll witness the thrill of a Mountain finish on Pla d’Adet! There is a buzz and excitement as the fans, media and the spectacle that is the Tour de France arrive for the finish! We’ll head to Saint Lary Soulan, the village at the foot of the climb, in the morning. It’s often where the media congregate and it’s a beautiful mountain paradise. Your guide is good friends with Phil Liggett, so maybe he will have time to say hello before he starts commentating! Then a short cable car ride up the mountain will take us to the finish line. We will make the most of the day lapping up the atmosphere and joining the crowds’ frivolities and you can grab yourself lunch. Early afternoon we will head to our exclusive VIP area, situated either on the climb or in the village. The Izoard is a 3-tiered viewing area with complimentary appetizers, drinks and official TDF photos.. There’s live coverage of the race as we await the riders and take advantage of the free bar, canapes and entertainment, until we see them with our own eyes!  You can’t beat the excitement!

LIVE Race-Viewing: VIP Departure Village Loudenvielle

As an Official Tour Operator, we have secured a visit of the ‘Team Paddock’ and Departure Village stage start. The Departure Village allows you to see sponsors and gain VIP entry, perhaps even meeting past winners of the race. Then (Covid allowing) it’s onto our favourite – the paddock is where all the cyclists and teams congregate pre-race. The area offers fantastic opportunities to get up-close to the riders and Tour celebrities, as well as getting a first-hand view of the inner workings of the Tour de France. This is the place to get those all-important autographs and pictures with the Tour celebrities and riders.  When they head off, we’ll take the short journey back  to watch the race live in our village, before Bastille day celebrations for a final great evening! A great round up of the trip!

After all that excitement it’s time to say goodbye and we will drop you off at Toulouse airport. We hope to see you back in the future. Join us on a Thomson Spectator Trip to La Vuelta, Spring Classics, or Giro D’Italia

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.

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.

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.

Rest Day: Gruissan

Tour de France

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2024 Tour de France VIP Spectator Tour – Grand Départ

Indulge in our Luxury Bespoke Package, with our 5 cities Italian tour, offering lavish accommodations, extraordinary cultural visits to Florence, Siena, Bologna, Milan and Piacenza, unparalleled guide services, and top-quality meals and wine.

2024 Tour de France VIP Spectator Tour – Burgundy

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2024 Tour de France VIP Spectator Tour – Alps & Nice

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Tour de France 2024 stage-by-stage guide: Route maps and profiles for all 21 days

This year’s tour de france will take the peloton from florence to a time-trial finish in nice via some epic climbs in the pyrenees and the alps, article bookmarked.

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The 2024 Tour de France will be a truly unique race when it begins in Florence on Saturday and ends – 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 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 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 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 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 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

Can pogačar do the double these 5 stages will decide who wins the tour de france, where will the yellow jersey be won a stupid-hard opener, some gravel, and the most explosive tour de france finale in decades will decide..

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

Can Tadej Pogačar follow Marco Pantani’s pedal strokes and win both the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France in one season?

Jonas Vingegaard , Primož Roglič , Remco Evenepoel , and one of the most fiendishly tricky Tour de France routes in decades will decide.

A stupidly hard opening stage, 32km of dirt roads, an extended trip to high altitude, and a wild rollercoaster TT ride around Nice stand between uber-favorite “Pogi” and his place in history.

So cancel work, lock your family out of the house, and stock up on snacks.

These are the five must-watch stages that will decide the 2024 Tour de France:

Stage 1: Firenze-Rimini

• Saturday June 29
• 206km/3,800m+

The Florence grand départ will be the rudest slap in the face imaginable for the “Big 4″ of the Tour de France.

Seven categorized climbs – yes, seven – over a 200km+ course makes this the hilliest first stage of the Tour in history.

It’s an Italian mini-classic out of the Lombardia and Liège playbook that will show who’s hot and who’s not in what will be a wild opening day for a tightly wound, nerve-riddled peloton.

None of the Tuscan climbs on the stage 1 menu are huge, but they’re relentlessly stacked back-to-back-to-back. Former Liège-Bastogne-Liège champions Pogačar and Evenepoel would be licking their chops with delight if this was a one-day race.

The “Big 4” could end up butting heads after just 100 or so clicks of the 80+ hour Tour de France on a course like this.

Pogačar will likely be playing the Tour a lot cooler than his flamethrower approach to the Giro d’Italia. But if he’s feeling fresh and recovered just 31 days after his rampage through Italy, don’t be surprised to see the supreme Slovene burning up Le Tour from day one.

For defending champion Vingegaard, there will be no room for post-injury cobwebs .

Stage 9: Troyes-Troyes

• Sunday July 7
• 199km/2,000m+

Expect gravel beefs aplenty in the opening week of the Tour.

The race’s opening phase finishes with a stage stacked with dirt road sectors that will have old-school directors fuming and tarmac aficionados wailing.

A total of 14 chemins blancs , or white roads, line the course of this tricky, technical stage through Troyes.

Sure, a total of 32km of dirt means this is no Strade Bianche, but there’s three times more sterrato than what we saw on stage 6 of this year’s Giro d’Italia, and the most off-road Le Tour has seen in some time.

The “dirtiness” of the chemins blanc is unknown – it could be a stone-packed puncturefest or it could be hard clay that’s a cruise for any adept pro.

Yet any surface that’s not smooth asphalt comes laden with risk. Remember how Vingegaard and Jumbo-Visma nearly unraveled during a wild and wacky day on the pavé in 2022?

Punctures, crashes, and potentially slow support from team cars could do a lot of damage to a peloton starting to run on fumes after nine days of racing.

Pogačar isn’t going to be pulling any sort of Strade Bianche redux with an 80km solo raid on the Tour’s ninth stage. But he’s undoubtedly the multi-surface master of the GC pack and could be poised to profit.

Some of the classification contenders could be heading into the Tour’s first rest day after stage 9 with some serious grumbles about gravel in grand tours.

Stage 14: Pau-Pla d’Adet

• Saturday July 13
• 152km / 4000m+

“4,000 meters of climbing in 80km? Yes please,” said nobody in the peloton when they looked at the course for stage 14.

This first of two days in the French Pyrénées is an interval session of ascents that won’t take any prisoners. Expect mountain trains and lots of pain in what could work out the most explosive climbing stage of the Tour.

Three high passes including the Tourmalet in little more than two hours of racing will provide the teams of the “Big 4” a true amphitheater opportunity to put the hurt on their rivals.

Teams with depth and ambition like UAE Emirates and its armada of top Pogi-supporting climbers could turn the Tour upside down on a stage short enough to be steamrollered with both feet on the accelerator.

If Pogačar still has gas in his fifth week of 2024 grand tour racing, early attacks and ambushes could be options for UAE Emirates instead of a traditional “train” approach.

If there aren’t race-shifting time gaps on GC after this short ‘n’ severe Saturday, there certainly will be 24 hours later. The under recovered peloton will be slapped with a traditional “queen stage” mountain procession through the Ariège Pyrénées the next day on stage 15.

One of the “Big 4” is sure to explode during beastly back-to-back.

Stage 19: Embrun-Isola 2000

• Friday July 19
• 145km/4,500m+

Stage 19 packs 58km – that right, FIFTY-EIGHT KILOMETERS – of uphill into just 145km. It’s a killer.

And as if the total 4,500m of total gain isn’t enough, a chunk of the elevation loaded into this 19th stage of the Tour de France is in the strength-sapping thin air of high altitude.

Each of the day’s three climbs is mind-bendingly long and crosses the lethal 2,000m elevation mark, and the Cime de la Bonnette is one of the highest paved roads in Europe.

It used to be said Pogačar had a chink in his armor when a race went this high.

The doubters thought again this May when the Slovenian slayed all his GC rivals by three minutes during the Giro’s high-altitude stage to Livigno. Roglič, Vingegaard, and Evenepoel will pray they’re similarly well adapted after their torpedoed 2024 training programs.

If “Pogi” is running on fumes, if Vingegaard is undertrained, or if Roglič and Evenepoel didn’t do the work after the Critérium du Dauphiné, the GC favorites could be scattered all through the French Alps in this decisive mountain stage.

Half the peloton stayed atop Isola during their final pre-Tour training camps. Many of them won’t enjoy going back.

Stage 21: Monaco-Nice

• Sunday July 21

Will stage 21 of this year’s Tour de France the best grand tour finale in decades? Quite possibly.

This year’s closing TT marks the first time in history that Le Tour has finished outside of Paris, and ASO designed a stunner to mark the historic occasion.

Rolling out of Pogačar’s European hometown Monaco and straight up popular test climbs La Turbie and Col d’Èze, stage 21 is a rollercoaster ride through the spectacular training roads of half the pro peloton.

La Turbie and Col d’Èze aren’t super hard, but they will be tough enough to cause consternation as Pogačar and Co. click through their turbo trainer warm-ups ahead of the stage.

If the GC is still close ahead of this final Sunday, the Tour will see it’s first competitive final since that time trial in 1989 when Greg LeMond usurped Laurent Fignon at the very last.

A twisting, high-speed descent from the Èze and into Nice means nerves could be jangling for every inch of the final 17km of this Tour de France.

All of the “Big 4” are monsters on a time trial bike, and if they’re on form the margins could be tight.

Pogačar will be hoping the race is a done deal by this point.

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2024 Tour de France route analysis: key stages, climbs, and contenders

Mathew mitchell.

• Published on June 11, 2024
• in Men's Cycling

The 2024 Tour de France route embarks on an unprecedented journey from Florence to Nice, breaking tradition with a Grand Départ in Italy and concluding on the French Riviera, bypassing Paris due to the upcoming Olympics. This significant shift marks the first time in the race’s history that it will either start in Italy or finish outside of the French capital. The 21-stage route, running from June 29th to July 21st 2024, introduces a blend of new challenges and classic elements, designed to test the peloton in both familiar and novel ways.

Table of Contents

This year’s route features a mix of high-altitude mountain climbs, gravel sectors, and decisive time trials, providing a rigorous test for all riders. As the peloton navigates from the historic streets of Florence to the scenic finish in Nice, the 2024 Tour de France promises a blend of tradition and innovation, ensuring an unforgettable race for both participants and fans. The varied stages are set to push riders to their limits, keeping fans engaged throughout the event.

There’s a guide to the GC contenders for the 2024 Tour de France here .

2024 Tour de France Route Map

Key stages and climbs of the 2024 tour de france.

• Stage 1: A hilly 206km from Florence to Rimini, setting the tone with seven significant climbs.
• Stage 4: The race’s first mountain challenge, crossing the Alps with the formidable Col du Galibier.
• Stage 9: A 199km loop from Troyes featuring 14 gravel sectors, which could be decisive for GC contenders.
• Stage 14: The first mountain top finish at Pla d’Adet, following the Tourmalet climb, crucial for GC battles.
• Stage 15: On Bastille Day, the Tour’s toughest stage with five climbs and nearly 5,000m of ascent, finishing at Plateau de Beille.
• Stage 20: A 132.8km stage from Nice to Col de la Couillole, packed with four significant climbs, critical for final GC standings.
• Stage 21: A 33.7km individual time trial from Monaco to Nice, featuring climbs over La Turbie and Col d’Eze, ensuring the race for the yellow jersey continues to the very end.

Stage-by-stage guide to the 2024 Tour de France

Stage 1: florence to rimini, 206km.

The Tour kicks off with a challenging 206km stage from Florence to Rimini. The route includes seven climbs, with the Côte de Saint-Marin at 4.8% over 7.1km being the final test before a flat finish. This hilly parcours suggests a puncheur or a climber might be the first to don the yellow jersey. Potential winner: Tadej Pogačar.

Stage 2: Cesenatico to Bologna, 199.2km

The second stage, covering 199.2km, features shorter but steeper climbs. The highlight is the San Luca climb, notorious for its 10.6% gradient over 1.9km. This could bring the GC contenders to the forefront early on. Potential winner: Tadej Pogačar.

Stage 3: Piacenza to Turin, 230.8km

A lengthy 230.8km stage offers a flat terrain suitable for sprinters. Despite three modest climbs, the stage is likely to culminate in a bunch sprint in Turin, the longest stage of this year’s Tour. Potential winner: Jasper Philipsen.

Stage 4: Pinerolo to Valloire, 139.6km

Crossing into France, this 139.6km stage marks the first mountain challenge with climbs over Sestriere, Col de Montgenèvre, and Col du Galibier. Although the final 19km are downhill, this early mountain stage could shake up the GC. Potential winner: Jonas Vingegaard.

Stage 5: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Saint-Vulbas, 177.4km

A respite for the sprinters with this 177.4km stage likely ending in a bunch sprint. After the high mountains, it offers a more straightforward route to Saint-Vulbas. Potential winner: Sam Bennett.

Stage 6: Mâcon to Dijon, 163.5km

Another chance for the sprinters with a 163.5km flat stage. The race to Dijon should provide back-to-back sprint opportunities, which are rare in Grand Tours these days. Potential winner: Jasper Philipsen.

Stage 7: Nuits-Saint-Georges to Gevrey-Chambertin, 25.3km Individual Time Trial

The first individual time trial, over 25.3km, features rolling terrain and a late 1.6km climb. This stage allows rouleur GC contenders to gain time on lighter climbers. Potential winner: Filippo Ganna.

Stage 8: Semur-en-Auxois to Colombey-les-Deux-Églises, 183.4km

The 183.4km route might favour sprinters despite rolling terrain and late climbs. Alternatively, punchy riders could seize the opportunity, but a sprint finish seems more likely. Potential winner: Wout van Aert.

Stage 9: Troyes to Troyes, 199km

A unique stage with 14 gravel sectors, totalling 32km, will challenge the peloton. The final sectors within the last 35km could cause mechanical issues and significant time losses for GC contenders. Potential winner: Mathieu van der Poel.

Stage 10: Orléans to Saint-Amand-Montrond, 187.3km

A flat 187.3km stage offers sprinters another chance, but potential crosswinds could create echelons, reminiscent of past races where the weather played a crucial role. Potential winner: Jasper Philipsen.

Stage 11: Évaux-les-Bains to Le Lioran, 211km

With over 4,000m of climbing packed into the final quarter of this 211km stage, riders will face serious challenges in the Massif Central, potentially impacting the GC battle. Potential winner: David Gaudu.

Stage 12: Aurillac to Villeneuve-sur-Lot, 203.6km

Another lengthy stage at 203.6km, features fewer obstacles, making it ideal for sprinters if they can control the breakaway. Potential winner: Mark Cavendish .

Stage 13: Agen to Pau, 165.3km

Reaching Pau, known as the Gateway to the Pyrenees, this 165.3km stage includes late hills favouring breakaways but remains within sprinters’ reach. Potential winner: Wout van Aert.

Stage 14: Pau to Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet, 151.9km

The first mountain top finish at Pla d’Adet follows the Hourquette d’Ancizan and Tourmalet climbs. This 151.9km stage will be critical for GC contenders. Potential winner: Tadej Pogačar.

Stage 15: Loudenvielle to Plateau de Beille, 197.7km

On Bastille Day, the Tour’s toughest stage with five climbs over 197.7km and nearly 5,000m of ascent. The Plateau de Beille summit finish could see significant shifts in the GC. Potential winner: Egan Bernal.

Stage 16: Gruissan to Nîmes, 188.6km

Post-rest day, this flat 188.6km stage offers a breakaway opportunity, but sprinters might still contest the win as they head towards the Alps. Potential winner: Jasper Philipsen.

Stage 17: Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux to Superdévoluy, 177.8km

Featuring the Col de Noyer before a climb to Superdévoluy, this 177.8km stage introduces another test for GC riders and the potential for breakaways. Potential winner: Romain Bardet.

Stage 18: Gap to Barcelonnette, 179.5km

A mountainous 179.5km stage, yet not as severe as those preceding it. Focus may shift to stage-hunting riders rather than the GC contenders. Potential winner: Michael Woods.

Stage 19: Embrun to Isola 2000, 144.6km

High-altitude climbs dominate this 144.6km stage, including Cime de la Bonnette, the race’s highest point at over 2,800m, making it one of the toughest days. Potential winner: Richard Carapaz.

Stage 20: Nice to Col de la Couillole, 132.8km

A short yet gruelling 132.8km stage featuring four significant climbs, including a summit finish at Col de la Couillole, crucial for final GC standings. Potential winner: Primož Roglič.

Stage 21: Monaco to Nice, 33.7km Individual Time Trial

For the first time, the Tour de France concludes with a time trial in Nice. This 33.7km stage, with climbs over La Turbie and Col d’Eze, ensures the yellow jersey could change hands until the very end. Potential winner: Remco Evenepoel.

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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

Tour de France 2024 route map, race schedule and how to watch

T he 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 Pyrenees stages with the Premier Official Tour Operator

LIVE race-viewing of the key Pyrenees stages during Week 2 of the Tour de France. Witness the Tour LIVE on the iconic climb to Pla d’Adet and enjoy VIP access to the Stage Finish in Pau. Ride the Col d’Aspin, Col de Peyresourde – and of course the legendary Col du Tourmalet!

Thomson Tour de France E-BIKE Trips are designed exclusively for e-bikers looking to combine the thrill of LIVE TDF race-viewing with fun rides on the iconic routes and climbs of the Tour de France.

Be there on Pla d’Adet to experience the Tour de France LIVE on this iconic climb. Mingle with pro riders and Tour celebrities with our privileged VIP access to the Departure Village and Team Paddock at the start of Stage 15 in Loudenvielle. Experience a memorable day in Pau with an official ride across the Finish Line before the peloton, a photo shoot on the Official Podium, then witness the Finish of Stage 13, LIVE from the Official VIP Lounge.

Riding is also a key feature of every Thomson Tour de France trip and on this trip you’ll have the opportunity to ride many iconic routes and climbs of the Tour including the legendary Col du Tourmalet, the Col d’Aspin and  the Col de Peyresourde.

E-BIKE Trips explained

Why separate trips: we take e-bikes seriously, which means giving them the extra attention they require. To create the most successful trip possible, our E-BIKE trips have been designed specifically with e-bikes in mind. These machines need specific support; from the vans that transport them to the e-bike mechanics and tools that keep them running in perfect condition. Even the hotels have to be selected carefully to be able to cater for storage and charging.

What if I ride a road bike but my partner or friend rides an e-bike: both you and your partner or friend should sign up for the E-BIKE trip. Road bikes will be available to rent (or you can bring your own) on our E-BIKE trips.  

Live Race Viewing

VIP Hospitality Lounge at the Stage Finish in Pau

Private Hospitality Marquee on the final climb to Pla d'Adet

VIP Departure Village & Team Paddock access in Loudenvielle

Next Departure

July 9th 2024

Rental Bike

From USD $ 550

USD $ 7,695

7 days / 6 nights

Non-Rider Friendly

Wade Pannell, USA — 2017

Tour de France

David Lemon, USA — 2022

A successful celebration of my 70th Bday and of 3 years cancer free. Beyond anything one could ever ask for. Each climb was for all the ones that are not and have not been so fortunate. Not today cancer not today. To every supporter thank you.

Caskie Lewis-Clapper, USA — 2023

The ability of this team to meet each of us where we were and ensure a spectacular experience is unmatched. My husband and I had the trip of a lifetime. We both left feeling exhausted (in a good way) and inspired. When else could Gerry do 47000 ft of climbing in a week with the best guides and support possible? And how else could I see the Tour De France on three stops, front row....It was all amazing, and we are grateful.

Daily itineraries

Only with Thomson: a choice of 2 fully supported rides each day. With daily rides from 15km to 70km (10 miles to 45 miles), no matter your ride preference, we’ve got you covered!

Your partner doesn’t ride but is a Tour de France fan: no problem, our Non-riding Companion program features daily activities and Tour de France viewing for those who prefer not to ride.

Check out our Sport, Performance and Non-Riding Companion itineraries below.

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Itineraries

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Itinerary Detail

Bienvenue en France!

Your trip starts at Toulouse Blagnac Airport where our staff will meet you before the transfer to your hotel in St Lary.

After a brief orientation meeting, lunch and bike build-up, you’ll head out on our warm-up ride, a magnificent route through the rolling hills that surround the Aure Valley. Serene roads and spectacular mountain landscapes set the scene for the week to come!

Your trip starts at Toulouse Blagnac Airport where our staff will meet you before the transfer to your hotel in St Lary. In the afternoon we’ll organise a walk around the small town of St Lary, a very quaint mountain town with lots of lovely cafés where we can enjoy a coffee.

Col de Peyresourde

One of the most frequently visited climbs in the Tour de France is the Col de Peyresourde, having featured no less than 50 times in the Tour route. Today is your opportunity to ride this legendary Tour climb.

Leaving from the hotel you’ll ride down the Aure valley to Arreau and the start of the climb to the Peyresourde. The first 8km are quite gentle with average gradients of around 3%, the final 8km are much steeper with average grades of around 8%! At the summit, make sure to have a crepe at the famous creperie before starting the descent back towards Arreau.

Leaving from the hotel you’ll ride down the Aure valley to Arreau and the start of the climb to the Peyresourde. The first 8km are quite gentle with average gradients of around 3%, the final 8km are much steeper with average grades of around 8%! At the summit, make sure to have a crepe at the famous creperie before starting the descent back towards Arreau where we’ve thrown in a surprise climb in the form of the short but beautiful Col de Ris.

Ainsa visit

Our hotel in St Lary is very close to Spain and today we’d like to accompany you over the border into Spain to visit the beautiful town of Ainsa. Sitting on a hlll-top above the new town, the medieval town is a real gem to visit. Enjoy tapas and wine in the Plaza Major which dates back to the 12th century then discover Ainsa’s narrow medieval streets on a walk around the old town.

The Tourmalet

Today’s your chance to ride the most famous of all Pyreneen climbs – the legendary Col du Tourmalet.

After breakfast you’ll jump in one of our support vans for a short, 30-minute transfer to the Col d’Aspin where you’ll start the ride. Enjoy the beautiful descent from the Col d’Aspin to the village of Sainte Marie de Campan which signals the start of the climb to the Tourmalet. The summit lies 17km ahead at an altitude of 2115m. Bon courage! Enjoy a snack at the famous cafe on the summit before heading back down to Ste Marie de Campan.

Setting out from the hotel your first challenge is in the form of the Cat.1 Col d’Aspin. The descent of the Aspin takes you to Ste Marie de Campan and the start of the Tourmalet. The summit lies 17km ahead at an altitude of 2115m. Bon courage! Enjoy a snack at the famous cafe on the summit before heading back down to Ste Marie de Campan.

Pic du Midi Observatory

Today, your cycling partner will be climbing the most famous climb in the Pyrenees, the Col du Tourmalet. You’ll also head towards the Tourmalet, stopping at the ski station of La Mongie where you’ll take the spectacular cable car to the Pic du Midi summit and observatory. After visiting this famous site, we’ll continue on to the Col du Tourmalet where we may time it right to have a coffee with your partner at the café on the summit.

Ride over the Finish Line, Podium Photo Op & LIVE VIP Race-Viewing of the Stage Finish

A unique opportunity today to ride your bike across the Official Finish Line just a few hours before the peloton – followed by a photo shoot on the Official Podium. You’ll round off an amazing Tour de France day by witnessing the Race Finish from the VIP Tribune at the Finish Line in Pau.

We’ve secured access to the VIP Tribune located at the Finish – and to get there you’ll enjoy a beautiful ride through the French countryside on the actual race route of today’s Tour de France stage, so you can expect to be cheered on by thousands of passionate fans.

Podium Photo Op & LIVE VIP Race-Viewing of the Stage Finish

Our cycling group will be riding across the Official Finish Line just a few hours before the peloton where you’ll be invited to join them for a photo shoot on the Official Podium. You’ll round off an amazing Tour de France day by witnessing the Race Finish from the VIP Tribune at the Finish Line in Pau.

LIVE Race-Viewing: Private Hospitality Marquee on the final climb to Pla d'Adet

A summit finish today on the famous climb to Pla d’Adet where George Hincapie won the Tour de France stage back in 2005. Riding from the hotel in St Lary Soulan, within less than 1km you’ll be on the actual Tour de France race route and on the start of the climb. Riding this legendary climb on race day will be an experience you’re unlikely to forget. Enjoy!

Our Logistics Team will have set up our Race-Viewing Hospitality Marquee on the climb to Pla d’Adet which will be buzzing with thousands of passionate fans excited to see the stage finish on this legendary climb. Enjoy the atmosphere from the comfort of our Private Hospitality Marquee. Food, drinks, and satellite TV race coverage will keep you entertained as you wait for the peloton to approach.

A big mountain stage in the Pyrenees with the Stage finishing in Pla d’Adet, directly above our hotel in St Lary. Our staff will drive you to close to the summit where our Logistics Team will have set up our Race-Viewing Hospitality Marquee where you’ll join thousands of passionate fans excited to see the stage finish on this legendary climb. Enjoy the atmosphere from the comfort of our Private Hospitality Marquee. Food, drinks, and satellite TV race coverage will keep you entertained as you wait for the peloton to approach.

LIVE Race-Viewing: VIP Departure Village & Team Paddock access

After breakfast you’ll head over to Loudenvielle to experience the start of Stage 15 of the Tour de France. You’ll have privileged access to the VIP Departure Village and Team Paddock, a great place to mingle and meet the riders as they relax and warm-up before the start of today’s stage.

In the afternoon join our ride leaders for a magnificent final ride to one of our favorite Pyreneen climbs, the Col de Val Louron Azet, with it’s spectacular views of the high peaks that form the border with Spain.

After the ride, we’ll meet up in the Hotel Bar to toast a sensational week in the Pyrenees with a few celebratory drinks before dinner.

Today the Tour de France leaves the region and heads out on a challenging mountain stage to the Plateau de Bielle. We’ll head over to Loudenvielle to experience the start of the Tour de France stage. You’ll have privileged access to the VIP Departure Village and Team Paddock, a great place to mingle and meet the teams and individual riders as they prepare for the start of the stage. In the evening, we’ll meet up in the Hotel Bar to toast a sensational week in Italy with a few celebratory drinks before dinner.

Au revoir et à bientôt!

Sadly, your Tour de France trip in the Pyrenees has come to an end.

Our private shuttle will drop you off at Toulouse Blagnac Airport.

Map & Profile

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.

Rest Day: Gruissan

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Hotel Mercure, Saint Lary Soulan

The top hotel in the Pyrenees for cyclists and the Thomson Pyrenees HQ every year! The Mercure is located in the quaint, Pyrenees village of St Lary Soulan, surrounded by phenomenal rides and iconic climbs. The Tourmalet, Aspin, Peyresourde, Pla d'Adet, Portet, Port de Balès, Hourquette d'Ancizan, Val Louron-Azet, Super-Bagneres are all within riding distance of the hotel.  The hotel itself is a gem, absolutely fantastic food, great rooms, a wonderful bar and the most welcoming staff. A home-from-home for the Thomson staff! 

Pick-up and Drop-off

What's included

Rental bikes

3T Exploro Boost e-bike

3T Exploro Ultra Boost Carbon

Sram Rival AXS XPLR Electronic

Rodi alloy 700c

12-speed 10-44t

XXS, 51, 54, 56, 58, 61

Specialized Aethos Expert

Aethos FACT 10r Carbon

Di2 Shimano Ultegra

699g (size 56)

11-36t (12-speed)

49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61

VIP Experience

Embark on the ultimate cycling pilgrimage with our exclusive VIP trip to witness the Tour de France in unparalleled style. Immerse yourself in the thrilling energy of the race with spectacular access to the start and finish lines, as well as prime vantage points along major climbs like the legendary Col du Tourmalet and the Col du Galibier. Rub shoulders with cycling royalty as you meet the pro riders up close, savoring the electrifying atmosphere of the world's greatest cycling event. Indulge in the epitome of luxury with our VIP areas, where the finest champagne and cuisine await you. Experience the Tour like never before – you'll be as close to the pros as a Directeur Sportif, creating memories to last a lifetime. Join us on this once-in-a-lifetime journey, meticulously supported by the Thomson team, and elevate your passion for cycling to new heights.

Designed for E-Bikes

Get ready to ride your way into cycling history! Join us on an exhilarating adventure along the legendary routes of the Tour de France. Channel your inner pro cyclist as you conquer iconic climbs such as the Tourmalet and Alpe d'Huez. Feel the rush of ascending these famed Cols, surrounded by awe-inspiring landscapes that have witnessed cycling greatness. This isn't just a ride; it's a chance to immerse yourself in the exhilarating world of professional cycling, supported by a dedicated team ensuring you tackle each ride like a champion. Grab your e-bike, bring your determination, and let's ascend to new heights together!

2024 TDF by E-BIKE – Pyrenees

Experience the Tour de France with the Premier Official Tour Operator

3 Ride Programs

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