Tour de France 2024 begins: dates, stage times and how to watch

The biggest race in the world, the Tour de France 2024 arrives with an edition that promises to be especially exciting due to the feat that Tadej Pogacar could achieve and the high level of rivals he will face, which foretells an uncertainty like we haven't seen in a long time. Who will win the yellow jersey in Paris Nice? We will find out between June 29 and July 21.

Pogacar seeks to make history in the Tour de France 2024

From Florence to Nice, the Tour de France 2024 promises to be a fiercely contested edition, which, despite the rise of classics and other races, continues year after year to be the most important race in the world, shaping the calendar for the majority of cyclists who arrive at it in their best form after a year of preparation.

How to watch the Tour de France 2024

As has been customary in recent years, the Eurosport channel has full broadcasting rights, allowing them to air each stage in its entirety, from the pre-race coverage to the finish.

Schedule of the Tour de France 2024

• 29/06/2024 Stage 1: Florence - Rimini: 12:00 to 17:49
• 30/06/2024 Stage 2: Cesenatico - Bologna: 12:15 to 17:19
• 01/07/2024 Stage 3: Plaisance - Turin: 11:15 to 17:12
• 02/07/2024 Stage 4: Pinerollo - Valloire: 13:05 to 17:20
• 03/07/2024 Stage 5: Saint Jean de Maurienne - Saint Vulbas: 13:20 to 17:26
• 04/07/2024 Stage 6: Macon - Dijon: 13:35 to 17:19
• 05/07/2024 Stage 7: Nuits Saint Georges - Gevrey Chambertin (ITT): 13:09 to 17:29
• 06/07/2024 Stage 8: Semur en Auxois - Colombey les Deux Eglises: 13:05 to 17:19
• 07/07/2024 Stage 9: Troyes - Troyes: 13:15 to 17:49
• 08/07/2024: Rest day
• 09/07/2024 Stage 10: Orleans - Saint Amand Montrond: 13:05 to 17:24
• 10/07/2024 Stage 11: Evaux les Bains - Le Lioran: 11:20 to 16:54
• 11/07/2024 Stage 12: Aurillac - Villeneve sur Lot: 12:35 to 17:16
• 12/07/2024 Stage 13: Agen - Pau: 13:30 to 17:21
• 13/07/2024 Stage 14: Pau - Saint Lary Soulan Pla d'Adet: 13:05 to 17:17
• 14/07/2024 Stage 15: Loundevielle - Plateau de Beille: 11:55 to 17:22
• 15/07/2024: Rest day
• 16/07/2024 Stage 16: Gruissan - Nimes: 13:05 to 17:31
• X 17/07/2024 Stage 17: Saint Paul Trois Chateaux - Superdevoluy: 12:35 to 16:58
• J 18/07/2024 Stage 18: Gap - Barcelonnette: 13:00 to 17:30
• V 19/07/2024 Stage 19: Embrum - Isola 2000: 12:20 to 16:28
• S 20/07/2024 Stage 20: Nice - Col de La Couillole: 13:35 to 17:18
• D 21/07/2024 Stage 21: Monaco - Nice (ITT): 14:40 to 19:30

The Tour de France 2024 in numbers

• Dates: June 29 to July 21, 2024
• Start: Florence (Italy)
• Finish: Nice
• Total distance: 3,492 km
• Total elevation gain: 52,230 m
• Maximum altitude: Cima de La Bonette - 2,802 m
• Winner 2023: Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma)
• Cyclists with most victories: Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Miguel Indurain (5 victories)
• Cyclists with most stage wins: Eddy Merckx, Mark Cavendish (34 victories)
• Organizer: A.S.O.

Stages of the Tour de France 2024

The unusual route configuration of the Tour de France 2024, forced by the start from Italy and the finish in Nice, marks the first time in history that the Grande Boucle does not end in Paris due to the proximity of the Olympic Games that take place shortly after the race finishes in the French capital. This unique route includes double doses of the Alps, both at the beginning and end of the race, with only two stages in the Pyrenees, but they are expected to be highly competitive.

The Tour de France starts in Florence with a challenging stage, aiming to replicate the exciting start we enjoyed last year in Bilbao. A similar proposal, though slightly less intense, awaits the peloton on the second day heading to Bologna, while the third stage, completely flat, should set the stage for the first mass sprint.

This stage serves as a prelude to the first assault on the Alps, with a very short but intense day that includes Sestrieres, Montgenevre, and the iconic Galibier via the Lautaret side, deceptively challenging with a final stretch after the initial ascent that will likely create significant time gaps among the favorites. These differences will need to be maintained or increased in the daunting descent towards Valloire, where a few years ago Tom Pidcock put on a masterclass in descending a mountain pass.

After these early Alpine challenges, the Tour takes on a more typical first week configuration, with a couple of flat stages that the favorites will use to conserve energy for the time trial in Saint Gevrey Chavertin, a 25-kilometer individual battle that, along with the earlier Alpine stage, may not determine the winner of the Tour de France 2024 but will certainly eliminate some contenders from the general classification.

The challenges continue into the second week, with a tough stage through hilly terrain where a breakaway is expected, leading to a fierce battle at the start of the stage. The riders will then face the demanding stage to Troyes, which has been a topic of discussion since the presentation of the Tour de France 2024 due to its 14 dirt sections.

As the first week comes to an end, a well-deserved rest day precedes a flat stage for the sprinters to shine. In fact, flat stages dominate most of the second week, except for the stage on Wednesday, the eleventh, with an interesting medium mountain route where significant moves in the general classification are unlikely, but a high-level breakaway and intense battles at the start of the stage are guaranteed.

Heading into the weekend, the focus shifts to the Pyrenees with a monumental first stage featuring the iconic Tourmalet and a challenging finish at Pla d'Adet, which will be a key day for the favorites in the Tour de France 2024. A similar scenario is expected the following day at the also iconic Plateau de Beille.

If the second week was characterized by simpler stages, the third week is the opposite, with increased difficulty and the added fatigue from days of competition. Wednesday features an uphill finish at Superdevoluy after a medium mountain journey; Thursday presents a challenging route to Barcelonnette; Friday offers a tough alpine stage reminiscent of the 90s with the Vars, La Bonette, and the finish in Isola 2000, leading into the weekend in the Paris-Nice area with a mountainous stage on Saturday ending at La Couillole and the decisive time trial on Sunday along the French Riviera between Monaco and Nice, which could provide a dramatic conclusion. It wouldn't be the first time.

Favorites to win the Tour de France 2024

The Tour de France 2024 features a lineup of contenders for victory like few times seen in this race, although, as we all know, the road will ultimately determine the outcome, reducing the field to a mano a mano battle between two, at most three, riders. That's how cruel the Tour de France can be, even to the best riders in the world, where mistakes or bad days come at a high cost.

However, within this group, one favorite seems indisputable, albeit with the uncertainty of how he will have recovered after his participation and victory in the Giro d'Italia. We are talking, of course, about Tadej Pogacar, who faces the opportunity to achieve his third Tour de France victory and continue to build his legend by aiming for a Giro-Tour double that no one has achieved since 1998. UAE Team Emirates has assembled a strong team to support him, including a backup plan for the general classification in the form of Juan Ayuso or a safety net like Adam Yates provided last year.

There are more doubts surrounding the defending champion Jonas Vingegaard. Visma-Lease a Bike has not yet confirmed the presence of the Danish rider in Florence, although all signs point to his participation despite the uncertainty of whether his training after the crash at the Itzulia will have been sufficient to compete for the yellow jersey or if he will suffer the rigors of the Tour de France as his main rival did last year. In any case, Sepp Kuss and Matteo Jorgenson have shown themselves to be very capable riders who could step up for the general classification if needed.

The third contender cannot be anyone other than the perennial Tour de France yellow jersey hopeful, Primoz Roglic. Despite his season not being as flashy as in previous years, the Slovenian has shown glimpses of his form in the Critérium du Dauphiné and is sure to give his all in the Tour de France, the missing piece in his palmarès after the dramatic defeat he suffered in 2020 at the hands of his compatriot.

INEOS Grenadiers are banking on the potential of Carlos Rodríguez, who demonstrated last year that he can compete with the best in this race. However, in this 2024 edition, he will need to make a significant leap in quality to be considered a podium contender. The presence of a rejuvenated Egan Bernal, who is likely to be very competitive based on his performances throughout the season, will also be beneficial.

And we cannot forget Remco Evenepoel, who still raises questions about his performance in the high mountain stages to be considered a clear candidate for victory. However, this year he will have the experience of Mikel Landa to support him in the toughest moments, undoubtedly a boost that will enhance the chances of the Belgian rider.