The Tour de France is back on in its regular time of the year.
After it was moved to a start in late August in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the summer staple is back to a late June start and mid-July finish this year.
While last year started late, it still included plenty of historically significant moments. Tadej Pogacar won the tour at the age of 21, making him the youngest winner since Henri Cornet in 1904, who won the race at age 19. The race also featured the 10th closest finish in its 107 years with Pogacar winning by just 59 seconds over Primoz Roglic.
Both expect to make it a close race again as Pogacar is the world No. 2 ranked cyclist and Roglic is at No. 1.
Below is everything you need to know about the 2020 Tour de France, including schedule, stage breakdown and how to watch the race.
MORE: Watch the Tour de France live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
Tour de France 2021 schedule
The Tour de France will begin in Brest on June 26 and will consist of 21 total days of biking with two rest days mixed in.
The entire event will be carried on NBCSN, except for Stage 14, which will be on NBC.
| # | Date | Length | Stage | Coverage Start (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 26 | 197.8 km (122.9 mi.) | Brest to Landerneau (hilly) | 6:00 a.m. |
| 2 | June 27 | 183.5 km (114.0 mi.) | Perros-Guirec to Bretagne Guerledan (hilly) | 7:00 a.m. |
| 3 | June 28 | 182.9 km (113.6 mi.) | Lorient to Pontivy (flat) | 7:30 a.m. |
| 4 | June 29 | 150.4 km (93.5 mi.) | Redon to Fougeres (flat) | 7:30 a.m. |
| 5 | June 30 | 27.2 km (16.9 mi.) | Change to Laval Espace Mayenne (individual time-trial) | 6:30 a.m. |
| 6 | July 1 | 160.6 km (99.8 mi.) | Tours to Chateauroux (flat) | 7:30 a.m. |
| 7 | July 2 | 249.1 km (154.8 mi.) | Vierzon to Le Creusot (hilly) | 7:30 a.m. |
| 8 | July 3 | 150.8 km (93.7 mi.) | Oyonnax to Le Grand Bornand (mountain) | 7:30 a.m. |
| 9 | July 4 | 144.9 km (90.0 mi.) | Cluses to Tignes (mountain) | 7:30 a.m. |
| Rest Day | July 5 | — | Tignes | NA |
| 10 | July 6 | 190.7 km (118.5 mi.) | Albertville to Valence (flat) | 7:30 a.m. |
| 11 | July 7 | 198.9 km (123.6 mi.) | Sorgues to Malaucene (mountain) | 6:30 a.m. |
| 12 | July 8 | 159.4 km (99.0 mi.) | Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux to Nimes (flat) | 7:30 a.m. |
| 13 | July 9 | 219.9 km (136.6 mi.) | Nimes to Carcassonne (flat) | 6:30 a.m. |
| 14 | July 10 | 183.7 km (114.1 mi.) | Carcassonne to Quillan (hilly) | 8 a.m. (NBC) |
| 15 | July 11 | 191.3 km (118.9 mi.) | Ceret to Andorre-La-Vielille (mountain) | 6:30 a.m. |
| Rest Day | July 12 | — | Andorre | NA |
| 16 | July 13 | 169 km (105.0 mi.) | Pas De La Case to Saint-Gaudens (hilly) | 7:30 a.m. |
| 17 | July 14 | 178.4 km (110.9 mi.) | Muret to Saint-Lary-Soulan Col Du Portet (mountain) | 6:30 a.m. |
| 18 | July 15 | 129.7 km (80.6 mi.) | Pau to Luz Ardiden (mountain) | 7:30 a.m. |
| 19 | July 16 | 207 km (128.6 mi.) | Mourenx to Libourne (flat) | 7:30 a.m. |
| 20 | July 17 | 30.8 km (19.1 mi.) | Libourne to Saint-Emilion (individual time-trial) | 7:30 a.m. |
| 21 | July 18 | 108.4 km (67.4 mi.) | Chatou to Paris Champs-Elysees (flat) | 10:30 a.m. |
Tour de France TV channel, how to live stream
- TV channel: NBCSN
- Live stream: NBCSports | Peacock | fuboTV
The entire Tour de France will be carried by NBCSN, with the exception of the 14th stage, coming on July 10, which will be aired on NBC.
Fans of the race can tune in earlier each day to Peacock for extended coverage of the various stages.
LIVE: Track the 2021 Tour de France race standings
Tour de France route map
What are the Tour de France stages?
| # | Date | Length | Stage | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 26 | 197.8 km (122.9 mi.) | Brest to Landerneau (hilly) | Julian Alaphilippe |
| 2 | June 27 | 183.5 km (114.0 mi.) | Perros-Guirec to Bretagne Guerledan (hilly) | Mathieu van der Poel |
| 3 | June 28 | 182.9 km (113.6 mi.) | Lorient to Pontivy (flat) | Tim Merlier |
| 4 | June 29 | 150.4 km (93.5 mi.) | Redon to Fougeres (flat) | Mark Cavendish |
| 5 | June 30 | 27.2 km (16.9 mi.) | Change to Laval Espace Mayenne (individual time-trial) | Tadej Pogacar |
| 6 | July 1 | 160.6 km (99.8 mi.) | Tours to Chateauroux (flat) | Mark Cavendish |
| 7 | July 2 | 249.1 km (154.8 mi.) | Vierzon to Le Creusot (hilly) | Matej Mohoric |
| 8 | July 3 | 150.8 km (93.7 mi.) | Oyonnax to Le Grand Bornand (mountain) | Dylan Teuns |
| 9 | July 4 | 144.9 km (90.0 mi.) | Cluses to Tignes (mountain) | Ben O’Connor |
| Rest Day | July 5 | — | Tignes | NA |
| 10 | July 6 | 190.7 km (118.5 mi.) | Albertville to Valence (flat) | Mark Cavendish |
| 11 | July 7 | 198.9 km (123.6 mi.) | Sorgues to Malaucene (mountain) | Wout van Aert |
| 12 | July 8 | 159.4 km (99.0 mi.) | Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux to Nimes (flat) | Nils Politt |
| 13 | July 9 | 219.9 km (136.6 mi.) | Nimes to Carcassonne (flat) | Mark Cavendish |
| 14 | July 10 | 183.7 km (114.1 mi.) | Carcassonne to Quillan (hilly) | Bauke Mollema |
| 15 | July 11 | 191.3 km (118.9 mi.) | Ceret to Andorre-La-Vielille (mountain) | Sepp Kuss |
| Rest Day | July 12 | — | Andorre | NA |
| 16 | July 13 | 169 km (105.0 mi.) | Pas De La Case to Saint-Gaudens (hilly) | Patrick Konrad |
| 17 | July 14 | 178.4 km (110.9 mi.) | Muret to Saint-Lary-Soulan Col Du Portet (mountain) | Tadej Pogacar |
| 18 | July 15 | 129.7 km (80.6 mi.) | Pau to Luz Ardiden (mountain) | Tadej Pogacar |
| 19 | July 16 | 207 km (128.6 mi.) | Mourenx to Libourne (flat) | — |
| 20 | July 17 | 30.8 km (19.1 mi.) | Libourne to Saint-Emilion (individual time-trial) | — |
| 21 | July 18 | 108.4 km (67.4 mi.) | Chatou to Paris Champs-Elysees (flat) | — |
How many miles is the Tour de France?
The Tour de France will cover 3,414.4 kilometers, or 2,121.6 miles during the 21 days of bicycling. Last year’s race came in at 3,482.2 kilometers, or 2,163.7 miles. There will be eight flat stages, five hilly stages, six mountaint stages and two individual time-trials. On the six mountain stages, there will be three summit finishes.
Tour de France teams 2021
This year, there are 23 teams with eight riders on each team to total 184 cyclists overall in the 2021 field. Movistar Team has dominated the team classification at the Tour de France lately, having won three straight years and in five of the past six races.
| Team | Country |
|---|---|
| AG2R Citroen Team | France |
| Astana – Premier Tech | Kazakhstan |
| Bahrain Victorious | Bahrain |
| Bora – Hansgrohe | Germany |
| Cofidis | France |
| Deceuninck – Quick-Step | Belgium |
| EF Education – Nippo | United States |
| Groupama – FDJ | France |
| Ineos Grenadiers | Great Britain |
| Intermarche – Wanty – Gobert Materiaux | Belgium |
| Israel Start-Up Nation | Israel |
| Jumbo – Visma | Netherlands |
| Lotto Soudal | Belgium |
| Movistar Team | Spain |
| Team BikeExchange | Australia |
| Team DSM | Germany |
| Team Qhubeka Assos | South Africa |
| Trek – Segafredo | United States |
| UAE Team Emirates | United Arab Emirates |
Tour de France past winners
The field this year will have a number of former champions hoping to win. Tadej Pogacar returns to race hoping to back it back-to-back wins, while four-time champion Chris Froome (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017), 2014 winner Vincenzo Nibali and 2018 champ Geraint Thomas hope to add another win to their resumes. Should Froome win, he would be the fifth rider ever to claim the title for a fifth time. Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain are the only riders ever to win the Tour de France five times.
| Year | Winner | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Tadej Pogacar | Slovenia |
| 2019 | Egan Bernal | Colombia |
| 2018 | Geraint Thomas | Wales |
| 2017 | Chris Froome | England |
| 2016 | Chris Froome | England |
| 2015 | Chris Froome | England |
| 2014 | Vincenzo Nibali | Italy |
| 2013 | Chris Froome | England |
| 2012 | Bradley Wiggins | England |
| 2011 | Cadel Evans | Australia |
| 2010 | Andy Schleck* | Luxembourg |
| 2009 | Alberto Contador | Spain |
| 2008 | Carlos Sastre | Spain |
| 2007 | Alberto Contador | Spain |
| 2006 | Oscar Pereiro** | Spain |
| 2005 | Lance Armstrong*** | USA |
| 2004 | Lance Armstrong*** | USA |
| 2003 | Lance Armstrong*** | USA |
| 2002 | Lance Armstrong*** | USA |
| 2001 | Lance Armstrong*** | USA |
| 2000 | Lance Armstrong*** | USA |
| 1999 | Lance Armstrong*** | USA |
| 1998 | Marco Pantani | Italy |
*Aberto Contadro won the race, but failed a drug test later
**Floyd Landis won the race, but failed a drug test later
***Lance Armstrong has had all his titles vacated due to doping. No winner was named in his place.