The Paris Olympics and Paralympics will not be the only prestigious international sporting event held in France this summer.
The Tour de France, the preeminent event on the men’s cycling calendar, will return for its 111th edition from June 29 to July 21. During the three-week ride, 176 cyclists, representing 22 teams of eight, will complete 21 stages across hilly, flat and mountainous terrain. The course includes a grueling 52,230 meters (over 170,000 feet) of elevation gain and is 3,492 kilometers (2,170 miles) long. The taxing schedule includes only two rest days.
This year’s race will start in Florence, Italy, and conclude at the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France. It will be the first time the finish line is not on the Champs-Élysées in Paris because the city will be hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The final stage will also break from tradition as it will be one of two time trial stages, which means the leader could be determined in the final leg. The last time the Tour de France ended with a time trial was in 1989.
In addition to Italy and France, the route passes through San Marino and Monaco. The route is famous for its picturesque scenery, from quaint rural villages to the towering Alps.
Each stage is timed, and the rider with the lowest cumulative time across all stages wins the acclaimed maillot jaune, or yellow jersey, to signify the general classification winner. Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard, 27, will seek a coveted three-peat but will face fierce competition from a talented field that includes 2020 and 2021 winner Tadej Pogača of Slovenia.
Separate awards are also given to the best sprinter, climber and young cyclist.
Sepp Kuss, who finished as the top American in 12th place at last year’s Tour de France, is also set to return. Like last year, he will race on the same team as Vingegaard.
All stages of the Tour de France, as well as pre- and post-race coverage, will be available to stream live on Peacock. USA Network will also stream some of the stages.
NBC will simultaneously broadcast select stages of the event.
Stage 1 will begin June 29 at 6 a.m. ET. The rest of the stages typically start between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. ET.
| Stage | Date | Terrain Type | Start and Finish | Distance |
| 1 | June 29 | Hilly | Florence to Rimini | 206 km |
| 2 | June 30 | Hilly | Cesenatico to Bologne | 199 km |
| 3 | July 1 | Flat | Plaisance to Turin | 230.5 km |
| 4 | July 2 | Mountain | Pinerolo to Valloire | 140 km |
| 5 | July 3 | Flat | Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Saint-Vulbas | 177.5 km |
| 6 | July 4 | Flat | Mâcon to Dijon | 163.5 km |
| 7 | July 5 | Individual Time Trial | Nuits-Saint-Georges to Gevrey-Chambertin | 25.3 km |
| 8 | July 6 | Flat | Semur-en-Auxois to Colombey-Les-Deux-Eglise | 183.5 km |
| 9 | July 7 | Hilly | Troyes to Troyes | 199 km |
| - | July 8 | Rest Day | Orléans | - |
| 10 | July 9 | Flat | Orléans to Saint-Amand-Montrond | 187.5 km |
| 11 | July 10 | Mountain | Évaux-Les-Bains to Le Lioran | 211 km |
| 12 | July 11 | Flat | Aurillac to Villeneuve-sur-Lot | 204 km |
| 13 | July 12 | Flat | Agen to Pau | 165.5 km |
| 14 | July 13 | Mountain | Pau to Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d'Adet | 152 km |
| 15 | July 14 | Mountain | Loudenvielle to Plateau De Beille | 198 km |
| - | July 15 | Rest Day | Gruissan | - |
| 16 | July 16 | Flat | Gruissan to Nîmes | 189 km |
| 17 | July 17 | Mountain | Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux to Superdévoluy | 178 km |
| 18 | July 18 | Hilly | Gap to Barcelonnette | 180 km |
| 19 | July 19 | Mountain | Embrun to Isola 2000 | 145 km |
| 20 | July 20 | Mountain | Nice to Col de la Couillole | 133 km |
| 21 | July 21 | Individual Time Trial | Monaco to Nice | 33.7 km |