Tour de France 2021 schedule: Start time, stages, length, dates, how to watch live stream, route, TV coverage, highlights

By Mary OmatigaJul 16, 2021, 1:50 PM EDT

The 2021 Tour de France begins on Saturday, June 26 through Sunday, July 18. This year’s cycling event features 10 new sites and stage cities indicated with an asterisk in the schedule below. Additionally, there will be 2 individual time trials in this year’s Tour. See below to find out more information including how to watch, stages, the complete schedule, and more.

STREAM LIVE: Click here to watch the 2021 Tour de France live on Peacock.

2021 Tour de France Key Information

When is the 2021 Tour de France? What time does coverage start?

The 2021 Tour de France will take place from June 26 – July 18. Coverage of Stage 20 starts at 7:00 a.m. ET on NBCSN and 6:55 a.m. ET on Peacock. Click here for start times for the rest of the 2020 Tour de France.

How can I watch the 2021 Tour de France?

Stream all 21 stages of the 2021 Tour de France from start to finish, or watch on-demand on Peacock. Coverage will also be available on NBCSN. Click here for the full broadcast schedule.

How long is the Tour de France 2021?

The 2021 Tour de France is 23 days long. There will be one stage contested per day and two rest days. The first rest day is on July 5 (between stages 9 & 10) and the second will be on July 12 (between stages 15 & 16).

How many riders are in the Tour?

There will be a total of 184 riders. There will be 23 teams with 8 riders per team.

How many stages is the Tour de France?

There are 21 stages: 8 flat, 5 hilly, 6 mountain stages, and 2 individual time trials.

What is the 2021 Tour de France schedule and route?

Stage	Terrain	Date	Start and Finish	Distance
1	Hilly	Sat. 06/26/2021	BREST > LANDERNEAU*	197.8 km
2	Hilly	Sun. 06/27/2021	PERROS-GUIREC > MÛR-DE-BRETAGNE GUERLÉDAN	183.5 km
3	Flat	Mon. 06/28/2021	LORIENT > PONTIVY*	182.9 km
4	Flat	Tue. 06/29/2021	REDON > FOUGÈRES	150.4 km
5	Individual Time-Trial	Wed. 06/30/2021	*CHANGÉ > LAVAL ESPACE MAYENNE	27.2 km
6	Flat	Thu. 07/01/2021	TOURS > CHÂTEAUROUX	160.6 km
7	Hilly	Fri. 07/02/2021	*VIERZON > LE CREUSOT	249.1 km
8	Mountain	Sat. 07/03/2021	OYONNAX > LE GRAND-BORNAND	150.8 km
9	Mountain	Sun. 07/04/2021	CLUSES > TIGNES	144.9 km
–	Rest Day	Mon. 07/05/2021	TIGNES
10	Flat	Tue. 07/06/2021	ALBERTVILLE > VALENCE	190.7 km
11	Mountain	Wed. 07/07/2021	SORGUES > MALAUCÈNE	198.9 km
12	Flat	Thu. 07/08/2021	SAINT-PAUL-TROIS-CHÂTEAUX > NÎMES	159.4 km
13	Flat	Fri. 07/09/2021	NÎMES > CARCASSONNE	219.9 km
14	Hilly	Sat. 07/10/2021	CARCASSONNE > QUILLAN*	183.7 km
15	Mountain	Sun. 07/11/2021	*CÉRET > ANDORRE-LA-VIEILLE	191.3 km
–	Rest Day	Mon. 07/12/2021	ANDORRE
16	Hilly	Tue. 07/13/2021	*PAS DE LA CASE > SAINT-GAUDENS	169 km
17	Mountain	Wed. 07/14/2021	MURET > SAINT-LARY-SOULAN COL DU PORTET	178.4 km
18	Mountain	Thu. 07/15/2021	PAU > LUZ ARDIDEN	129.7 km
19	Flat	Fri. 07/16/2021	MOURENX > LIBOURNE	207 km
20	Individual Time-Trial	Sat. 07/17/2021	LIBOURNE > SAINT-EMILION	30.8 km
21	Flat	Sun. 07/18/2021	*CHATOU > PARIS CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES	108.4 km

Click here to see the full map.

How many miles is the 2021 Tour de France?

The route is 3,414 km (approximately 2,121 miles) long.

Previous Tour de France Winners

2020 – Tadej Pogacar

2019 – Egan Bernal

2018 – Geraint Thomas

2017 – Chris Froome

2016 – Chris Froome

2015 – Chris Froome

2014 – Vincenzo Nibali

2013 – Chris Froome

2012 – Bradley Wiggins

2011 – Cadel Evans

2010 – Andy Schleck

Thomas sees Giro d’Italia lead cut slightly by Roglič; Buitrago wins Stage 19

Associated PressMay 26, 2023, 7:13 PM EDT

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TRE CIME DI LAVAREDO, Italy — Geraint Thomas maintained his bid to become the oldest Giro d’Italia champion although his lead was cut slightly by Primož Roglič during the toughest stage of the race.

Roglič crossed the summit finish of the so-called “Queen Stage” three seconds ahead of Thomas at the end of the race’s final mountain road leg.

There were no flat sections and five tough, classified climbs on the 114-mile route from Longarone to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, which had gradients of up to 18%.

Stage 19 was won by Santiago Buitrago, who finished 51 seconds ahead of Derek Gee and 1 minute, 46 seconds ahead of Magnus Cort and Roglič, who just missed out on bonus seconds.

“I’m really happy with this victory. It was the most difficult moment of a difficult Giro for me personally,” said Buitrago, who rides for Bahrain Victorious. “I wanted to try and raise my arms before the end and coming here at Tre Cime di Lavaredo is amazing.

“This is the recompense for all the work that I’ve done. … There’s a lot of motivation for me and the whole team having seen the fruits of our labors.”

The 37-year-old Thomas, who rides for Ineos Grenadiers, is 26 seconds ahead of Roglič going into what will be a decisive penultimate stage

Third-placed João Almeida lost more time and was 59 seconds behind Thomas.

Roglič changed his bicycle shortly before the start of the penultimate climb and he made his move inside the final kilometer. However, Thomas was able to stick to his wheel and the British cyclist made his own attack in the final 500 meters and looked to have slightly distanced his rival.

But Roglič came back and gained what could be a vital few seconds.

The winner will likely be decided in the mountain time trial that ends in a demanding climb up Monte Lussari, with an elevation of over 3,000 feet and gradients of up to 22%.

“Tomorrow we go full again,” Roglič said. “It’s good. We got a bit of legs back, so tomorrow we go full, eh?

“If I wouldn’t be confident then I don’t start. The best one at the end wins.”

The race ends in a mostly ceremonial finish in Rome, where Thomas could beat the age record held by Fiorenzo Magni, who was 34 when he won in 1955.

Thomas celebrates 37th birthday by retaining Giro d’Italia lead; Roglic into 2nd

Associated PressMay 25, 2023, 12:28 PM EDT

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VAL DI ZOLDO, Italy — Geraint Thomas celebrated his 37th birthday with another strong ride in the mountains to retain the pink jersey during Stage 18 of the Giro d’Italia.

Thomas crossed immediately behind Primoz Roglic, who moved up from third place to second.

“The legs have been good,” Thomas said. “Need to enjoy these moments.”

Joao Almeida dropped from second to third overall after losing 21 seconds over the 100-mile route from Oderzo to Val di Zoldo, which included two first-category climbs followed by two second-category climbs in the finale – including an uphill finish.

Thomas – the 2018 Tour de France champion – leads Roglic by 29 seconds and Almeida by 39 seconds.

“It’s a pleasant day. I take time on Almeida and didn’t get dropped by Primoz,” Thomas said. “I felt pretty good, always under control but Primoz obviously went hard. It wasn’t easy. … I just want to be consistent until the end.”

Italian champion Filippo Zanna won the stage ahead of fellow breakaway rider Thibaut Pinot in a two-man sprint.

With only two more climbing stages remaining before the mostly ceremonial finish in Rome, Thomas is poised to become the oldest Giro winner in history – beating the record of Fiorenzo Magni, who was 34 when he won in 1955.

Chris Horner holds the record for oldest Grand Tour champion, set when he won the Spanish Vuelta in 2013 at 41.

However, Thomas will still be tested over the next two days.

Stage 19 is considered perhaps the race’s toughest, a 114-mile leg from Longarone to Tre Cime Di Lavaredo featuring five major climbs. Then there’s a mountain time trial.