The Tour De France is an annual stage race that contains twenty one stages for teams of racers to complete on bicycle. While the race is primarily held in France as the name suggests, the route does occasionally pass through neighbouring countries. In terms of cycling events, it’s impossible to deny just how well known and elite the Tour De France is, and this year’s 2024 season will be no different!
At Aire Velo Bearings, we offer a wide range of quality bicycle bearings and supplies, and we ourselves are avid cycling enthusiasts who love following the race progress each year. Whether you’re in the same boat as us, or you’ve never paid that much attention to the Tour De France but want to start, we have created this guide to explore some of the key points to focus on for the race.
Key Dates
The Tour De France is broken down into stages, with each stage taking place at a different date in a different town, city, or even country. The racers are given two rest days in total. Some key dates to keep in mind for the Tour De France includes:
Race Start: The Tour De France 2024 began on Saturday 29th June and saw one hundred and seventy six riders take to the starting line in Florence.
Troyes – Troyes: During stage 9, the riders will switch to new gravel tracks that have never been used before on Sunday 7th July.
Mountains: On Wednesday 10th July, riders will reach the Massif Central mountain range, offering spectacular aerial views and a challenge to push them to the limit.
Finish Line: The race will finish on Sunday 21st July in the French city of Nice with an individual time trial.
Typically, the Tour De France will end in or around Paris, however this year the finish line is at Nice due to the preparations in the capital for the summer 2024 Olympics.
The Route
The Tour De France is split into twenty one stages with each stage taking part in a different route section. The terrain of the route varies, from mountain climbs to racing flats to offer the racers an exciting and challenging experience. Departing from Florence on 29th June, the route spans many different locations and crosses into the neighbouring countries of Belgium, Germany, Italy, and Spain. The route and stages are as follows:
Stage | Leaving | Arriving | Stage | Leaving | Arriving |
One | Florence | Rimini | Twelve | Aurillac | Villeneuve sur Lot |
Two | Cesenatico | Bologna | Thirteen | Agen | Pau |
Three | Piacenza | Turin | Fourteen | Pau | Pla d’Adet |
Four | Pinerolo | Valloire | Fifteen | Loudenvielle | Plateau de Beille |
Five | Saint Jean de Maurienne | Saint Vulbas | Sixteen | Gruissan | Nîmes |
Six | Mâcon | Dijon | Seventeen | Saint Paul Trois Châteaux | Superdévoluy |
Seven | Nuits Saint Georges | Gevrey Chamberin | Eighteen | Gap | Barcelonnette |
Eight | Semur en Auxois | Colombey les Deux Eglises | Nineteen | Embrun | Isola 2000 |
Nine | Troyes | Troyes | Twenty | Nice | Col de la Couillole |
Ten | Orleans | Saint Amand Montrond | Twenty One | Monaco | Nice |
Eleven | Evaux les Bains | Le Lioran |
Where to Watch
As with any large-scale sporting event, there is plenty of TV coverage. Whether you prefer to follow sporting news for the latest updates, or sit on the sofa with a cup of tea and watch the racers make their way along the route each day, there are plenty of ways to keep up to date with everything happening during the Tour De France 2024.
Social media is an excellent resource if you just want a quick update on positions or to see pictures and short-form videos of the racers in action. The Tour De France official Twitter (or X) is LeTour, while their TikTok is simply Le Tour De France if you would like to stay updated on either of those platforms.
Meanwhile for television coverage, updates are available live on ITV 4 in the UK, ITVX later in the day, or Discovery+ or Eurosport if you pay for a subscription.
Whether Professional or For Fun, We Can Provide A Wide Range of Bicycle Supplies
If you’re interested in following in the footsteps of the pro athletes that take part in The Tour De France, or you enjoy cycling for leisure or commuting, the team at Aire Velo Bearings have everything you need to ensure your bicycle is kept in top condition. We offer a wide range of hub bearings, headset bearings, lubricants and adhesives, and much, much more. Contact us today for more information or for assistance finding the right supplies for your bike.