Tour de France 2024 Complete Guide: Everything You Need To Know
It’s that time of year once again! The biggest road cycling event of the year, the Tour de France, has begun as countless cycling fans will spill into the streets to witness their favourite athletes compete for the coveted yellow jersey worn by so many greats in the past.
It should come as no surprise that at Fawkes Cycles, we love the Tour de France and we want to spread this love as far as possible. New cycling fans more familiar with the likes of Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome can enjoy Le Tour just as much as those who can remember the iconic moments the event has delivered over the years.
Follow our complete guide for this year’s Tour de France that answers all the pressing questions about the event and how to enjoy it best.
Table of contents
- When is the Tour de France?
- How long is the Tour de France?
- How many stages is the Tour de France?
- Tour de France history
- How to watch the Tour de France
- Get cycling essentials at Fawkes
When is the Tour de France?
The 2024 Tour de France got underway on June 29 in Florence, Italy. Don’t worry! Just because Le Tour is ongoing doesn’t mean it’s too late to get involved. The Tour de France will reach its conclusion in Nice on July 21, so there’s plenty of cycling to enjoy until then!
The opening three stages will see riders cycle through Italy before completing the remainder of the race in its namesake nation of France. This year’s tour is 21 days long, with the regular length of a Tour de France being 21-24 days.
How long is the Tour de France?
One of the most physically demanding events in all of sport, the Tour de France demands an unmatched level of preparation and determination from riders. Cyclists will travel 3,492km (approx 2,200 miles) over 21 days (with two rest days factored in). Each day brings a new challenge for riders as they battle mental and physical fatigue in various conditions.
The over 100 year history of the Tour de France has seen distances as long as 5,000km covered in the 1920s, initially reduced to 4,000km for the next half century until it was deemed reasonable to settle at around 3,500km.
How many stages is the Tour de France?
Each day of the Tour de France means a new stage. After 21 stages, the sweat and effort given by all riders will result in just one wearing the famous yellow jersey and celebrating the achievement of a lifetime. Stages are split into the following categories:
- Flat stages – 8
- Hilly stages – 4
- Mountain stages – 7
- Individual time-trial stages – 2
Rest days will come between stages 9 & 10 (Mon July 8) and stages 15 & 16 (Mon July 15). The full stages schedule for the 2024 Tour de France is listed below.
| Stage No. | Stage Type | Date | Location | Distance (km) |
| 1 | Hilly | 29/06/24 | Florence – Rimini | 206 |
| 2 | Hilly | 30/06/24 | Cesenatico – Bologne | 200 |
| 3 | Flat | 01/07/24 | Plaisance – Turin | 229 |
| 4 | Mountain | 02/07/24 | Pinerolo – Valloire | 138 |
| 5 | Flat | 03/07/24 | Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne – Saint-Vulbas | 165 |
| 6 | Flat | 04/07/24 | Mâcron – Dijon | 163 |
| 7 | Individual Time-Trial | 05/07/24 | Nuits-Saint-Georges – Chambertin | 25 |
| 8 | Flat | 06/07/24 | Semur-en-Auxois – Colombey-les-Deux-Églesis | 176 |
| 9 | Hilly | 07/07/24 | Troyes – Troyes | 199 |
| – | Rest Day | 08/07/24 | Orléans | – |
| 10 | Flat | 09/07/24 | Orléans – Saint-Amand-Montrond | 187 |
| 11 | Mountain | 10/07/24 | Évaux-les-Bains – Le Lioran | 211 |
| 12 | Flat | 11/07/24 | Aurillac – Villeneuve-sur-Lot | 204 |
| 13 | Flat | 12/07/24 | Agen – Pau | 171 |
| 14 | Mountain | 13/07/24 | Pau – Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet | 152 |
| 15 | Mountain | 14/07/24 | Loudenvielle – Plateau de Beille | 198 |
| – | Rest Day | 15/07/24 | Gruissan | – |
| 16 | Flat | 16/07/24 | Gruissan – Nimes | 187 |
| 17 | Mountain | 17/07/24 | Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux – Superdévoluy | 178 |
| 18 | Hilly | 18/07/24 | Gap – Barcelonnette | 179 |
| 19 | Mountain | 19/07/24 | Emibrun – Isola 2000 | 145 |
| 20 | Mountain | 20/07/24 | Nice – Col de la Couillole | 133 |
| 21 | Individual Time-Trial | 21/07/24 | Monaco – Nice | 34 |
Tour de France history
With its place cemented as one of the premier events in the sporting calendar, the Tour de France has a rich history. The first edition of the tour was at the beginning of the 20th century in 1903 and was won by Frenchman Maurice Garin. This year’s tour is the 111th edition and comes with plenty of hype and excitement from fans.
Who has the most Tour de France wins?
Given the fiercely competitive nature of the Tour de France, no single competitor has the most wins in its history. The title for most wins is shared between four riders. Two France natives, Jacques Anquetil (1957-61, 1964) and Bernard Hinault (1978-79, 1981-82, 1985), share the record of five victories with the Belgian Eddy Merckx (1969-72, 1974) and Spaniard Miguel Induráin (1991-95), the only rider to win five consecutive tours.
Who won the last Tour de France?
The last two tours have been won by the Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard. Vingegaard brought victory to Team Jumbo-Visma as they won the team classification for the first time. The 27-year-old looks to make it three on the bounce this year and has every chance of doing so, as he is placed as a favourite or second favourite with many bookmakers. This year’s tour has already seen history as Biniam Girmay of Eritrea became the first black African to win a Tour de France stage.
Who are the youngest and oldest Tour de France winners?
With over 100 years of history, some astonishing records have been set in the Tour de France. One that may never be beaten is that of Henri Comet. In the second-ever Tour de France, Comet won the general classification at just 19 years and 352 days old. The evolution of the race perhaps means this record will never be beaten. Tadej Pogočar in 2020 was the race’s youngest winner in modern history. The Slovenian rider won at just 21 years and 364 days old.
The competition’s oldest winner achieved glory and made history in 1922. Belgian cyclist Firmin Lambot claimed victory at age 36. Denmark’s Jakob Fugslang is the tour’s oldest rider at 39 this year, while 20-year-old Johannes Kulset from France is the youngest.
How to watch the Tour de France
Viewers in the United Kingdom have the privilege of watching the 2024 Tour de France on free-to-air television. ITV4 is the home of this year’s tour and you can also watch all the stages unfold online via their streaming platform ITVX. Alternatively, those with access to Eurosport and Discovery+ can watch the coverage there.
Get cycling essentials at Fawkes
If reading about the magic of the Tour de France has inspired you to get on your bike, or you’re an avid cyclist looking for upgrades and new equipment, you’ve come to the right place.
At Fawkes Cycles, we stock an incredible range of cycling gear to boost your riding experience. Shop the best cycling shoes and helmets available to keep yourself comfortable and secure on the move.
Browse protective equipment and accessories from trusted brands, including DMT, MET, Giro and Shimano, for excellent quality from a reliable seller. However you spend your cycling summer, enjoy the Tour de France!
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