Watch the Tour de France Live and in Person

Watch the Tour De France: Going to the Greatest Cycling Event of All Time

 

Have you ever dreamed of going to watch the Tour de France or Tour de France Femmes in person?  Well, every summer, just before the 4th of July, cycling fans flock to France for the most prestigious event in the cycling world.  If you’d like to watch ‘Le Tour’, know that it is not just a 23-day race; it’s a cultural spectacle that captivates millions.

So while watching it from the comfort of your living room can be enjoyable, nothing compares to the thrill of witnessing the action firsthand!  However, you may be discouraged by the prices for an organized Tour de France bicycle tour- typically starting at $5- $10K per person, not including your flights.

But, since you can watch the Tour de France for FREE in person, in this blog we will give you lots of tips on how to do it!

 

 

1. Planning Your Trip to Watch the Tour de France- Book Early and Pack Light!

 

If you’ve ever dreamed of experiencing the Tour de France in person, the first step is to start planning early.  This is essential, as the Tour’s dates and routes are announced by October.  Therefore flights, start and finish town hotels and AirBnBs book up quickly!  In addition, bike rentals, plus van or RV rentals will be completely sold out if you wait too long.

As an example, I booked my flights in March to arrive at the Tour de France start city of Bilbao.  Then, I secured hotels in each city I planned to visit- Bilbao, Biarritz, Bayonne, and San Sebastian.  We know several people that began booking their trip to watch the Tour de France in December!  And it’s not to say you can’t wait until 1 month or 1 week (eek!) before the Tour starts, but be prepared for higher prices on flights, hotel rates, and a scarcity of bikes available in the towns that will host the Tour!

One thing we definitely recommend is to pack light.  Especially if you’ll be moving from town to town during the Tour.  You can always buy clothes, or visit a laundromat!  It’s also summertime, so you’ll be in shorts and a t-shirt most days.

 

 

2. Decide Which Stages of the Tour de France to Watch

 

The Tour de France attracts tourists from all over the world, and hotels and transportation options can fill up quickly.  Consider staying in a town along the route to have more time to explore the quaint villages and their landmarks before the race.

As the stages of the Tour de France are usually released by October, be on the lookout for the announcement on the official websites: Tour de France or the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.  However, for the 2024 Tour de France, we already have the following info for the start or Grand Depart and the finishing stages.  And here’s a hint, the finish is not going to be on the Champs-Élysées in Paris!

 

Going to the Tour de France Grand Depart

 

Planning your trip early to watch the Tour de France in person is necessary for the Grand Depart, which is the first few days of the Tour de France.  In addition, the Grand Depart typically begins in another country other than France.  For example, the 2024 Grand Depart will begin in Florence, Italy!

 

If you plan to be at the Grand Depart, the first stages of the 2024 Tour de France are as follows:

• Saturday, June 29th- Stage 1: Florence to Rimini
• Sunday, June 30th- Stage 2: Cesenatico to Bologna
• Monday, July 1st- Stage 3: Piacenza to Torino

 

As we lived in Torino for the 2006 Winter Olympics, we can’t wait to return to the Piedmont region!  In addition to being an incredible wine and truffle region, Torino is also tucked into the northwest corner of Italy between France and Switzerland.  The Alps loom overhead.  The ski towns of Sestriere, Courmayeur, and Chamonix are easily within a day’s drive.  And Mount Blanc can be seen in the distance!

 

Going to the Tour de France Finish

 

If you’d rather plan your trip to see Le Tour in person in France, skip the Grand Depart and head for the Alps, the Pyrenees, or the finishing stages.  For the Tour de France 2024, the finish will be in Nice instead of Paris!! 

Therefore, if you’ve never been to the area around Nice or Monaco, the French Riviera might be a great spot to watch the Tour de France roll through.  The yachts, the glistening tan bodies that line the beaches in barely there bikinis, the flashy cars.  It’s safe to say watching the Tour de France in Nice will be nothing like Provence or the Alps!  However, it’s guaranteed to be a great party!

 

 

3. Get All the Details for each Tour de France Stage

 

Once you’ve decided which stages you’d like to watch, the Tour de France Roadbook (an app) and the standard Tour de France app will include everything you’ll need to plan your days.  Both apps are free and are updated a few months prior to the Tour start.  However, the Tour de France Roadbook app does require a password.  And it is often reserved for Tour de France teams, organizers, and the media.

 

Helpful items in the Tour de France apps:

• Stage start and finish times
• Exact routes the peloton will ride
• Maps of each stage
• Times the caravan and riders will pass each location
• Road closures
• Results and rankings

 

Yes, the Tour de France race organizers have each stage dialed in so well that you can time your day to watch the race start and potentially a summit climb or the finish!  Keep in mind, most stages will not get underway until 12pm or later.  Therefore you’ll have plenty of time for breakfast or a quick ride before catching the start of a Tour de France stage!

 

Familiarizing yourself with the route of the specific Tour de France stage you plan to watch is important.  However, leave room for unexpected changes.  On our trip through the Basque country, we changed plans due to road closures, almost not being able to get our van out of an underground parking lot, or simply late departures due to too much fun the night before!

In addition, the Tour de France covers vast and diverse landscapes.  From picturesque mountains to bustling city centers.  Knowing the route will help you choose the best vantage points and anticipate the key moments of the race, such as challenging climbs and exciting sprints!

 

 

4. Watching the Tour De France Caravan and Scoring Tour de France Merchandise

 

About an hour before the peloton arrives, the Tour de France Caravan rolls through and entertains the crowd with an extravagant parade of colorful floats, dancers, and giveaways.  This pre-race procession adds a carnival-like atmosphere to the event.  And the passing Caravan is often where you’ll score all the freebies- hats, tees, flags, and more!  In addition, the Tour de France app will include what time the caravan is expected to pass through each town.

We caught the first caravan as it went through Bilbao.  And then at each roadside location throughout the Basque Country.  As they follow the race route, you’re bound to see the caravan of cars come through wherever you decide to watch!

 

If you’d like to get some Tour de France caps or tees in advance, you can always order them well before you depart on the Tour de France website and take them with you.  Or buy in advance instead of having to lug home souvenirs.

In addition, each Tour de France start and finish town will have a mobile merchandise shop.  Often several of them!  Furthermore, there will be a Tour de France Fan Zone in most host cities.  And this is another great place to score free Tour swag!

 

 

5. Bring Your Bike, Rent a Bike, or Hike It to Watch the Tour

 

We chose to go by foot to watch each Tour de France stage start, finish, and climb of the day.  There are pros and cons to this.  Not having our bikes made coordinating our travel by van a lot less complicated.  But it did mean a lot of walking.  And many of the tour towns are small, with narrow, pedestrian-filled streets.  So riding a bike through high-traffic areas like at the start in Bilbao would have been frustrating.  I’m bummed we didn’t get to ride the stages, however, we did rent bikes and rode on other days when the tour was not in town.

Therefore, if you really want to ride the Tour de France stages, I recommend bringing your own bike.  This way it’s always with you, and you are comfortable with the gearing, tires, saddle, etc.

 

Things to consider if you bring your own bike:

• How will you get to/from airports or train stations with your bike plus all of your luggage?
• What are the extra costs to fly with your bike?
• Are you comfortable locking your bike to a signpost or tree and then making your way to watch the riders come through?
• Can your bike fit in your hotel room or Airbnb?  Will you need to walk up and down stairs with it each day?  Considering most of the hotels we stayed at, a bike would not have fit in the room, and barely in the elevator to get upstairs!

 

Booking a Tour de France Bike Tour

 

All this being said, you can work with a French bike rental shop or bike travel company far in advance to secure a road bike or ebike for your trip.  They can deliver your bike to your hotel.  Pick it up and move it to the next town.  And store it for you overnight.  There are a lot of travel groups that specialize in this, Trek Travel and Thompson Tours to name a few.

In addition, joining a tour group specifically designed for the Tour de France offers numerous advantages. These tour groups often have well-crafted itineraries, knowledgeable guides, and secure access to prime spectating spots.  Additionally, being part of a group allows you to share the excitement with fellow fans, creating an unforgettable camaraderie.

 

 

6. Embracing the Spirit of Watching the Tour in Person

 

The Tour de France is not just about the race; it’s a celebration of French culture and cycling heritage.  Immerse yourself in the festivities and embrace the spirit of the Tour!  I brought my devil costume with me and we picked up Basque flags in the Tour de France Fan Zone.  We enjoyed the delicious local Basque and French cuisine in each town.  Cheered on the caravan and riders from all teams.  And made friends with passionate fans along the way!

We met so many people from all over the world that came to watch the Tour de France Grand Depart.  Even though we didn’t speak the same language, sharing a beer or some snacks goes a long way.  We hosted impromptu dance parties on the roadside.  And learned how to say a few words in the Basque language and in French!

 

 

7. Spectating at the Tour de France: What to Pack for Each Day

 

On the day of the stage you plan to watch, make sure you fuel up and bring lots of water and snacks with you.  Remember, Tour de France start times are often not until 12:30pm or later so you will be out in the heat of the day in July.  In addition, some French rural villages will have limited access to food and beverages, and often close in the afternoons opening back up at dinnertime.

 

For watching most stages, I had the following:

• Sneakers- Wear socks to avoid getting blisters and know that running in flip-flops alongside the peloton can be challenging!
• Backpack-  Plus a Camelbak with 2 liters of water and a place to store all of your Tour swag!
• A costume- My devil costume was the easiest to transport, but I left the pitchfork at home!
• Sunblock + hat
• Power bank or backup phone charger- you will use your phone constantly to see where you are going, and where the riders are on the route!
• Snacks! A baguette, meats and cheeses, cups, beers, and a bottle of Rosé…I’m not even kidding you.  Take your lead from the French.  They know how to pique-nique right!!

 

Picking Your Viewing Spot Along the Route

 

Next, plan to get to your chosen Tour de France viewing spot well in advance.  Popular viewing spots like the summit finishes on the Alp d’ Huez, Tourmalet, or Mount Ventoux will fill up quickly.  Some people camp out overnight to avoid the early morning road closures!!  Whether you choose to watch the Tour de France at a picturesque mountain pass, or a charming town square, the atmosphere will be electric with anticipation.

If you want to try and see the riders up close before a stage starts, try to find out where the team busses will be parked.  This is where most of the Tour riders will warm up.  It’s also a perfect spot to get photos or ask for autographs!

 

 

8. Watching the Tour de France in Person: My Experience

 

Stage 1: Team Presentations

 

We got so lucky with some of our viewing spots.  In Bilbao, we caught the end of the team presentations and then the official start of the Tour!  The Stage 1 team presentations and the official rollout are usually the longest and are attended by thousands.  If you can get there early, pick out the best viewing spots for both.

After the team presentations, we followed a camera crew through the throngs of fans and suddenly we were at the start line.  We didn’t need a media pass to get there.  It was wild and I didn’t think the day could get any better!

 

Then, after the thrilling start, we walked around Bilbao, went to the Guggenheim for lunch, restocked our backpacks, and took a funicular up the hillside to catch the second to last climb of the day.  We thought we were so clever planning out our spot to watch the Tour come through.  However, thousands of others had the same idea! 

So when we approached the top of the climb, we scouted out a few different options where we could easily stand on the side of the road and watch the peloton go by.  We also found a nearby pub where we could use the bathroom and refuel!  That day was our first mountaintop viewing of the Tour and by far the most memorable!

 

Stage 2: Road Closures, Delays, and a Summit View

 

For Stage 2 we had a late start and were met with road closures further out than expected.  But it didn’t stop us.  We fueled up in a small town, parked as close as we could, and then hiked 2 miles up a climb to get to the summit.  We passed lots of farms, cows, sheep, goats, and friendly spectators along the way.

Our crew set up shop in the grass to watch the Tour just before the barricades at the summit.  We eat, sang, danced, and made friends.  The fun police were not pleased and kept trying to clear us off the road- if you haven’t seen the video yet, click here to watch!

Then as the helicopters approached the climb, we knew Nielson Powless was on the front.  Fighting to hold onto the polka-dot jersey.  The crowd was in a frenzy!  How I wished I had brought an American flag with me.  Either way, we made it on NBC/Peacock as the moto whirled past us!

 

Stage 3: The First Finish

 

Next, on Stage 3 which finished in Bayonne, our friend and her 4 kids camped out for hours at the 300m mark- thank you Regina!!  We arrived in plenty of time and then watched as Mathieu Van der Poel of Alpecin Decuenick led out Jasper Philipsen.  Jasper held off Wout van Aert, Caleb Ewan, and Phil Bauhaus to take the win.  It was epic!  We walked to the finish to see the podium presentations and had an incredible dinner that night in Bayonne.

 

Keep in mind, your experience at each stage might be very different.  But as the peloton approaches, make sure your GoPro, camera, or iPhone is ready to capture the fleeting moments of excitement as the riders speed by.  And speed by they will…even on 12% grades!

Witnessing the determination and skill of these world-class athletes is awe-inspiring.  Make sure to leave space for the riders.  The last thing you want is to be one of those people taking a selfie and then taking out half the peloton!

 

 

9. Post-Race Celebrations and Plans for the Next Stage

 

After watching the Tour de France pass by, if you’re at the finish you can join the celebrations as the winners are crowned.  In addition, many towns organize post-race events.  These provide the perfect opportunity to unwind, relive the day’s highlights with fellow fans, and relish in your shared love for cycling.

 

Here are a few basic plans to have in place for the next day:

• Which part of the stage do you want to see?
• What time will you meet your group?
• Does your hotel offer breakfast- most mid-range French hotels do!
• Where will you be staying the next night and how will you get there?

 

10. Watching the Tour De France- Last Thoughts

 

Following the Tour de France in person is an unforgettable adventure that blends the thrill of witnessing world-class athleticism with the richness of French culture and hospitality.  From the moment the peloton zooms past, to the interactions with locals and fellow fans, every aspect of watching the Tour de France in person will leave a lasting impression.

So, if you’ve been contemplating attending the Tour, don’t hesitate any longer!  Plan your own trip or join a group, but either way, get ready to immerse yourself in this extraordinary cycling experience.  Got questions that I haven’t answered here?  Drop me a note and let’s chat!

 

Thanks for reading and Vive la France!

 

Meredith McConvill, Top Rope Media