How to Watch the Tour de France

The Tour de France, first run in 1903, is the world's largest and most prestigious bicycle race. The grueling, 23-day, 21-stage race circles the French countryside, up the footfills of the Alps, over the peaks of the Pyrenees and across the fields of the Midi. The 3000-kilometer race, held each July, finishes along the Champs Elysees in Paris to cheering crowds.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Watch the nearly 200 riders depart en masse. The starting city changes every year. Past starts have been in Brest, Rouen, Lyon and Paris. Stands for the crowd are set up at the starting point.

2. Witness the race at one of its stages. More casual than the beginning and the finish are the 20 intermediate starts along the Tour de France route. Those starts generally get underway between 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

3. Celebrate the finish of the Tour de France. The last stage of the Tour de France takes the riders down the legendary Champs Elysees in Paris. The famous boulevard is lined with spectators, most of whom are waving the flag of their favorite rider.

4. Watch the television broadcast of the race. Many of the stages of the Tour de France are broadcast on sports stations such as ESPN. The final stage is usually carried on a network station. Remember that because of the time difference, these broadcasts begin early in the morning.

5. Subscribe to the live video feed. The Tour de France official website offers live streaming video coverage of all stages of the race. If you can't make it to France this year, watching the race live on your computer is the next best thing.

Resources

• Watch the Tour de France live on your computer.

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