time, channel and how to watch Grand Depart on TV

The Tour de France promises to be a very intriguing race, with a peloton packed with storyline battles over three weeks of racing.

For the first time, the Grand Tour will begin in Italy, with Florence hosting the Large departure and San Marino becomes the 14th country to be visited by a podium.

The finish of the race will also look very different, as a time trial in Nice replaces the traditional Champs-Elysees sprint due to the ongoing preparations for Paris 2024.

The individual time trial is the first final event of the Tour since 1989, when Greg LeMond memorably beat Laurent Fignon in the most thrilling edition in history.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the 2024 Tour de France.

When is the Tour de France?

The 2024 Tour de France will be held from June 29 to July 21 and consists of 21 stages, with two rest days along the route. The race will not finish in (or near) Paris for the first time since it started, as Nice will be used instead — the French capital is out of action for the Olympics later this summer.

Where is the Grand Départ?

The Grand Depart will be held in Italy for the first time, with Florence in Tuscany selected to start the route. Stage 1 finishes in the coastal town of Rimini, while the next three stages also start in Italy before the race crosses the border.

How long does the Tour last?

In total, the peloton will cover 3,492 km (2,170 miles) over 21 days of racing. Stage 3 (Piacenza to Turin) is the longest stage at 229 km (142 miles), while the 133 km (83 miles) route of stage 20 (Nice to Col de La Couillole) is the shortest road stage. There are two individual time trials: stage 7 is 25 km (16 miles) and the final stage from Monaco to Nice is contested over 34 km (21 miles).

How can I watch it?

Viewers in Great Britain will once again have the choice of two broadcasters. ITV will offer free coverage on ITV4 and ITVX, while the Tour de France will also be available to subscribers of Eurosport and Discovery+.

Eurosport’s coverage of the opening phase begins at 10:30am (BST) on Saturday 29 June, while ITV viewers can watch from 10:45am.

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Who are the favorites for victory?

There are four main contenders for overall victory, although each comes with significant questions about their readiness for the second Grand Tour of the year. Defending champion Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) will be aiming for a third consecutive finish, but has not raced since suffering a broken collar and other injuries in a serious crash at the Tour of the Basque Country in April.

Primoz Roglic (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) were also injured in the incident, but the duo returned to racing at the recent Criterium du Dauphine, where Roglic took the overall victory.

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) is meanwhile bidding to win the Giro-Tour double after winning the maglia rosa in Italy earlier this year – no male rider has won both races in one season this century.

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