How to Watch the Tour de France

NBC’s Peacock streaming service is the best way to catch the world's biggest cycling race
Easton Smith
Aug 19, 2024
Icon Time To Read3 min read

It’s July, which means the Tour de France (or TDF) is kicking into gear. Watching the event live or on-demand is about as easy as coasting downhill on a Cannondale.

The Tour will be broadcast by NBC Sports, which means you can catch it on your local NBC affiliate, the USA Network, or the Peacock streaming service.

We think that Peacock offers the best viewing experience because you can watch live or on-demand on many different devices. The service costs $7.99 a month (or $13.99 ad-free), and you can sign up and watch right now.

Here’s everything cycling fans need to know about watching the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes (which is also broadcast by NBC).

What channel has the Tour de France?

Because NBC is the official broadcaster of the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes in the United States, the events will be available on NBCUniversal Media channels.

  • NBC: Local NBC affiliates will be streaming select stages of the race. Right now, it seems like the network will only be airing the first and the last stages of the race.
  • USA Network: The USA Network will be airing many stages of the race live, and others it will air late-night reruns.
  • Peacock: You can watch every stage of the race live on Peacock (with a Premium Monthly or Premium Plus plan). You can also stream reruns of stages that you don’t watch live. Peacock will also stream all of the Tour de France Femmes stages live.

All of the coverage will have commentary from NBC Sports anchors Phil Liggett (also known as the "voice of cycling") and Bob Roll.

What is the Tour de France route and schedule?

The best way to look at the Tour de France schedule is in map form! This is the official route with the dates of each stage indicated along the way.

A map of 2023 Tour de France route

Photo courtesy of A.S.O. and the Tour de France 

You can see the full schedule for the Tour de France on the event’s website. The Tour de France Femmes schedule can also be found online here.

Our top recommendation: Watch the Tour de France on Peacock

The Peacock streaming app offers by far the easiest and most extensive Tour de France viewing experience. You can catch every stage of the race live, or watch them on-demand after they air.

Subscribers can watch Peacock on their phones, computers, tablets, smart TVs, and other devices. You can also link your subscription with services like Roku.

Peacock plans and prices

Peacock is a very affordable streaming service. 

But to get the Tour de France you’ll need to get a Peacock Premium Monthly or Premium Plus plan.

Peacock TV deals
Plan
Price
Tour de France coverage
Includes ads
Details
Peacock Premium$7.99/mo.
Icon Yes  DarkYes
Icon Yes  DarkYes
Peacock Premium Plus$13.99/mo.*
Icon Yes  DarkYes
Icon No  DarkNo
* Due to streaming rights, a small amount of programming will still contain ads (Peacock channels, events and a few shows and movies).

The biggest benefit of going for the Premium Plus plan is that you can watch everything on the site ad-free, including the Tour de France.

But Peacock has a lot more than just cycling content. It’s the main streaming home for classic shows like Parks and Recreation and The Office. It’s where you can watch modern hits like Yellowstone and Poker Face. It’s also the exclusive streaming home for all Universal Movie releases, including big hits like the Jurassic Park and Harry Potter franchises.

Others ways to watch the Tour de France

You don’t have to subscribe to the Peacock app to watch the Tour de France. You can also get coverage of the cycling event's 21 stages by subscribing to a cable or live TV streaming service that has USA and NBC.

Other services with NBC Sports Tour de France coverage

Most live TV streaming services will get you access to USA Network and a local NBC affiliate. But we think these are the best options out there right now.

What are the best live TV streaming services?
Provider
Monthly price
Available channels
Learn more
Fubo$32.99-$99.9965-300
YouTube TV$34.99-$48930-100
Hulu + Live TV$69.99-$95.9975-85
Sling$40-$5532-46
DIRECTV$9.99-$142.991-160
Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change. Data verified as of the article's publication date.
All prices include $5 Autopay & Paperless Bill discount, which may take 1-3 bill cycles to begin (pay $5 more per month until discount begins). New approved residential customers only. 24-mo. agreement required. Offers may be discontinued at any time.

Each one of these services has its pros and cons, and all of them have a lot more content to offer than just the Tour de France.

Watch the Tour de France for free

There is one way to watch certain parts of the Tour de France for free. All you need is an indoor HD antenna and a TV.

With an antenna you should be able to pick up your local NBC affiliate. The channel will air at least the first and last stage of the Tour de France live. You won’t have to pay for a subscription or even sign up for anything (a rare thing in our modern world).

How to install an antenna

TV antennas are cheap and relatively easy to install. You can find a good one for under $30 online. Then just follow the instructions to attach the antenna to your TV and mount it near a window.

With a TV antenna you’ll get more than just NBC. You can watch local nightly news, sit-coms like The Simpsons (on Fox) and Abbot Elementary (ABC), and other sporting events, like the Super Bowl.

Recap: What’s the best way to watch the Tour de France?

The Tour de France is being broadcast by three different channels: NBC, USA Network, and Peacock. All three channels will have NBC Sports commentary.

By far the best and easiest way to watch is with the Peacock streaming app, which costs just $8–$14 a month (depending on which plan you go for). It will show every stage of the race live and let you watch on-demand after the race airs.

FAQ

Hopefully we answered most of your questions in the sections above, but here’s a quick FAQ section to wrap up any loose ends.

Does Youtube TV have the Tour de France?

Yes. You can watch the Tour de France on NBC or USA Network with a Youtube TV subscription.

Is Tour de France on ESPN Plus?

No. You cannot watch the Tour de France or the Tour de France Femmes on ESPN or ESPN+ in the United States.

How much does it cost to watch the Tour de France?

You can watch the Tour de France for $7.99 a month with a Peacock subscription. You can also watch on the USA Network or NBC with a cable or live TV subscription. If you have a TV antenna you can also catch certain stages of the race for free on your local NBC affiliate.

Easton Smith
Written by
Easton has worked as a freelance writer and researcher for several years, reviewing health, lifestyle, and technology products. He has probably read more Terms of Use contracts than any human alive. When he’s not sitting in front of a computer, Easton spends his time camping, climbing, and volunteering with humanitarian aid organizations.

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