World cycling's most prestigious and iconic race – the Tour de France – has finally arrived for 2024.
Reigning champion Jonas Vingegaard suffered serious injuries following a crash in April but has been confirmed on the entry list as he aims for his third successive triumph.
Tadej Pogačar – who won May's Giro d'Italia – is the favourite coming into this year's race, with the likes of Primož Roglič, Remco Evenepoel and Carlos Rodríguez also in contention for the general classification crown.
Elsewhere in the field, legendary sprinter Mark Cavendish is locked in for his final appearance in La Grande Boucle. The 39-year-old has 34 stage wins, tied with Eddy Merckx for the most ever, and all eyes will be on him during the flat stages with sprint finishes.
MORE: Watch the Tour de France live with Fubo (free trial)
So when does the action begin? The Sporting News has the details.
When does Tour de France 2024 start?
- Tour de France start date: Saturday, June 29
- Stage 1 start time: 6:00 a.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. local time
- Stage 1 approx. finish time: 11:34 a.m. ET / 5:34 p.m. local time
This year's Tour de France will begin with Stage 1 on Saturday, June 29.
A neutralised start will take place in Florence, Italy at 12:00 p.m. local time, with riders crossing the finish line roughly five and a half hours later.
Where is Stage 1 of the Tour de France in 2024?
As has become tradition, the 'Grand Départ' will be held outside of France. In 2024, Stage 1 will begin in the Italian city of Florence.
It is a fairly challenging route, featuring over 3,600 metres of climbing – the most for an opening stage in the race's history.
Riders will pass through the hills of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, along with a steep climb into the microstate of San Marino.
The 206 km (128-mile) route will finish in the coastal city of Rimini.
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How to watch Tour de France Stage 1 in 2024
- Time: 6:00 a.m. ET
- TV channel: N/A
- Live stream: Peacock
In a departure from past years, only three stages of the 2024 Tour de France will be available on traditional television in the United States, with just two live broadcasts.
Stages 8 and 14 will air live on NBC and can be streamed via Fubo, which offers a free trial, and a taped broadcast of Stage 20 also will air on NBC.
The rest of the 2024 Tour will be exclusively on NBC's streaming platform, Peacock.
Tour de France 2024 schedule
The Tour de France will consist of 21 stages in 2024.
Two rest days have been built into the schedule for the race which begins on June 29 and concludes on July 21 in Nice rather than the traditional Paris finish due to 2024 Olympics preparations.
For US-based fans tuning in live, there will be plenty of early starts, with the action concluding just before lunchtime most days.
| Stage | Date | Length | Location (type) | Start (ET) | TV/Streaming |
| 1 | June 29 | 206 km (128 miles) | Florence to Rimini (hilly) | 6:00 a.m. | Peacock |
| 2 | June 30 | 199.2 km (123.8 miles) | Cesenatico to Bologna (hilly) | 6:05 a.m. | Peacock |
| 3 | July 1 | 230.8 km (143.4 miles) | Piacenza to Turin (flat) | 6:50 a.m. | Peacock |
| 4 | July 2 | 139.6 km (86.7 miles) | Pinerolo to Valloire (mountain) | 7 a.m. | Peacock |
| 5 | July 3 | 177.4 km (110.2 miles) | Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Saint-Vulbas (flat) | 6:55 a.m. | Peacock |
| 6 | July 4 | 163.5 km (101.6 miles) | Macon to Dijon (flat) | 7 a.m. | Peacock |
| 7 | July 5 | 25.3 km (15.7 miles) | Nuits-Saint-Georges to Gevrey-Chambertin (individual time-trial) | 7:10 a.m. | Peacock |
| 8 | July 6 | 183.4 km (114 miles) | Semur-en-Auxois to Colombey-les-Deux-Églises (flat) | 6 a.m. | Peacock, NBC, Fubo |
| 9 | July 7 | 199 km (123.7 miles) | Troyes to Troyes (hilly) | 7:05 a.m. | Peacock |
| Rest Day | July 8 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 10 | July 9 | 187.3 km (116.3 miles) | Orléans to Saint-Amand-Montrond (flat) | 6:55 a.m. | Peacock |
| 11 | July 10 | 221 km (137.3 miles) | Evaux-les-Bains to Le Lioran (mountain) | 6:55 a.m. | Peacock |
| 12 | July 11 | 203.6 km (126.5 miles) | Aurillac to Villeneuve-sur-Lot (flat) | 6:55 a.m. | Peacock |
| 13 | July 12 | 165.3 km (102.7 miles) | Agen to Pau (flat) | 7:30 a.m. | Peacock |
| 14 | July 13 | 151.9 km (94.3 miles) | Pau to Saint-Lary-Soulan/Pla d'Adet (mountain) | 6:30 a.m. | Peacock, NBC, Fubo |
| 15 | July 14 | 198 km (123 miles) | Loudenvielle to Plateau de Beille (mountain) | 6:55 a.m. | Peacock |
| Rest Day | July 15 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 16 | July 16 | 188.6 km (117.1 miles) | Gruissan to Nimes (flat) | 6:50 a.m. | Peacock |
| 17 | July 17 | 177.8 km (110.5 miles) | Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux to SuperDevoluy (mountain) | 6:05 a.m. | Peacock |
| 18 | July 18 | 179.5 km (111.5 miles) | Gap to Barcelonnette (hilly) | 6:55 a.m. | Peacock |
| 19 | July 19 | 144.6 km (89.8 miles) | Embrun to Isola 2000 (mountain) | 7:05 a.m. | Peacock |
| 20 | July 20 | 132.8 km (82.5 miles) | Nice to Col de la Couillole (mountain) | 7:35 a.m. | Peacock, NBC, Fubo |
| 21 | July 21 | 33.7 km (20.9 miles) | Monaco to Nice (individual time-trial) | 10:10 a.m. | Peacock |