Tour de France 2022 route map, start times for each stage and how to watch on TV

What is this race and why should I care about it?

Why, it's only the 109th edition of the Tour de France, one of the three grand tours, the others being the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España.

Regardless of what some believe, this is the biggest and brashest bike race in the world, with an estimated 80 per cent of most WorldTour team's sponsorship income being based around the Tour.

Founded in 1903 by Henri Desgrange, editor of L'Auto newspaper, the Tour may not be the favourite stage race of the cycling cognoscenti but it is one that captures the imagination of the wider sporting public. As a result, the race is the biggest annual sporting event in the world with more live spectators than even the Olympics or football World Cup.

When does the Tour de France start?

This year's Tour de France started with a 13.2-kilometre individual time trial through Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, on Friday July 1, 2022.

How long is this year's Tour de France?

The second grand tour of the season comprises 21 stages and will be contested over 3,328 kilometres – that's 2,068 miles in old money – which is an average of 158.47km (98.46 miles) per day.

And when does the Tour de France finish?

The Tour de France concludes with its traditional final stage in Paris, on Sunday July 21. The race will again end on the famous cobbled Champs-Élysées boulevard following a 115.6km saunter from Paris La Défense Arena on the outskirts of the city.

Where does each stage start and end?

How can I follow the race?

Those with subscriptions to Eurosport (through discovery+ Sport and Entertainment pass) or GCN+ are in luck, both will broadcast every day, as will be ITV4 and Welsh terrestrial channel S4C. In Wales S4C is available on Sky 104, Freeview 4, Virgin TV 166 and Freesat 104, while in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland it can be found on Sky 134, Freesat 120 and Virgin TV 166 and also on iPlayer. Live shows and highlights programmes will be shown at different times each day. Alternatively, if you are stuck at work or do not subscribe to Eurosport if you have a sports package with the likes of Sky and BT or GCN+ – or cannot access S4C – then you can follow the action, as it unfolds, right here with Telegraph Sport. Almost every stage will be live blogged by our team – details to follow – while selected race details and standings in the main classifications will also be published.

What teams will ride the Tour de France?

As with all WorldTour races, each team from the top-flight of professional cycling receive an invitation and in the case of the Tour de France, all are contracted to compete in the grand tour.

In addition, Alpecin-Fenix and Arkéa-Samsic qualified as the top ranked ProTeams from 2021, while race organisers ASO handed wild card spots to French squads B&B Hotels-KTM and TotalEnergies.

You can find the full list of teams in action in France in July and the riders scheduled to line-up in Copenhagen right here.

How to watch live TV coverage and follow the race

All dates, times and distances are correct at time of publishing.

Friday July 1 – stage one

Copenhagen to Copenhagen, 13.2km (time trial)

Saturday July 2 – stage two

Roskilde to Nyborg, 202.2km

Sunday July 3 – stage three

Vejle to Sonderborg, 182km

Tuesday July 5 – stage four

Dunkirk to Calais, 171.5km

Wednesday July 6 – stage five

Lille to Wallers-Arenberg, 154km

Thursday July 7 – stage six

Binche to Longwy, 220km

Friday July 8 – stage seven

Tomblaine to La Super Planche des Belles Filles, 176.5km

Saturday July 9 – stage eight

Dole to Lausanne, 186.5km

Sunday July 10 – stage nine

Aigle to Châtel Les Portes du Soleil, 193km

Tuesday July 12 – stage 10

Morzine to Megève, 148.5km

Wednesday July 13 – stage 11

Albertville to Col de Granon, 152km

Thursday July 14 – stage 12

Briançon to Alpe d'Huez, 165.5km

Friday July 15 – stage 13

Bourg d'Oisans to Saint-Étienne, 193km

Saturday July 16 – stage 14

Saint-Étienne to Mende, 192.5km

Sunday July 17 – stage 15

Rodez to Carcassonne, 202.5km

Tuesday July 19 – stage 16

Carcassonne to Foix, 178.5km

Wednesday July 20 – stage 17

Saint-Gaudens to Peyragudes, 130km

Thursday July 21 – stage 18

Lourdes to Hautacam, 143.5km

Friday July 22 – stage 19

Castelnau-Magnoac to Cahors, 188.5km

Saturday July 23 – stage 20

Lacapelle-Marival to Rocamadour, 40.7km (time trial)

Sunday July 24 – stage 21

Paris La Défense to Paris (Champs-Élysées), 116km

All maps and stage profiles supplied by race organisers ASO