Oct 22, 2021 Canyon.com
Oct 22, 2021 Canyon.com

Tour de France 2022: route, stages and TV

We examine the Tour de France 2022 route, stages and where to watch on TV.

Tour de France 2022: route, stages and TV Mathieu van der Poel in the yellow jersey during the 2021 Tour de France. | © Kramon

The excitement for the 2022 Tour de France began approximately five minutes after the 2021 Tour de France ended. With every year, we see the Tour become bigger, longer, higher, harder and everything in between. This is the road bike race that captivates the world, where riders’ names are carved into the history books and where cycling fans are inspired beyond their wildest dreams.

When is the Tour de France 2022?

The Tour de France will start on Friday 1st July 2022 until Sunday 24th July 2022. Last year’s Tour was earlier in the year due to the Olympic clash, so it’s now back in its usual July spot in the cycling calendar. Tour de France Femmes will begin on the same day that the men’s race ends.

Where does the Tour de France 2022 start?

The Danish capital of Copenhagen will host the 2022 Tour de France Grand Depart. It’s the northern most Grand Depart in the Tour’s history. Copenhagen was due to host the 2021 Tour de France but a conflict with the European Football Championships meant it had to be rescheduled.

How long is the Tour de France 2022?

The 2022 Tour de France is 3328km, 55km shorter than 2021. That doesn’t mean to say it doesn’t pack a punch. In fact, it’s slated to be one for the climbers rather than sprinters this year.

Tour de France 2022: route, stages and TV An overview of all the stages in the 2022 Tour de France | © ASO

Stages of the Tour de France 2022

Twenty-one stages of fast, gritty bike racing will unfold starting in Copenhagen. The first stage is a 13km time trial around the streets of the city, the winner of which will wear the yellow jersey the following day. Two flat stages follow the time trial and wrap up the three-day Grand Depart in Copenhagen.

Due to the location of Denmark, the teams require a so-called transfer day on Monday 3rd July, effectively creating a third rest day as opposed to the usual two.

The first week of the Tour de France 2022

Upon landing in France, the race will visit the coastal city of Dunkirk and race to Calais. Stage 5 will shake up the peloton (literally) as they race from Lille to Arenberg across some Paris-Roubaix cobbled sectors. From there, it’s over to the Belgian city of Binche for a punchy stage via Luxembourg.

The first mountain stage comes on stage 7 in the stunning Vosges region. This particular stage will bring back memories for some riders as they revisit the Super Planche des Belles Filles. It was on this climb that Tadej Pogacar rode into the yellow jersey during the time trial on the penultimate stage of the 2020 Tour de France. This stage could be one for a breakaway rider looking to make their mark on the race.

Tour de France 2022: route, stages and TV La Super Planche des Belles Filles returns for a summit finish on stage 7. | © Kramon

The end of the first week includes a brief stop in Switzerland. A rather tame stage 8 finishes in Lausanne, while stage 9 starts in Aigle nearby the UCI headquarters. It’s during this stage that riders will need to find their climbing legs as the race heads into the Alps.

Second week of the Tour de France: The Alps

After the first rest day in Morzine, it’s time for the climbing legs to get warmed up. The General Classification (GC) riders will be strategising ahead of a mountainous week. Stage 10 begins softly taking in a few steady climbs between Morzine and Megeve.

The next day, it’s time to bring out the big mountains. The iconic Lacets du Montvernier features in stage 11 quickly followed by the Col du Telegraph and Col du Galibier (2642m above sea level). The stage finishes on top of the Col du Granon, an 11km climb with an average of 9.2%. The yellow jersey will need to muster all the energy they have to get around this stage without losing any time.

No rest for the wicked: stage 12 is another hard day in the high mountains beginning in Briancon. Riders will head back up to the Galibier followed by an ascent of the Col de la Croix de Fer. The peloton will then descend the other side into Bourg-d’Oisans and take on L’Alpe-d’Huez’s iconic 21 switchbacks.

Tour de France 2022: route, stages and TV The famous “Dutch Corner” on L’Alpe d’Huez which appears on stage 12. | © Kramon

After three big days in the saddle, a flat stage 13 arrives to relieve riders’ legs. It’ll be a chance for the sprinters if they’ve survived the mountains in the days before.

As the race departs the Alps, the rolling hills of the Loire region provide little respite. Though the roads won’t rise to quite the same altitudes as we expect in the mountains, the constant up and down of these stages takes its toll on riders.

The final stage before the Pyrenees is a flat stage designed for the sprinters – perhaps the last chance for them before Paris. A flat 200km route will bring riders to Carcassonne, where Mark Cavendish equalled Eddy Merckx’s stage wins in 2021.

7 The final TdF week in the Pyrenees

Beginning with the small task of a ride to Foix, the peloton will climb Port de Lers (1517m) and Mur de Peguere (1375m) to kick start the third week of the 2022 Tour de France.

From there it’s the Pyrenees proper featuring some of the classic mountain passes including the Col d’Aspin (1490m), Col d’Aubisque (1709m), Col de Spandelles (1378m) and Hautacam (1520m and a summit finish).

Tour de France 2022: route, stages and TV Nairo Quintana on the Col d’Aubisque, which features on stage 18. | © Kramon

A flat run into Paris

The final two stages of the 2022 Tour de France favour the sprinters on the hunt for the green jersey. Who will win on the Champs-Elysees is anyone’s guess at the moment.

Canyon at the Tour de France 2022

Movistar, Arkea-Samsic and Alpecin-Fenix will all race the Tour de France in 2022. While specific team members haven’t been confirmed just yet, we can probably expect Eric Mas (MOV), Nairo Quintana (ARK) and Mathieu van der Poel (AFC) to be on the startlist.

Where to watch the 2022 Tour de France

As usual, Eurosport and GCN+ will broadcast the Tour de France around Europe. Check the Tour de France website for other coverage in your country.

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