The world’s strongest and fiercest cyclists are gearing up to tackle the 2024 Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift as audiences worldwide prepare to witness an incredible season of captivating sport and entertainment. SBS, Australia’s home of cycling, will capture all the action and drama of the world’s biggest annual sporting event live and free from June 29.
SBS will provide extensive coverage of both the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift with the men’s race running from June 29 to July 21 and the women’s race, starting after the Paris Olympic Games, from August 12 to August 18.
Spanning across four countries, the highly anticipated 111th Tour de France will begin in Florence, Italy for the very first time in history, taking riders through Bologna and Torino before leaving Italy and cycling through San Marino, Monaco, and France. For the first time in history, the race will not finish in its traditional Paris destination. The stunning city of Nice in the Cote d’Azur will host the final stage of this year’s Tour.
Crossing 3492 kilometres, including 52,340 metres of vertical gain over 21 stages, the Tour will visit 39 picturesque towns, through stunning scenery and historic landmarks.
Four mountain ranges, the Apennines, the French and Italian Alps, the Massif Central and the Pyrenees, will deliver spectacular scenery and the renowned difficulty associated with the Tour de France. In this years’ route, cyclists will heroically tackle eight flat stages, four hilly stages, two individual time trials and seven mountain stages – four of which will conclude at the summit (Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet, Plateau de Beille, Isola 2000 and Col de la Couillole). For the first time in 35 years, the race will finish with an individual time-trial.
The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will begin the day after the Paris Olympic Games on August 12 in beautiful Rotterdam, Netherlands. Travelling through Belgium and France, the race will cross three countries and three French regions, covering 10 departments. The cyclists will battle it out to the finish line on August 18 on the most famous Alpe in Tour history – Alpe d’Huez, making its debut in the women’s race route. The eight stages of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift include three flat stages, two hilly stages, two mountain stages, and one individual time trial.
The Tour de France Femmes 2023. Credit: Alex Broadway / Getty Images
To ensure Australians can grasp every thrilling moment of the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, every stage of the men’s race will be live on SBS with the women’s race live on SBS VICELAND. Both events will be available to stream live, in full, on SBS On Demand, where you can also visit the for a variety of Tour content including extended highlights, full stage catch-up replays and mini stage recaps. Live coverage of the Tour will include new cultural and historical segments to enrich the audience experience. The is the place to be for all the latest news updates, opinions, expert analysis, statistics, results, and short highlight videos. The Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift broadcast times vary (full schedule ).
SBS' expert commentary team will be on the ground in Europe, capturing all the action and fierce competition. Reporting on location will be Australia’s experts, the ‘Australian voice of cycling’ Matthew Keenan and national time trial champion Dr Bridie O’Donnell for both the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, being joined by Tour de France yellow jersey wearer and multiple Tour stage winner Simon Gerrans for the men’s race. Providing exclusive interviews and reporting on the ground for both Tours will be Australian National Road Race Champion David McKenzie, alongside Christophe Mallet who will deliver insights on race tactics and information on the cultural and historical significance of the captivating locations travelled.
SBS Director of Sport, Ken Shipp said: “With SBS’s extensive coverage of the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, Australia’s home of cycling is going to be jam packed with gripping cycling coverage following every twist and turn of the rigorous route cyclists are fearlessly tackling this year. Sport unites people from all corners of the globe, and the world’s biggest annual sporting event, the Tour de France, captivates audiences worldwide. SBS is incredibly proud to bring all the action and captivating moments to Australian audiences. We’re ready for this year’s event and cannot wait to cheer on the Aussies as they conquer these challenging routes.”
Fans cheer riders during the Tour de France 2022. Credit: Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
The new exclusive daily Jayco & SBS Cycling Podcast is the premiere destination for all things cycling during July and August 2024. Hosted on location by Christophe Mallet and David McKenzie alongside expert guests, the podcast will provide cycling enthusiasts with a comprehensive exploration of the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift with in-depth race analysis, exclusive rider interviews and behind the scenes insights taking audiences on a journey of the route. With an episode for each stage of the races available for listeners on all their favorite podcast apps, the Jayco & SBS Cycling Podcast will take listeners amongst all the thrilling and epic storytelling the Tour de France has to offer.
All stages of the Tour will be available live on the SBS ŠKODA Tour Tracker app which will feature uninterrupted live coverage of every stage, combined with data and rider statistics, giving cycling fans an enhanced viewing experience.
176 fearless riders will be attempting to conquer the rigorous men’s route this year. The star-studded line up of general classification contenders is expected to include Jonas Vingegaard, who will be attempting to achieve a Tour De France hat trick whilst defending his 2023 and 2022 title against David Gaudu, Simon Yates, Mikel Landa and reigning Giro d’Italia winner Tadej Pogacar, who will attempt to conquer both grand tours this year. After Giro d’Italia victory in 2022 and winning a stage in the Tour de France last year, Australian Jai Hindley will be a top contender to secure a spot on the podium. Jack Haig also has his eye on the Tour de France podium this year, with fellow Australians Luke Durbridge and Chris Harper featuring in the Australian Jayco Aulula Team supporting their team leader Simon Yates.
Guillaume Brahimi returns with 'Plat du Tour'. Credit: SBS
As a delectable side dish to the Tour de France, renowned French-Australian chef Guillaume Brahimi returns with Plat du Tour from Saturday June 29. Travelling through Italy, San Marino, Monaco, and France following the Tour de France route Guillaume Brahimi explores and shares the incredible cuisines and culture of the regions. Plat du Tour will air on SBS during the Tour de France coverage, featuring 21 inspirational recipes for the 21 Tour stages. Guillaume meets some of the passionate and talented food producers and creates his own delicious dishes correlating to the traditions and culture of each city and town. Guillaume will plate up his ‘Plat du Tour’ starting in Florence Italy getting viewers into the Tour spirit.
Plat du Tour will be available on SBS Food Online and SBS On Demand and will air as special half hour episodes on SBS Food from Thursday July 18.
