The 2026 Tour de France runs from Saturday 4 July to Sunday 26 July, starting in Barcelona and finishing in Paris after 21 stages and two rest days. For UK viewers, the race will be shown live on TNT Sports and HBO Max, with every stage scheduled for live coverage.
The daily timing pattern is broadly familiar: most road stages start in the early afternoon local time and finish late afternoon, while the two time trials and the final Paris stage have their own rhythm. Stage 1 is a team time-trial in Barcelona, so teams set off individually rather than as one peloton. Stage 16 is the individual time-trial from Évian-les-Bains to Thonon-les-Bains, again with staggered starts.
All times below are listed in UK time, using BST. Local race times in Spain and France are one hour later. For the full race context behind the timings, see our Tour de France 2026 full route guide.
Photo Credit: GettyQuick answer: when is the Tour de France on TV in the UK?
The 2026 Tour de France is live on TNT Sports and HBO Max in the UK from Saturday 4 July to Sunday 26 July. Coverage usually begins between late morning and mid-afternoon BST, depending on the stage. The earliest main live window is stage 20, which starts on TV at 10:00 BST before the final Alpine stage to Alpe d’Huez. The latest is stage 21, with coverage from 14:30 BST before the Paris finish.
For platform details, see our guide on how to watch Tour de France 2026 in the UK and our wider Tour de France 2026 live stream guide by country.
Tour de France 2026 TV schedule and start times
| Stage | Date | Route | Type | TNT Sports coverage from | Race start | Expected finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Sat 4 Jul | Barcelona to Barcelona | Team time-trial | 15:30 | 16:05 | 18:16 |
| Stage 2 | Sun 5 Jul | Tarragona to Barcelona | Hilly | 11:45 | 12:45 | 16:26 |
| Stage 3 | Mon 6 Jul | Granollers to Les Angles | Mountain | 10:45 | 11:10 | 15:54 |
| Stage 4 | Tue 7 Jul | Carcassonne to Foix | Hilly | 12:00 | 12:10 | 16:23 |
| Stage 5 | Wed 8 Jul | Lannemezan to Pau | Flat | 12:30 | 13:05 | 16:37 |
| Stage 6 | Thu 9 Jul | Pau to Gavarnie-Gèdre | Mountain | 11:00 | 11:25 | 16:29 |
| Stage 7 | Fri 10 Jul | Hagetmau to Bordeaux | Flat | 12:00 | 12:15 | 16:13 |
| Stage 8 | Sat 11 Jul | Périgueux to Bergerac | Flat | 12:00 | 12:15 | 16:20 |
| Stage 9 | Sun 12 Jul | Malemort to Ussel | Hilly | 12:00 | 12:35 | 16:47 |
| Rest day | Mon 13 Jul | Cantal | Rest day | — | — | — |
| Stage 10 | Tue 14 Jul | Aurillac to Le Lioran | Mountain | 12:00 | 12:10 | 16:12 |
| Stage 11 | Wed 15 Jul | Vichy to Nevers | Flat | 12:30 | 12:50 | 16:31 |
| Stage 12 | Thu 16 Jul | Circuit Nevers Magny-Cours to Chalon-sur-Saône | Flat | 12:00 | 12:30 | 16:29 |
| Stage 13 | Fri 17 Jul | Dole to Belfort | Hilly | 11:45 | 12:00 | 16:46 |
| Stage 14 | Sat 18 Jul | Mulhouse to Le Markstein Fellering | Mountain | 11:45 | 12:10 | 16:24 |
| Stage 15 | Sun 19 Jul | Champagnole to Plateau de Solaison | Mountain | 11:45 | 12:10 | 16:41 |
| Rest day | Mon 20 Jul | Haute-Savoie | Rest day | — | — | — |
| Stage 16 | Tue 21 Jul | Évian-les-Bains to Thonon-les-Bains | Individual time-trial | 11:30 | 12:00 | 16:50 |
| Stage 17 | Wed 22 Jul | Chambéry to Voiron | Flat | 12:00 | 12:20 | 16:18 |
| Stage 18 | Thu 23 Jul | Voiron to Orcières-Merlette | Mountain | 11:15 | 11:35 | 16:12 |
| Stage 19 | Fri 24 Jul | Gap to Alpe d’Huez | Mountain | 12:30 | 13:00 | 16:24 |
| Stage 20 | Sat 25 Jul | Le Bourg d’Oisans to Alpe d’Huez | Mountain | 10:00 | 10:20 | 15:11 |
| Stage 21 | Sun 26 Jul | Thoiry to Paris Champs-Élysées | Flat | 14:30 | 15:15 | 18:30 |
How to read the schedule
The “TNT Sports coverage from” column refers to the UK TV and streaming window. That is when the broadcast is scheduled to begin, not necessarily when the racing starts.
The “race start” column is the official neutralised start for road stages. On a normal stage, the riders roll out together before the official racing begins shortly afterwards. For stages 1 and 16, the format is different because they are time trials. Stage 1 uses the first team start and final expected arrival. Stage 16 uses the first rider start and final expected arrival.
The “expected finish” column is the official estimated arrival time converted to BST. It can change depending on race speed, weather, road conditions, crashes, neutralisations or any route adjustments.
For newer fans, our beginner’s guide to the men’s Tour de France 2026 explains the difference between stage types, race days, rest days and the yellow jersey battle.
Where to watch the Tour de France 2026 in the UK
TNT Sports and HBO Max are the main UK live broadcasters for the 2026 Tour de France. TNT’s schedule lists every stage live, with coverage beginning before the race action on each day.
S4C also has selected live Welsh-language coverage, available through S4C platforms and BBC iPlayer for certain stages. The free-to-air live selection includes stages 1, 2, 3, 19, 20 and 21, with stage 18 also available digitally through S4C Clic, BBC iPlayer and S4C Chwaraeon’s YouTube channel.
That means UK viewers have two main options: full live coverage through TNT Sports and HBO Max, or selected free-to-air Welsh-language coverage through S4C and BBC iPlayer. For viewers outside Britain, our Tour de France 2026 live stream guide by country covers the main legal broadcast options around the world.
The key TV days to plan around
Stage 1: Barcelona team time-trial
The Tour starts with a team time-trial in Barcelona, and it is one of the most unusual opening stages in recent Tour history. TV coverage begins at 15:30 BST, with the first team starting at 16:05 and the last arrival expected around 18:16.
This is not a long afternoon of road racing, but it matters immediately. The first yellow jersey will be decided, and the general classification contenders could already be separated by meaningful time gaps.
For the route and tactical detail, see our Tour de France 2026 stage 1 preview and our guide to the Tour de France 2026 team time-trial. Fans watching in person can also use our guide to the best places to watch the Tour de France 2026 in Barcelona.
Stage 3: first mountain test
Stage 3 from Granollers to Les Angles is the first mountain stage and one of the earliest serious tests of the race. Coverage starts at 10:45 BST, with racing beginning around 11:10.
For UK viewers, this is one of the first days worth watching from early in the broadcast. The route takes the race out of Catalonia and into the mountains, so the GC picture should start to sharpen quickly.
Stage 6: Gavarnie-Gèdre summit finish
Stage 6 from Pau to Gavarnie-Gèdre is another major mountain day, with the expected finish around 16:29 BST. It is the kind of stage where the final hour should be essential viewing, though the early climbs and breakaway formation may also matter.
This is a good example of why watching only the last 10km is not always enough at the Tour. The stage can be shaped long before the summit finish. For the full climbing structure of the race, see our Tour de France 2026 summit finishes guide.
Stage 14 and stage 15: big weekend in the mountains
The second weekend is one of the strongest TV blocks of the race. Stage 14 finishes at Le Markstein Fellering, then stage 15 ends at Plateau de Solaison before the second rest day.
Coverage begins at 11:45 BST on both days. The expected finishes are 16:24 and 16:41 respectively. These are classic “set aside the afternoon” stages for UK viewers, especially if the overall classification is still tight.
Le Markstein has become an increasingly important modern Tour location, and its race history is covered in our feature on Le Markstein at the Tour de France.
Stage 16: individual time-trial
The individual time-trial from Évian-les-Bains to Thonon-les-Bains comes immediately after the second rest day. TV coverage starts at 11:30 BST, with the first rider off at 12:00 and the final arrival expected at 16:50.
For the GC riders, this could be one of the most important days of the race. It is also a stage where the timing pattern matters. The biggest names usually start later, so the key GC action should come towards the final part of the broadcast.
Stage 19 and stage 20: back-to-back Alpe d’Huez finishes
The final mountain block is the centrepiece of the 2026 Tour. Stage 19 finishes on Alpe d’Huez after a shorter 127.9km mountain stage. Stage 20 then returns to Alpe d’Huez from Le Bourg d’Oisans over a much harder 170.9km route with 5,450 metres of climbing.
Stage 19 coverage starts at 12:30 BST, with the finish expected around 16:24. Stage 20 starts much earlier, with coverage from 10:00, the neutralised start at 10:20 and the finish expected around 15:11.
Stage 20 is the day to mark clearly. It is an early UK start by Tour standards and could be the final decisive mountain stage of the race. For more context, see our Tour de France 2026 queen stage guide and our feature on Alpe d’Huez at the Tour de France.
Stage 21: Paris finale
The final stage runs from Thoiry to the Paris Champs-Élysées. Coverage begins at 14:30 BST, with the race starting at 15:15 and the finish expected at 18:30.
The 2026 Paris stage is listed as flat, but recent Tour finales in Paris have become more dynamic because of the Montmartre circuit. Even if the yellow jersey is already settled, the stage win could still be a proper contest rather than a simple ceremonial sprint.
Best stages to watch if you only have limited time
If you cannot watch every day, the most important stages are likely to be:
| Priority | Stage | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Stage 1 | First yellow jersey and team time-trial gaps |
| Essential | Stage 3 | First mountain test |
| Essential | Stage 6 | Major Pyrenean summit finish |
| Essential | Stage 15 | Big GC day before the second rest day |
| Essential | Stage 16 | Individual time-trial |
| Essential | Stage 20 | Hardest Alpine stage and final Alpe d’Huez finish |
| Strong choice | Stage 21 | Paris finale and final stage win |
For sprint fans, stages 5, 7, 8, 11, 12 and 17 are the clearest flat-stage options. For breakaway fans, stages 4, 9, 10 and 13 should be worth watching closely. For GC fans, the best days are stages 3, 6, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19 and 20.
For a more detailed stage-type breakdown, see our guide to the Tour de France 2026 route and the best days for breakaways.
Why the TV times vary so much
Tour de France stages do not all begin at the same time because each day has a different distance, profile, logistical plan and expected race speed.
A flat 160km stage can start later and still finish in the standard late-afternoon window. A long mountain stage needs more time because the average speed is lower. A time-trial is different again because riders or teams start one by one across several hours.
The final stage is also unusual because Paris finishes are often scheduled later for atmosphere, TV audience and ceremonial reasons.
That is why stage 20 starts much earlier than stage 21. The Alpe d’Huez stage is a long, hard mountain day. The Paris stage is shorter, flatter and designed around the final showcase.
The two rest days also break up the schedule, which matters for viewers trying to plan around work or travel. Our guide to Tour de France 2026 rest days explains when they happen and how they shape the race.
FAQs: Tour de France 2026 TV schedule and start times
What time does the Tour de France start in the UK?
Most 2026 Tour de France road stages start between 11:10 and 13:05 BST, though stage 20 starts earlier at 10:20 and stage 21 starts later at 15:15. TV coverage usually begins before the race start.
What channel is the Tour de France on in the UK?
The 2026 Tour de France is live on TNT Sports and HBO Max in the UK. Selected stages are also available through S4C, S4C Clic, BBC iPlayer and S4C’s digital channels.
Is the Tour de France on free-to-air TV in the UK?
Selected live coverage is available through S4C and BBC iPlayer, mainly for stages 1, 2, 3, 18, 19, 20 and 21. Daily highlights are also available separately.
What time does stage 1 of the Tour de France 2026 start?
Stage 1 starts at 16:05 BST with the first team in the Barcelona team time-trial. The final team is expected to finish at around 18:16 BST.
What time is the Alpe d’Huez stage?
There are two Alpe d’Huez finishes in 2026. Stage 19 starts at 13:00 BST and is expected to finish at 16:24. Stage 20 starts at 10:20 BST and is expected to finish at 15:11.
What time does the Tour de France finish in Paris?
Stage 21 is expected to finish in Paris at around 18:30 BST on Sunday 26 July.
Are the Tour de France start times fixed?
They are official scheduled times, but they can change because of weather, safety decisions, road conditions or race organisation. The finish times are estimates based on expected race speeds.
Final word
The 2026 Tour de France TV schedule is built around a familiar rhythm, but there are several days where UK viewers need to pay closer attention.
Stage 1 starts later because it is a Barcelona team time-trial. Stage 16 has staggered rider times because it is an individual time-trial. Stage 20 starts unusually early in UK terms because it is a huge mountain day to Alpe d’Huez. Stage 21 finishes later because it is the Paris finale.
For most fans, the simple approach is this: watch from the final hour on flat days, give yourself longer for hilly and mountain stages, and clear the schedule for stages 1, 3, 6, 15, 16, 19, 20 and 21.
Those are the days most likely to define how the 2026 Tour is remembered.
