The Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 will be one of the key men’s WorldTour stage races before the Tour de France, and UK viewers should be able to follow the race through TNT Sports and HBO Max.
The race runs from Sunday, 7th June to Sunday, 14th June, with eight stages across the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. It is the new name for the Critérium du Dauphiné, so although the branding is different, the race still carries the same position in the calendar as one of the biggest Tour de France preparation events.
For British cycling fans, the main viewing route is expected to be TNT Sports on TV and HBO Max for streaming. That keeps the race inside the same wider broadcast ecosystem as many major men’s WorldTour races, with live TV coverage available through TNT Sports and streaming access handled through HBO Max.
Where can I watch Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 in the UK?
UK coverage of Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 is expected to be available through TNT Sports and HBO Max.
TNT Sports remains the linear TV route for subscribers who watch through platforms such as Sky, Virgin Media, EE TV or other TV providers carrying TNT Sports channels. For streaming, HBO Max is now the key platform for TNT Sports content in the UK, including major live cycling coverage.
That means most UK viewers will need access to a TNT Sports subscription, either through a TV package or through the TNT Sports plan on HBO Max. If you previously watched cycling through discovery+, it is worth checking your account before race week, as TNT Sports streaming moved to HBO Max in the UK from 26th March 2026.
For a wider view of the season’s confirmed TV coverage, ProCyclingUK’s men’s cycling TV guide hub tracks the major races on the calendar, including the Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes.
Is Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 on Eurosport?
The old Eurosport branding has become less central for UK viewers, with TNT Sports and HBO Max now carrying Warner Bros. Discovery’s live sports offering in Britain. In practical terms, UK cycling fans should look for the race under TNT Sports and HBO Max rather than expecting a separate Eurosport Player-style option.
The race may still appear with Eurosport branding in some international listings or commentary pages, but for UK streaming the important platform is HBO Max. On TV, the relevant channels are TNT Sports.
Can I watch Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 for free?
There is not expected to be a free UK broadcast for Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026. The main UK route is subscription-based coverage through TNT Sports and HBO Max.
Some international broadcasters may offer free coverage in their own territories, but those streams are normally intended for viewers in those countries. UK viewers should use the official UK rights holder where available.
What time will the live coverage start?
Exact live broadcast times can vary by stage and are usually confirmed closer to each race day inside the TNT Sports and HBO Max schedules. As a guide, WorldTour stage-race coverage often focuses on the decisive final section of each stage rather than every kilometre from the start.
For UK viewers, the race is in France, so local race timing is one hour ahead of the UK. A stage finishing in the late afternoon in France will usually finish in the mid-to-late afternoon UK time.
The biggest stages are likely to receive the most attention, especially the mountain finishes in the final three days. Those are the days to check the live schedule carefully, as they should be the most important for the general classification.
Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 stage schedule
- Sunday, 7th June: Stage 1, Vizille to Saint-Ismier, 146.2km
- Monday, 8th June: Stage 2, Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux to Le Puy-en-Velay, 234.3km
- Tuesday, 9th June: Stage 3, Perreux to Perreux, 28.4km team time trial
- Wednesday, 10th June: Stage 4, Le Puy-en-Velay to Montrond-les-Bains, 167.4km
- Thursday, 11th June: Stage 5, Saint-Chamond to Villars-les-Dombes, 195.8km
- Friday, 12th June: Stage 6, Saint-Vulbas to Crest-Voland, 182.3km
- Saturday, 13th June: Stage 7, La Bridoire to Col du Grand Colombier, 133.6km
- Sunday, 14th June: Stage 8, Beaufort to Plateau de Solaison, 120.1km
Which stages are most important to watch?
The final three stages look like the key viewing block for general classification fans. Stage 6 to Crest-Voland starts the Alpine run-in, stage 7 finishes on the Col du Grand Colombier, and stage 8 ends at Plateau de Solaison. Those three days should decide the race overall and offer the clearest Tour de France form clues.
The team time trial on stage 3 is also important. At 28.4km, it is long enough to create meaningful gaps between GC contenders before the mountains. It could be especially relevant for teams building towards the Tour de France, where collective strength around the leaders is just as important as individual climbing form.
Stage 2 to Le Puy-en-Velay is another one to watch closely. At more than 230km, it is unusually long by modern stage-race standards and could be a day for fatigue, breakaways and early GC tension.
Why has the Critérium du Dauphiné changed name?
The 2026 race is being run under the Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes name, reflecting its regional identity and route focus. It is effectively the renamed Critérium du Dauphiné, rather than a completely new race inserted into the calendar.
That is important for viewers because the sporting role remains familiar. It is still a June WorldTour stage race in France, still a major Tour de France preparation event, and still a race where the strongest Grand Tour riders often test climbing form, team support and tactical sharpness before July.
For a fuller race background, ProCyclingUK’s beginner’s guide to Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 explains the name change and wider significance, while the full route guide breaks down the eight stages in more detail.
Can I watch Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 with a VPN?
A VPN can be useful when you are travelling and want to access a service you already pay for at home. For example, a UK subscriber travelling abroad may need to check whether HBO Max or their TNT Sports access works in the country they are visiting.
Viewers should still follow the terms of the broadcaster they are using. The simplest UK route remains TNT Sports on TV or HBO Max for streaming.
Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 UK viewing verdict
For UK viewers, Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 should be treated as a TNT Sports and HBO Max race. It is not expected to have a free UK broadcast, so the practical choice is between watching through a TNT Sports TV package or streaming through HBO Max with the relevant sports access.
The race is worth following closely because it sits directly on the road to the Tour de France. The new name may take a little getting used to, but the sporting identity is familiar: a hard French WorldTour stage race, a serious mountain test, and one of the clearest signs of who is ready for July.
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