How many stages are there in the Tour de France, and how long is the race?

How many stages are there in the Tour de France, and how long is the race?

Ciku Njuguna
May 17, 2024 at 7:24 PM

The Tour de France is one of the most coveted sporting events in the world. Its structure allows teams of elite cyclists to compete for 23 days in multiple stages across various locations, primarily in Paris. Dig and find out how many stages are there in the Tour de France.

How many stages are there in the Tour de France?
Cyclists compete during Stage 12 of the 109th Tour de France on July 14, 2022, in Alpe d'Huez, France. Photo by Michael Steele.
Source: Getty Images

Table of Сontents:

What is the format of the Tour de France? La Grande Boucle is the largest men's professional bicycle race held over miles of varied terrain. For accurate and actual facts, Sports Brief has used the official competition's website to compile information on how long the Tour de France is, its participants, duration, and stages.

How many stages are there in the Tour de France?

A classic La Grande Boucle runs for three weeks and has over twenty-one stages, each held in a different location. This article dives into the official competition records to give you, the reader, exact information on how long the Tour de France is in miles and days.

How long is the Tour de France as of 2024?

The 21-stage 2024 race covers over 2,143 miles (3,450 kilometres) of flat and hilly terrain. The Grand Départ and the first three stages are set to take place in Italy before passing through San Marino, Monaco, and France. Have a look at this summary of approximately how long the Tour de France is by stages in the upcoming 2024 competition.

How many stages are there in the Tour de France?
Italy's Giulio Ciccone sprints during stage sixteen of the 110th Tour de France on July 18, 2023, in Combloux, France. Photo by David Ramos.
Source: Getty Images

Stage

Date

Terrain type

Starting

Finishing

Total distance (miles)

1

6/6/2024

Hilly

Florence

Rimini

128

2

6/30/2024

Hilly

Cesenatico

‎Bologne

136.7

3

7/1/2024

Flat

Plaisance

Turin

142.2

4

7/2/2024

Mountain

Pinerolo

Valloire

85.7

5

7/3/2024

Flat

Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne

Saint-Vulbas

109.9

6

7/4/2024

Flat

Mâcon

Dijon

101.2

7

7/5/2024

Individual time-trial

Nuits-Saint-Georges

Gevrey-Chambertin

15.5

8

7/6/2024

Flat

Semur-en-Auxois

Colombey-les-Deux-Églises

109.3

9

7/7/2024

Hilly

Troyes

Troyes

123.6

10

7/9/2024

Flat

Orléans

Saint-Amand-Montrond

116.1

11

7/10/2024

Mountain

Évaux-les-Bains

Le Lioran

131.1

12

7/11/2024

Flat

Aurillac

Villeneuve-sur-Lot

126.7

13

7/12/2024

Flat

Agen

Pau

106.2

14

7/13/2024

Mountain

Pau

Saint Lary Soulan Pla d'Adet

94

15

7/14/2024

Mountain

Loudenvielle

Plateau de Beille

123

16

7/16/2024

Flat

Gruissan

Nimes

116.1

17

7/17/2024

Mountain

Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux

SuperDévoluy

110.6

18

7/18/2024

Hilly

Gap

Barcelonnette

111.2

19

7/19/2024

Mountain

Embrun

Isola 200

90

20

7/20/2024

Mountain

Nice

Col de la Couillole

82.6

21

7/21/2024

Individual time-trial

Monaco

Nice

21.1

How many stages of the Tour de France were there in 2023?

Like the 2024 competition, cyclists covered just more than 2112.6 miles (3400 kilometres) in 21 stages in 2023. 176 cyclists from 27 countries took the 3,404-kilometre-long contest that began in Bilbao, Spain, and ended in Champs-Élysées, Paris. The race took place between July 1 and July 23, 2023, with two rest days on the tenth and seventeenth. Have a look at the stages, locations, and terrains crossed by the cyclists.

How many stages are there in the Tour de France?
Male cyclists in action during stage 21 of the 110th Tour de France on July 23, 2023, in Paris, France. Photo by Luc Claessen / Stringer.
Source: Getty Images

Stage

Date

Terrain type

Starting

Finishing

Distance (miles)

1

7/ 1/2023

Hilly

Bilbao

Bilbao

113.0

2

7/2/2023

Hilly

Vitoria-Gasteiz

San Sebastian

129.8

3

7/3/2023

Flat

Amorebieta-Etxano

Bayonne

114.9

4

7/4/2023

Flat

Dax

Nogaro

113.0

5

7/5/2023

Mountain

Pau

Laruns

102.5

6

7/6/2023

Mountain

Tarbes

Cauterets-Cambasque

90

7

7/7/2023

Flat

Mont-de-Marsan

Bordeaux

105.6

8

7/8/2023

Hilly

Libourne

Limoges

124.8

9

7/9/2023

Mountain

Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat

Puy de Dôme

114.3

10

7/11/2023

Hilly

Vulcania

Issoire

103.7

11

7/12/2023

Flat

Clermont-Ferrand

Moulins

111.8

12

7/13/2023

Hilly

Roanne

Belleville-en-Beaujolais

105

13

7/14/2023

Mountain

Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne

Grand Colombier

85.7

14

7/15/2023

Mountain

Annemasse

Morzine les Portes du Soleil

94.4

15

7/16/2023

Mountain

Les Gets les Portes du Soleil

Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc

111.8

16

7/17/2023

Individual time-trial

Passy

Combloux

13.6

17

7/19/2023

Mountain

Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc

Courchevel

103.1

18

7/20/2023

Hilly

Moutiers

Bourg-en-Bresse

115.5

19

7/21/2023

Flat

Moans-en-Montagne

Poligny

107.4

20

7/22/2023

Mountain

Belfort

Le Markstein-Fellering

82.6

21

7/23/2023

Individual time-trial

Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines

Champs-Élysées

71.4

How long was the 2022 Tour de France race?

In 2022, competitors covered 2067.9 miles (3,328 kilometres) in 22 phases. The 2022 competition began in the Danish City of Copenhagen and ended in Paris Champs-Élysées 23 days later. Typically, the Grand Tour takes place across various terrains and countries; riders in the 2022 competition crossed between Denmark, Switzerland, Belgium and France.

How many stages are there in the Tour de France?
Team Dimension Data cyclists compete in Brussels, Belgium, during the 106th Tour de France on July 7, 2019. Photo by Jorge Luis Alvarez Pupo.
Source: Getty Images

How many stages are in the Female Tour de France?

Compared to the 21 to 22 phases in men's races, the Tour de France Femmes is considerably shorter, with only eight phases involved. Elite cyclists ride for seven days across various countries on a multi-terrain layout. With years of absence on the competitive scene, women cyclists and fans have taken Tour de France Femmes by force.

How many stages are there in the Tour de France 2024?

In 2024, the third female competition will be held across the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. 154 starting cyclists will take off from Rotterdam, Netherlands, in the first Grand Départ. Have a look at how many stages are in the Women's Tour de France.

Stage

Date

Terrain type

Starting location

Finishing location

Distance (miles)

1

8/12/2024

Flat

Rotterdam

La Haye

77

2

8/13/2024

Flat

Dordrecht

Rotterdam

41.6

3

8/13/2024

Individual time-trial

Rotterdam

Rotterdam

3.9

4

8/14/2024

Hilly

Valkenburg

Liège

75.8

5

8/15/2024

Flat

Bastogne

Amnéville

93.2

6

8/16/2024

Hilly

Remiremont

Morteau

99.4

7

8/17/2024

Mountain

Champagnole

Le Grand-Bornand

103.7

8

8/18/2024

Mountain

Le Grand-Bornand

Alpe d'Huez

93.2

How many stages are there in the Tour de France?
Female cyclists compete during stage 5 of the 2nd Tour de France Femmes on July 27, 2023, in Albi, France. Photo by Alex Broadway.
Source: Getty Images

How long was the Women's Tour de France in 2023?

The second installation of the Tour de France Femmes was held between July 23rd and 30th, 2024. It covered 594 miles (956 kilometres) and involved 22 teams.

Stage

Date

Starting

Finishing

Distance (miles)

1

7/23/2023

Clermont-Ferrand

Clermont-Ferrand

77

2

7/24/2023

Clermont-Ferrand

Mauriac

94.4

3

7/25/2023

Collonges-la-Rouge

Montignac-Lascaux

91.4

4

7/26/2023

Cahors

Rodez

110.2

5

7/27/2023

Onet-le-Château

Albi

78.3

6

7/28/2023

Albi

Blagnac

75.8

7

7/29/2023

Lannemezan

Col du Tourmaline

55.7

8

7/30/2023

Pau

Pau

14

How many stages did the Tour de France have in 2022?

In 2022, a historic cycling competition was held across 639.3 miles (1,029 kilometres). Female riders cycled over mountain stages, hilly, flat and rolling terrain in the first Tour de France Femmes since Le Tour Femmes was held.

How many stages are there in the Tour de France?
Netherland's Demi Vollering sprints during the 2nd Tour de France Femmes on July 30, 2023, in Pau, France. Photo by Tim de Waele.
Source: Getty Images

Stages

Date

Starting

Finishing

Distance (miles)

1

7/24/2022

Eifel

Champs-Élysées

50.9

2

7/25/2022

Meaux

Provins

84.7

3

7/26/2022

Reims

Epernay

83

4

7/27/2022

Troyes

Bar-sur-Aube

78.9

5

7/28/2022

Bar-le-Duc

Saint-Die-Des-Vosges

109.3

6

7/29/2022

Saint-Die-Des-Vosges

Rosheim

80.1

7

7/30/2022

Selestat

Le Markstein Fellering

78.9

8

7/31/2022

Lure

La Super Planche des Belles Filles

76.7

Quick trivia

The La Grande Boucle is one of the most popular sports competitions. Its format allows cyclists to showcase their skills as individuals and as a team. Now that you know how many stages the Tour de France has, here are more interesting facts about the competition and its course length.

1. How do Tour de France stages work?

Simply put, the fastest competitor to reach the finishing line wins the contest. However, cyclists who complete each phase in the least time obtain additional honours and prestige.

2. What is the hardest stage in the Tour de France?

Each race in the Grand Tour features stages with varied elevations. Weather elements such as wind and the sun also influence difficulty.

The most challenging phases have the steepest gradients, such as the Puy-de-Dôme, a dormant volcano on the cycling route. In the 2024 contest, competitors are expected to make a 2,642-metre climb on Col du Galibier at stage 4 and a 2,802-metre climb up Cime de la Bonette in the nineteenth phase.

3. How long is the Tour de France per day?

On average, professional cyclists ride for up to six hours a day during the competition. In preparation for the competition, experienced cyclists are accustomed to spending between 20 to 30 hours per week at the wheel.

Final word

How many stages are there in the Tour de France? Male cyclists race for 21 days and rest for two days in 21 stages. This is a stark difference from the female counterparts' race that takes place in 8 stages.

READ ALSO: Explore the captivating life story of Sir Dave Brailsford, the new Manchester United board member

Sport Brief has published an article about one of the most notable figures in cycling, Sir Dave Brailsford. At the start of 2024, the former INEOS team principal and performance director took on a new role as Manchester United's board member and chief sporting advisor. Click on the link above to discover details of his biography, career and performance in cycling and football.

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Ciku Njuguna
Ciku Njuguna is a journalist with 3 year’s experience in content creation based in Kenya. She currently covers sports personnel as well as team biographies.
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