2022 Tour de France Guide
The following article is a guide to the 2022 Tour de France to get you up to speed on what is happening for this 109th edition. It helps answer plenty of the common questions about this edition of the tour so you are up to speed and ready for the race. We have included information on where to watch the 2022 Tour de France online or on TV by country in an easy-to-read table. No matter where in the world you are there will be a way to tune in and watch this great event. Finally, we have some trivia such as who has won the most stages, spent the most time in the yellow jersey, and more.
The Tour de France route was announced on 14 October and we look forward to July. The first presentation could be considered a high-level overview of what is come and does not go into detail on every single stage. As such there may be some information on this page that is currently missing. As we get closer to the actual event and final routes are available the page will be updated.
If you plan to travel to France to watch the 2022 edition of the Tour de France be sure to check out the rest of our website. We have lots of information to assist you to plan your trip including destination guides, cycling routes, travel advice, and lots more. We can even help you plan your trip if you don’t have the time to do the research yourself.
If you want to plan your own trip to watch the Tour de France be sure to check out the rest of our website. We have lots of information about cycling in France as well as getting to, and getting around the country. Start with our Practical pages for all the practical information about France before moving on to our Destination guides where you will find all the information you need about where to stay, how to get there, and where to cycle for a range of destinations. If you don’t have time to do it all yourself, we also offer a planning service where we take care of the research saving you lots of time.
The 2022 Tour de France by numbers
Start date: Friday 1 July 2022
Start location: Copenhagen
Number of stages: 21
Total distance: 3,328 km / 2,080 miles (still to be finalised)
Finish date: 24 July 2022
Finish location: Paris
Longest stage: Stage 6 at 220 km / 138 miles
Shortest stage: Stage 17 at 130km / 81 miles (excludes time trial stages)
Greatest elevation gain:
Flattest stage:
Time trial stages: 2
Flat stages: 5
Hilly stages: 7
Mountain stages: 6
Rest days: 2 (Monday 11 July and Monday 18 July)
Transfer day: 1 (Monday 4 July)
Summit finishes: Stage 7 to La Planche de Belle Filles , Stage 9 to Châtel les Portes du Soleil , Stage 10 to Megève, Stage 11 to Col du Granon, Stage 12 to Alpe d’huez, Stage 17 to Peyragudes and Stage 18 to Hautacam
Highest road: 2,642 meters / 8,667 feet (Col du Galibier)
Categorized climbs: (HC, Cat 1 and Cat 2)
Number of teams: 22
Number of riders: 176
Total prize money: €2.3M
Winner prize money: €500K
Tour de France 2022 teams
There are 22 teams starting in this edition of the Tour de France. At this point in time, the rider names are not available and will be listed once they are announced. There are 18 World Tour cycling teams and 4 Pro Continental Teams on the list. So here are the teams for the 2022 Tour de France in alphabetical order plus their nationality and team bikes.
| Team name | Nationality | Bike | |
| AG2R Citroén | France | BMC | |
| Alpecin Fenix (Pro Continental) | Belgium | Canyon | |
| Arkea Samsic (Pro Continental) | France | Canyon | |
| Astana Qazaqstan | Kazakstan | Wilier | |
| B&B Hotels (Pro Continental) | France | KTM | |
| Bahrain Victorious | Bahrain | Merida | |
| Bora Hansgrohe | Germany | Specialized | |
| Cofidis | France | De Rosa | |
| EF Education-EasyPost | United States | Cannondale | |
| Groupama – FDJ | France | Lapierre | |
| INEOS Grenadiers | Great Britain | Pinarello | |
| Intermarch Wanty Gobert Matériaux | Belgium | Cube | |
| Israel Premier Tech | Israel | Factor | |
| Jumbo Visma | Netherlands | Cervélo | |
| Lotto Soudal | Belgium | Ridley | |
| Movistar | Spain | Canyon | |
| Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl | Belgium | Specialized | |
| Team Bike Exchange Jayco | Australia | Giant | |
| Team DSM | Netherlands | Scott | |
| Trek Segafredo | United States | Trek | |
| Total Energies (Pro Continental) | France | Specialized | |
| UAE Team Emirates | United Arab Emirates | Colnago | |
Overview of the 2022 Tour de France
The city of Copenhagen in Denmark has the honor of hosting the ‘Grand Départ for the 109th edition of the Tour. The first 3 stages of the 2022 Tour de France will take place in Denmark before moving back to France. Monday 4 July will be a transfer day to allow teams to get from Denmark back to France.
Flat Stages for the Sprinters
This year will see 5 stages designated as “Flat stages”. These are the stages that the sprint teams will target to try and get their sprinter over the line first.
Individual Time Trials
Stages 1 and 20 are individual time trials that will see riders race against the clock. The first of these is a short 13km / 8miles, while the second is 40km / 25 miles.
A Brief Visit to Switzerland
The riders head into Switzerland on Stage 8 with a finish at the Olympic Stadium in Lausanne featuring a short but steep climb with gradients up to 12%. Stage 9 sees the riders in Switzerland for the majority of the stage before finishing back in France at Châtel les Portes du Soleil. Riders will tackle 3 categorized climbs over the course of the day.
The French Alps
Stages 11 and 12 take place in the French Alps and include some of the iconic mountains of the Tour de France. Stage 11 sees the riders head over Lacets de Montvernier, Col du Télégraphe, Col du Galibier before finishing at the top of Col du Granon. This stage also sees the riders reach the maximum altitude of 2,642m / 8,667 feet over the Col du Galibier, where the first rider over the top of the climb will be awarded the Souvenir Henri Desgranges. Stage 12 stays in the high mountains and heads over Col du Lauterets, Col du Galibier (from the opposite side), Col du Télégraph (from the opposite side), Col de la Croix de Fer before finishing at the top of Alpe d’Huez. A couple of huge days in the mountains and plenty of tired bodies afterward.
For more information about cycling in the French Alps and the climbs of the 2022 Tour de France head over to our French Alps guide here, or straight to the ride guide here.
Two Difficult Stages in the Pyrenees
After the French Alps, the peloton will transition to the Pyrenees over 4 stages which are a mix of flat and hilly. Included in this period of the 2022 race is the final rest day in Carcassonne. Riders then head into the foothills of the Pyrenees finishing in the town of Foix. After this “easier” period the tour heads up again. Stage 17 takes in the climbs of Col d’Aspin, Hourquette d’Ancizan, and Col d’Azet before heading up and finishing at Peyragudes. The following day Stage 18 sees the riders head over Col d’Aubisque, Col de Spandelles, and finishing on Hautacam above Argeles Gazost.
For more information about cycling in the Pyrenees and the climbs of the 2022 Tour de France head over to our Pyrenees guide here, or straight to the ride guide here.
For more information on the 2022 Tour route on the official Tour de France, site click here.
2022 Tour de France route, stage by stage
In the table below we have included a summary of each stage to help keep you up to date with when and where each stage is. As more information about each stage becomes available we will add it so check back. If you would like some more information about all the categorized climbs of the 2022 Tour de France then head over to our other page which just focuses on that aspect.
How to watch the 2022 Tour de France
There are two ways of watching the Tour de France. Firstly you can head to France and watch the action live by the side of the road or secondly, watch the race on one of the many TV stations or online streaming services on offer. If you are planning to be in France you can choose one of the many tour companies that are offering trips to the 2021 Tour de France or choose to do your own thing.
2022 Tour de France Tour Companies
There are plenty of cycle tour companies that offer trips to watch the Tour de France if you would like someone to take care of everything for you. The Tour de France officially endorses seven different tour companies, three premium companies, and three official operators. These companies are given access to areas that are off-limits to the general public including the start area, hospitality, and the finish areas. You will have the opportunity to ride on the course where the general public will not and meet the riders before the start of the stage. These companies have access to the accommodation through the organizers which means you will not have as far to drive at the start and end of the days as well as parking in restricted areas.
There are also plenty of other tour companies that offer holidays to follow the Tour de France. While these companies are unlikely to have the same access levels as the official tour companies you will still enjoy everything the Tour de France has to offer.
We have compiled a list of both the official Tour de France tour operators and the non-official operators. You can click on the name of the company to head to their website and see what is on offer. Whether you want a holiday just watching the race with no riding or lots of riding every day you will find a trip that is right for you.
Official tour companies of the 2022 Tour de France
The Tour de France partners with some tour companies each year to offer a range of options to come and see the race. The affiliated companies are classed as either premium or official. Both groups are able to access areas that general tour companies and the general public are unable to. Premium companies are able to access VIP areas in addition to the areas that the official companies can access.
The companies listed below are the official premium operators of the Tour de France:
Tompson bike tours – offering 4 different trips covering different sections of the race. From 6 to 10 days in duration.
Custom Getaways – offering 10 different options between 1 and 7 days in length. Options cover different stages of the race.
Sports Tours International – choose from 15 different options ranging from a single stage to 7 days. Tour de France official operators
The companies listed below are the official operators of the Tour de France:
Discover France – choose from 12 options ranging from single stages to 6 days. Options for start or finish line access or a VIP helicopter flight
mummu cycling – offering 7 different trips for 2022 ranging from 3 to 8 days in length. Some trips are hosted by ex-pro Stuart O’Grady.
Trek Travel – offering 5 different 2022 trips ranging from 1 to 10 days. Tour prices include the hire of a premium Trek bike. Non-official operators
The companies listed below all offer trips to watch the Tour de France but are not official partners of the race.
Bike Style Tours – 2022 tours not released
Escape Adventures – 2022 tours not released
Ride Holidays New Zealand – 2022 not released
Ride International Tours – offering a 10-day trip covering the final 10 days of the 2022 Tour de France.
Velo Tours – for 2022 choose from a Pyrenees or French Alps tour, both are 10 days in length.
Watching the Tour de France live
For any cycling fan, cheering the riders at the side of the road at the Tour de France is something we highly recommend. It is true that you stand at the side of the road for hours only to watch the riders flash past in a matter of minutes, but it is so much more than that. The mountain stages are generally the most popular and it is not unheard of to have hundreds of thousands of spectators line the road as it twists and turns up the steep gradients. We have an article dedicated to watching the Tour de France which you can read here.
Where to watch the 2022 TDF on TV – country by country
The Tour de France is shown live in 190 countries around the world so no matter where you are you should be able to find somewhere to watch the coverage. Below is a list of TV stations and streaming services that are the official broadcast partners of the Tour de France.
Streaming services will not necessarily work in every single country due to rights restrictions and geo-blocking so make sure you check before signing up. If you are away from your usual country of residence you may find your streaming service no longer works so double check before you leave. A good VPN can come in handy here.
Television networks – Live coverage
Europe
Belgium – RTBF
Czech Republic – Ceska Televise
Europe – Eurosport
France – France TV Sport & Eurosport France
Germany – ARD.
Italy – RAI Sport
Ireland – TG4
Luxembourg – RTL
The Netherlands – NOS
Norway – TV2
Portugal – RTP
Slovakia – RTVS
Slovenia – TRV SLO
Spain – RTVE
Switzerland – SRG SSR
The United Kingdom – ITV
Wales – S4C
Americas
Canada – Flobikes
Columbia – Caracol TV
Latin America and Caribbean – ESPN
South America – TV5 Monde
The United States of America – NBC Sports & TV5 Monde
Asia Pacific
Australia – SBS
China – CCTV and Zhibo TV
Japan – J Sports
New Zealand – Sky Sports
Southeast Asia – Eurosport & GCN
Middle East and Africa
The Middle East and North Africa – BeIN Sports and TV5 Monde
Sub-Saharan Africa – Supersport and TV5 Monde
Tour de France basics
If you are a newcomer to the Tour de France and cycle races in general you may not be aware of many of the terms used while you watching the race. To help we have put together some information so you better understand everything that is going on.
The Tour de France jerseys
There are four different competitions within the Tour de France being the overall winner (yellow jersey), best sprinter (green jersey), best mountain climber (polka dot jersey), and the best youngest rider (white jersey). It is possible for a rider to win more than one jersey in a single race. In the 2021 edition of the race, Tadej Pogačar won the Yellow, Polka Dot, and White jerseys while Mark Cavendish won the Green Jersey. We will explain each of these in turn below.
1. Yellow Jersey – this is the jersey everyone wants to win and is the overall winner of the Tour de France. The yellow jersey is awarded to the rider with the shortest overall time when all the stage times are added up. Riders can also be awarded bonus seconds for finishing in the top 3 of a stage where they are awarded 10, 6, or 4 seconds bonus for finishing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. Given the 2020 Tour de France was won by a margin of only 59 seconds, the bonus seconds can make a difference.
2. Green jersey – this jersey is won based on an accumulation of points awarded to riders through intermediate sprint points during the stage and at the finish line. The first 15 riders are awarded points which vary based on the type of stage. For example, on a flat stage, the first over the line is awarded 50 points while on a mountain stage only 20 points are awarded for first place. This jersey rewards rider consistency and is awarded to a rider who can sprint well but also gain intermediate points.
3. Polka Dot jersey – this jersey is awarded based on the accumulation of points awarded at the top of climbs. The harder the climb the more points that are on offer for the win. This jersey is suited to those riders who are good climbers.
4. White jersey – only riders under the age of 26 are eligible for this jersey and it is awarded to the rider with the shortest overall time in this category.
The A-Z of French cycling terms
While watching the Tour de France you will quite often see French language terms used either by commentators or on the screen. We have put together a list of some of the more common French cycling terms with their English translation so you know what they mean.
Arrière du Peloton – the rear of the main group of riders
Arrivée – Stage finish
Bonification – Bonus seconds
Chrono – time trial
Classement – classification or rank
Départ – Stage start
Director Sportif – the team director who sits in the following car and manages their riders
Domestique – these riders work for the team leaders and make sure they are looked after
Étape – stage
Étape de plaine – flat stage
Étape de accidentées – hilly stage
Étape de montagne – mountain stage
Flamme rouge – the red flag that designates 1km left to the finish
Grand Départ – First stage start
Grimpeur – a rider who is considered a natural climber
Hors catégorie – the hardest of mountain climbs, “beyond categorisation”.
Lantern rouge – the person in last position in the race
Maillot Jaune – Yellow Jersey
Maillot Vert – Green Jersey
Maillot Blanc À pois rouges – Polka dot jersey
Maillot Blanc – White Jersey
Massif – mountain range
Musette – the bag that riders are handed at feed zones
Palmarés – a rider’s career achievements
Pavé – cobbled streets and roads. Made famous by the Paris Roubaix cycling race
Peloton – the main bunch of riders
Puncheur – riders who are good a rolling terrain and short steep hill climbs
Rouleur – a rider who is great on the flatter roads but not so good once it gets steeper
Soigneur – team helpers who look after the riders both during and after the race
Tete de la course – head of the race
A little bit of Tour de France History
The Tour de France first ran in 1903 and apart from a break during WW1 and WW2 has run every year since. 2022 is the 109th edition of the race. Over the years there have been some great records created and we list some of them below.
Most number of Tour de France wins – 5 Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain.
Most times in the yellow jersey – 111 Eddy Merckx
The greatest number of stage wins – 34 Eddy Merckx and Mark Cavendish
The greatest number of stages won in a single tour – 8 Charles Péllssier
The greatest number of podiums – 8 Raymond Poulidor
Most Tour de Frances ridden – 18 Sylvain Chavanel
Most Green Jerseys – 7 Peter Sagan
Most Polka Dot Jerseys – 7 Richard Virenque
Most White Jerseys – 3 Jan Ullrich and Andy Schleck