How to bet on the Tour de France

Considered the world’s most prestigious and most difficult bike race, the Tour de France began in 1903, when French cyclist and journalist Henri Desgrange established the event to boost sales of the newspaper L’Auto.

The Tour has become an annual tradition and one of cycling’s three Grand Tours (the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España are the others). The 108th edition of the Tour de France will commence Saturday, June 26, and goes through Sunday, July 18. 

If you’re new to the sport of cycling and interested in discovering more about the Tour and how to bet on it, read below to learn about the renowned, 21-day race through France.

When is the Tour de France?

Typically, the Tour de France is held mostly in the month of July. In 2020, the event was postponed to Aug. 29 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the 2020 Summer Olympics rescheduled for July 2021, the dates for the upcoming Tour de France moved to June 26 through July 18. 

The kickoff point (or Grand Départ) also shifted from Copenhagen, Denmark, to Brest, France in 2021, as Copenhagen also committed to hosting matches for the UEFA Euro 2020, which was postponed to this summer.

The Danish Capital will instead host the Grand Départ in 2022.

Where is the Tour de France?

The 2021 Tour de France will feature 10 new sites and stage cities. Most stages of the 2,121-mile race take place in mainland France, but it’s common for the course to dip through nearby countries.

Since 1975, the finish has been located on the Champs-Élysées, one of the world’s most recognizable avenues, in Paris. 

What are the stages of the Tour de France?

In 2021, the 21, day-long phases of the race will consist of eight flat stages, five hilly stages, six mountain stages, and two individual time trials.

Two rest days are scheduled on July 5 (between stages 9 and 10) and July 12 (between stages 15 and 16).

Stage 5, an individual time trial from Changé to Laval, is the shortest, at 16.9 miles (7.2 kilometers), while Stage 7 (a mountain stage) will mark the longest stage since the 2000 Tour de France, with a 154-mile (248-kilometer) stretch.

Who is favored to win the 2021 Tour de France?

Reigning champion Tadej Pogačar (+180) of Slovenia is favored to repeat as winner of the Tour de France. The 22-year-old cyclist rides for UAE Team Emirates and made history last year as the first man in more than 60 years to race in the yellow jersey for the first time on the final day of a Tour.

Fellow Slovenian Primož Roglič, of team Jumbo-Visma, is the second choice to win the Tour (+200). In 2020, he finished second, after Pogačar swiped the yellow jersey from Roglič in the second to last stage of the race.

Roglič won two individual stages of the Tour de France, in 2017 and 2018, as well as three individual stages of the Giro d’Italia (2016 and 2019), and finished first in the Vuelta a España in 2019.

The 2018 Tour de France champion, Geraint Thomas, now on Team Ineos, is a +450 choice. His teammates Richard Carapaz (+800) and Richie Porte (+2200) — both recent Giro d'Italia champions — are expected to push for the yellow jersey, as well.

Julian Alaphilippe (+2500) of Team Quick Step is a dark horse who could claim a victory for France for the first time since five-time champ Bernard Hinault won the event in 1985.

How many cyclists compete in the Tour de France?

While one individual winner is named at the conclusion of the Tour de France, each cyclist is a member of a larger team.

Twenty-three teams of eight riders are entered in the 2021 race.

What do the colored jerseys represent?

If you’ve ever watched news coverage of the Tour de France or glanced at photos from the event, you’ve probably seen someone wearing a yellow jersey. The most coveted garment of the competition, it's given to the overall leader of the race and is part of the main competition of the Tour de France, the "general classification."

A red and white, polka dot jersey is bestowed upon the best climber, or the cyclist with the lowest cumulative time during the mountain stages. The green jersey goes to the points classification leader, most often a sprinter. Points are awarded for high finishes in a stage and for winning intermediate sprints.

The white jersey is handed to the best young rider, age 25 or younger, who has earned the lowest cumulative time.

Who has won the most Tour de France races?

Lance Armstrong won a record seven Tour de France titles from 1999-2005 but was stripped of those honors in 2012, after he was found guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs.

Four cyclists have won five Tour titles: Jacques Anquetil (1957, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964),
Eddy Merckx (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974), Hinault (1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1985), and Miguel Indurain (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995).

French riders have finished first in the Tour de France more times (36) than any other country.

Greg LeMond (1986, 1989, 1990), Armstrong, and Floyd Landis (2006) are the only Americans who have won the race. Landis also had his title stripped for the use of PEDs.

How can I watch the Tour de France?

NBC Sports Network will broadcast all stages of the 2021 Tour de France, except for Stage 14 and the final stage (21), which NBC will televise.