A stage-by-stage look at the 2021 Tour de France route with profiles, previews, distances, dates, and estimated start times (all times Eastern).
Stage 1: BREST→LANDERNEAU
Date: Saturday, June 26
Start time: 6:00 a.m. on Peacock, NBCSN
Distance: 197.8 km (122.9 miles) – Hilly
Preview: The 1st stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers approximately 198 km. It includes six categorized climbs, though none more challenging than a Category 3, and an intermediate sprint at 135.1 km. The race starts in Brest and ends in Landerneau in what should be an exciting finish to see who can claim the first yellow jersey of the Tour.
Stage 2: PERROS-GUIREC→MUR-DE-BRETAGNE
Date: Sunday, June 27
Start time: 7:00 a.m. on Peacock, NBCSN
Distance: 183.5 km (114 miles) – Hilly
Preview: The 2nd stage of the 2021 Tour de France is a 183.5-kilometer hilly stage that starts in Perros-Guirec and ends on the Mur-de-Bretagne in Guerledan. It features another six categorized climbs, all Category 3 or 4, including two upgrades of the Mur-de-Bretagne. There could be an early swap of the yellow jersey between bonus seconds behind awarded atop the first Mur-de-Bretagne ascent and an uphill sprint to the finish line on the last climb.
Stage 3: LORIENT→PONTIVY
Date: Monday, June 28
Start time: 7:00 a.m. on Peacock, NBCSN
Distance: 182.9 km (113.6 miles) – Flat
Preview: The 3rd stage of the 2021 Tour de France is a more straightforward flat location, covering approximately 182.9 km and only featuring a pair of Category 4 climbs. Between those two climbs from Lorient to Pontivy is an intermediate sprint at 118.3 km. With a flat road to the finish line, this stage should see the “pure” sprinters compete head-to-head for the first time in this year’s Tour.
Stage 4: REDON→FOUGERES
Date: Tuesday, June 29
Start time: 7:15 a.m. on Peacock, NBCSN
Distance: 150.4 km (93.5 miles) – Flat
Preview: The 4th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 150.4 km, as the best sprinters in the world will be on display for a second straight flat stage. ‘The set features an intermediate sprint in the 2nd half of the stage at 114.4 km before another bunch sprint is expected at the finish line. The race from Redon to Fougeres is the only non-time trial stage in this year’s Tour without a single categorized climb.
Tour de France Stage 4 Profile
Stage 5: CHANGE→LAVAL
Date: Wednesday, June 30
Start time: 6:05 a.m. on Peacock, NBCSN
Distance: 27.2 km (16.9 miles) – Individual Time Trial
Preview: The 5th stage of the 2021 Tour de France is the first of two individual time trials, starting in Change and ending in Laval. It’s the first year since 2017 that the Tour has featured multiple personal time trials, which suggests the yellow jersey could be decided by which GC riders are the best time trialists. The rider who finishes the 27.2 km route on Stage 5 could be the new leader until at least the second week of racing.
Tour de France Stage 5 Profile
Stage 6: TOURS→CHATEAUROUX
Date: Thursday, July 1
Start time: 7:45 a.m. on Peacock, NBCSN
Distance: 160.6 km (99.8 miles) – Flat
Preview: The 6th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 160.6 km from Tours to Chateauroux and is another stage designed for a finish-line showdown between the sprinters. One Category 4 climb is 72.6 km before the green jersey race takes over. An intermediate sprint at 104.3 km precedes what should be another exciting bunch sprint to end the day.
Tour de France Stage 6 Profile
Stage 7: VIERZON→LE CREUSOT
Date: Friday, July 2
Start time: 4:50 a.m. on Peacock, NBCSN
Distance: 249.1 km (154.8 miles) – Hilly
Preview: The 7th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 249.1 km, the longest stage since 2000. The race starts in Vierzon and ends in Le Creusot. The intermediate sprint comes before five categorized climbs, including the first Category 2 climb of the Tour, which will award bonus seconds atop the Signal Duchon. The course suggests it could be a successful day for the breakaway or a small group of all-rounders contending to wear yellow at the end of the first week.
Tour de France Stage 7 Profile
Stage 8: OYONNAX→LE GRAND-BORNAND
Date: Saturday, July 3
Start time: 7:00 a.m. on Peacock, NBCSN
Distance: 150.8 km (93.7 miles) – Mountain
Preview: The 8th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 150.8 km and is the race’s first mountain stage. After the first week without much difficult climbing, the location from Oyonnax to Le Grand-Bornand features three Category 1 climbs. With bonus seconds being awarded at the top of the Col de la Colombiere, the day’s final climb, the attention turns to the best climbers in the peloton.
Tour de France Stage 8 Profile
Stage 9: CLAUSES→TIGNES
Date: Sunday, July 4
Start time: 6:50 a.m. on Peacock, NBCSN
Distance: 144.9 km (90 miles) – Mountain
Preview: The 9th stage of the 2021 Tour de France from Cluses to Tignes covers approximately 144.9 km and will be the most grueling stage. There are five categorized climbs, all Category 2 or higher, including the first HC climb of the Tour on the Col du Pre. Plus, the finish line marks the first of three summit finishes of the Tour, following a 21 km ascent up the Montee de Tignes.
Tour de France Stage 9 Profile
Stage 10: ALBERTVILLE→VALENCE
Date: Tuesday, July 6
Start time: 6:55 a.m. on Peacock, NBCSN
Distance: 190.7 km (118.5 miles) – Flat
Preview: The 10th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 190.7 km following the first two rest days. Unless there are extreme crosswinds, expect a simple day on the course from Albertville to Valence. Just a single Category 1 climb and the intermediate sprint come in the first half of the stage before the peloton sets itself up for a probable bunch sprint at the finish line in a day suited for the green jersey contenders.
Tour de France Stage 10 Profile
Stage 11: SORGUES→MALAUCENE
Date: Wednesday, July 7
Start time: 5:50 a.m. on Peacock, NBCSN
Distance: 198.9 km (123.6 miles) – Mountain
Preview: The 11th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers approximately 198.9 km and features two different climbs up the same mountain. After leaving Sorgues, riders will encounter five categorized climbs, the last two a Category 1 climb and an HC ascent, both up Mount Ventoux. Bonus seconds will be awarded atop the final climb before most of the final 22 km are downhill to the finish line in Malaucene.
Tour de France Stage 11 Profile
Stage 12: SAINT-PAUL-TROIS-CHATEAUX
Date: Thursday, July 8
Start time: 7:20 a.m. on Peacock, NBCSN
Distance: 159.4 km (99 miles) – Flat
Preview: The 12th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 159.4 km. The route from Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux to Nimes is another flat stage that suits the sprinters, with no obstacles until a Category 3 climb at 83.7 km, just after the halfway point in the scene. The green jersey race will be the day’s highlight with a late intermediate sprint in play.
Tour de France Stage 12 Profile
Stage 13: NIMES→CARCASSONNE
Date: Friday, July 9
Start time: 5:55 a.m. on Peacock, NBCSN
Distance: 219.9 km (136.6 miles) – Flat
Preview: The 13th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers a long 219.9 km on the second straight day with a flat background, starting where the previous day finished in Nimes. Once an early Category 4 climb is out of the way, the attention turns to the sprinters. At the same time, it does look like a short day for the green jersey race; the finish town of Carcassonne has never seen a bunch sprint when it has hosted a finish line in the Tour.
Tour de France Stage 13 Profile
Stage 14: CARCASSONNE→QUILLAN
Date: Saturday, July 10
Start time: 6:15 a.m. on Peacock, NBC
Distance: 183.7 km (114.1 miles) – Hilly
Preview: The 14th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 183.7 km. The race starts where it finishes at Stage 13 in Carcassonne and finishes in Quillan. The hilly set features five categorized climbs, three of which are Category 2. The day’s final climb will award bonus seconds atop the Col de Saint-Louis. This looks like a day for the breakaway, with the heavier mountain stages still to come in the third week of the race.
Tour de France Stage 14 Profile
Stage 15: CERET→ANDORRE-LA-VIEILLE
Date: Sunday, July 11
Start time: 6:10 a.m. on Peacock, NBCSN
Distance: 191.3 km (118.9 miles) – Mountain
Preview: The 15th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 191.3 km along the mountain stage, starting in Ceret and finishing in Andorre-la-Vieille. Let the third week of the Tour begin with four categorized climbs, including three Category 1 climbs and bonus seconds up for grabs atop the Col de Beixalis. The riders will also endure the highest point of the Tour’s highest points on the Port d’Envalira.
Tour de France Stage 15 Profile
Stage 16: PAS DE LA CASE→SAINT-GAUDENS
Date: Tuesday, July 13
Start time: 6:55 a.m. on Peacock, NBCSN
Distance: 169 km (105 miles) – Hilly
Preview: The 16th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 169 km following the final rest day of the race. Now that they’ve gotten another quick rest ahead of the most pivotal racing, the yellow jersey contenders might let the breakaway succeed on this hilly stage from Pas de la Case to Saint-Gaudens. Four spread-out categorized climbs make this an exciting opportunity for a strong breakaway specialist.
Tour de France Stage 16 Profile
Stage 17: MURET→SAINT-LARY-SOULAN
Date: Wednesday, July 14
Start time: 5:45 a.m. on Peacock, NBCSN
Distance: 178.4 km (110.9 miles) – Mountain
Preview: The 17th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 178.4 km, kicking off the first of the final two mountain stages, both summit finishes. The GC battle heats up starting in Muret, where a flat lead-up to three challenging categorized climbs will put the yellow jersey contenders to the test. The stage ends in Saint-Lary-Soulan on the Col du Portet – the HC summit finish taking riders to an elevation of over 2,200 meters.
Tour de France Stage 17 Profile
Stage 18: PAU→LUZ ARDIDEN
Date: Thursday, July 15
Start time: 7:25 a.m. on Peacock, NBCSN
Distance: 129.7 km (80.6 miles) – Mountain
Preview: The 18th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 129.7 km, with the short-distance mountain stage a good indicator of a challenging day of climbing. After leaving Pau, the peloton will tackle two small Category 4 climbs in the first half of the day before two HC climbs in the second half. It’s the only stage in the Tour with multiple HC climbs and a summit finish at Luz Ardiden. It’s the last opportunity for the GC riders to put themselves in a good position ahead of the Stage 20 time trial two days later.
Tour de France Stage 18 Profile
Stage 19: MOURENX→LIBOURNE
Date: Friday, July 16
Start time: 6:05 a.m. on Peacock, NBCSN
Distance: 207 km (128.6 miles) – Flat
Preview: The 19th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 207 km. Expect a casual day from the peloton on this flat stage following the last of the mountains the day earlier and the need for solid legs the next day in the trial. If a courageous breakaway doesn’t take advantage of this, we should see another sprint finish in Libourne.
Tour de France Stage 19 Profile
Stage 20: LIBOURNE→SAINT-EMILION
Date: Saturday, July 17
Start time: 6:55 a.m. on Peacock, NBCSN
Distance: 30.8 km (19.1 miles) – Individual Time Trial
Preview: The 20th stage of the 2021 Tour de France is the second individual time trial that covers 30.8 km. The scene starts in Libourne, where the previous step finished, and ends in Saint-Emilion. After what happened on last year’s Stage 20 individual time trial, when the yellow jersey amazingly switched hands, brace for another exciting day that could decide the Tour winner for the second straight year.
Tour de France Stage 20 Profile
Stage 21: CHATOU→PARIS – CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES
Date: Sunday, July 18
Start time: 10:05 a.m. on Peacock, NBC
Distance: 108.5 km (67.4 miles) – Flat
Preview: The 21st stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 108.4 km. The race starts in Chatou and includes a Category 4 climb at 7.4 km and an intermediate sprint at 68.3 km. Yellow Jersey is traditionally often solidly settled on the shoulders of the final winner at the start of this last stage. Still, for the sprinters who dream of triumphing on the Champs-Élysées, it’s the opportunity to take on one of the toughest challenges of the year.
- Tour de France Stage 21 Profile
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- Tour de France 2021 route: Stage profiles, previews, start times, and dates originally appeared on NBCSports.com.
