tour de france sky sport

Team Sky's Chris Froome wins fourth Tour de France title

The Briton sips Champagne as he eases his way to a third consecutive title, which he describes as "my toughest challenge yet".

Sunday 23 July 2017 21:57, UK

Cyclist Chris Froome has crossed the finish line in Paris to become Britain's first four-time winner of the Tour de France.

The Team Sky rider, who previously triumphed in 2013, 2015 and 2016, sipped Champagne during the 21st and final stage after he all but secured victory by retaining the yellow jersey in Saturday's time trial.

He sealed his fourth title by finishing 54 seconds ahead of Colombia's Rigoberto Uran, becoming the first person to win the race three times in a row since Spain's Miguel Indurain in the early 1990s.

Only five-time champions Eddy Merckx, Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain have won more Tours than Froome.

The 32-year-old Briton described the Tour as "my toughest challenge yet".

He said: "Each time I've won the Tour it's so unique and so different and it is such a different battle to get to this moment.

"So they're all special in their own ways and this year I think will be remembered for being the closest and most hard-fought battle between the general classification rivals."

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Froome added: "There is something magical about the Champs-Elysees when you have spent three weeks thinking about being here in this moment.

"It is amazing to see my wife and son again - it feels like more than a month on the road."

Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford said he believed Froome could add to his tally next year.

He said: "I think he can go on - there's no reason to think that he can't.

"Physically he's got what it takes, then it's a question of hunger and mentality and the Chris I've seen here has been working harder than ever.

"He's getting better tactically and technically, so as long as that hunger continues I think he'll be a force in this race for a number of years to come."

Froome's win capped off a successful Tour for Team Sky - which topped the team classification by more than seven minutes.

It almost had two riders on the podium - Spaniard Mikel Landa was narrowly beaten into third by AG2R La Mondiale's Romain Bardet.

Meanwhile, Briton Simon Yates ended the Tour as the best-placed rider under the age of 26 - a year after his twin brother Adam completed the same feat.

Rebecca Williams, Sky Correspondent in Paris, said the atmosphere on the Champs-Elysees was "electric" as Froome crossed the finish line.

She said: "Union Jack flags were plastered on barriers as hundreds of Brits cheered him on. But among those cheers, there was also a chorus of boos.

"That will do nothing to dampen Froome's spirits. For him, this Tour has had its ups and downs. But with four wins now under his belt, he's retained his reputation as one of the greatest riders of all time."

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New Zealand v Afghanistan

1st Test, Day 1 | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Monday 9 September, 3.50pm

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Stage 9 | Sky Sport 3 - Channel 53 Monday 26 August, 12.50am

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Stage 4 | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Monday 26 August, 1.05am

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IBF Light Heavyweight World Title

Lani Daniels v Bolatito Oluwole | Sky Sport 3 - Channel 53 Saturday 7 September, 7.30pm

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Southampton v Manchester United | Sky Sport 8 Premier League - Channel 58 Saturday 14 September, 11.20pm

Brighton v Ipswich | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Sunday 15 September, 1.50am

Fulham v West Ham | Sky Sport 7 - Channel 57 Sunday 15 September, 1.50am

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Crystal Palace v Leicester City | Sky Sport Select - Channel 50 Sunday 15 September, 1.50am

Aston Villa v Everton | Sky Sport 8 Premier League - Channel 58 Sunday 15 September, 4.20am

Bournemouth v Chelsea | Sky Sport 8 Premier League - Channel 58 Sunday 15 September, 6.50am

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Northern Island v Luxemborg | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Friday 6 September, 6.35am

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Belarus v Bulgaria | Sky Sport 9 - Channel 59 Friday 6 September, 6.35am

San Marino v Liechtenstein | Sky Sport Pop-up 1 - Channel 601 Friday 6 September, 6.35am

Kazakhstan v Norway | Sky Sport 7 - Channel 57 Saturday 7 September, 1.50am

Lithuania v Cyprus | Sky Sport 7 - Channel 57 Saturday 7 September, 3.55am

France v Italy | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Saturday 7 September, 6.35am

Belgium v Israel | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Saturday 7 September, 6.35am

Wales v Turkiye | Sky Sport 3 - Channel 53 Saturday 7 September, 6.35am

Slovenia v Austria | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Saturday 7 September, 6.35am

Iceland v Montenegro | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Saturday 7 September, 6.35am

Kosovo v Romania | Sky Sport 7 - Channel 57 Saturday 7 September, 6.35am

Faroe Islands v North Macedonia | Sky Sport 7 - Channel 57 Sunday 8 September, 12.50am

Republic Of Ireland v England | Sky Sport 3 - Channel 53 Sunday 8 September, 3.50am

Georgia v Czechia | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Sunday 8 September, 3.50am

Moldova v Malta | Sky Sport 7 - Channel 57 Sunday 8 September, 3.50am

Armenia v Latvia | Sky Sport 9 - Channel 59 Sunday 8 September, 3.50am

Germany v Hungary | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Sunday 8 September, 6.35am

Greece v Finland | Sky Sport 3 - Channel 53 Sunday 8 September, 6.35am

Netherlands v Bosnia And Herzegovina | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Sunday 8 September, 6.35am

Ukraine v Albania | Sky Sport 7 - Channel 57 Sunday 8 September, 6.35am

Luxembourg v Belarus | Sky Sport 7 - Channel 57 Monday 9 September, 12.50am

Denmark v Serbia | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Monday 9 September, 3.50am

Bulgaria v Northern Island | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Monday 9 September, 3.50am

Gibraltar v Liechtenstein | Sky Sport 7 - Channel 57 Monday 9 September, 3.50am

Slovakia v Azerbaijan | Sky Sport 9 - Channel 59 Monday 9 September, 3.50am

Switzerland v Spain | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Monday 9 September, 6.35am

Portugal v Scotland | Sky Sport 3 - Channel 53 Monday 9 September, 6.35am

Croatia v Poland | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Monday 9 September, 6.35am

Sweden v Estonia | Sky Sport 7 - Channel 57 Monday 9 September, 6.35am

Cyprus v Kosovo | Sky Sport 7 - Channel 57 Tuesday 10 September, 3.50am

France v Belgium | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Tuesday 10 September, 6.35am

Norway v Austria | Sky Sport 3 - Channel 53 Tuesday 10 September, 6.35am

Israel v Italy | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Tuesday 10 September, 6.35am

Montenegro v Wales | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Tuesday 10 September, 6.35am

Tyrkiye v Iceland | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Tuesday 10 September, 6.35am

Romania v Lithuania | Sky Sport 7 - Channel 57 Tuesday 10 September, 6.35am

Slovenia v Kazakhstan | Sky Sport 9 - Channel 59 Tuesday 10 September, 6.35am

Latvia v Faroe Islands | Sky Sport 7 - Channel 57 Wednesday 11 September, 3.50am

Netherlands v Germany | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Wednesday 11 September, 6.35am

England v Finland | Sky Sport 3 - Channel 53 Wednesday 11 September, 6.35am

Albania v Georgia | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Wednesday 11 September, 6.35am

Czechia v Ukraine | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Wednesday 11 September, 6.35am

Andorra v Malta | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Wednesday 11 September, 6.35am

Hungary v Bosnia And Herzegovina | Sky Sport 7 - Channel 57 Wednesday 11 September, 6.35am

North Macedonia v Armenia | Sky Sport 9 - Channel 59 Wednesday 11 September, 6.35am

Republic Of Ireland v Greece | Sky Sport Select - Channel 50 Wednesday 11 September, 6.35am

DP World Tour

Betfred British Masters

Round 1 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Thursday 30 August, 11.30pm

Round 2 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Friday 30 August, 11.30pm

Round 3 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Saturday 31 August, 11.30pm

Round 4 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Sunday 1 September, 11pm

Omega European Masters

Round 1 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Thursday 5 September, 11.30pm

Round 2 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Friday 6 September, 11.30pm

Round 3 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Saturday 7 September, 10.30pm

Round 4 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Sunday 8 September, 10.30pm

Amgen Irish Open

Round 1 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Friday 13 September, 12am

Round 2, Session 1 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Friday 13 September, 7pm

Round 2, Session 2 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Saturday 14 September, 3am

Round 3 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Saturday 14 September, 11.30pm

Round 4 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Sunday 15 September, 11.30pm

Korn Ferry Tour

Albertson's Boise Open

Round 4 | Sky Sport Select - Channel 50 Monday 26 August, 9am

Simmons Bank Open For The Snedeker Foundation

Round 1 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Friday 13 September, 5am

Round 2 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Saturday 14 September, 4pm

Round 3 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Sunday 15 September, 7am

Round 4 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Monday 16 September, 7am

FM Global Championship

Round 1 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Friday 30 August, 7.30am

Round 2 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Saturday 31 August, 7.30am

Round 3 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Sunday 1 September, 6.30am

Round 4 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Monday 2 September, 5.30am

PGA Champions Tour

The Ally Challenge

Round 3 | Sky Sport 9 - Channel 59 Monday 26 August, 6am

Ascension Charity Classic

Round 1 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Saturday 7 September, 7am

Round 2 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Sunday 8 September, 7am

Round 3 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Monday 9 September, 7am

Sanford International

Round 1 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Saturday 14 September, 2pm

Round 2 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Sunday 15 September, 2pm

Round 3 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Monday 16 September, 2pm

BMW Championship

Featured Group, Round 4 | Sky Sport Pop-up 1 - Channel 601 Monday 26 August, 1am

Round 4 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Monday 26 August, 4am

Creator Classic

Creator Classic | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Thursday 29 August, 8am

Tour Championship

Featured Group, Round 1 | Sky Sport Pop-up 1 - Channel 601 Friday 30 August, 3am

Round 1 | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Friday 30 August, 5am

Featured Group, Round 2 | Sky Sport Pop-up 1 - Channel 601 Saturday 31 August, 3.15am

Round 2 | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Saturday 31 August, 5am

Featured Group, Round 3 | Sky Sport Pop-up 1 - Channel 601 Sunday 1 September, 4am

Round 3 | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Sunday 1 September, 5am

Featured Group, Round 4 | Sky Sport Pop-up 1 - Channel 601 Monday 2 September, 3am

Round 4 | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Monday 2 September, 4am

Procure Championship

Round 1 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Friday 13 September, 10am

Round 2 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Saturday 14 September, 10am

Round 3 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Sunday 15 September, 10am

Round 4 | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Monday 16 September, 10am

Sydney Marathon | Sky Sport Select - Channel 50 Sunday 15 September, 7.30am

FIA Formula One

Dutch Grand Prix

Feature Race | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Monday 26 August, 12.55am

Chequered Flag | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Monday 26 August, 3am

Pirelli Gran Premio d'ltalia Grand Prix

Practice 1 | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Friday 30 August, 11pm

Practice 2 | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Saturday 31 August, 2.35am

Practice 3 | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Saturday 31 August, 10.15pm

Qualifying | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Sunday 1 September, 1.10am

Pre-Race | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Sunday 1 September, 11.30pm

Feature Race | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Monday 2 September, 12.55am

Chequered Flag | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Monday 2 September, 3am

Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Practice 1 | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Friday 13 September, 9pm

Practice 2 | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Saturday 14 September, 12am

Practice 3 | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Saturday 14 September, 8pm

Qualifying | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Saturday 14 September, 11pm

Pre-Race | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Sunday 15 September, 9.30pm

Feature Race | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Sunday 15 September, 10.55pm

Chequered Flag | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Monday 16 September, 1am

FIA Formula 3 Championship

Round 10 - Monza

Practice | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Friday 30 August, 7.35pm

Qualifying | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Saturday 31 August, 1am

Sprint Race | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Saturday 31 August, 8.45pm

Feature Race | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Sunday 1 September, 6.25pm

FIA Formula 2 Championship

Round 11 - Monza

Practice | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Friday 30 August, 9pm

Qualifying | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Saturday 31 August, 1.45am

Sprint Race | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Sunday 1 September, 12.10am

Feature Race | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Sunday 1 September, 7.55pm

Round 12 - Baku

Practice | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Friday 13 September, 6pm

Qualifying | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Friday 13 September, 11pm

Sprint Race | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Saturday 14 September, 10pm

Feature Race | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Sunday 15 September, 7.30pm

IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship

IMSA Michelin GT Challenge | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Monday 26 August, 4am

Indycar Series

Grand Prix Of Portland

Feature Race | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Monday 26 August, 7am

Milwaukee Mile 250

Practice | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Saturday 31 August, 8.30am

Qualifying | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Sunday 1 September, 6.15am

Race 1 | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Sunday 1 September, 9.40am

Race 2 | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Monday 2 September, 6.30am

Big Machine Music City Grand Prix

Practice 1 | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Saturday 14 September, 8am

Practice 2 | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Sunday 15 September, 3am

Qualifying | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Sunday 15 September, 6am

Final Practice | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Sunday 15 September, 9am

Feature Race | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Monday 16 September, 7am

Hi-Tech Oils Super Series

Day 1 | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Saturday 31 August, 3pm

Day 2 | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Sunday 1 September, 3pm

World Superbikes

Round 8 - French Round

Practice 1 | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Friday 6 September, 8.10pm

WorldSSP300 Superpole | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Saturday 7 September, 12.05am

Practice 2 | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Saturday 7 September, 12.50am

WorldSSP Superpole | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Saturday 7 September, 1.55am

Practice 3 | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Saturday 7 September, 6.50pm

Superpole | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Saturday 7 September, 8.50pm

WorldSSP300 Race 1 | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Saturday 7 September, 10.35pm

WorldSSP Race 1 | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Saturday 7 September, 11.50pm

Race 1 | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Sunday 8 September, 1.15am

Superpole Race | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Sunday 8 September, 8.50pm

WorldSSP300 Race 2 | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Sunday 8 September, 10.35pm

WorldSSP Race 2 | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Sunday 8 September, 11.50pm

Race 2 | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Monday 9 September, 1.15am

Australian Superbikes

Round 5, Phillip Island | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Sunday 8 September, 3pm

Supercars | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Friday 13 September, 11.30am

Supercars | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Saturday 14 September, 10pm

Supercars | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Sunday 15 September, 11pm

Ultimate Pool

Group 9 | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Tuesday 27 August, 5.30am

Group 10 | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Tuesday 3 September, 5.30am

Group 11 | Sky Sport Select - Channel 50 Tuesday 10 September, 5.30am

Group 12 | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Tuesday 17 September, 5.30am

NRL Premiership

North Queensland Cowboys v Melbourne Storm | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Thursday 29 August, 9pm

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Many Warringah Sea Eagles | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Friday 30 August, 7pm

Penrith Panthers v South Sydney Rabbitohs | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Friday 30 August, 10pm

Parramatta Eels v St. George Illawarra Dragons | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Saturday 31 August, 4.30pm

Dolphins v Brisbane Broncos | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Saturday 31 August, 7.15pm

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v New Zealand Warriors | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Saturday 31 August, 9.35pm

Newcastle Knights v Gold Goast Titans | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Sunday 1 September, 3.30pm

Sydney Roosters v Canberra Raiders | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Sunday 1 September, 6pm

Brisbane Broncos v Melbourne Storm | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Thursday 5 September, 9pm

Wests Tigers v Parramatta Eels | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Friday 6 September, 7.30pm

South Sydney Rabbitohs v Sydney Roosters | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Friday 6 September, 10pm

St. George Illawarra Dragons v Canberra Raiders | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Saturday 7 September, 4.30pm

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v North Queensland Cowboys | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Saturday 7 September, 7pm

Penrith Panthers v Gold Coast Titans | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Saturday 7 September, 9.30pm

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Sunday 8 September, 3.30pm

Newcastle Knights v Dolphins | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Sunday 8 September, 6pm

NRL Alternative Commentary Collective

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v New Zealand Warriors | Sky Sport 9 - Channel 59 Saturday 31 August, 9.30pm

NRL Women's Premiership

Gold Coast Titans v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Saturday 31 August, 1pm

Parramatta Eels v St. George Illawarra Dragons | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Saturday 31 August, 2.45pm

Newcastle Knights v Wests Tigers | Sky Sport Pop-up 1 - Channel 601 Sunday 1 September, 2pm

Brisbane Broncos v North Queensland Cowboys | Sky Sport Pop-up 1 - Channel 601 Sunday 1 September, 3.45pm

Sydney Roosters v Canberra Raiders | Sky Sport Pop-up 1 - Channel 601 Sunday 1 September, 8.30pm

North Queensland Cowboys v Wests Tigers | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Saturday 7 September, 1pm

St. George Illawarra Dragons v Canberra Raiders | Sky Sport 6 - Channel 56 Saturday 7 September, 2.45pm

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v Sydney Roosters | Sky Sport Pop-up 1 - Channel 601 Sunday 8 September, 2pm

Parramatta Eels v Gold Coast Titans | Sky Sport Pop-up 1 - Channel 601 Sunday 8 September, 3.45pm

Newcastle Knights v Brisbane Broncos | Sky Sport Pop-up 1 - Channel 601 Sunday 8 September, 8.10pm

Wests Tigers v St. George Illawarra Dragons | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Thursday 12 September, 9.45pm

Brisbane Broncos v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Sky Sport Pop-up 1 - Channel 601 Saturday 14 September, 2pm

Gold Coast Titans v Newcastle Knights | Sky Sport Pop-up 1 - Channel 601 Saturday 14 September, 3.45pm

Sydney Roosters v North Queensland Cowboys | Sky Sport Pop-up 1 - Channel 601 Sunday 15 September, 2pm

Canberra Raiders v Parramatta Eels | Sky Sport Pop-up 1 - Channel 601 Sunday 15 September, 3.45pm

National Men's Premiership

Auckland Vulcans v Akarana Falcons | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Saturday 7 September, 12pm

CM Stingrays v Bay Of Plenty | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Saturday 7 September, 12pm

Otago Whalers v Waikato | Sky Sport 7 - Channel 57 Sunday 8 September, 12pm

Bay Of Plenty v Auckland Vulcans | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Saturday 14 September, 12pm

Otago Whalers v CM Stingrays | Sky Sport 3 - Channel 53 Sunday 15 September, 12pm

Waikato v Akarana Falcons | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Sunday 15 September, 12pm

Sky Sport Women's Premiership

Auckland Vulcans v Akarana Falcons | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Saturday 7 September, 2pm

CM Stingrays v Waikato | Sky Sport 5 - Channel 55 Saturday 7 September, 2pm

Canterbury v Wellington Orcas | Sky Sport 7 - Channel 57 Sunday 8 September, 2pm

Wellington Orcas v CM Stingrays | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Saturday 7 September, 2pm

Waikato v Auckland Vulcans | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Saturday 7 September, 2pm

Canterbury v Akarana Falcons | Sky Sport 3 - Channel 53 Sunday 8 September, 2pm

Rugby Championship

South Africa v All Blacks | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Sunday 1 September, 2.30am

Argentina v Australia | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Sunday 1 September, 9.50am

South Africa v All Blacks | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Sunday 8 September, 2.30am

Argentina v Australia | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Sunday 8 September, 6.50am

Pacific Nations Cup (PNC)

Canada v Japan | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Monday 26 August, 8.50am

Samoa v Tonga | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Friday 30 August, 3.50pm

USA v Canada | Sky Sport 9 - Channel 59 Sunday 1 September, 12.50pm

Tonga v Fiji | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Friday 6 September, 2.50pm

Japan v USA | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Saturday 7 September, 9.55pm

5th Place Playoff | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Saturday 14 September, 8.55pm

Semifinal 1 | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Saturday 14 September, 11pm

Semifinal 2 | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Saturday 15 September, 10.50pm

Novavit Griffons v Airlink Pumas | Sky Sport Select - Channel 50 Monday 26 August, 12.55am

Suzuki Griquas v Toyota Cheetahs | Sky Sport 3 - Channel 53 Saturday 31 August, 12.55am

Vodacom Bulls v Fidelity ADT Lions | Sky Sport 3 - Channel 53 Saturday 31 August, 3.10am

Hollywoodbets Sharks v Novavit Griffons | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Saturday 31 August, 11.25pm

DHL Western Province v Airlink Pumas | Sky Sport Select - Channel 50 Monday 2 September, 12.55am

Bunnings NPC

Canterbury v Hawke's Bay | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Wednesday 28 August, 7pm

Northland v Southland | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Friday 30 August, 7pm

North Harbour v Counties Manukau | Sky Sport 3 - Channel 53 Saturday 31 August, 2pm

Taranaki v Otago | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Saturday 31 August, 2.30pm

Waikato v Auckland | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Saturday 31 August, 4.30pm

Tasman v Bay Of Plenty | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Saturday 31 August, 7pm

Canterbury v Wellington | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Sunday 1 September, 2pm

Manawatu v Hawke's Bay | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Sunday 1 September, 4.30pm

Waikato v Northland | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Wednesday 4 September, 7pm

Bay Of Plenty v Manawatu | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Friday 6 September, 7pm

Wellington v Southland | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Saturday 7 September, 2pm

Auckland v North Harbour | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Saturday 7 September, 2.30pm

Otago v Canterbury | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Saturday 7 September, 4.30pm

Hawke's Bay v Tasman | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Saturday 7 September, 7pm

Taranaki v Waikato | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Sunday 8 September, 2pm

Counties Manukau v Northland | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Sunday 8 September, 4.30pm

Otago v Wellington | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Wednesday 11 September, 7pm

Southland v Canterbury | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Friday 13 September, 7pm

Bay Of Plenty v Taranaki | Sky Sport 3 - Channel 53 Saturday 14 September, 2.30pm

North Harbour v Manawatu | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Saturday 14 September, 4.30pm

Waikato v Hawke's Bay | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Saturday 14 September, 7pm

Tasman v Wellington | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Sunday 15 September, 2pm

Counties Manukau v Otago | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Sunday 15 September, 2pm

Northland v Auckland | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Sunday 15 September, 4.30pm

Farah Palmer Cup

Taranaki v Otago | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Saturday 31 August, 12pm

Waikato v Auckland | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Saturday 31 August, 2pm

Hawke's Bay v Bay Of Plenty | Sky Sport Select - Channel 50 Saturday 31 August, 2pm

Tasman v Manawatu | Sky Sport Select - Channel 50 Saturday 31 August, 4.30pm

Wellington v North Harbour | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Sunday 1 September, 12.30pm

Counties Manukau v Northland | Sky Sport 4 - Channel 54 Sunday 1 September, 1pm

Auckland v Counties Manukau | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Saturday 7 September, 12pm

Northland v Canterbury | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Saturday 7 September, 12pm

Tasman v Taranaki | Sky Sport Select - Channel 50 Saturday 7 September, 1pm

Otago v Wellington | Sky Sport 3 - Channel 53 Saturday 7 September, 2pm

Manawatu v North Harbour | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Saturday 7 September, 4.30pm

Waikato v Hawke's Bay | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Sunday 8 September, 12pm

Championship Semifinal 1 | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Saturday 14 September, 12pm

Bay Of Plenty v Auckland | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Saturday 14 September, 12pm

Championship Semifinal 2 | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Saturday 14 September, 2pm

Canterbury v Hawke's Bay | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Saturday 14 September, 2pm

Counties Manukau v Waikato | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Sunday 15 September, 11.30am

Heartland Championship

King Country v Thames Valley | Sky Sport 2 - Channel 52 Saturday 31 August, 5.30pm

Buller v West Coast | Sky Sport 9 - Channel 59 Saturday 7 September, 2.30pm

Wairarapa Bush v Horowhenua Kapiti | Sky Sport 9 - Channel 59 Saturday 14 September, 2.30pm

Women's International Rugby

Black Ferns v England | Sky Sport 1 - Channel 51 Sunday 15 September, 1.20am

Supertri Chicago

Supertri Chicago | Sky Sport Select - Channel 50 Monday 26 August, 5.30am

Supertri London

Supertri London | Sky Sport Select - Channel 50 Sunday 8 September, 11pm

NFL Preseason

Broncos v Cardinals | ESPN - Channel 60 Monday 26 August, 8.30am

Commanders v Patriots | ESPN - Channel 60 Monday 26 August, 12pm

NFL Season 2024

Texas A&M v Notre Dame | ESPN - Channel 60 Sunday 1 September, 11.37am

Chiefs v Ravens | ESPN - Channel 60 Friday 6 September, 12.15pm

TBC v TBC | ESPN - Channel 60 Monday 9 September, 5am

TBC v TBC | ESPN2 - Channel 61 Monday 9 September, 5am

TBC v TBC | ESPN - Channel 60 Monday 9 September, 8.25am

Lions v Rams | ESPN - Channel 60 Monday 9 September, 12.15pm

49ers v Jets | ESPN - Channel 60 Tuesday 10 September, 12.15pm

Dolphins v Bills | ESPN - Channel 60 Friday 13 September, 12.15pm

TBC v TBC | ESPN - Channel 60 Monday 16 September, 5am

TBC v TBC | ESPN2 - Channel 61 Monday 16 September, 5am

TBC v TBC | ESPN - Channel 60 Monday 16 September, 8.25am

Texas v Bears | ESPN - Channel 60 Monday 16 September, 12.15pm

Orioles v Astros | ESPN2 - Channel 61 Monday 26 August, 11am

Twins v Braves | ESPN - Channel 60 Tuesday 27 August, 11.30am

Dodgers v Orioles | ESPN - Channel 60 Wednesday 28 August, 2pm

Dodgers v Orioles | ESPN - Channel 60 Thursday 29 August, 2pm

Dodgers v Orioles | ESPN - Channel 60 Friday 30 August, 2pm

Phillies v Braves | ESPN2 - Channel 61 Saturday 31 August, 10.30am

Phillies v Braves | ESPN - Channel 60 Monday 2 September, 11am

Mets v Red Sox | ESPN2 - Channel 61 Tuesday 3 September, 11am

Mets v Red Sox | ESPN - Channel 60 Wednesday 4 September, 11am

Giants v Diamonbacks | ESPN - Channel 60 Thursday 5 September, 1.30pm

Padres v Tigers | ESPN2 - Channel 61 Friday 6 September, 12.30pm

TBC v TBC | ESPN2 - Channel 61 Monday 9 September, 11am

Yankees v Royals | ESPN2 - Channel 61 Tuesday 10 September, 11am

Red Sox v Orioles | ESPN2 - Channel 61 Wednesday 11 September, 11am

Yankees v Royals | ESPN - Channel 60 Thursday 12 September, 11am

Yankees v Red Sox | ESPN2 - Channel 61 Friday 13 September, 11am

TBC v TBC | ESPN2 - Channel 61 Monday 16 September, 11am

Little League World Series

TBC v TBC | ESPN - Channel 60 Monday 26 August, 2am

TBC v TBC | ESPN2 - Channel 61 Monday 26 August, 7am

College Football

Colorado v North Dakota State | ESPN2 - Channel 61 Friday 30 August, 12pm

Oklahoma v Temple | ESPN - Channel 60 Saturday 31 August, 11am

Standford v TCU | ESPN - Channel 60 Saturday 31 August, 2.30pm

Vanderbilt v Virginia Tech | ESPN2 - Channel 61 Sunday 1 September, 4am

Texas v Colorado State | ESPN2 - Channel 61 Sunday 1 September, 7.30am

Florida v Miami | ESPN - Channel 60 Sunday 1 September, 7.40am

Alabama v Western Kentucky | ESPN2 - Channel 61 Sunday 1 September, 11am

Arizona v New Mexico | ESPN2 - Channel 61 Sunday 1 September, 2.30pm

Alabama State v North Carolina Central | ESPN - Channel 60 Monday 2 September, 7am

Florida State v Boston College | ESPN - Channel 60 Tuesday 3 September, 11.30am

Texas v UTSA | ESPN - Channel 60 Saturday 7 September, 12.15pm

TBC v TBC | ESPN - Channel 60 Sunday 8 September, 4am

Oklahoma State v Arkansas | ESPN2 - Channel 61 Sunday 8 September, 4am

Kentucky v South Carolina | ESPN2 - Channel 61 Sunday 8 September, 7.30am

NC State v Tennessee | ESPN2 - Channel 61 Sunday 8 September, 11.37am

Arizona State v Mississippi State | ESPN - Channel 60 Sunday 8 September, 2.30pm

Kansas v UNLV | ESPN2 - Channel 61 Saturday 14 September, 11am

South Caroline v LSU | ESPN - Channel 60 Sunday 15 September, 4am

Florida State v Memphis | ESPN2 - Channel 61 Sunday 15 September, 4am

Florida v Texas A&M | ESPN - Channel 60 Sunday 15 September, 7.30am

TBC v TBC | ESPN2 - Channel 61 Sunday 15 September, 7.30am

Texas v UTSA | ESPN2 - Channel 61 Sunday 15 September, 11am

California v San Diego State | ESPN - Channel 60 Sunday 15 September, 2.30pm

College Football Kickoff

Georgia v Clemson | ESPN - Channel 60 Sunday 1 September, 4am

LSU v USC | ESPN2 - Channel 61 Monday 2 September, 11.37am

High School Football Kickoff

Baylor (TN) v Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School (GA) | ESPN - Channel 60 Monday 26 August, 5am

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• Vuelta a España stage 10 Live - Racing resumes with chance for the breakaway in Galicia

A brief history of Team Sky

A timeline of the British team's evolution, controversies and contradictions

Following its success in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, British Cycling unveiled plans to expand into the highest level of professional cycling, announcing the formation of Team Sky in early 2009. 

Team Sky stay silent as peloton welcomes news of Team Ineos

Setting out the ambitious goal of winning the Tour de France within five years, the project set itself apart from other similarly lofty launches, scoring a strong crew of starters - including Chris Froome , Bradley Wiggins and Geraint Thomas - and operating under an improbable 'zero tolerance' anti-doping policy.

The team set out for their first season in 2010, with Greg Henderson securing their first victory in the Tour Down Under criterium. Wiggins then went on to win the prologue in the Giro d'Italia, and although the team's early Grand Tour GC performances were not stunning, the organisation showed promise.

• February 26, 2009 - Britons announce professional road squad
• September 9, 2009 - Team Sky unveils first six riders
• September 18, 2009 - Sky awarded four-year ProTour license
• November 21, 2009 - Team Sky reveals recruiting, management methods
• November 23, 2009 - Brailsford confident Team Sky can win clean
• December 10, 2009 - Bradley Wiggins signs with Team Sky
• December 15, 2009 - Team Sky announce two additional sponsors
• January 4, 2010 - Team Sky launched in London
• January 17, 2010 - Greg Henderson takes Sky's first win
• May 8, 2010 - Wiggins wins Giro d'Italia prologue

Edvald Boasson Hagen won the team's first Tour de France stage in 2011, and by the Vuelta a España, both Wiggins and Froome stood on the final podium, albeit behind overall winner Jose Cobo.

• February 15, 2011 - Brailsford analyses Sky's "zero tolerance" policy
• July 7, 2011 - Boasson Hagen wins team's first Tour de France stage
• November 11, 2011 - Froome, Wiggins podium in Vuelta a Espana

By 2012, Team Sky was flying, and Wiggins made the impossible dream of a Tour de France victory within five years come true in the squad's third season. He went on to win the Olympic gold medal in the individual time trial.

But the sport's foundations were about to undergo an upheaval when in October USADA published its Reasoned Decision, banning Lance Armstrong, and handing suspensions to six riders including ex-Team Sky rider Michael Barry, who had retired before the verdict could be announced.

Team Sky renewed their zero-tolerance stance, parting ways with a number of staff members and asking their riders and staff to sign new declarations on their past histories.

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• July 22, 2012 - Wiggins wins Team Sky's first Grand Tour
• August 1, 2012 - Wiggins wins Olympic gold
• October 9, 2012 - Leinders not renewed after Team Sky investigation
• October 12, 2012 - Newly retired Team Sky rider Michael Barry confesses to doping at US Postal
• October 17, 2012 - Team Sky asks riders and staff to sign anti-doping declaration

The 2013 season proved to be a rocky one, with whispers of in-fighting between Wiggins and Froome in the previous Tour de France. Wiggins opted to focus on the Giro d'Italia, but dropped out after stage 12 citing illness. Froome went on to win the 2013 Tour, confirming his Grand Tour prowess. But Froome was the unfortunate first Tour champion in the wake of Lance Armstrong's doping confession, and faced intense scrutiny by the public and press still stinging from the deception.

A bio passport violation from Jonathan Tiernan-Locke became the squad's first oping infraction, although the case dated from his time before joining Team Sky.

• May 17, 2013 - Wiggins pulls out of Giro d'Italia
• July 21, 2013 - Chris Froome wins Tour de France
• December 17, 2013 - UCI opens biological passport case against Team Sky's Jonathan Tiernan-Locke

In 2014, Froome and Wiggins operated on separate schedules ahead of the Tour de France, with Wiggins winning the Tour of California and Froome claiming the Tour de Romandie. A puff of an inhaler for asthma during the Critérium du Dauphiné raised criticism that surprised Froome. Within a week, a report emerged that the UCI had fast-tracked a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) application for Froome to take oral prednisolone during Romandie. WADA and the UCI each defended the action, which was allowed under UCI rules. However, WADA pushed the UCI to reform its TUE regulations in light of the report.

Team Sky went into the Tour de France fully behind Froome, leaving Wiggins off the roster for the event. When Froome crashed three times in two days and abandoned the race, Brailsford's decision to go in without 'plan B' was scrutinized.

Wiggins went on to win the time trial world title, while signalling he would return to the track for the 2016 Olympic Games.

• June 3, 2014 - Split racing schedules for Froome and Wiggins ahead of Tour de France
• June 6, 2014 - Wiggins left out of Team Sky's Tour de France team
• June 10, 2014 - Froome surprised at controversy over in-race inhaler use
• June 15, 2014 - Report: UCI fast-tracked Froome's TUE request at Tour de Romandie
• July 9, 2014 - Froome abandons Tour de France
• September 24, 2014 - Wiggins wins time trial world championship

Froome dominated the 2015 Tour de France, particularly with his solo victory on La Pierre-Saint-Martin on stage 10. By the end of the season, Froome and Team Sky revealed his physiological data, giving his critics plenty to argue about in the off-season.

• July 20, 2015 - Froome wins 2015 Tour de France
• July 20, 2015 - Froome ready to reveal Tour de France data but questions intense scrutiny
• July 24, 2015 - Sky's release of Froome's Tour de France data fails to clear the air
• December 3, 2015 - Chris Froome's physiological test data released

In 2016, Geraint Thomas emerged as a new GC threat by winning Paris-Nice. Wout Poels became the team's first Monument winner at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and Froome went on to claim his third Tour de France victory and represent Great Britain with Bradley Wiggins at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

But the team came under scrutiny, first when the UCI opened up biological passport proceedings against Colombian Sergio Henao for the second time in two years. Henao's blood value fluctuations were attributed to his living at high altitude and after a month away from racing, he was welcomed back by Team Sky.

A more serious attack came in the form of Russian hackers, who took revenge on the Olympic Games after many of the country's athletes were excluded due to a state-sanctioned doping scandal. The hackers revealed numerous athletes' Therapeutic Use Exemptions applications, including those of Wiggins and Froome.

Wiggins' showed he had used triamcinolone - a powerful corticosteroid - in the build-up to three Grand Tours, including his 2012 Tour de France victory. Wiggins insisted he never used drugs to gain a competitive advantage, and used triamcinolone to treat severe allergies and asthma .

By year's end, reports of a 'mystery package' in a 'jiffy bag' delivered to Wiggins at the 2011 Critérium du Dauphiné led to a full-on investigation by UKAD.

• March 13, 2016 - Geraint Thomas wins Paris-Nice
• April 24, 2016 - Wout Poels wins Team Sky's first Monument
• May 17, 2016 - Henao opens up about biological passport ordeal
• July 24, 2016 - Chris Froome wins 2016 Tour de France
• September 15, 2016 - Tour de France winners Froome and Wiggins named in confirmed 'Fancy Bear' WADA hack
• September 23, 2016 - Kiryienka wins time trial world title
• UKAD Timeline - Timeline
• October 7, 2016 - Wiggins and Team Sky under fresh scrutiny over medical package delivery

Despite the UKAD investigation and an inquiry into possible doping charges being started by a Parliamentary select commitee, Team Sky started an embattled 2017 season, even if on the road they found ample success including Michal Kwiatkowski's fine Milan-San Remo victory.

During the year, former rider Josh Edmondson admitted to violating the no-needle rule while on Team Sky, Gianni Moscon got into hot water for hurling racial epithets at fellow pro Kevin Reza during Tour de Romandie and for allegedly causing a crash involving Sebastian Reichenbach, who reported the racist incident.

Pressure from the select committee and UKAD built up on British Cycling to the point it had to separate itself from the prestigious team it helped form, asking Team Sky to move out of BC headquarters in Manchester.

Before the Tour, there were rumblings of Team Sky riders considering asking Brailsford to resign, but with the eventual support from Thomas and Froome, he stood fast. Froome went on to win the 2017 Tour de France and then turned around and won the Vuelta a España.

While the UKAD investigation into Wiggins and Team Sky ended in November without any anti-doping charges, the team's troubles were not over.

On December 13, reports emerged that Froome had been notified of an adverse analytical finding for too-high salbutamol levels on stage 18 of the Vuelta.

• March 16, 2017 - Former Team Sky rider admits violating no-needle rule
• April 29, 2017 - Moscon racially abuses Reza at Tour de Romandie
• June 6, 2017 - British Cycling asks Team Sky to leave offices at Manchester Velodrome
• June 6, 2017 - Exclusive: Team Sky riders consider asking Brailsford to resign
• July 23, 2017 - Chris Froome wins 2017 Tour de France
• September 10, 2017 - Chris Froome wins 2017 Vuelta a Espana
• September 28, 2017 - Team Sky report budget of £31 million in 2016
• November 15, 2017 - No doping charges for Wiggins, Team Sky and British Cycling over mystery package
• Froome Salbutamol Timeline - Timeline
• December 13, 2017 - Chris Froome returns adverse analytical finding for salbutamol

Froome's salbutamol case overshadowed the start to the 2018 season, but Team Sky powered on despite the controversy. Froome was allowed to start the Giro d'Italia with the case still pending since the UCI rules allowed him to keep racing while fighting doping charges.

Froome won the Giro d'Italia, and the case continued on unresolved right up to the eve of the Tour de France when the UCI summarily closed the case. Moscon found himself in trouble again, being ejected from the Tour after punching Frenchman Elie Gesbert in the face during stage 15.

The expulsion did not slow down Team Sky, and Geraint Thomas triumphed in the Tour de France over Tom Dumoulin, with Froome taking third. But Sky announced in December that it would end its sponsorship of the team.

• April 11, 2018 - Lappartient says Chris Froome's case will not be resolved before the Giro d'Italia
• May 25, 2018 - Froome solos to victory on stage 19 of the Giro d'Italia to take race lead
• May 27, 2018 - Chris Froome wins 2018 Giro d'Italia
• June 28, 2018 - Chris Froome: I have every right to race the Tour de France
• July 2, 2018 - UCI closes salbutamol case against Chris Froome
• July 22, 2018 - Gianni Moscon disqualified from Tour de France
• July 29, 2018 - Geraint Thomas wins 2018 Tour de France
• December 12, 2018 - Sky announces it will end sponsorship after 2019

With Team Sky departing, Brailsford got to work with high-level negotiations to replace the sponsor, not a simple task with a potential £40 million budget.

The Colombian company Ecopetrol was the first major rumour of a replacement, but Ineos won out, with rumours of the conglomerate signing up as the title sponsor effective May 1.

• February 14, 2019 - Ecopetrol linked with taking over Team Sky sponsorship
• February 19, 2019 - New Colombia-backed Team Sky very unlikely, says Dave Brailsford
• March 14, 2019 - Team Sky expected to become Team Ineos
• March 19, 2019 - Team Sky to become Team Ineos from May 1

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How to watch the 2024 Tour de France in NZ today

The Tour de France, a wild ride for cycling enthusiasts and confused spectators, will soon be back in action. As the peloton weaves through picturesque landscapes and tackles treacherous mountain passes, this year’s race promises a thrilling mix of athleticism, unexpected mishaps, and unflattering cycling shorts.

Rain or shine, the dedicated fans will be there, cheering their hearts out from the comfort of their foldable lawn chairs. Or, more likely, watching it on their TV, from the comfort of their lounge rooms.

Kicking off in Florence, the peloton, a colourful whirlwind on wheels, will embark on a three-week adventure through France, leaving behind a trail of sweat and empty energy gel packets.

The race will skirt along rugged coastlines and spectators will line the route, armed with homemade signs and unwavering enthusiasm, hoping for a glimpse of their favourite cyclist, or there simply because they have nothing better to do.

The true test will lie in the daunting mountain stages. As the peloton tackles gruelling climbs, some riders will soar like majestic eagles, while others will wheeze like pugs attempting a marathon. Mud-splattered faces and grimaces of pain will be the latest fashion trends, as cyclists try to conquer nature’s obstacles without tumbling headfirst into a cow pasture.

Where can I stream the Tour de France in New Zealand?

In New Zealand, every stage of the 2024 Tour de France is available to stream live on Sky Sport Now .

Sky Sport Now offers a week pass for $24.99, a month pass for $49.99, or an annual pass for $449.99.

What teams are racing this year?

– Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team – Alpecin-Deceuninck – Astana Qazaqstan Team – Arkea-B&B Hotels – Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe – Cofidis – EF Education-Easypost – Groupama-FDJ – Ineos Grenadiers – Intermarché-Wanty – Israel-Premier Tech – Team Visma | Lease a Bike – Lotto-Dstny – Movistar Team – Soudal Quick-Step – Team Bahrain Victorious – Team dsm firmenich-PostNL – Team Jayco Alula – Team TotalEnergies – Lidl-Trek – UAE Team Emirates – Uno-X Mobility

When is the 2024 Tour de France on?

The 111th edition of The Tour de France will span roughly three weeks (June 29th – July 21st) with local coverage typically starting around 10pm – 11pm each night. See below for coverage dates and race info for each stage.

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Tour de France: Who is Eurosport presenter Orla Chennaoui?

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Orla Chennaoui is currently leading Eurosport’s coverage of the Tour de France, but how much do you know about the sports presenter? The 42-year-old has been part of the station’s coverage of cycling events since 2019 and has been working in the journalism industry for more than two decades. 

Chennaoui was born in Draperston, County Londonderry, in Northern Ireland. 

Initially, Chennaoui undertook an undergraduate degree in Law and French at Queen’s Belfast University, before moving to Edinburgh to complete a postgraduate diploma in journalism at Napier University. 

The presenter worked in print journalism at first, spending time with Scotland on Sunday and the Edinburgh Evening News . 

Her first job in broadcasting came at 2 Ten FM, a local radio station in Berkshire, and she later joined Sky News as their Northern Ireland correspondent in 2005. 

Chennaoui did have ambitions to become a war correspondent but found the requirements of the job too difficult. 

After covering the Olympics for Sky in 2012, Chennaoui decided she wanted to work in sport permanently and moved to Sky Sports. 

Having spent 14 years at Sky, Chennaoui moved to Eurosport in 2019. 

Former athlete 

Chennaoui was a talented athlete growing up and is a former all-Ireland triple jump champion. 

Speaking on the The Game Changers podcast, she said: “I used to be a track and field athlete as a kid,” she said. “It was such a huge part of my life growing up. I think only now that I’m considerably older, I realise how formative it’s been in my character, my strength and my discipline.

“I dreamt for years of representing Ireland at the Olympic Games and it never happened, but it has led me into this beautiful career. That’s actually been considerably more rewarding, so I’m very grateful for that.”

What’s happening in the Tour de France? 

It was Australia’s Michael Matthews who won the hilly stage 14 of the race –– escaping a 23-man break early on the 192.5km ride from Saint-Etienne to Mende. 

Matthews was overtaken by Alberto Bettiol on the final climb but managed to regain the lead and secure the fourth stage victory of his career. 

Overall, after 14 stages, Demark’s Jonas Vingegaard leads with an overall time of 55 hours, 31 minutes and one second. 

Defending champion Tadej Pogacar is second as he seeks a third straight Tour de France title. 

Britain’s Geraint Thomas, who won the race in 2018, is in third place as it stands.

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How to watch Tour de France live stream — 2024 stages and schedule

Expect fierce competition to win the world's greatest cycle race

Watch Tour de France: live streams

Watch tour de france 2024: preview.

It is time for the second Grand Tour of the year and, for most cycling fans, the Tour de France 2024, is the big one. However, there is some shift from tradition this year. The Grand Départ is in Florence and the finish in Nice, not Paris.

We are in for a brutal battle for the Yellow Jersey. The field includes Carlos Rodríguez and Egan Bernal leading the Ineos Grenadiers and Jonas Vingegaard of Team Visma - Lease a Bike. He's a back-to-back winner of this legendary race, having won in 2022 and 2023. Can he make it a hat-trick?

It's Tadej Pogacar who they'll all be trying to keep pace with though. The Slovenian has already won the Giro d’Italia this season. Can he become the first rider to do the double since Marco Pantani in 1998?

And there's no need to leave these questions hanging. You can watch the Tour de France 2024 for yourself with every stage available to stream free. Read on for how to watch the Tour de France live streams from anywhere and all the TV channel and cable-free options you'll need for this three-week feast of cycling.

How to watch a FREE Tour de France live stream

One of the best things about the Tour de France is that it's completely free to watch in lots of countries around the world. For example:

UK – ITV4 and ITVX streaming service / S4C and S4C on BBC iPlayer

France – France TV Sport

Belgium – RTBF  

Italy – Rai Sport

Australia – SBS

If you're from any of the countries listed above but you're abroad right now, don't worry about missing out on that free coverage. All you need to do is subscribe to a VPN to watch a free Tour de France live stream and re-connect to your home streaming coverage.

How to watch Tour de France 2024 from outside your country

If you're keen to watch the Tour de France but you're away from home and the coverage is geo-blocked, then you could always use a VPN to access it (assuming you're not breaching any broadcaster T&Cs, of course). You may be surprised by how simple it is to do.

Use a VPN to get a Tour de France live stream from anywhere.

NordVPN – get the world's best VPN We regularly review all the biggest and best VPN providers and NordVPN is our #1 choice . It unblocked every streaming service in testing and it's very straightforward to use. Speed, security and 24/7 support available if you need – it's got it all. The best value plan is the two-year deal which sets the price at $3.69 per month , and includes an extra 3 months absolutely FREE . There's also an all-important no-quibble refund if you decide it's not for you.

- So, try NordVPN 100% risk-free for 30 days

USA: How to watch Tour de France live stream 2024 without cable

Cycling fans can watch the Tour de France on both NBC and Peacock in the US.

NBC is the official US broadcaster for the Tour de France 2024.  Peacock will live stream the race too.

How to watch Tour de France 2024 without cable

Peacock costs from $5.99 a month for an ad-supported version of the service that also offers live coverage of every big WWE event, plus the NFL and plenty more live sports. You also have the option of paying $12 a month for commercial-free coverage.

OTT streaming service  Sling TV  is reasonably priced and includes both NBC and USA Network in select markets, as part of its  Sling Blue  package. The usual cost is from $40 a month, but if you're new to the service you can get  your first month half-price .

Another over-the-top streaming service that includes USA Network and NBC in select markets is  Fubo . It's a much more comprehensive cable replacement and carries more than 100 channels including Fox, CBS and ESPN.

Prices start at $79.99 a month but new users get a 7-day FREE trial .

If you subscribe to Peacock, Sling or Fubo and find yourself unable to access coverage because you're out of the country, consider using a VPN as outlined below. Try NordVPN with a 30-day money-back guarantee .

• Related: how to watch Peacock from outside the US

How to watch 2024 Tour de France: live stream cycling in Canada

FloBikes is the place to watch live Tour de France coverage in Canada.

A subscription costs CA$29.99 (roughly $22) per month or CA$150 (roughly $110) for the year.

Not in Canada to catch that FloBikes stream? Use a VPN to make sure you don't miss a moment.

How to watch 2024 Tour de France: live stream cycling in New Zealand

Sky Sport is the place to watch the 2024 Tour de France in New Zealand, though be warned that most of the action takes place in the dead of night.

If you're willing to stay late enough to tune in, Sky Sport subscribers can watch every stage online using the country's Sky Go service, while cord-cutters and anyone else can try the Sky Sport Now streaming-only platform. A pass costs $24.99/week, $44.99/month or $449.99/year.

Away from home? Use a VPN to watch a Tour de France live stream from abroad.

How to watch a free Tour de France live stream in the UK

ITV always goes all-out with its coverage of the Tour de France, and cycling fans can watch every stage of the race for free on ITV4 in the UK. 

Use a VPN to watch a Tour de France free live stream from abroad.

That means you can fire up a free Tour de France live stream on  ITVX , which has an excellent app that's available on nearly everything that plugs in these days - just give it a search on your device, phone or console of choice.

More ways to watch the 2024 Tour de France:

Welsh-language coverage of the Tour de France is available from  S4C , which is available to stream for FREE in Wales via BBC iPlayer.

If you’re out of the UK but still want to watch, make sure you install a VPN so you can continue accessing UK streaming services from anywhere.

How to watch Tour de France 2024: live stream cycling FREE in Australia

Cycling fans Down Under can also watch every stage of the Tour de France for free on SBS . The only catch is those brutal broadcast timings.

If you stay up late enough to tune in, you can also live stream Tour de France coverage on the free-to-use SBS On Demand platform.

As well as apps for Android and iOS, you can access SBS On Demand on Android TV, Amazon Fire TV stick, Apple TV and most smart TVs.

Outside Australia? Don't worry if you're out of the country and want to catch that free SBS live stream – just grab a VPN and you can watch the race as if you were back at home on your laptop, mobile or other TV streaming device. 

Today at the Tour de France 2024

After three weeks of amazing cycling, this is the final stage of the Tour de France 2024. Due to the Olympics, it's not the traditional ride into Paris, but an individual time trial from Monaco to Nice. It's a 33.7km course with one category two climb towards the start. Today will be the final time we see record stage winner Sir Mark Cavendish ride in the Tour de France.

Barring catastrophe, Tadej Pogacar will become the eighth man, and the first since Marco Pantani in 1998, to win the Giro and the Tour de France in the same year. He put in yet another stunning performance in the mountains yesterday, breaking the resistance of Jonas Vingegaard on the final climb. He has now picked up five stage wins and don't bet against him claiming a sixth. Richard Carapaz is set to be crowned King of the Mountains after his brilliant finish to the race. Biniam Girmay will win the Green Jersey.

Tour de France 2024 stages and dates

Stage 1 | Saturday, June 29: Firenze – Rimini, 206km

Stage 2 | Sunday, June 30: Cesenatico – Bologna, 200km

Stage 3 | Monday, July 1: Piacenza – Torino, 229km

Stage 4 | Tuesday, July 2: Pinerolo – Valloire, 138km

Stage 5 | Wednesday, July 3: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne – Saint Vulbas, 177km

Stage 6 | Thursday, July 4: Mâcon – Dijon, 163km

Stage 7 | Friday July 5: Nuits-Saint-Georges – Gevrey-Chambertin, 25km ITT

Stage 8 | Saturday, July 6: Semur-en-Auxois – Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises, 176km

Stage 9 | Sunday, July 7: Troyes – Troyes 199

Rest day | Monday, July 8

Stage 10 | Tuesday, July 9: Orléans – Saint-Amand-Montrond, 187km

Stage 11 | Wednesday, July 10: Évaux-les-Bains – Le Lioran, 211km

Stage 12 | Thursday, July 11: Aurillac – Villeneuve-sur-Lot, 204km

Stage 13 | Friday, July 12: Agen – Pau, 171km

Stage 14 | Saturday, July 13: Pau – Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d'Adet, 152km

Stage 15 | Sunday, July 14: Loudenvielle – Plateau de Beille, 198km

Rest day | Monday July 15

Stage 16 | Tuesday, July 16: Gruissan – Nîmes 187

Stage 17 | Wednesday, July 17: Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux – Superdévoluy, 178km

Stage 18 | Thursday, July 18: Gap – Barcelonnette, 179km

Stage 19 | Friday, July 19:  Embrun – Isola 2000, 145km

Stage 20 | Saturday, July, 20: Nice – Col de la Couillole, 133km 

Stage 21 | Sunday, July 21: Monaco – Nice, 34km ITT

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Charlotte Henry is a journalist who has covered all things tech and media for a number of years for various publications. She reported in-depth as tech companies became media companies and vice versa. In her newsletter, The Addition , she focuses on the ever-changing streaming ecosystem as the likes of Netflix, Apple TV+ and Disney+ fight for supremacy. Charlotte is also a close follower of sport (she’s a Spurs fan…) watching everything from Premier League football to Major League Baseball. Charlotte’s first book “Not Buying It: The Facts Behind Fake News” was published in 2019. Away from work, she can often be found at heavy metal concerts and festivals.

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Tour de France

Velonews stories of the decade: team sky’s tour de france domination, team sky revolutionized the way the tour de france was raced, winning seven tours in eight years. the team garnered plenty of criticism for its budget and its penchant for pushing the rules..

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This story appeared in the November/December print issue of VeloNews Magazine. 

It all started innocently enough. In 2010, new arrival Bradley Wiggins drew curious stares and even a few laughs when he was spotted warming down on rollers outside bus of Britain’s new cycling team, Team Sky .

Many laughed, a few took notice.

“When we started warming down on the trainers, people laughed at us,” Wiggins said this summer on his Eurosport podcast. “Within a year or two, everyone was doing it. Those are the kinds of things that Sky did that today is commonplace in the sport.”

That after-race warm-down was just the first incarnation of Sky’s revolutionary and sometimes derided “marginal gains.” And just like about any innovation in cycling, be it a new twist like handlebar extensions or even a highly effective doping product, it soon swept through the peloton like wildfire. Flash forward 10 years, and soigneurs are hauling trainers to the top of the most secluded mountain summits in Europe so its star riders can spin down after the hard effort.

A decade on, no one is laughing anymore.

Unrivaled success

Backed by the biggest budget in cycling, by the close of its first decade, Team Sky had won seven of the past eight yellow jerseys, with four different riders. The team’s methodology and success forced every team in the peloton to take a hard look at itself and how it was managing its squad.

“They’ve forced the rest of us to up our game,” said EF-Education First sport director Juanma Gárate. “We’ve all been forced to push ourselves. Everyone was playing catch up to Sky.”

Today, Team Sky has morphed into Team Ineos , and the team still boasts the largest budget in the WorldTour, estimated to be as high as $45 million annually, a tally that can be as much as four times more than the poorer neighbors in the WorldTour.

No one’s had a closer look at Sky-Ineos’s decade-long run than Nicolas Portal. Now 40, the cool Frenchman joined Sky in its inaugural year in 2010, and morphed into one of the team’s top sport directors.

“Those early days were not so easy for the team,” Portal said. “It might look easy from the outside, but everyone has worked so hard. It is sometimes difficult to believe what we achieved when you stop to think about it. It’s been amazing.”

Team Sky came into the peloton talking a big talk. After a few false starts, it surprisingly delivered on its promise sooner than anyone could have imagined. In fact, Team Sky far surpassed even the wildest dreams of its team boss, guiding light, spiritual leader and some say dictator, Dave Brailsford.

“The way that Dave structured the team, the way we work, the investment, you can call it boring sometimes, but that is the winning way,” Portal said. “There are no stage victories for us, it’s all about GC. The level is so high, so we said, let’s push higher than everyone else.”

Plenty of critics

It’s now been 10 years since Sky, Brailsford and Wiggins strutted onto the scene. The squad’s debut season was little short of a disaster. Wiggins cracked under pressure and limped through the 2010 Tour with a distant 21st on GC. The team picked up a few wins along the season, but nothing that would really reveal it was set to revolutionize the peloton.

Team Sky righted its ship. Brailsford and groundbreaking trainer Tim Kerrison transformed Wiggins into a GC-killing machine. The ever-obsessive Brailsford broke down the entire system of training, preparing, racing, aerodynamics, tech, equipment, diet, nutrition, rest and recovery, looking for advantages that he dubbed marginal gains.

Wiggins was their perfect guinea pig. Equally obsessed, the former trackie shed weight to stay close in the mountains but maintained his power in the time trials. By 2012, it proved a deadly combination, and Wiggins barnstormed to Britain’s first yellow jersey.

Sky soon defied expectations, tapping a then largely unknown Chris Froome as its chosen GC captain. Froome would go on to dominate grand tours, winning four Tours, two Vueltas and one Giro in dramatic fashion in his 80km solo attack over the Colle delle Finestre.

Then came Geraint Thomas ’s surprise win in 2018, followed up by Egan Bernal ’s history-making victory in July. More than any team, the 2010’s were the decade of Sky-Ineos domination.

And not everyone liked it. That success didn’t come without its scandals. The blot of Jiffy-Bags, Tramadol and TUE’s and the financial advantage it boasts thanks to its budget are also as much a part of the Brailsford legacy as those eight yellow jerseys and feel-good PR statistics about a record number of British people riding their bicycles.

For some critics, Sky-Ineos is nothing more than an extension to the win-at-any-cost ethos that has long dominated professional cycling. Sky wasn’t shy about tiptoeing right up to the ethical line.

Things got so bad in the wake of the Fancy Bears leak—which revealed Wiggins used the powerful corticoid triamcinolone under the guise of a TUE ahead of his 2012 Tour win—and pushed the team to the brink. The British Parliament investigated and castigated the team on some of its practices, but Brailsford never admitted to having doped his riders.

“There is a fundamental difference between process failures and wrongdoing,” Brailsford said in 2018. “Our commitment to anti-doping has been a core principle of Team Sky since its inception.”

Then came another bombshell: Froome tested for high levels of Salbutamol en route to winning the 2017 Vuelta. After a long and expensive legal battle, Froome and Sky came out on top. Froome was cleared of any wrongdoing, and WADA and the UCI were forced to walk back its Salbutamol anti-doping protocols.

For the haters, it was all too much. Sky was just as bad as any other of cycling’s dirty players. For Brailsford, Froome’s clearance and Bernal’s victory, it was all sweet redemption.

When Sky announced it would be leaving the sport at the end of 2018, many thought it was the end of an era. Instead, Brailsford had the pick of several suitors, and settled on Ineos, a petro-chemical company owned by England’s richest man. Sports-washing claims aside, Brailsford and the team emerged even stronger and wealthier than before.

“Tough times don’t last, but tough people do,” Brailsford told Jeremy Whittle in July. “You can’t do this job without a thick skin. In sports management you need to be resilient and decide what’s important to you and what you are prepared to take on board.”

Big pockets, bigger wins

One long-held criticism of Sky and its success is its peloton-leading budget. At more than $45 million annually, Ineos certainly packs more financial punch than any team. Some even describe it as a form of “financial doping,” allowing Brailsford to do things other teams simply cannot afford.

“When Bradley won the Tour, Sky was not the richest team, but we were already looking at new ways of doing things,” Portal said. “The budget increases came because if we wanted to keep our winners, we had to pay them more.”

Indeed, riders who started out as helpers at Sky/Ineos have gone on to be leaders on other teams, including Richie Porte, Rigoberto Urán, and Mikel Landa  and  Wout Poels , who head to Bahrain-McLaren for 2020.

More than anything, it was the “Sky way” that set them apart. The team’s legacy will be Brailsford’s mania for detail, the team’s deep pockets, and its unrelenting drive for success.

“We have a way that works,” Portal said. “We do not want to sleep with this. Cycling moves quickly, and we cannot win on our palmares. We know that every team in the peloton wants to beat us.”

The team has helped transform the sport and reduced much of cycling’s mystery to mathematical formulas, and not everyone agrees it’s for the better. The “Ineos Way” works. It might lead to sometimes methodical, almost robotic racing, but it’s highly effective at winning grand tours.

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Team Sky announce Tour de France line-up (+ video)

Now that Chris Froome has been cleared to ride the Tour de France, Team Sky have become the 22nd and final team to announce their eight-man line-up for the race, which starts on Saturday.

Among those riding alongside the 33-year-old, who is seeking a record-equalling fifth overall victory are Geraint Thomas and Luke Rowe, the latter less than a year after shattering his leg on his brother's stag weekend.

They are joined by Egan Bernal, Jonathan Castroviejo, Michal Kwiatkowski, Gianni Moscon and Wout Poels.

We're excited to announce our lineup for #TDF2018 , with the big race kicking off on Saturday: @chrisfroome @Eganbernal @jcastroviejo @kwiato @GianniMoscon @WoutPoels @LukeRowe1990 @GeraintThomas86 > https://t.co/naEeowLyyU pic.twitter.com/unQhbuOCVc — Team Sky (@TeamSky) July 3, 2018

Froome, the reigning champion of all three Gramd Tours, said: “The last 12 months have been the hardest but also the most incredible of my career. 

"I’ve never started the Tour de France after riding the Giro d’Italia and it has meant a completely different approach to my season. But I learnt a lot from riding the Vuelta straight after the Tour de France last year which has given me confidence coming into this race.  

“I want to make history with a fifth Tour de France win and fourth consecutive Grand Tour. I am under no illusion about the challenge, but I am feeling ready and I couldn’t ask for a better team to support me. 

“This is the biggest race in the year, in front of the most passionate cycling fans, and I can’t wait to get racing,” Froome added.

Team principal Sir Dave Brailsford commented: “We go into the Tour with a lot of confidence. Chris is in great shape after the Giro - mentally and physically - and the whole team want to build on the success we had in Italy. 

"Chris is already one of the greats of the sport. This is a chance for him to cement that reputation even further.  

“We have chosen the Team to support him that we believe is best equipped to meet the demands of this year’s race. It is a team of real versatility and one that balances youth with experience.

"We are really proud that Gianni Moscon and Egan Bernal will be making their Tour de France debuts with us. They are both very talented bike riders and will have a lot to offer.

"It is also fantastic that Luke Rowe will be riding the Tour again as our road captain after his serious accident last summer. It is testament to his ability and determination that he has come back so strongly."

He added: “These are very special weeks every year. We love riding in France and we are all looking forward to starting racing.”

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Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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That's a team and a chance for Froome to really be considered the GOAT!

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The science behind Chris Froome and Team Sky's Tour de France preparations

When Chris Froome is racing, he imagines he has a bag of coins to spend. Every time he wastes energy, he needs to pay. He pays whenever he's pedalling against the wind. He pays when he moves up the peloton during a climb instead of waiting for a flat road where he can get maximum drag off the riders around him. He even pays for trivial manoeuvres such as collecting bidons of water from the support car that follows riders during a race. He pays because all these moments imply an acceleration, an intensification of effort that puts Froome in the red.

In physiological terms, the moment that requires payment is called the threshold: the point beyond which you cannot ride comfortably for a long period of time. At any given stage of a race, Froome will try to spend as little time over that threshold as possible, even if that means losing his position within the group. Froome is attuned to it. As he crosses that threshold, he starts feeling his body screaming at him to slow down. He starts breathing faster as his muscles demand more oxygen.

Then comes the pain. When it comes, he embraces it, knowing that it's highly likely that his rivals are in even more discomfort. He might look around the peloton checking for symptoms in the riders' body language. Alberto Contador, the Spaniard from team Tinkoff and winner of all three Grand Tours - Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España - hides it well, grimacing for just a second. Nairo Quintana, from Colombia, sits very still on the bike, his face expressionless.

Froome, on the other hand, is perhaps the most obvious in his suffering. Elbows out, head down, ungraceful. But pain is sometimes a signal for Froome to make his move, especially if he has made his savings, carefully 
considering the energy that went into every single pedal stroke. He knows that when it comes to the final climb at a key stage of a Grand Tour, the rider with the most coins left is the one most likely to win.

That's what happened during stage ten of the 2015 Tour de France . It was the first mountain of the Tour, a hilly 166km stretch of road between Tarbes and La Pierre-Saint-Martin in the Pyrenees that finished at an elevation of 1,610m after 15.3km of climbing. Froome, who weighed 67.5kg at the time, averaged a power of 414 Watts during that climb. With 6.5km to go, he accelerated for 24 seconds, averaging 556 Watts. It was a devastating attack that left Quintana, his nearest opponent, for dust, and a performance so spectacular that journalists questioned its provenance.

In the subsequent press conference, Tim Kerrison, Froome's coach, told reporters that it was not unexpected considering some of the numbers the rider had achieved in the past. For instance, Froome's average power over 60 minutes, including the run-in to the climb, was 366 Watts, and Kerrison pointed out that Froome had exceeded that level on 15 occasions since 2011, in racing and training. Furthermore, his heart rate readings indicated that he had reached the stage feeling fresh and in good physical condition. In other words, he had saved most of his coins. "It's great when you manage to save as much as possible and you're ready for the last climb," Froome says.

"You know you're going to lay it all out there and just go for it." Of course, Froome's extraordinary performance wasn't just a direct result of his natural ability, but a by-product of his training. Kerrison was able to cite exactly how many times Froome had exceeded the power output number that he registered at Pierre-Saint-Martin; after all, he's been tracking data from every single pedal stroke his riders take, both in racing and training, for more than four years. That data is the foundation for the comprehensive and detailed training programme that all Team Sky riders undertake. "I work on the basis that everything we do is probably wrong," Kerrison says. "There are sure to be better ways of doing things. Pretty much every day we do things differently. The riders understand why we do things the way we do. They can always see how it relates to the overall picture."

Chris Froome, 31, has blue eyes and close-cropped hair. His body shape is ectomorphic, with long, lean limbs. His demeanour is quiet but polite and inclusive. When we sit down to talk in the living room at Team Sky's house in Nice, he asks for permission before reclining on the sofa. He either looks straight at the ceiling or across his shoulder directly at WIRED when making a particularly salient point, such as the moment he began to have confidence in himself as a rider and started being smarter about his racing style. He used to be careless with his energy. He was impulsive. Or sometimes team tactics dictated he had to attack at the beginning of the stage and, by the time the race reached the key moment of a climb, he would have nothing left to give.

It's not that Froome lacked the natural capacity; he always knew he had, as he puts it, a "big engine". He just didn't know how to use it. When he was tested in a physiology laboratory in July 2007, in Lausanne, Switzerland, he was told that the maximum rate at which he could consume oxygen - a physiological parameter that goes by the name of VO2max - was 80.2ml of oxygen per minute per kilo of body weight, and his threshold power sat at a 420W. These were the numbers of a potential Tour de France champion.

When Froome joined Team Sky in 2010 from Barloworld, he would produce incredible numbers in training, frequently much higher than his teammates, even though unbeknown to him at the time his body was ridden with parasitic flatworms (a disease called bilharzia, for which he was eventually treated). And yet, he was inconsistent when competing. By the 2011 season, Team Sky's performance director Dave Brailsford was considering dropping him from the squad. His standing in the team was such that the pre-race plan for the 2011 Vuelta a España said: "[Teammates] Xabier [Zandio], Morris [Possoni] and Froome will do their best to survive as long as possible and will fetch bottles, etc." He finished that Vuelta in second place, ahead of Bradley Wiggins, Team Sky's leading rider at the time. That, he says, was the big turning point in his cycling career. A year later, when Wiggins won the Tour de France, Froome finished second.

"I began to understand that I belonged with the best climbers," Froome says. "I wasn't struggling the way I thought I would be." He gained confidence and learned how to use his internal engine. When he repeated the physiological test in August 2015, his values hadn't shifted much - VO2max was now 84.6 and his threshold power 419W - the difference was due to his weight 
loss of 5.7kg. These were the numbers of a two-time Tour de France winner.

In 2009, when Dave Brailsford announced the creation of Team Sky, Britain's only professional race cycling team, the goal was to win the Tour de France within five years - a bold target considering that Britain never had much tradition in road cycling.

Winning the Tour de France had been a dream Brailsford had harboured since he was a teenager. He was brought up in a mining village in North Wales, and in 1983, aged 19, he decided to try competing in the Tour de France. He stuck his bike inside a cardboard box and bought a one-way ticket to France. "I grant you, I was a bit naive and didn't really appreciate the magnitude of the challenge," Brailsford says. "I went to the end of a bike race, when everybody arrived with their cars. I looked around for the nicest kits, went up to them with my bike in its box and said,
"Hi, can I race for your team?" And they were all like, "What?"

Brailsford ended up spending four years in Saint-Étienne, failing to race at the Tour de France, failing even to become a professional. He eventually returned to the UK and completed a degree in sports psychology followed by an MBA at the University of Sheffield Management School.

In 1997, he was hired by British Cycling as an operations director to look over its business side. The programme was run by Peter Keen, a respected sport scientist known for his innovative approach to coaching. As performance director, Keen was taking steps to modernise an underfunded, understaffed team with no infrastructure for proper training. In 1998, after the announcement of Lottery funding for sports in the UK, Keen put together an ambitious and detailed plan entitled the World Class Performance Programme. He stated his vision clearly: to make the UK the world's top cycling nation by 2012. Few people believed it was possible.

At the core of his plan was the application of a scientific and rational method to the art of cycling performance. It was a clear break from a past dominated by a mindset rooted in tradition, low self-belief and an unwillingness to explore new technology. British Cycling hired performance analysts, physiologists and biomechanists. "We had a lack of history in terms of cycling. There were no 
professional cycling coaches, so we hired smart sport-science graduates, "Brailsford says. "You might say that with hindsight that was a great decision. We were lucky to have this group who came up with all kinds of weird and wonderful ideas. Nobody ever said that something 
was not going to work."

Perhaps the most significant step early on was the acquisition of a set of power meters for the bikes, which allowed the measurement of the energy per second the cyclists could produce: their power output, in other words. Whereas before, cyclists had to rely on monitoring heart rate, speed and perceived exertion - all parameters that were easily influenced by environmental factors and had nothing to do with performance - power output was an objective measure and was the perfect tool for performance-based training. It allowed track cycling to become a data-driven sport.

The power meters, along with other technologies like video analysis and aerodynamic testing, allowed British Cycling performance analysts to create a systematic analysis of the numbers - lap times, cadences, power outputs, drag factors - that their riders could produce. They would also do an in-depth analysis of the numbers that were needed to win races, a process they called analysis of the demands of the event. "We would go to the nth degree in terms of truly understanding what winning looked like," Brailsford says. "This allowed us to create a document called 'What It'll Take to Win'. We spent more time than any other team in the world doing that particular work."

By the time Keen left in 2003, Brailsford had inherited a British Cycling team that had already accrued significant success in the Olympics. Alongside its emphasis on sport science, Brailsford introduced an organisational principle called "Performance by the aggregation of marginal gains". As a philosophy, it was akin to a widely known business concept known as Kaizen, popularised by Toyota, which requires the implementation of a culture of continuous improvement. In fact, the name "marginal" came to Brailsford as he was reviewing some studies he had done during his MBA on marginal costing. In cycling terms, it meant breaking down everything that goes into riding a bike and looking for the one per cent shifts that would make a difference. It seemed obvious to Brailsford that going after big ideas was difficult to do on a daily basis, but small gains, which were often overlooked, could be regularly aggregated to create meaningful change.

"Marginal gains came out of the magnitude of change required, in terms of where we were and where we wanted to get to," Brailsford says. "And then, equally, I know this sounds a bit contradictory, the margins of victory. You could win a race by one-tenth of a second. And you're thinking, 'OK, if we could win a race by one-tenth of a second, all these little things over here could equate to one-tenth of a second. So, why won't we do them?'"

After the Beijing Games in 2008, with Brailsford still at the helm, British Cycling had become one of the most extraordinary success stories in the history of sport. Atlanta 1996: two medals, 12th place; Sydney 2000, four medals; Athens 2004, four medals and third place; Beijing 2008: 14 medals and first place. This was the sort of epic British success story that Brailsford wanted to replicate 
in road cycling with Team Sky.

"When we created Team Sky, we sat down with a blank sheet of paper and said: "Right, we're going to create a professional cycling team. How should we do it?'" Brailsford recalls. "We took what we'd learned and tried and tested over the years in British Cycling 
and put it all on the page."

During its first year of operation, Team Sky became well known for its relentless application of marginal gains, in stark contrast with the traditional professional teams at the time. Team Sky's jerseys were designed with a thin blue line that ran down the spine to symbolise the narrow margin between victory and defeat, made from a special black fabric that reflected heat. It hired Honda's Formula 1 logistics manager Gwilym Mason-Evans to gut the inside of the team bus and completely redesign it. It employed a team of carers who would go to the hotels where the riders would be staying to remove mattresses, vacuum the beds underneath and replace them with mattresses and pillows made of elastic foam that had been individually customised so that the riders could maintain the same posture every night. It taught its riders how to wash their hands properly, made them carry hand gels at all times and forbade handshakes to prevent the spreading of illnesses during competition. It had bike-fitting sessions using 3D motion-capture technology in Valencia, Spain. It ordered the manufacture of a Perspex cocoon in which the team could warm up away from crowds and the media.

The sporting results, however, were disappointing. Bradley Wiggins had finished fourth at the previous Tour de France riding for Garmin-Slipstream. Now Team Sky's main contender, he finished the next in 24th place. "We'd come into the sport thinking that we knew a lot, we'd won all these Olympic medals and it was going to be easy," admits Fran Millar, Team Sky's director of business operations and head of winning behaviours. "Bradley was having ice baths and drinking cherry juice and all sorts of stuff, but he just wasn't fit enough. Dave said that we had concentrated too much on the peas, and not on the steak."

Prior to the start of the 2010 season, Brailsford hired Australian performance analyst Tim Kerrison. He was a former rower with extensive experience of coaching and as a sport scientist for swimming. He had been exclusively involved in swimming since 1998, working with a group of female sprinters who went on to have a very successful 2004 Olympics in Athens. "There was this ingrained culture of swimming which was very conducive to developing good aerobic distance-based, endurance-based athletes, but not sprinters," Kerrison says. "We recognised if we do what we've always done, we'll get what we've always got. That needed to change. Let's forget everything we know about swimming and the way everyone trains and think from first principles. What do we know not just about swimming, but other sports and physiology and training science?"

Most training programmes at the time were based around the idea of periodisation. "It's essentially the way the emphasis of training shifts over time," Kerrison says. "This can include a greater emphasis on workload or recovery, or a shift in the emphasis of the type of training within a training block." Traditionally, periodisation involved an initial training period which was predominantly focused 
on endurance and aerobic capacity, with more intense anaerobic workouts that included speed and power training added later in the year as a competition approached.

"We turned the conventional periodisation idea around," Kerrison says. "It made more sense. One of the foundations of sports training is specificity, which means that everything you do in training has to be related, to some degree, to what you need to do in competition. So we began working on the team's anaerobic systems from the very beginning, developing their strength, speed and power. Only later did we lay on more aerobic training."

Kerrison had been working as a sports scientist for the British swimming team since 2005 when Brailsford contacted him. He had already received a job offer from England Cricket that he was about to sign, and although Kerrison had never worked with cyclists, Brailsford convinced him to join Team Sky. "I grew up thinking that the Tour was one of the ultimate sporting challenges," Kerrison says. "I still think it is. I can't think of many things more challenging and special to me than winning the Tour de France. So it's a meaningful goal. How realistic it was, I wasn't sure."

When Kerrison joined Team Sky in late 2009, Brailsford told him that they were not expecting anything from him until November 2010. His mission was just to follow the team around as they competed for their first Tour de France. They hired a camper van, nicknamed Black Betty, which Kerrison shared with fellow performance analyst Matt Parker, then Team Sky's head of marginal gains. Kerrison spent this time taking notes and talking little. "He travelled round with the team working with our power data and not really visibly much else. Everyone was just, 'Who is this weird Australian who lives in a camper van?" Fran Millar recalls.

At the end of 2010, after the first season of racing, Brailsford told Kerrison, who had been in cycling for about a year, that he was going to coach Bradley Wiggins and that he had to formulate a plan to win the Tour de France. "I did what I had done with the sprint swimmers in Australia: go back to the very first principles," Kerrison says. "It was a huge benefit to not have my judgment clouded by all the other stuff I didn't know and just quickly work out exactly what I needed to know. We needed to forget about the culture, and forget about all the bullshit and the peripherals."

One of the first things Kerrison did was to try and find out exactly what it would take to win the Tour. After all, much of the success of British Cycling had been built around a methodical analysis of an event's demands and knowing what it took to win. "Riders used power and trained for power to a certain extent," Brailsford says. "They would download their training information into the system and get nothing back, so they stopped doing it. Kerrison changed all that. Our compliance rates, in terms of riders, when they're at home downloading the data, went through the roof, because they all started seeing how it affected their training plans."

Kerrison adopted a database system called Training Peaks in which the athletes could download the data so that he could study it. Using this data, Kerrison did a power curve analysis for each athlete that showed, for a given duration - from one second to three hours - how much power a rider could sustain. ("It's an ongoing thing now," Kerrison says. "Every day we have a new current power curve for the riders. Over time we have built up a knowledge of what this means and how to interpret it.") Then, based on the data available for previous Tour de France winners and on extrapolations, he estimated the power curve corresponding to what it would take to win the Tour de France. "Those were the demands of the event," Brailsford says. "We compared the capacity athletes had against what was needed to win and trained the athletes against that."

Kerrison also understood that Team Sky would need good climbers that could perform at altitude and at high temperatures. "A lot of decisive moments in the Grand Tours are performed at well over 1,000 
metres, sometimes as high as 2,500 metres," Kerrison says. "So if you're not able to perform at that level, then you're screwed, basically."

The body adapts to training at altitude, mostly through respiratory adaptations, recalibrating to different levels of oxygen. To address this, Kerrison scouted Europe for high-altitude camp locations, eventually deciding on Tenerife. "Britain doesn't have high mountains and heat so our cyclists weren't used to it," Kerrison says. "I did start to question if we were going to be able to compete with guys who spent their whole lives growing up riding in the mountains at altitude in the heat."

Still, Kerrison wondered how quickly the athletes would be able to adapt, so at the start of their first Tenerife camp, they tested their athletes' efforts at altitude and at sea level. On day one, the average difference in the athletes' threshold between sea level and 2,100 metres was about 70W. By day three, it was 35W. After two weeks there was no difference. The riders had acclimatised.

When Kerrison presented his plan to win the Tour de France, he essentially said that they had to forget about the details until they got the basics right. For Wiggins, those basics were conditioning, weight management, time trialling and performing at altitude and in the heat. "We were so caught up with the bells and whistles and all the clever stuff," Brailsford says. "We delivered all of that in year one and it didn't work. We didn't get our basics right. That was a big learning and Kerrison was a bit part of that. We decided on a new mantra that winter: 'Doing the simple things better than anybody else.'" That year, Bradley Wiggins crashed out on an early stage of the Tour, breaking his collarbone. In 2012, however, he became the first British rider to win it.

One afternoon in April 2016, Kerrison is at the wheel of one of Team Sky's Ford Mondeos following Froome as he pedals a few metres ahead in the hills around Nice, in the south of France. He had already completed most of this training plan for the day: two flat efforts on the time trial bike - 15 minutes and 12 minutes - with about five minutes of recovery in between. Then he took part in a 20-minute climbing effort on the time trial bike before switching to a road bike and was now on his final effort: 12 minutes of "spiked efforts" building up to four minutes of threshold. "Froome's anaerobic threshold is on around 450 Watts, but he rarely does anything at a constant pace," Kerrison explains. 
"He might do one minute about 30 Watts over threshold and then three minutes with ten Watts under threshold. Overall, the effort over that period of time would be at threshold."

This goes back to Kerrison's idea of specificity. While sometimes the pace is constant at a race, other times it is very dynamic, with pace changing all the time. That's what Froome is training for. Of course, on a more fundamental level, what Kerrison is manipulating in his mind is a more complicated set of equations describing the various cause-effect relationships between a training load and a physiological adaptation.

Consider the interplay between the distinct aerobic and anaerobic motors of an athlete. In simple terms, below the physiological landmark of the lactate threshold, the body is able to clear lactate as fast as it is produced. Above that threshold, it accumulates.

"People think developing the anaerobic system is a bad thing because it produces lactate and lactate is bad," Kerrison says. "It's only bad if you can't remove it. Otherwise, it gives you power. When I was in Australia we had some distance swimmers who, no matter how hard we pushed them, just didn't produce any lactate. I'm not sure whether that was because they weren't producing any or because they were efficient at removing it. We found out when we first measured Chris that it was the same. He would do a maximum effort and when we measured lactate there was nothing. Based on what I knew from swimming, I knew this was really promising. He was producing incredible power and whatever lactate he was producing he was able to remove. That indicated that we needed to increase his anaerobic capacity - his ability to produce lactate - because he had an ability to remove it."

Kerrison then adds another layer to the consideration of Froome's physiology: the nutritional fuel he uses for this aerobic effort. This fuel is a mixture of carbohydrates and fats, which are metabolised in different proportions depending on the intensity of the effort. The more intense the effort, the more carbs are required. But to Kerrison, even the way the body fuels can be trained and adapted, shifting it towards a type of metabolism that specifically benefits a rider racing the Tour de France.

"We restrict carbs in training and this shifts the metabolism," Kerrison says. "It drives an adaptation that makes the body become more efficient at using fat as fuel. So up to a certain intensity, say 200 Watts, Froome will predominantly be using fat as fuel. A significant portion of a typical five-hour stage is ridden at a relatively low intensity, meaning he'll be burning mostly fat, saving the carb stores for the more intense stages of the stage where it's needed the most - for example, the final mountain climb."

According to Kerrison, the interaction between those three types of metabolisms - carbohydrate-fuelled aerobix, fat-fuelled aerobic and anaerobic - is the foundation of Froome's training plan. When we return to Team Sky's house, Kerrison shows WIRED a five-page checklist that he keeps for each of his riders. It includes items such as power curve analysis, demands of the events, fat-carb metabolism, heat and altitude. There are 74 factors, qualitative and quantitative, that encapsulate Kerrison's understanding of what it takes to win.

It's the blueprint of what it takes to become a Tour de France winner, a title that Froome is defending this year after victory in 2015. He won it pretty much the same way as he had in 2013: by riding the first mountain stage very aggressively and earning a substantial advantage early in the race. That strategy caught everyone off guard. It wasn't part of Team Sky's plans; it was a decision that Froome made a couple of weeks before the start of the Tour and even Kerrison wasn't sure it was the best way to race.

Indeed, by the penultimate stage, Froome was struggling physically, exacerbated by a chest infection. Quintana, second in the general classification and 3'10" behind the leader, attacked relentlessly. "It was one of the days I had to fight the hardest to keep the yellow jersey," Froome recalls. "The pain was severe, but I knew that once I got to the finish line it would be done."

This article was originally published by WIRED UK

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PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has been encouraged by "enhanced" negotiations with the Saudi Public Investment Fund but warned no deadline has been set for a deal to be agreed.

The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PIF - financers of the breakaway LIV Golf League - signed a framework agreement in June 2023 that would combine the respective tours and seek to bring over $1bn of Saudi investment into the game of golf.

Eight months on from the original December 31 deadline, the PGA Tour and PIF remain in negotiations over the proposed agreement.

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Monahan has stopped short of putting a date on when negotiations will conclude but is adamant progress is being made, with financial backing and sponsorship commitment stronger than ever.

"We have not agreed to a deadline," he said. "I don't think we want to restrict ourselves in that way. We want to achieve the best and right outcome at the right time.

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"Together, we're at the table and actively engaged with the Public Investment Fund. We remain hopeful about that outcome. At the same time, we're moving forward at speed and focused on what we can control. Because that's what we owe to our fans."

He continued: "I would say that the priority; it's been enhanced. It's stronger. That's a direct result of dialogue and conversation and really starting to talk about the future, future product vision and where we can take our sport.

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"I think when you get into productive conversations, that enhances the likelihood of positive outcomes and that enhances the spirit of those very conversations. I think that's where things stand."

Monahan presented a united front with players, sponsors and investors, stating his mission is to build the best experience for fans and to embrace change to grow the game of golf through re-imagining the schedule.

"What we're hearing from fans, what we're hearing from players - we're both in position to bring the best players in the world back together," Monahan added. "I think that's a good and aspirational goal.

"As I said earlier, we're in those discussions. We're at the table. They're complex. It's going to take time.

"But ultimately, the PGA Tour is the best tour in the world. I think it's the right time to be having these conversations, not only for the PGA Tour, but for the game. That's why we're having those conversations."

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