FloBikes reporter and analyst Gregor Brown has seen a lot at the Tour de France races since he first covered the event in 2006, but he'll have never seen anything like the 2024 Tour de France.

No one has. 

Frequently using the word "unique" to describe the 2024 TDF, Brown said part of the excitement of this year's race is how different it'll be than any other Tour in the race's long history. 

• Subscribe To FloBikes To Catch All The Best Cycling, News And Highlights
• Tour de France 2026 To Start In Barcelona
• Adam Yates Wins 2024 Tour de Suisse

For the first time, the TDF will start in Italy in the heart of Florence, and for the first time, it'll end in Nice, France, instead of the traditional finish in Paris. 

All the action will be streaming on FloBikes and the FloSports app in Canada, with highlights and breaking news on both platforms. 

But there's more than just first-time course occurrences. 

The race will feature the four top General Classification riders in the world, which is more rare than some casual cycling fans may think. It'll start with climbing stages, and it'll end with a time trial. 

On top of all that, it's still the most important event in cycling. 

“And the Tour de France is just epic," said Brown, who likened the pre-race feeling to the anticipation of going to summer camp or the first day of school. "It’s everything in cycling, and it’s the biggest sporting event in the world in terms of the number of days it goes and the international reach it has”

From a challenging course to something that hasn't happened since Greg LeMond's win in 1989 to a rising star from Canada going for the General Classification, here's why no cycling fan should miss the 2024 Tour de France. 

The Tour de France 2024 Includes A Star-Studded List Of Riders, Including Tadej Pogačar

Brown said even if the TDF had a more normal course, the race still would be rare because the four best General Classification, or GC, riders in the world are competing this year. 

Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Primož Roglič and Remco Evenepoel all are on the TDF start list. 

Pogacar and Vingegaard have won the last four Tour de France races combined, and theirs might be the sport's biggest rivalry.

"It’s unique because we have four big GC riders," Brown said. "These are the four top GC stars, period, in cycling, and they are all racing the Tour de France. And so, that’s more than we have in past years. We’ve had the two top GC guys, and the other guys are not at the same level. They’re like B-level riders."

Roglič was a member of Jumbo Visma, which Brown likened to the New York Yankees of cycling, but left the team this year so he could ride in the Tour de France for Bora-hansgrohe. Last year, Roglič won the Giro d'Italia but skipped the Tour de France to race in the Vuelta a Espana, or the Tour of Spain. 

"It’s really unique that we have these four big stars on the start line," Brown said. "So, the only kind of question mark is around Jonas Vingegaard and what his fitness will be because he hasn’t raced since April 4 when he crashed in the Tour of the Basque Country."

Tadej Pogačar Is Trying To Do Something That Hasn't Happened Since 1998

Tadej Pogačar is attempting to double this year, or win the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France. Brown said there is even whispers of Pogačar possibly riding in the Tour of Spain after the TDF. 

"A few cyclists have tried to do (the double) during that period from 1998 to now, but not many," Brown said. "And over the past years, with cycling becoming more specialized, riders will pinpoint either the Giro d’Italia or the Tour de France and not try to do both because it’s just too much of an ask.”

“And so the way (Pogačar) dominated the Giro d’Italia gives this idea that he has a shot of perhaps winning the Tour de France. That would be big in cycling if he does it. 

“There’s a possibility he could go on to try for the Vuelta a Espana, or the Tour of Spain." 

Tour de France 2024 Ends In A Time Trial, Which Last Happened When Greg LeMond Won

Not only does the TDF end in Nice, France, due to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, it also ends in a time trial. 

The last time that happened was in 1989, when the legendary Greg LeMond won his second of three Tour de France titles. He shocked the world that year when he topped Laurent Fignon on the final day in the time trial. 

“What’s unique about this route is the fact that it ends with a time trial," Brown said. "This is also another first in many years – since 1989. It was a huge upset in 1989 when they thought the Frenchman Laurent Fignon was going to win, but the American Greg LeMond upset him for what was LeMond's second Tour de France win. 

"And, it was an upset… hardly anyone saw that coming. And, it was a TT on the way into Paris. Now, we have a TT again.”

Canada Has A Rising Star In Derek Gee

Two years after Hugo Houle won the first stage by a Canadian in almost a quarter century,  Brown said one of the most exciting General Classification riders at the Tour de France is Derek Gee.

“Derek Gee, super exciting and great for Canadian fans,” Brown said. “(Gee) came out of nowhere. Is Derek Gee going for GC (General Classification) at the Tour de France? The team (Israel-Premier Tech) is going to support him for the overall classification. He has a good shot at getting a stage win, I would say.”

What TDF 2024 Stages Are Can't-Miss? 

Every stage of the Tour de France has it's appeals to at least some portion of cycling fans, but some will be can't-miss stages. 

Brown noted that the first three stages and the final three stages of the Tour de France will be some of the best cycling of the race. 

"It starts with a bang like last year’s Tour de France," Brown said. "The first stage, there’s climbing, second stage there's climbing… the first two stages are already tough stages (and) Tadej Pogačar is going to come out swinging."

"The third week in the Pyrenees will be really interesting," Brown added. "It’s a terribly steep climb and tough. And then the final three days of this year’s Tour de France are intense because there are two summit finishes. Then, the last day is a time trial."

Tour de France 2024 Course Map

Here is the map for this year's Tour de France:

Here are a few more things to know about the Tour de France:

How To Watch Tour de France 2024 In The United States 

A live broadcast of the 2024 Tour de France will be available on Peacock for those watching from the United States. 

Peacock is the exclusive home of the event in the United States through 2029, with start-to-finish coverage of every stage, though select stages also will air on NBC.

How To Watch Tour de France 2024 In Canada 

FloBikes will provide a live broadcast for Canadian audiences.

Viewers in Canada will be able to watch all 21 stages of the Tour de France 2024 live on FloBikes and the FloSports app.

FloBikes also will provide updates, highlights and behind-the-scenes coverage throughout the entire event for all Flo subscribers. 

On What Channel Is The Tour de France? 

The Tour de France will be on the NBC network and will stream daily in the United States on Peacock. The entire race will be broadcast on NBC's channels and USA Network. 

Tour de France Teams For 2024

There will be 22 teams and up to 176 competitors in this year’s Tour de France:

Teams

• Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team
• Alpecin - Deceuninck
• Arkéa - B&B Hotels
• Astana Qazaqstan Team
• Bahrain - Victorious
• BORA - hansgrohe
• Cofidis
• EF Education - EasyPost
• Groupama - FDJ
• INEOS Grenadiers
• Intermarché - Wanty
• Team Visma | Lease a Bike
• Lidl - Trek
• Movistar Team
• Soudal Quick-Step
• Team dsm-firmenich PostNL
• Team Jayco AlUla
• UAE Team Emirates
• Israel - Premier Tech
• Lotto Dstny
• Uno-X Mobility
• TotalEnergies

When Does The Tour de France 2024 Start?

The Tour de France is a 21-stage event.

The 2024 edition will begin in Florence, Italy, on June 29 and conclude in Nice, France, on July 21. 

Every day, the cyclists start together to complete the stage of a race. Every stage varies in distance and physical demand. 

What Is The Schedule For The Tour de France 2024?

Here is the complete schedule for the 2024 Tour de France

Catch All The Best Races, Highlights, Insight, News And More On FloBikes

FloBikes is the streaming home to some of the best cycling from across the globe. Check out the broadcast schedule to watch more of your favorites in action.

FloBikes Archived Footage

Video footage from each event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloBikes subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

Join The Conversation On FloBikes Social

• Follow us on Twitter @FloBikes
• Follow us on Instagram @flobikes
• Follow us on TikTok @flobikes
• Watch us on YouTube
• Like us on Facebook