The Tour de France is a cycling spectacle that captivates millions of viewers worldwide. With its dramatic climbs, sprints, and rivalries, it’s no wonder that the end of the race leaves a void for many fans. Are you feeling the post-Tour blues? Don’t worry, the cycling season is far from over! We’ve got you covered with a list of exciting races happening right after the Tour de France. From stage races to one-day classics, there’s something for fans of every kind of cycling to enjoy.
Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters (via Unsplash)
After the Tour, the cycling season hasn’t finished yet!
The Tour is a monumental challenge, but for many riders, it’s not the end of their season. After the grueling three weeks are over, some are eager to capitalize on their Tour momentum and continue their winning streak in subsequent races. For others, the Tour might not have gone according to plan. Instead, they’ll be motivated to redeem themselves with strong performances in the late season. The late summer and early autumn months offer a packed calendar of races for riders to achieve their end-of-year goals.
Read more: Tour Disappointments: 5 Riders with Something Left to Prove (CyclingScoop)
What’s a cycling fan to do? Tune in, of course! Keep reading to learn more about some favorite races coming up on the calendar.
8 races to watch after the Tour de France:
1. Tour de France Femmes
Hey, what’s better for curing the Tour de France hangover than more Tour de France? The Tour de France Femmes is the premier women’s cycling stage race. You’ll be forgiven if you don’t remember watching it in the past; the race was recently re-launched in 2022 with Zwift as a key sponsor. The TDFF is the true female counterpart to the Tour de France, with stages over the flat, hilly, and mountainous terrain of France. Viewers can expect another thrilling general classification battle just like they enjoyed in the men’s Tour this year. With growing popularity and prize money, the TDFF is quickly establishing itself as THE main event in the women’s cycling calendar.
Read more: Why We Love the Tour de France Femmes
This year, the TDFF will take place on August 12th through August 18th, immediately after the Olympic games in Paris. In last year’s edition, Demi Vollering dominated the race and secured the overall victory with a powerful stage win on the Col du Tourmalet. The race was widely praised, solidifying its position as a major cycling event. This year, it will host its Grand Départ in Rotterdam with three stages before traversing iconic landscapes in France. The race culminates in a challenging final stage atop the iconic Alpe d’Huez.
How to Watch: As with the Tour de France, U.S. viewers can see all the TDFF action on NBC’s streaming service Peacock. Check out our guide on how to watch to learn more.
Embed from Getty Images2. La Vuelta
Grand tours are truly unique in the world of cycling. Watching the world’s top cyclists race all-out for three weeks is one of the best parts of the modern sport. If you haven’t had your GT fix after the Tour de France, don’t worry. It’s only the second grand tour on the road season calendar. The Vuelta a España, or La Vuelta, is known for its challenging mountain stages and unpredictable weather. This race always proves to be a can’t-miss spectacle for fans. And it provides a fitting climax to the cycling season.
The 2024 Vuelta a España will start in Lisbon, Portugal, and end with a time trial in Madrid. Surprisingly, this year’s race lacks some traditional Vuelta climbs like Angliru. But there are still plenty of rampas inhumanas to go around. Intense mountain stages like Cuitu Negru and Lagos de Covadonga will favor talented climbers as they vie for the overall title. Top competitors will include American rider Sepp Kuss, the defending champion from last year’s race, as well as many Spanish climbers like Enric Mas and Mikel Landa. Sprint stars with an early exit from this year’s Tour de France are also expected to make an appearance, such as Mads Pedersen, who exited the French grand tour due to injury. The final GT of the season is sure to bring some big wows and drama.
How to Watch: For U.S. viewers, La Vuelta will also be shown on Peacock. This includes full stage replays, so you don’t have to miss any of the race through Spain.
Read more: How to Watch the 2024 Vuelta A España: A Complete Guide
Embed from Getty Images3. World Championships
The UCI Road World Championships are the annual pinnacle of road cycling. Held each year in a different country, the event features races for elite men, women, and junior riders. Athletes compete in both road races and individual time trials. Winning a world championship is considered one of the highest honors in cycling. Unlike most races, the UCI Road World Championships feature national teams, so countrymen who normally compete during the regular season must race together. The champion in each category earns the right to wear the coveted rainbow jersey until the following World Championships.
In 2024, Zürich, Switzerland hosts this event, with a challenging parcours that will separate the best riders from the average ones. Many of cycling’s biggest stars hope to make a splash at this year’s Worlds. This likely includes Wout van Aert and Remco Evenepoel, Belgian rivals turned teammates, as well as Tour de France’s big superstar Tadej Pogacar. The current rainbow jersey wearer, Mathieu van der Poel, who has been largely invisible in this year’s Tour de France, will also show up to defend his title.
Read more: ‘The big goal is the Tour and the Worlds’ – Tadej Pogačar rules out Grand Tour treble attempt (Cyclingnews)
To avoid any conflict with the Olympics this year, Worlds will take place starting on September 21st. The men’s road race is held on September 29th.
How to Watch: This year, Worlds will be broadcast by FloBikes in the United States. Visit their website for more details about their broadcast schedule.
Embed from Getty Images4. Tour de Pologne
If a one-week stage race sounds more your speed, try the Tour de Pologne. This race is a prestigious stage outing held annually in Poland, with both flat and mountainous stages. The Tour of Poland attracts a strong field of riders, including those finishing their big tour of France. As one of Europe’s oldest cycling events, the Tour de Pologne always offers a platform for both established stars and promising young talents to showcase their late-season form.
The race begins on August 12th with seven total stages. Expect to see second-string stars from all the top World Tour teams as their bigger riders recover from the Tour de France or prepare for other races. Nevertheless, the Tour of Poland promises to be a great week of racing action with beautiful scenery.
How to Watch: In the United States, viewers can see every stage of this race on FloBikes. Visit their website to learn more.
Embed from Getty Images5. Renewi Tour
In addition to a visit to Poland, cycling viewers might also enjoy the scenic views of Belgium and the Netherlands in the Renewi Tour. This stage race is held annually and is formerly known as the Benelux Tour. It typically features a challenging course with a mix of flat stages, time trials, and hilly finishes. The race tends to attracts top-tier teams and riders with roots in the Netherlands and Belgium, making it a highly competitive and enjoyable event. This year, the Renewi Tour will likely offer perfect stages for sprinters, climbers, and overall contenders alike.
This tour through the Benelux will take place on August 28th and run for five stages. Tour de France racer Matej Mohorič is likely to appear at the start, as well as Jordi Meeus and last year’s victor Tim Wellens.
How to Watch: Viewers in the United States can see the Renewi Tour on Max with the B/R Sports package. Check their website to learn how to sign up for this streaming service, which also includes replays of each stage and past races from earlier in the season.
Embed from Getty Images6. Cro Race
Let’s go for something a little less well-known. Cro Race is a stage race held every year in Croatia, and it’s quickly becoming popular as a post-Tour choice for a lot of riders. It features a diverse terrain, including mountainous stages, and can be a test for all-round riders. Jonas Vingegaard, after his historic Tour de France victory in 2022, chose Cro Race as his first post-Tour race, breaking a relatively long racing drought that year. His participation elevated the race’s profile and provided fans with an opportunity to see the Tour champion in action under the lower stakes of the late season.
The startlist for Cro Race will be decided closer to its start date on October 1st. We can look forward to seeing a least a few of our favorite Tour de France riders cool down with this late-season race. Each of the six stages should offer exciting scenes and race action for viewers.
How to Watch: Cro Race is broadcast on FloBikes for U.S. audiences. See here for details about how to sign up.
Embed from Getty Images7. Grand Prix Cycliste Canadian classics
North American folks will be happy to know that their continent isn’t missing out on all the late season racing action. Canada hosts a number of World Tour races, notably some challenging one-day classics in the late summer. These events have attracted top-tier riders like Wout van Aert and Tadej Pogačar in recent years. While these Canadian classics may not yet hold the same historical weight as the European monuments, they are quickly gaining international recognition and offer a unique opportunity for riders to test their skills on a whole different continent.
In 2024, the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec will take place on September 13th, followed by the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal on September 15th.
How to Watch: These races will be available for U.S. viewers on FloBikes.
Embed from Getty Images8. Il Lombardia
There is one big event at the very end of the cycling calendar that many riders and fans alike look forward to more than any other! Il Lombardia, also known as the Tour of Lombardy, is one of cycling’s most prestigious one-day races.
Nicknamed “The Classic of the Falling Leaves”, it’s typically held in late October. It is preceded by the Giro dell Emilia, another great Italian classics race, and marks the final Monument of the season. The race takes place in the stunning Italian region of Lombardy and features challenging climbs like the Madonna del Ghisallo and the Sormano Wall. With its dramatic autumnal backdrop and demanding parcours, Il Lombardia is a fitting finale to the cycling calendar, often producing thrilling and unpredictable finishes.
How to Watch: Both the Giro dell Emilia and Il Lombardia broadcasts will be available through Max and B/R Sports for U.S. audiences.
Embed from Getty ImagesBONUS: 2024 Paris Olympics
Cycling fans will get a special treat in 2024! The excitement of the Tour continues with the Olympic games taking place in Paris. With cycling as a cornerstone of French sports culture, the games will highlight the best riders in the world competing on iconic courses. In addition, viewers can enjoy track and off-road disciplines as well. The Olympic cycling competitions will undoubtedly captivate their audience and create lasting memories, as the Olympics often do!
Read more: Want to watch the 2024 Olympics? Check out our guide on how to view the games from the United States.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhich races are you looking forward to seeing in the late season? Tell us more about your favorites — and your favorites to win — in the comments section. ★