How to Stream Pro Cycling Events in the United States
It’s about that time again to get together with your fellow cycling enthusiasts for the biggest pro cycling events of the season. Too bad these events take place halfway across the world, though, because that means you’ll have to find a live stream of your favorite races.
Want to get in on the pro cycling action without paying for a plane ticket? Here’s how to watch 5 of the world’s greatest pro cycling races live and from the comfort of your couch.
1. How to Stream the Tour de France
Every July, cycling fans gear up for the most prestigious and well-known ride in the world — the Tour de France. 21 days long and with a party at almost every bend, you’re missing out if you aren’t at the race itself. But with these channels’ live coverage of the entire race, you’ll feel like you’re right in the action.
If you’re located in the US, you can watch the Tour de France on:
- NBCSports Gold for $50 per year
- Fubo.tv subscription for $56.98 per month
- FloSports’ FloBikes for around $155 per month
- Hulu Live TV for $44.99 per month
- PlayStation Vue at $49.99 per month
- DirecTV Now for $50 per month
- Sling TV for $15 per month
- YTV for $49.99 per month
Seeing as this is arguably the most popular race in the world, you can also watch the TDF with an NBCSports regular cable package. The channel comes for free and offers live coverage, post-race discussions and highlights, and daily commentary from some of the cycling worlds’ best-known critics.
The official Tour de France tracker, the Tour Tracker app, and the Cyclingoo app also offer free post-race coverage in your smartphone or tablet.
2. How to Stream the Giro d’Italio
Taking place in Italy during May, this 21-day race is one of the three grand tours as part of the UCI World Tour. Though some may call the Giro d’Italio a training ride for the TDF, we think it’s a pretty incredible race in its own right. That’s why millions of cycling enthusiasts scramble to find live coverage of this event each year.
One of the best sources for live streaming the Giro d’Italio is BeIN Sports, which is accessible in more than 15 countries including the US and only costs $10 per month. FloBikes’ Sports channel and FuboTV also offer live coverage of this race. You can even sign up for a full week free trial on FuboTV, which allows you to stream 80+ cycling channels on multiple devices.
If you’re lucky enough to be in Italy during the race, you can stream it free on Italian broadcasting station, Rai, and its associated application, RaiSport+.
But if you can’t catch the race live, no worries because the Giro d’Italia smartphone app is available for free and will ping you with all the important breaking race news. Similarly, the Cyclingoo and Tour Tracker apps offer post-race coverage and daily highlights.
3. How to Stream the Vuelta a Espana
The Vuelta a Espana may be the youngest grand tour on our list, but it’s a race you should be watching. Taking place in late August, this tour has become a sort of consolation race for injured riders. Cyclists’ aggressive riding style in this race has made past Vuelta a Espana events particularly riveting. If you’re planning to watch this year, here’s how you can do it the US.
Like the TDF, you can watch the Vuelta a Espana commercial-free on NBCSports Gold and FloBikes. FloBikes costs $12.99 per month for streaming on only one device. But with the family package, you can stream on up to four devices for $17.99 per month.
If you prefer not to pay, NBCSN and Universal Sports Network will also offer live coverage of the race starting on August 28thand 24th, respectively. You don’t need a subscription for these channels, but you will have to make sure they’re included in your cable package to watch.
Can’t watch and looking for a live feed of the race? Gran Fondo Guide offers live results from each stage of the race.
4. How to Stream the Tour Down Under
This is the race that kicks off the UCI World Tour in January and serves as the starting line for the cycling season each year. The Tour Down Under is held in Adelaide, South Australia and lasts for a full week. If you’re living in the UK, you can access coverage of the Tour Down Under via Eurosport, which cost around 10 pounds per month or 40 pounds for an annual subscription. But if you’re watching in the US, here are your options:
The Tour Down Under gets full coverage on NBCSports Gold in the US. Be on the lookout for pro-rated packages in the months directly leading up to the race. You can often grab a Cycling Gold pass for cheap in and around January since the subscription runs from June to June.
Also check out NBCSN, which comes with most regular cable packages. That means you’ll get live coverage for free if you have access to the channel. Another free source is Cyclingnews.com, which typically shows the Tour Down Under live at all six stages. If you prefer to listen rather than watch, check out the Cyclingnews podcast, which is also live from Adelaide.
For free after-race highlights, the Tour Tracker smartphone app and Tour Down Under’s dedicated YouTube channel are great sources to bookmark come January.
5. How to Stream the Tour de Suisse
The Tour de Suisse takes place in Switzerland with its finale taking place only two weeks before the Tour de France begins. This race is part of the UCI World Tour and some consider it the race that determines who will lead the pack in the TDF. With that much weight resting on this race’s shoulders, you know you don’t want to miss it.
Like most other races on this list, the Tour de Suisse can be streamed live via FloSports’ FloBikes for $12.99 per month. With the family package, you can stream on up to four devices for $17.99 per month.
For cycling fans that don’t want to pay to watch, you can also access live updates on Twitter via the Tour de Suisse feed or on Cyclingoo.
For any of these races, find out if there’s a local Rapha Clubhouse near you. Rapha Clubhouses are a cycling fan’s dream hangout spot with live racing showing, cycling events, and even shopping. With locations in Boulder, Chicago, LA, Miami, NYC, Seattle, and more, there’s a clubhouse in almost every major city in the US.