Euros 2024 might feel like the talk of the town (or the whole continent) right now, but the biggest event in the cycling calendar starts in just a few days. That's right — the Tour de France!
If you're keen to watch all 21 stages of this year's huge 2,170 mile bike race across Italy and France, we've recommended some of the best ways to catch all the action on your phone. From the Grand Départ all the way to the finish. And if you're gearing up for some epic summer bike rides yourself, we've rounded up a few of the best apps and smart watches that'll keep you on track.
What is the Tour de France?
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The Tour de France is an annual multi-stage bike race that mostly runs through the stunning French countryside. It’s the most prestigious event in the world of cycling that attracts top riders from all over the globe, lasting three weeks and featuring gruelling climbs through the Alps and Pyrenees. There are some exciting sprint finishes on the flat stages too!
When is the 2024 Tour De France?
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The 111th edition of the Tour de France will start in Florence, Italy on the 29th of June and conclude in Nice, France on the 21st of July. This year's event will not only mark the first time the world-famous race will start in Italy, but it'll also be the first time the race won't finish in or around Paris (due to preparations for the 2024 Summer Olympics).
How can I watch the Tour De France 2024?
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In the UK, you'll be able to watch live coverage of the 2024 Tour de France on ITV4 for free. If you want to keep up on your phone or tablet, just download the ITVX app for iOS and Android, create an account, and view the event live or on catch-up.
If you've got Eurosport 1 on your TV, you'll be able to watch the 2024 Tour de France live there too. To stream their coverage on your mobile device, you'll have to get the Discovery+ app and subscribe to the £6.99 per month standard package that includes cycling and all other Eurosport programmes.
What are the best cycling apps?
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Is all the buzz around this year's Tour de France getting you pumped for a big bike ride? Whether you've already got a thousand few miles under your belt or you're just starting out — here are some of the best bike phone apps you should try for boosting your training and finding new routes:
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Strava: The superb Strava app lets you precisely track your rides with GPS, analyse your performance over time, and compete with other cyclists on popular routes. There's a big community on Strava too, so you can join clubs and get tips from other enthusiasts.
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Komoot: Offering customisable route planning, turn-by-turn navigation, and offline maps — Komoot is a great app if you're an adventurous cyclist. It includes valuable info on trail difficulty and surface conditions too, so you’ll always know what you're pedalling into.
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Wahoo Fitness: This app can be paired with hardware like bike speed sensors and heart rate monitors, letting you accurately track your workouts and monitor your progress. Especially as it can sync your data to other fitness apps, so you can see everything in one place.
Best smart watches for cycling.
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You can also rely on one of the following smart watches and fitness trackers from Currys to train like a pro cyclist:
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Apple Watch Series 9: The Apple Watch has always been a great all-rounder for fitness folk, and it still rolls with cyclists. Late last year, Apple introduced an update that makes sure a cycling workout automatically shows up as a Live Activity on your connected iPhone. Meaning you can use your mounted iPhone just like a full-fledged bike computer!
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Fitbit Charge 6: The budget-friendly Fitbit Charge 6 is great if you're a beginner. It offers built-in GPS so you can easily track your routes. Plus, its handy auto-recognition feature can detect when you're cycling so it's recording all the right data.
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Garmin Fenix 7X Pro Solar: If you want to treat yourself, the Garmin Fenix 7X Pro Solar smart watch will help you really get a handle on your training. On top of its super accurate GPS and fitness tracking, it'll top up its battery when you're out and about thanks to solar charging. Going for over three weeks on a single charge!
We'd love to know which UK bike routes you keep circling back to. Share your recommendations in the comments below (with a pic or two if you have them!)