Mickel Clark
The Tour de France is a testament to human endurance and the beauty of France’s countryside, a sports event as captivating as the lush landscapes it traverses. It is a celebration of athleticism and sportsmanship and a testament to the human spirit’s ability to persevere. In this blog, we’ll explore the race’s rich history, statistics, and the unique format that sets it apart. We will also discuss the possible ways to live stream Tour de France 2023 in Belgium.
Where to watch Tour de France 2023 in Belgium?
The broadcasting rights for Tour de France are with NBC Universal in the United States and ITV in the United Kingdom. Luckily you don’t need a subscription to watch Tour de France on ITV, but it’s only accessible in the UK.
You will need a reliable VPN to access ITV from outside the UK and live stream Tour de France in Belgium for free.
How to watch Tour de France 2023 in Belgium online free?
Tour de France 2023 will be streaming on ITV 4 in the United Kingdom. Get an ExpressVPN account subscription to unblock ITV from Belgium and watch Tour de France 2023 online for free.
Here are the steps you need to follow.
1- Sign up for a reliable VPN to unblock ITV (We highly recommend ExpressVPN and NordVPN after testing)
2- Download the VPN application on your preferred device. (Both ExpressVPN and NordVPN have dedicated apps for several devices like PC, Mac, and Android devices)
3- Select a British server from the country list
4- Now open ITV.com in your browser or in-app
5- Search Tour de France 2023 on ITV from Belgium
6- Enjoy the cycling marathon
Watching Tour de France 2023 from Belgium with ExpressVPN| Explanation
Since ITV is a regionally restricted streaming service only available in the UK for free, you will need an ExpressVPN subscription to access from Belgium or anywhere outside the UK. Our team of experts has tested ExpressVPN, and it performed perfectly.
Below are the detailed steps to live stream the 2023 Tour de France in Belgium.
1- Sign up for ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is one of the best and leading VPN providers in 2023. A single account subscription is available at a price of $6.67/m with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
You can also unblock Hulu, Peacock, or BBC iPlayer with an ExpressVPN account subscription.
2- Download it on your preferred device
ExpressVPN offers dedicated applications for almost all devices. You can download and use ExpressVPN on Windows, MacOS, iPhone, Linux, and Android devices.
If you like streaming on gaming consoles. ExpressVPN also works on PS4 and Xbox.
3- Connect to a British server
Since Tour de France 2023 is only streaming for free in the UK. You will need to connect to a British server to unblock ITV from Belgium or anywhere else.
4- Enjoy
After connecting to a British IP address, open ITV.com and search for Tour de France 2023. You can now see the cycling event appearing on your screen. Hit the play button and enjoy.
When is Tour de France 2023 starting?
Like every year, Tour de France 2023 will start on July 1st, 2023 and continue for twenty-three days. The event will conclude on July 23, 2023. All stages of Tour de France will stream on ITV in the UK for free and you can access it from Belgium with an ExpressVPN account.
You can also watch Wimbledon 2023 online free in USA
What is the race schedule for Tour de France 2023?
Tour de France is divided into 21 stages which have their unique advantages and challenges. For those of you looking to have complete Tour de France stage information, here is the detailed schedule of the event.
- July 1: Stage 1 â Bilbao
- July 2: Stage 2 â Vitoria-Gastiez
- July 3: Stage 3 â Amorebieta-Etxano
- July 4: Stage 4 â Dax
- July 5: Stage 5 â Pau
- July 6: Stage 6 â Tarbes
- July 7: Stage 7 â Mont-de-Marsan
- July 8: Stage 8 â Libourne
- July 9: Stage 9 â Saint-Leonard-de-Noblat
- July 11: Stage 10 â Vulcania
- July 12: Stage 11 â Clermont-Ferrand
- July 13: Stage 12 â Roanne
- July 14: Stage 13 â Chatillon-sur-Chalaronne
- July 15: Stage 14 â Annemasse
- July 16: Stage 15 â Les Gets Les Portes Du Soleil
- July 18: Stage 16 â Passy
- July 19: Stage 17 â Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc
- July 20: Stage 18 â Moutiers
- July 21: Stage 19 â Moirans-en-Montagne
- July 22: Stage 20 â Belfort
- July 23: Stage 21 â Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines
What channel is Tour de France 2023 on in Belgium
As mentioned above, Tour de France will be available for free streaming on ITV 4 in the United Kingdom. You can access ITV from Belgium by changing your IP address to a British IP. Our team of experts has tested ExpressVPN to unblock ITV from Belgium, and it worked perfectly.
Therefore the best option you have to live stream Tour de France 2023 from Belgium is on ITV with an ExpressVPN account.
Use a VPN to watch the 2023 Tour de France from abroad:
Try ExpressVPN for 30 days
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Where to watch Tour de France 2023 in the Belgian language from Belgium?
As of now, there is no word on the internet about the Belgian streaming of the event. Watching a sports event doubles the fun and brings in joy and memories. As per our speculations, you can watch Tour de France 2023 with Belgian commentary on RTBF or VRT.
1- RTBF
The French Society’s Belgian Radio-Television is also known as RTBF. It is a public broadcasting corporation that provides radio and television coverage to Wallonia and Brussels’ French-speaking communities in Belgium.
Reyers is a common term for the organization’s headquarters in Brussels, which it shares with VRT.Â
The RTBF’s video-on-demand (VOD) offering is accessible on several platforms, including:
- Web: Since 2016, Free VOD has been gathered under the RTBF Auvio trademark. RTBF channels offer to Catch up TV, allowing customers to see all their programming for seven days after it has aired.Â
- IDTV: Pay Video on demand and free catch-up TV
- Mobile phone: Several Belgian cellular operators offer La Une and Tipik.
2- VRT
The VRT is Belgium’s primary broadcasting company for the Flemish Community residing in Belgium.
The VRT channels available right now are shown below.
- Een: It is the primary channel, formerly known as VRT TV1. It started on VHF channel 10 in 1953. It has been colorized since 1971. The Belgian 625 transmission standards were replaced by the European CCIR standards in 1977.
- Canvas: This premium TV network began in 1997.
- Ketnet: It is the children’s channel Ketnet. It ran from 6 am to 8 pm on the Canvas channel.
- Sporza: It is the sports network. Under Sporza, sporting events are broadcast on Een, Canvas, or Ketnet. Sporza is frequently televised on two or more channels during significant sporting events.
What’s happening in Tour de France 2023?
Tour de France is really heating up! It’s July 19th, 2023 and Jonas Vingegaard is so close to defending his title as Tour champion. After a brutal stage 17 in the mountains yesterday, Vingegaard has opened up a huge lead of over 7 minutes on his main rival Tadej Pogacar.
Pogacar, the two-time former winner, totally cracked on the final big climb. He got dropped with 15km to go and even told his team radio “I’m gone, I’m dead.” Ouch. Meanwhile, Vingegaard powered up the climb looking strong. He finished 4th on the stage behind winner Felix Gall and Simon Yates.
This feels like a decisive moment in the battle between Vingegaard and Pogacar. Just a few days ago in the time trial, Vingegaard had extended his lead from 10 seconds to almost 2 minutes. But now he leads by a whopping 7 minutes 35 seconds! Barring a disaster, it’s looking really good for Vingegaard to defend his title when the race finishes in Paris on Sunday. He was clearly pumped up after the stage yesterday, celebrating by kissing his hand as he crossed the finish line.
What an exciting Tour this has been between Vingegaard and Pogacar! It will be interesting to see if Pogacar can bounce back in these last few stages or if Vingegaard has this thing locked up.
Tour de France 2023- What to expect?
The inception of the Tour de France dates back to 1903 when the French newspaper L’Auto, in a bid to increase sales, initiated this multi-stage bicycle race. Today, the race stands as the most prestigious and challenging race in professional cycling.
A Brief Look Back at History
The first race, organized by Henri Desgrange, had a field of 60 riders. Maurice Garin became the inaugural champion, covering the 2,428 kilometers in 94 hours and 33 minutes. The race was an immediate success, boosting L’Auto’s circulation and setting a precedent for annual races.
Over the years, the Tour de France has grown in stature and popularity but not without trials and tribulations. The World Wars led to the race’s suspension for several years. However, it bounced back, symbolizing a spirit of resilience and hope to millions worldwide.
The Tour de France by Numbers
The Tour de France is a race of superlatives. Spanning 23 days, with 21 stages covering approximately 3,500 kilometers, it’s a spectacle of human perseverance and strategy. By 2021, 108 editions had been completed, and the race had been won by riders from 15 different countries.
In terms of individual triumphs, the legendary Eddie Merckx of Belgium, Jacques Anquetil of France, Bernard Hinault of France, and Miguel Indurain of Spain share the honor of having won the race five times each. In recent history, Britain’s Chris Froome stands out with four victories.
However, the most significant number of all is 176 â the total number of riders that start the race. This signifies the sheer human endeavor behind each Tour de France, with every competitor pushing their physical and mental boundaries.
Format and Structure of the Race
The Tour de France has a unique format that tests the cyclist’s overall skill set. The race is divided into 21 stages, with each stage held on a new day. These stages vary in profile, including flat, mountainous, time-trial, and intermediate stages.
Flat stages generally favor sprinters, who use their explosive power to outpace their competitors in the final kilometers. Mountain stages, often deciding the overall race winners, are the domain of climbers, whose lightweight builds and robust endurance allow them to ascend steep slopes at high speed.
Individual time trials (ITT) and team time trials (TTT) are battles against the clock. The former sees riders set off individually at regular intervals, racing alone against the clock. The latter involves teams working cohesively, strategically utilizing drafting to conserve energy and maximize speed.
Jerseys in Tour de France
One of the charming features of the Tour de France is its system of jerseys. The most iconic is the “Maillot Jaune” or Yellow Jersey, awarded to the overall race leader, i.e., the rider with the lowest aggregate time. The Green Jersey (Points Classification) is for the most consistent finisher, usually a sprinter. The Polka Dot Jersey (King of the Mountains) is for the best climber, and the White Jersey is for the best young rider under 25.
Who will win the Tour de France 2023?
The Tour de France 2023 is packed with an array of elite cyclists, all vying for the esteemed title. Among them, Jonas Vingegaard, the reigning champion, has his sights firmly set on clinching victory once more.
However, Vingegaard’s journey to a successive title won’t be unchallenged. Among the competitive lineup, Tadej PogaÄar stands as a formidable adversary. The favorite in the event, PogaÄar, has twice claimed victory in the 2020 and 2021 editions of the Tour de France. Now, he is determined to ascend the podium once more, potentially dashing the aspirations of his fellow competitors.
A host of talented cyclists are ready to battle it out for the prestigious Yellow Jersey. These include Mikel Landa, David Gaudu, Enric Mas, Richard Carapaz, Romain Bardet, Jai Hindley, Simon Yates, and Dani Martinez. Each brings a unique skill set and strategy to the race, promising an unpredictable and exhilarating event for 2023.
How long is the Tour de France?
Typically spanning 23 days, with two days dedicated to rest, the Tour de France consists of approximately 21 individual sections, known as “stages.” The total distance covered by the riders is around 3,500 kilometers, equivalent to roughly 2,200 miles. However, the precise distance fluctuates annually, dependent on the specific route chosen for each edition. Traditionally, this premier cycling event takes place in the month of July.
How many miles are there in Tour de France?
Annually, the route of the Tour de France is redesigned by the organizers, leading to variations in the total distance cycled. On average, cyclists journey approximately 2,200 miles, equivalent to about 3,500 kilometers. However, it’s essential to note that these figures may slightly fluctuate each year, leading to a possible increase or decrease in the total distance.
How many miles per day does a rider complete?
In the Tour de France, the daily cycling distance a participant covers can fluctuate considerably. On the flat terrains of the race, cyclists might journey beyond 200 kilometres (roughly 124 miles), whereas in the mountainous regions, the distance typically drops to under 130 kilometres (around 81 miles).
The race also includes time trial stages, where competitors cycle solo, aiming to record the fastest time. Generally, these stages are shorter, approximately spanning 20-50 kilometres (about 12-31 miles). However, when considering the entire race, a participant in the Tour de France typically covers an average daily distance of about 160 kilometres (around 100 miles).
What is the 3km rule in the Tour de France?
The 3km rule in the Tour de France is a safeguarding provision designed to shield cyclists during the turbulent concluding moments of flat stages. These stages are often prone to crashes due to high-speed sprint finishes. Under this rule, if an accident occurs within the last 3km of a flat stage, all riders impacted by the mishap receive the same time as the group they were with at the time of the incident.
In other words, even if a cyclist’s progress is hindered due to a late crash, it won’t affect their overall timing, thereby minimizing the chances of losing precious time due to unforeseen circumstances. It’s important to note, however, that this rule is generally not enforced during mountain stages, individual time trials, or team time trial stages, as the dynamics of these stages differ significantly.
How many hours a day do Tour de France riders ride?
The time taken to complete a stage in the Tour de France can greatly differ, influenced by factors such as the stage’s length and type, weather conditions, riders’ strategies, among others. Riders usually find themselves pedaling for around four to six hours daily.
Stages deemed flat or favoring sprinters may take approximately three to five hours to finish, while the demanding mountain stages or individual time trials could stretch from five to seven hours. In extreme cases, particularly lengthy stages might see riders spending over seven hours in the saddle. It’s important to note that these estimated times account only for the actual race duration, excluding pre-stage warm-ups and post-stage cool-down periods.
How much do Tour de France bikers get paid?
The 2023 Tour de France boasts an impressive prize pool that exceeds âŹ2,308,200! When factoring in an additional 11.82% designated for the riders’ union, the total prize fund escalates to roughly âŹ2,581,029 (or ÂŁ2.2m/$2.8m).
The prestigious title of overall race winner, symbolized by the iconic yellow jersey, carries a grand prize of âŹ500,000. However, runners-up aren’t left wanting, with second and third place riders pocketing âŹ200,000 and âŹ100,000 respectively.
While a significant portion of the prize money is earmarked for the top finishers, there are several other opportunities for riders to win monetary awards. These include victories in individual stages, accolades for superior sprinting, recognition for being the bravest rider in each stage, or being the first to reach the Tour’s highest point.
Interestingly, the Tour de France outpaces the renowned Giro dâItalia 2023 race in terms of prize money, which had a total prize pot of âŹ1.5m. The champion there, PrimoĆŸ RogliÄ, received âŹ265,000, while second-placed Geraint Thomas took âŹ133,000, and the third-place cyclist secured âŹ68,000.
How to take part in Tour de France?
Anyone can try to get into the Tour de France, but there are a few things you need to know before trying to join the race.
1- You have to be a professional bike racer
2- You have to be chosen by a team that’s racing in the Tour de France
To become a professional and get chosen by a team, you have to be really good at racing. A really good racer usually starts young and works hard to get better over time.
What happened with the lady who made a mess at Tour de France?
In 2021, a 31-year-old lady jumped onto the track during the Tour de France with a sign for her grandparents. This didn’t go well. Tony Martin, a bike racer from Germany, crashed into her and fell, which led to more crashes.
Two bike racers got hurt really bad and had to leave the race to get checked by doctors. The lady left the scene quickly after seeing the problems she caused, but she turned herself in to the police on June 30. She had to pay a fine of $1,350, and a court in Brest made her pay an extra $1 as a way to say sorry.
Who was the winner of Tour de France 2022?
A Danish cyclist named Jonas Vingegaard, who rides for team Jumbo-Visma, won the 2022 Tour de France.
Where does Tour de France begin and end?
The starting place of the Tour de France changes every year, but it always ends in Paris since 1975. The race in 2023 will start in Bilbao, Spain, on July 1 and will finish at Champs-ĂlysĂ©es, Paris, on July 23.
How fast do Tour de France riders ride?
How fast a rider can go depends on the track and the rider themselves. According to bicycling.com, an everyday rider can ride at speeds between 19 to 20 mph, while a professional can reach up to 31 mph on the same track.
On a flat track, an everyday rider can go at speeds between 17 to 18 mph, while a professional rider can go as fast as 28 mph.
How much does a bike for Tour de France cost?
There are nineteen different companies that make bikes for the Tour de France. The price of each bike is different, depending on the company. On average, you might have to pay between ÂŁ10,000 and ÂŁ14,000 for one of these bikes.
A bike racer can use two bikes in one day. But the main riders might use more.
Here are some well-known bikes:
- Soudal-QuickStep’s Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7
- Bob Jungels’ BMC Timemachine Road from the 2022 Tour
- Tadej PogaÄar’s Colnago V4RS
- Ineos Grenadiers’ Pinarello Bolide F
How many teams are in Tour de France 2023?
For the 2023 edition of the Tour de France, a total of 22 teams are participating. Out of these, 18 were selected by the event coordinators from UCI WorldTeams, while the final four were Pro teams. The Pro teams participating in the 2023 Tour de France are as follows.
- IsraelâPremier Tech
- LottoâDstny
- Team TotalEnergies
- Uno-X Pro Cycling Team
LottoâDstny and Team TotalEnergies are among the highest-placed teams this year, followed by IsraelâPremier Tech and Uno-X Pro Cycling Team. The remaining teams are listed below.
- AG2R Citroën Team
- AlpecinâDeceuninck
- ArkĂ©aâSamsic
- Astana Qazaqstan Team
- BoraâHansgrohe
- Cofidis
- EF EducationâEasyPost
- GroupamaâFDJ
- Ineos Grenadiers
- IntermarchĂ©âCircusâWanty
- LidlâTrek
- Movistar Team
- SoudalâQuick-Step
- Team Bahrain Victorious
- Team DSMâFirmenich
- Team JaycoâAlUla
- Team JumboâVisma
- UAE Team Emirates
Which country has the most cyclists in Tour de France 2023?
The Tour de France is a dream for many cyclists around the world, but only a few with exceptional strength and willpower get the chance to take part in this tough race, where only the best can handle the challenging routes.
In the 2023 Tour de France, 150 brave cyclists are ready to show their skill and endurance in the race for the top spot. France, the country hosting the race, has the most riders with 25. Belgium comes next, and Denmark is third. This wide range of countries taking part shows how much the Tour is loved all over the world and is a truly international sports event.
Here is the complete list of cyclists from different countries.
Country |
Rider |
| France | 25 |
| Belgium | 18 |
| Denmark | 13 |
| Netherlands | 12 |
| Norway | 11 |
| Spain | 10 |
| Australia | 9 |
| Italy | 7 |
| UK | 5 |
| Colombia | 4 |
| Germany | 4 |
| Poland | 4 |
| Slovenia | 4 |
| USA | 4 |
| Austria | 3 |
| Kazakhstan | 3 |
| Luxembourg | 3 |
| Portugal | 3 |
| South Africa | 2 |
| Costa Rica | 1 |
| Ecuador | 1 |
| Eritrea | 1 |
| Ireland | 1 |
| Slovakia | 1 |
| Switzerland | 1 |
There is no rider from Canada or Sweden in Tour de France 2023.
In Conclusion
The Tour de France, with its rich history and rigorous format, is a testament to human endurance, strategic gameplay, and the beauty of team spirit. It’s more than just a bike racing competition, but a mental and physical war.
You can watch Tour de France 2023 in Belgium for free on ITV with an ExpressVPN account subscription. We have tested ExpressVPN to unblock ITV and watch FIFA World Cup from Belgium, and it worked perfectly. Therefore we are highly recommending it to all our readers.
