The Tour de France 2026 concludes today with Stage 21, a shortened 89 km ride from Thoiry to the iconic finish on the Champs Élysées in Paris. Originally planned as a 132.5 km stage, the route was reduced due to police resources being redirected to combat wildfires across France. Despite the cut, the course retains the challenging Côte de la Butte Montmartre, with its 1 km climb at 6.5% average gradient, tackled three times before the final sprint. This modification gives puncheurs and classics riders, alongside sprinters, a genuine chance to win one of cycling's most prestigious stages.
Tadej Pogacar on the brink of history: a fifth yellow jersey ties the legends
All attention is on Tadej Pogacar, who is poised to secure his third consecutive Tour de France victory and his fifth overall, matching the record of Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain. The UAE Emirates XRG rider holds a commanding lead over second-placed Remco Evenepoel, with teammate Isaac del Toro in third. Today's stage serves as a coronation for the Slovenian, but the fight for the stage win remains wide open. For those eager to watch, here is a comprehensive guide to start times, TV channels and free streaming options.
Sponsored Protocol
Stage 21 start times for viewers around the world
Stage 21 begins at 4:45 PM BST (British Summer Time), which is 11:50 AM ET (Eastern Time) and 1:50 AM AEST the following day in Australia. Live coverage starts shortly before on all official broadcasters. In the UK, TNT Sports airs the stage live, while free-to-air highlights are available on Channel 5 at 9 PM BST. In Australia, SBS on Demand streams every stage for free. In the US, Peacock and NBC provide live coverage, with Peacock starting at $10.99 per month. A VPN can unlock home streaming services when traveling abroad.
Sponsored Protocol
How to watch Stage 21 of Tour de France 2026 for free and on TV
In the United States, Peacock and NBC broadcast the stage. A Peacock subscription costs $10.99 per month or $109.99 per year, but a 30-day trial is available through Walmart Plus for $1. Alternatively, Sling Blue includes NBC starting at $45.99 per month. In Canada, FloBikes offers the entire Tour for CA$49.99 per month. For a detailed history and route information, consult the Wikipedia page for the Tour de France. Additionally, for tech and mobility news, check out the article on Google Maps expanding immersive navigation and speedometer in Android Auto.
Source: https://www.techradar.com/how-to-watch/cycling/tour-de-france-2026-stage-21-free
