The Tour de France 2022 is set to begin on the 1st of July. The 109th edition of the Tour will see 22 teams and 176 cyclists battle it out for the yellow jersey until a winner is crowned on the 24th of July. 

The cycling enthusiasts at our bike shops all over Australia can’t wait to see the action unfold. Get all the information you need about the race below.

The Tour de France is a 21-stage race, with various stages occurring on different types of terrain. There are also time trials where cyclists race against the clock and two rest days to give the athletes a chance to recover. 

The overall winner of the Tour is the competitor who has completed all stages in the least amount of time, which is referred to as the general classification. Winners are also crowned for every stage of the competition. 

The general classification leader wears a yellow jersey, which changes hands as the leaders change throughout the Tour. The cyclists work in teams. Each team has a leader who hopes to take out the title. The teammates support the leader so they can lead the group to victory.

Let’s take a look at what to expect from the 21-stage course this year. 

This year’s Tour is set to be one of the most exciting editions yet with 9 new stages. Across the three weeks of racing the riders will have to face a route that has technical time trials, fast flat roads and challenging hill climbs. 

The race will start in Copenhagen with three stages set to take place in Denmark. There will be two other guest countries in 2022, with the Tour also going into Belgium and Switzerland. This will be the first time since 2017 that four countries have featured in the route! 

Viewers will be treated to some of the most scenic views Europe has to offer with the climbs spread across four mountain ranges: the Vosges, the Alps, the Massif Central and the Pyrenees. There will be six mountain stages and five summit finishes that are set to test the limits of the best riders in the world. 

Finishing in Paris, the Tour will end in its usual fashion on the Champs-Élysées which will complete the riders’ 3328 kilometre journey. 

Stage 1: Copenhague – Copenhague | 13.2 km | Time Trial
Stage 2: ROSKILDE - NYBORG | 202.5km | Flat
Stage 3: VEJLE - SØNDERBORG | 182km | Flat
Stage 4: DUNKERQUE - CALAIS | 171.5 km | Hilly
Stage 5: LILLE MÉTROPOLE - ARENBERG PORTE DU HAINAUT | 157 km | Hilly
Stage 6: BINCHE - LONGWY | 220 km | Hilly
Stage 7: TOMBLAINE - LA SUPER PLANCHE DES BELLES FILLES | 176.5km | Mountain
Stage 8: DOLE - LAUSANNE | 186.5 km (Hilly)
Stage 9: AIGLE - CHÂTEL LES PORTES DU SOLEIL | 193km | Mountain
Stage 10: MORZINE LES PORTES DU SOLEIL - MEGÈVE | 148.5 km | Hilly
Stage 11: ALBERTVILLE - COL DU GRANON SERRE CHEVALIER | 152km | Mountain
Stage 12: BRIANÇON - ALPE D'HUEZ | 165.5km | Mountain
Stage 13: LE BOURG D'OISANS  - SAINT-ÉTIENNE  | 193km | Flat
Stage 14: SAINT-ÉTIENNE - MENDE | 192.5 km | Hilly
Stage 15: RODEZ - CARCASSONNE | 188.5km | Flat
Stage 16: CARCASSONNE - FOIX | 178.5 km | Hilly
Stage 17: SAINT-GAUDENS - PEYRAGUDES | 130km | Mountain
Stage 18: LOURDES - HAUTACAM | 143.5km | Mountain
Stage 19: CASTELNAU-MAGNOAC - CAHORS | 161km | Flat
Stage 21: PARIS LA DÉFENSE ARENA - PARIS CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES | 116km | Flat

There will be 9 Australians in this year's race and two of them are expected to challenge for the podium. Ben O'Connor from AG2R Citroen is looking to be the top contender from Australia while Jack Haig from Bahrain Victorious is also set to be a podium contender. A full list of the Australian riders and their teams can be seen below.

The Tour de France event will be broadcasted live and exclusively in Australia by SBS on free-to-air television. The race can also be watched on your personal devices by downloading the SBS Skoda Tour Tracker app! 

Adding to the excitement of the Tour in 2022 is the brand new addition, The Tour De France Femmes. The women’s race begins on the final day of the men’s competition and will conclude on July 31. Covering 1,029 kilometres over eight stages, the women’s competition will also have 22 teams battling it out for the win.

You can also watch the Tour de France Femmes on SBS after the men's race wraps up.

Whether you are a pro cyclist or you ride for the joy of it, 99 Bikes has all the gear you need to ride like a Tour de France champion. For road bikes, electric road bikes, road helmets, bike computers, cycling jerseys and more, visit us in-store or browse our range online.

Photo credit: Charly Lopez