The 111th edition of the Tour de France starts on Saturday, June 29 in Florence, Italy, and the three-week race concludes on Sunday, July 21 in Nice.
The riders will tackle seven mountain stages, including rides to the Pyrenees and the Alps during the 3,492 km (2,170 mi) race.
There will also be two individual time trials, with La Grande Boucle ending with a race against the clock for the first time since 1989 – when Greg LeMond sent Laurent Fignon to the yellow jersey with an eight-second lead.
BBC Sport looks at every stage of the grueling 21-stage event and analyzes where it can be won and lost.
This page will be updated throughout the Tour with the winner and a short report after each stage.
Saturday June 29 – stage one: Florence – Rimini, 206 km
The Grand Depart will take place in Italy for the first time, while Florence will host the Tour.
The bumpy route heads east to Rimini on the Adriatic coast and is one of the toughest opening stages in recent history with seven categorized climbs and 3,600 meters of climbing on the menu before what could be a fast final 25km to the line.
Sunday June 30 – stage two: Cesenatico – Bologna, 199.2 km
In the second stage, the race heads over the rolling hills of the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy to Bologna, via the famous Imola car racing circuit, and along the roads where Julian Alaphilippe won the 2020 World Championships.
Two climbs to the sanctuary of San Luca – 1.9km at a gradient of 10.6% – in the final should provide a perfect launching pad for the puncheurs in the peloton to seek stage glory.
Monday July 1 – stage three: Plaisance – Turin, 230.8 km
Three category 4 climbs do little to change this fact. It remains a guaranteed stage for the sprinters and a first chance for Mark Cavendish to win his 35th stage victory.
Tuesday July 2 – stage four: Pinerolo – Valloire, 139.6 km
On a tough day in the saddle, the race shifts from Italy to France and goes 2,000 meters above sea level with a passage through Sestrieres.
A long, rolling climb straight up the mountain from the rollout will hardly appeal to the sprinters, but will be welcomed by those who want to form the breakaway.
A long descent should provide some cooling before the riders climb the Col de Montgenevre and the impressive Col du Galibier. There the riders of the general classification get the opportunity to set a mark early on.
Wednesday July 3 – stage five: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne – Saint-Vulbas, 177.4 km
After a tough day in the Alps, the GC teams will be content to let the sprint teams take control.
Two relatively modest climbs offer little encouragement for potential breakaways and promise a high-speed finish.
Thursday, July 4 – stage six: Macon – Dijon, 163.5 km
For a second day at the trot, the sprinters have something to be excited about.
The flat route that winds through the vineyards of Burgundy should once again discourage a breakaway and culminates in an 800-meter sprint to the finish.
Friday 5 July – stage seven: Nuits-Saint-Georges – Gevrey-Chambertin, 25.3 km
The first of two individual time trials arrives a third of the way into the race.
With both Nuits-Saint-Georges and Gevrey-Chambertin being famous for their winemaking, expect stunning views as the GC action heats up on a short route that seems ideally suited to Remco Evenepoel.
Saturday 6 July – stage eight: Semur-en-Auxois – Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises, 183.4 km
Although this stage features several short and tough climbs, none are long or tough enough to affect the GC race.
However, if a leading group is strong enough, it could potentially rob the sprinters of victory.
Sunday July 7 – stage nine: Troyes – Troyes, 199 km
With 14 gravel sections covering a total of 32km towards Troyes, this is likely to be an exciting and thrilling stage, with battles for position for every white stretch of road.
With punctures, mechanical issues and crashes likely to come into play, rifts could arise between the GC contenders, especially when the elements get nasty.
Tuesday July 9 – stage 10: Orleans to Saint-Amand-Montrond, 187.3 km
Unusually, there is not a single categorized climb on this route, but the dirt roads of Saint-Amand-Montrond are notorious for their marked finales.
If the wind picks up, we can expect an exciting 30km run to the finish, similar to 2013, when the crosswinds helped disperse the peloton and GC contenders before Cavendish claimed victory.
Wednesday July 10 – stage 11: Evaux-les-Bains to Le Lioran, 211 km
During the first 150km the peloton traverses the rolling terrain of the Massif Central before the difficulty increases with four categorized climbs in the last 50km.
The Col de Neronne is the first to climb before the riders reach the narrow roads of the Puy Mary Pas de Peyrol and a 2 km stretch with an average gradient of 12%.
The Col de Pertus and the Col de Font de Cere quickly follow before another slope goes up to the ski area of Le Lioran.
Thursday 11 July – stage 12: Aurillac to Villeneuve-sur-Lot, 203.6 km
While the road continuously undulates during the first 135 km of the stage, the route flattens out considerably.
That should provide plenty of encouragement for the sprint-oriented teams, although the only other two times a stage ended in Villeneuve-sur-Lot – in 1996 and 2000 – a rider from the leading group was victorious.
Friday July 12 – stage 13: Agen to Pau, 165.3 km
A transition stage as the race rolls south towards the Pyrenees.
The classification candidates will try to position themselves safely at the front of the peloton before the sprint trains gather for a hectic finish in Pau.
Saturday July 13 – stage 14: Pau to Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet, 151.9 km
The riders head into the Pyrenees for the start of a brutal and crucial period in the general classification race.
The iconic Col du Tourmalet, the most climbed mountain in the history of the Tour, comes first before a modern-day regular, the Hourquette d’Ancizan – climbed six times since 2011 – precedes the summit finish and rises of almost 12% on Pla d’ Adet.
Sunday July 14 – stage 15: Loudenveille to Plateau de Beille, 197.7 km
About 4,500 meters of elevation gain over four category 1 climbs and a 15.8 km climb on the hors-category Plateau de Beille await Bastille Day.
On a big day in the Tour, only strong climbers have any hope of an escape.
There will also likely be a strong home presence in any group that hits the road, with the likes of David Gaudu and Romain Bardet aiming to become the first French stage winner since Warren Barguil in 2017 on July 14.
But fireworks can also be expected in the yellow jersey group and Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard (if fully fit) could also be in the picture.
Tuesday July 16 – stage 16: Gruissan to Nîmes, 188.6 km
The final week of the biggest cycling race starts with a mainly flat ride from Gruissan to Nîmes, immediately after a rest day.
On a day tailor-made for sprinters, Cavendish will aim to turn back the clock and repeat his victory from his first Tour in 2008 – in what is expected to be his last.
Wednesday July 17 – stage 17: Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux to Superdevoluy, 177.8 km
Most of the elevation gain on this stage comes in a demanding final 40km as the Tour travels back into the Alps.
The GC riders will likely be eyeing the penultimate climb of the Col du Noyer to launch any attacks, although with a descent ahead they will need to build a healthy lead to make their move stick.
Thursday 18 July – stage 18: Gap to Barcelonnette, 179.5 km
The riders will travel through the foothills of the Alps and will cross a number of smaller peaks in preparation for the three crucial days that follow.
It is almost certain that the classification riders want to save their energy for the bigger battles to come. This stage seems to be the perfect opportunity for the front runners to shine.
Friday July 19 – stage 19: Embrun to Isola 2000, 144.6 km
A steady 20km opening will do little to prepare the peloton for the hours of pain ahead.
An 18.8 kilometer tour over the Col de Vars is the precursor to the mythical climb to the Cime de la Bonette, which evokes memories of the battle between Tony Rominger and five-time champion Miguel Indurain in the 1993 Tour.
At 2,802 meters this is the highest point of this year’s race. It is about 22.9 kilometers long, with slopes that reach double figures in the last part.
The final climb of the day to the Isola 2000 ski area is hardly more attractive for the vast majority of riders and will almost certainly provide more fireworks among those competing for the yellow jersey.
Saturday July 20 – stage 20: Nice to Col de la Couillole, 132.8 km
A short, tough route with almost 4,800 meters of elevation that is even more demanding than the day before greets the riders on the penultimate stage of this year’s race.
Given the pace at the front of the peloton is likely to be strong throughout the stage, the Col de la Couillole seems the obvious stage for any GC battle.
However, exactly how things will go may be determined by the existing time differences and the need to save energy for the final individual time trial.
Sunday July 21 – stage 21: Monaco to Nice, 33.7 km
The Tour ends outside Paris for the first time since 1905 due to a clash with the Olympic Games.
It is also the first time since 1989 that the final stage of the Tour has not been a processional affair.
With the 8.1km climb of La Turbie averaging 5.6% and a short, sharp climb of the Col d’Eze hardly making things easy, riders and teams will have to think about tactics and possible bike changes .
Could there be a duel in the sun to decide the yellow jersey and the podium places in the most dramatic way?
