How to Stream the Tour de France from Anywhere in the World
Last updated on
October 5th, 2022
- Always evades internet control in the PRC
- Keeps ahead of the Netflix VPN detection algorithm
- Benchmark tests show excellent speed
- Smart DNS service, understands the technology
- Comprehensive security add-on package.
- No data throughput limits and has a no-logs policy
The Tour de France returns for the 105th edition to feature the cobbles of northern France, the hilly Basque Country, lots of gravel roads, and dangerous windy areas, as well as some brutal mountain stages in the Alps and the Pyrenees. And cyclists stomach all that bad weather, injuries, and hazards – for a yellow tee.
Where to live stream the Tour de France online
With eight flat, five hilly, six mountain, and one individual time-trials stages, you probably want to watch the Tour de France from the comfort of your home. And here’s some good news for you – there is a gazillion of broadcasters all-set to televise Tour de France this year.
With 38 official broadcasters, viewers across many countries can enjoy the spectacle. As is always the case with sports streaming, some folks get better coverage than everyone else.
I’m looking at you lucky Brits because ITV4 will be broadcasting the entirety of the Tour de France for free.
In the US, you’re going to need an NBC Sports subscription, also available in one of FuboTV’s packages. FuboTV has a 7-day free trial, so you could subsist on that during the last week of Tour de France if you’re on a tight budget.
In Australia, check SBS for the Tour de France coverage. If you fancy the French approach to covering the iconic race, L’Equipe will be broadcasting the race for free in France. Alternatively, Eurovision and france.tvsport will be broadcasting the 2019 Tour de France across Europe.
If you are looking for a free live stream of Tour de France, however, your best shot would be to stream with ITV Hub.
Why use a VPN to stream the Tour de France
If you live or travel outside of the UK or US, you can not use the ITV or NBC live streams. Both providers block access to their video content for users with foreign IP addresses. In fact, all broadcasters and sports streaming services limit their coverage to national territories. A premium subscription with NBC or FuboTV won’t help – you lose access to your paid content when you are abroad.
If you are determined to get that live coverage of Tour de France with English commentary, consider buying a VPN.
A Virtual Private Network is an online service that allows you to emulate your location in a different country, digitally speaking. By connecting to a UK-based VPN server, you can live stream Tour de France via ITV Hub. If you are an NBC or FuboTV subscriber, connecting to a US VPN server gets you past your provider’s geo-block. Problem solved.
While using a VPN is legal, the UK has been cracking down on some sports live-streaming services that bypass geo-blocks. Case in point – Kodi users streaming Premier League could be facing up to 10 years in jail. The alarming trend suggests you need to exercise caution when streaming sports with a VPN.
That’s why you need a reliable VPN provider that deploys strong encryption, OpenVPN protocol, and a no logs privacy policy. With a trustworthy provider that doesn’t log your online activities, you get the privacy and security you need for safe streaming.
In fact, many people route all their traffic through a VPN even when they don’t need to switch their IP address but because they value their privacy:
- Without a VPN, your Internet Service Provider monitors your online activity.
- With a VPN, your data is encrypted, and your ISP doesn’t see what you’re up to online.
- Without a VPN, your information is vulnerable to Man-in-the-Middle attacks and honeypots, especially on public WiFi.
- With a VPN, encryption securely obfuscates your data making it undecipherable to hackers.
Moreover, a VPN helps you bypass not only sports streaming geo-blocks, but also school-, office- or state-imposed firewalls:
- Without a VPN, your office might blacklist your sports streaming sites (because your employer wants you to focus on work, duh).
- With a VPN, you can bypass any firewall and stream Tour de France during your coffee breaks without your IT department monitoring what you do in your free time.
How to stream the Tour de France with a VPN
- Choose your streaming provider (ITV is the best option for free live streams of Tour de France).
- Buy a VPN subscription. Check out my recommendations below.
- Download and install the VPN client on your device. Most VPNs are cross-platform and allow multiple simultaneous connections, so you can connect from your desktop and mobile devices.
- Launch your VPN client and connect to a UK-based VPN server. Many VPNs specifically tag streaming-optimized servers with the best speeds and performance for HD streaming.
- Once connected to your VPN, head over to your streaming site. It might be a good idea to clean your browser’s cache before connecting, though.
- You should be able to stream the Tour de France now.
Note: You need to keep your VPN connected while you stream.
Best VPNs for streaming the Tour de France from anywhere
There are numerous free streaming sites, of course, but they are plagued by ads, trackers, and most importantly, viruses. So you are strongly advised against risking your security with pirated streams. I also recommend against using free VPNs like Hola because they deploy weak or no encryption, log your browsing activities and sell your data to third parties.
VyprVPN
- Golden Frog, the business behind VyprVPN also runs a gaming platform
- VyprVPN pioneered obfuscation techniques and they have always worked well
- VyprVPN’s no logs policy is confirmed by an independent audit
CyberGhost
- Precise locations
- Very large VPN server network
- Offers a 45-day money-back guarantee
NordVPN
- More US city locations than its rivals
- Includes malware protection
- No-logs policy
