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No free-to-air Tour de France coverage in the UK until at least 2033 as TNT Sports and European Broadcasting Union quickly extend rights package with ASO

UK cycling fans will have to wait until at least 2033 for the Tour de France to return to free-to-air television, as TNT Sports and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) have extended their rights deal with race organizers ASO through 2032. The agreement, which covers 93 race days across 18 events—including the Tour, Vuelta a España, Paris-Roubaix, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège—ensures TNT Sports retains exclusive UK broadcast rights, while Eurosport will handle coverage in Europe, with some national exceptions.

The deal follows TNT Sports’ 2021 acquisition of exclusive UK rights for the 2030 Tour, solidifying their dominance in pro cycling coverage after ITV’s free-to-air broadcasts ended in 2025. While highlights packages will continue on Channel 5 through 2028, live coverage of the 2027 Tour de France and its women’s equivalent will also air there, marking the first time the Grand Départ will kick off in the UK.

However, races like the Lidl Deutschland Tour, Tour of Oman, and Arctic Race of Norway remain outside the EBU deal, covered separately by ASO and TNT Sports.

The extension provides clarity for fans but prolongs the absence of live free-to-air Tour coverage, a move that has sparked controversy since ITV’s withdrawal. It also reflects broader shifts in cycling rights, including Warner Bros.

Discovery’s 2021 rebranding of GCN+ as TNT Sports, which significantly increased subscription costs. Eurosport and TNT Sports’ senior vice president for sports rights, Trojan Paillot, emphasized the partnership’s role in delivering top-tier cycling events, underscoring the stability of the current broadcast landscape for the foreseeable future.

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