Historically, to watch the Tour live you needed cable鈥攁nd the willingness to drag yourself out of bed at 5 a.m. This year the race airs on the NBC Sports 颅Network, but the hardcore will seek out online alternatives. these are the best.
European Feeds
offers subscriptions from five euros (about $6.50) a month, and Italy鈥檚 has free streams. Both require an IP address originating in Europe, available from for $6 per month.
PRO TIP: If you opt for NBC, mute Phil and Paul and listen to the free Euro颅sport audio broadcast, with commentary from retired racers.
Pirated Streams
Cyclingfans.com and Steephill.tv* post links to streams from European broadcasters. Most are illegal, but you鈥檙e unlikely to get fined just for watching. More annoying, they can cut out at any time.
PRO TIP: Watching at work? Use antivirus software like , or your IT department will think you鈥檙e downloading porn.
Smartphone Apps
狈叠颁鈥檚 ($5) displays riders on a real-time interactive map.
PRO TIP: Team Twitter accounts like and post race updates in English.
*Since this article ran in our July issue steephill.tv has changed their policy and no longer posts pirated feeds.