Watching professional cycling legally has gotten complicated with all the streaming services, broadcast rights, and regional restrictions flying around. As someone who’s tried every combination of subscriptions over the years, I learned everything there is to know about where to actually find live cycling coverage. Today, I will share it all with you.
If you’ve ever rage-quit trying to find legal coverage of a race you desperately wanted to watch, this guide will save you the frustration.
The Streaming Services
GCN+ (Global Cycling Network Plus)
Coverage: Extensive cycling content including select races, documentaries, training content, and archived classics. Race coverage varies by region due to rights restrictions.
Pros: Cycling-focused platform with knowledgeable commentary. Excellent documentary content. Good value for year-round fans.
Cons: Major race coverage (Grand Tours, Monuments) often blocked in key markets due to competing rights deals. You might have GCN+ but still need another service for the Tour de France. Frustrating.
Price: Approximately $50-60/year or monthly options available.
Best for: Dedicated cycling fans who want shoulder-season races, training content, and documentaries alongside their main race coverage service.
Eurosport/Discovery+
Coverage: All three Grand Tours, most major one-week races, Spring Classics, and World Championships. The most comprehensive race coverage available in most markets.
That’s what makes Discovery+ endearing to us cycling obsessives — essentially all major professional cycling races under one subscription. Multiple commentary options, extensive live coverage of full stages.
Cons: Bundled with other sports you might not want. Interface can be clunky for finding specific cycling content. Regional restrictions apply.
Price: Varies by region, typically $8-15/month or discounted annual subscriptions.
Best for: Fans who want reliable Grand Tours and classics access without hunting across platforms.
Peacock (United States)
Coverage: Tour de France, selected other races. NBC’s cycling coverage has improved but remains Tour-centric.
Pros: Includes other sports content (Premier League, etc.). Tour coverage is comprehensive with multiple streams and commentary options.
Cons: Limited cycling coverage outside the Tour. You’ll need additional services for the Giro, Vuelta, and classics.
Price: $5.99/month (ad-supported) to $11.99/month (premium).
Best for: American fans who primarily care about the Tour and want an all-in-one sports package.
FloBikes (United States)
Coverage: American domestic racing, some international races, cyclocross worlds, and niche content not available elsewhere.
Pros: Only legal source for many American races. Good cyclocross coverage. Growing international catalog.
Cons: Expensive for relatively niche content. Video quality and streaming reliability have been criticized. Not a replacement for Grand Tour coverage.
Price: $12.50/month or $150/year.
Best for: American racing fans and cyclocross enthusiasts who want complete coverage of domestic scene.
Free-to-Air Options
Probably should have led with this section, honestly. Free cycling exists.
ITV4 (United Kingdom)
Free Tour de France coverage with excellent commentary from Ned Boulting and team. A beloved tradition for British fans. Available via ITV Hub streaming.
SBS (Australia)
Free-to-air Grand Tour coverage for Australian viewers. Coverage times are challenging (middle of the night) but the price is right.
L’Equipe/France TV (France)
French domestic coverage often available via streaming. Commentary in French, obviously, but the racing is identical.
Region-Specific Recommendations
United States
Best combination: Peacock for the Tour + Eurosport/Discovery+ subscription for everything else. Total around $20/month during peak season, cancel in off-season.
United Kingdom
Best combination: ITV4 (free) for Tour basics + Discovery+ for enhanced coverage and other races. Many British fans find ITV4 sufficient for Tour viewing.
Europe (general)
Best combination: Eurosport/Discovery+ covers almost everything. GCN+ adds documentary content if desired.
Australia
Best combination: SBS (free) + Discovery+ for anything SBS doesn’t cover.
VPN Considerations
Technically, VPNs bypass regional restrictions, but this violates most platforms’ terms of service. Streaming services actively block VPN usage, creating cat-and-mouse frustrations. Using legal options for your region is the cleaner approach.
Where Things Are Heading
The landscape is consolidating. Discovery’s acquisition of various rights has simplified things somewhat. But regional deals continue creating fragmentation that frustrates international fans.
A unified global streaming platform would help, but broadcast rights are lucrative and complex. For now, expect to maintain multiple subscriptions for comprehensive coverage.
