The Iconic Tour de France Kicks Off Today: Any Surprises?

SuperSport viewers on DStv can look forward to seeing all the action from the iconic Tour de France. The 109th edition of the TDF will continue with the second week from 8 to 14 July, featuring six stages in France and Switzerland.

SuperSport is the ultimate destination for cycling fans, with an unparalleled selection of an action from around the world.

This week’s schedule for the TDF includes trips to Switzerland, as well as the key mountain stages of Tomblaine to La Planche des Belles Filles;  Aigle to Châtel; Albertville to Col du Granon; and Briançon to Alpe d’Huez.

Alpe d’Huez is an iconic inclusion and has racked up over 30 appearances on the Tour since its first introduction in 1952.

Situated on the border of the French Alps near the town of Bourg d’Oisans, roughly an hour’s drive from Grenoble, Alpe d’Huez is the most feared climb in the Tour de France for its abrupt, brutal ascent into the clouds. No other climb has a greater history of suffering, nor exudes the same emotions.

First included in the Tour de France in 1952, Alpe d’Huez provided the location of the Tour’s first-ever summit finish.

Now a regular and popular feature of the French Grand Tour, it’s hard to believe that in 1952 the climb up the mountain didn’t prove a success for race organizers, and the sea of spectators spilling onto the road that we are used to seeing now did not exist.

It took 24 years before organizers used Alpe d’Huez again when in 1976 both the sport and the resort had rapidly developed. Since then, the climb has made Tour champions and broken the hearts and bodies of many others.

One of the most famous Alpe d’Huez battles came in 1986 when Bernard Hinault and Greg Lemond staged an epic duel on the mountain.

Hinault was riding for the same team as Lemond and was supposedly helping the American, but as ‘The Badger’ put it, he wanted to give Lemond “an education”. Some education – Hinault, and Lemond may have crossed the line hand-in-hand, but Hinault’s ‘lessons’ were so hard that Lemond almost lost the race, and a deep grudge existed between the two for many years.

Will we see another historic Alpe d’Huez stage in the TDF in 2022? Only SuperSport subscribers will be able to see the action LIVE from the world’s greatest cycling race.

No rival can compete with SuperSport’s coverage. Our viewers on DStv can see all their favorite cycling stars dominating across the world. Visit www.dstv.com to subscribe or upgrade, and join in on the excitement. And while you’re on the move, you can stream matches on the DStv App.

Tour de France broadcast details, second week, 8-14 July

All times CAT

Friday 8 July: 12:55: Stage 7, Tomblaine to La Planche des Belles Filles, mountain stage, 176km – LIVE on SuperSport Variety 1 and SuperSport Maximo 2

Saturday 9 July: 12:55: Stage 8, Dole to Lausanne (Switzerland), medium mountain stage, 184km – LIVE on SuperSport Variety 1 and SuperSport Maximo 2

Sunday 10 July: 12:20: Stage 9, Aigle (Switzerland) to Châtel, mountain stage, 183km – LIVE on SuperSport Variety 1 and SuperSport Maximo 2

Monday 11 July: Rest Day

Tuesday 12 July: 13:15: Stage 10, Morzine to Megève, medium mountain stage, 148km – LIVE on SuperSport Variety 1 and SuperSport Maximo 1

Wednesday 13 July: 12:50: Stage 11, Albertville to Col du Granon, mountain stage, 149km – LIVE on SuperSport Variety 1 and SuperSport Maximo 1

Thursday 14 July: 12:50: Stage 12, Briançon to Alpe d’Huez, mountain stage, 166km – LIVE on SuperSport Variety 1 and SuperSport Maximo 1