Watch Stage 18 Lourdes to Hautacam of the Tour de France 2022: live stream the cycling from anywhere

The last chance for Pogačar to attack?

Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates - White Best Young Rider Jersey attacks to Jonas Vingegaard Rasmussen of Denmark and Team Jumbo - Visma - Yellow Leader Jersey during the 109th Tour de France 2022
(Image: © Getty Images / Dario Belingheri )

Thursday's Stage 18 Lourdes to Hautacam of the Tour de France 2022 was always set to be a big one. Traditionally, the final day in the Pyrenees offers the better climbers among the GC riders their last chance to attack the yellow jersey. However, when the yellow jersey is the best GC climber right now, that could make things a little flatter than expected for a mountain stage, but don't let that put you off what's sure to be an eventful ride. Here's how to watch the Tour de France 2022 live stream from anywhere.

Watch Stage 18 Lourdes to Hautacam

Dates: Thur, July 21

FREE live streams: ITV / S4C (UK) | SBS (AU) | Rai Sport (ITA) | France TV Sport (FRA) | RTBF (BEL)

Global streams: Peacock TV or USA Network via Sling TV discount / FREE fuboTV trial (US) | FloBikes (CA) | Sky Sport (NZ)

Watch anywhere: try No. 1 overall VPN 100% risk-free

As ever, the 143.2km stage will offer something for sprinters too, if not a stage win. The first 58km out of Lourdes are relatively even with a slight incline up the points line. It's then straight into a punishing HC climb up the Col d'Aubisque at 1709m.

The first descent takes the riders down to 566m above sea level and to the foot of the category one Col de Spandelles, up at 1378m. It's then down to 477m for the final HC ascent up to the finish in Hautacam.

The stage has got solo win written all over it with the mountain up to Hautacam famous for its lone riders. Could that be a GC man or will Jumbo-Visma shut down anything that Ineos and UAE can muster? Whether you're after a live stream or just the evening highlights, read on for everything you need to know on how to watch the Tour de France.

How to watch a FREE Tour de France live stream online

The profile of Stage 18 of the 2022 Tour de France

(Image credit: Le Tour)

One of the best things about the Tour de France is that it's completely free to watch in lots of countries around the world. For example:

UK - ITV4 and ITV Hub streaming service / S4C and S4C on BBC iPlayer

France - France TV Sport

Belgium - RTBF 

Italy - Rai Sport

Australia - SBS

If you're from any of the countries listed above but you're abroad right now, don't worry about missing out on that free coverage - all you need to do is download a VPN to watch a free Tour de France live stream and re-connect to your home streaming coverage.

How to watch Tour de France 2022 from outside your country

If you're keen to watch the Tour de France but you're away from home and the coverage is geo-blocked, then you could always use a VPN to access it (assuming you're not breaching any broadcaster T&Cs, of course). You may be surprised by how simple it is to do.

Use a VPN to get a Tour de France live stream from anywhere

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ExpressVPN is the world's top VPN right now
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You can try it for free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Better yet, if you decide to subscribe to ExpressVPN and opt for their annual plan, you'll get 49% off the usual price as well as 3-months extra FREE – pretty amazing value really.

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Once you have it, all you need to do is turn on your VPN, select a server location back in your country, and then go to the broadcaster's website/app and watch as if you were back at home.

Using a VPN is as easy as one-two-three...

1. Download and install a VPN - as we say, our top choice is ExpressVPN

2. Connect to the appropriate server location - open the VPN app, hit 'choose location' and select the appropriate location

3. Go to the broadcaster's live stream - so if you're from the UK, just head to ITV Hub and watch the cycling as if you were back at home!

UK flag

How to watch a free Tour de France live stream in the UK

Use a VPN to watch a Tour de France free live stream from abroad.

ITV always goes all-out with its coverage of the Tour de France, and cycling fans can watch every stage of the race for free on ITV4 in the UK. 

Use a VPN to watch a Tour de France free live stream from abroad.

That means you can fire up a free Tour de France live stream on ITV Hub, which has an excellent app that's available on nearly everything that plugs in these days - just give it a search on your device, phone or console of choice.

More ways to watch the 2022 Tour de France

Welsh-language coverage of the Tour de France is available from S4C, which is available to stream for FREE in Wales via BBC iPlayer. 

And if you already subscribe to it, live Tour de France coverage is also available via the GCN+ Race Pass, which costs £6.99 per month or £39.99 per year and offers ad-free live coverage of loads of cycling events throughout the year.

If you’re out of the UK but still want to watch, make sure you install a VPN so you can continue accessing UK streaming services from anywhere.

Australia flag

How to watch Tour de France 2022: live stream cycling FREE in Australia

SBS

Cycling fans Down Under can also watch every stage of the Tour de France for free on SBS. The only catch is those brutal broadcast timings.

If you stay up late enough to tune in, you can also live stream Tour de France coverage on the free-to-use SBS On Demand platform.

As well as apps for Android and iOS, you can access SBS On Demand on Android TV, Amazon Fire TV stick, Apple TV and most smart TVs.

Outside Australia? Don't worry if you're out of the country and want to catch that free SBS live stream - just grab a VPN and you can watch the race as if you were back at home on your laptop, mobile or other TV streaming device. 

USA flag

How to watch 2022 Tour de France: live stream in the US without cable

Peacock TV

Every stage of the 2022 Tour de France is being shown on both USA Network and Peacock TV in the US.

Peacock costs just $4.99 a month for an ad-supported version of the service that also offers live coverage of every big WWE event, the NFL, Premiership Rugby, plus plenty more live sports. You also have the option of paying $10 a month for commercial-free coverage.

OTT streaming service Sling TV is reasonably priced and includes USA Network as part of its Sling Blue package. The usual cost is $35 a month, but if you're new to the service you can get your first month half-price.

Another over-the-top streaming service that includes USA Network is FuboTV. It's a much more comprehensive cable replacement, and carries more than 100 channels including Fox, CBS and ESPN.

Prices start at $64.99 a month after a FREE FuboTV trial.

If you subscribe to Sling, Peacock, or any other US streaming service and find yourself unable to access coverage because you're out of the country, consider using a VPN as outlined below - of the many options, we rate ExpressVPN as the best of the best.

Canada flag

How to watch 2022 Tour de France: live stream cycling in Canada

FloBikes

FloBikes is the place to watch live Tour de France coverage in Canada.

A subscription costs US$150 per year (roughly CA$190), which works out at US$12.50 per month (roughly CA$16).

Not in Canada to catch that FloBikes stream? Use a VPN to make sure you don't miss a moment. 

New Zealand flag

How to watch 2022 Tour de France: live stream cycling in New Zealand

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Sky Sport is the place to watch the 2022 Tour de France in New Zealand, though be warned that most of the action takes place in the dead of night.

If you're willing to stay late enough to tune in, Sky Sport subscribers can watch every stage online using the country's Sky Go service, while cord-cutters and anyone else can try the Sky Sport Now streaming-only platform - where a pass costs $19.99 per week or $39.99 per month. The monthly package comes with a 7-day free trial.

Kevin Lynch

Kevin Lynch is a London-born, Dublin-based writer and journalist. The author of Steve Jobs: A Biographic Portrait, Kevin is a regular feature writer for a number of tech sites and the former Technology Editor for the Daily Mirror. He has also served as editor of GuinnessWorldRecords.com and has been a member of the judging panel for the BAFTA British Academy Video Game Awards. Alongside reviewing the latest AV gear, smartphones and computers, Kevin also specialises in music tech and can often be found putting the latest DAWs, MIDI controllers and guitar modellers through their paces. Born within the sound of Bow Bells, Kevin is also a lifelong West Ham fan for his troubles.