The John Deere Classic is one of the staples on the PGA Tour, as it has helped catapult many player’s careers.
Has anyone thought about what the PGA Tour players’ equipment equivalent would be? With some of the coolest tee markers, why not keep the fun going by comparing players and farm equipment?
Twitter user “Tweeth Mitchell,” asked the same question, which led to a collaboration to create six players and what John Deere equipment they would be.
While it is a niche topic, it is still fun to think about and come up with comparisons.
Let’s discuss which equipment matches the players at the John Deere Classic, as we introduced “The Farm Team.”
A graphic with Denny McCarthy and his John Deere equivalent. Playing Through Social Media
Frontier RC-20 Rotary Cutter: Denny McCarthy
The Frontier RC20 is known for mowing down the competition with precision, just like sharpshooter Denny McCarthy. Because of his accuracy, McCarthy is among the favorites this week. Look for him to go for flag sticks at every opportunity.
A graphic with Sepp Straka and his John Deere equivalentPlaying Through Social Media
T6 800 Combine: Sepp Straka
The T6 Combine is a heavy-duty piece of machinery with a wide body and a lot of power, just like Sepp Straka, the 2023 John Deere Classic champion.
Straka usually plays well at TPC Deere Run, and there will be plenty of opportunities to harvest birdies this week. Like a heavy-duty machine, sometimes it takes Straka time to warm up, but once he does, he will go lower.
A graphic comparing Neal Shipley to his John Deere equivalentPlaying Through Social Media
When you need to make hay while the sun shines, you need the 9500 Self-Propelled Forage Harvester and Neal Shipley. No one has done that better with limited opportunities than Shipley.
He became the first player since Viktor Hovland in 2019 to win low-amateur at both the Masters and US Open. The former Ohio State Buckeye recorded a T20 finish last week at Rocket Mortgage in his PGA Tour debut as a professional.
A graphic comparing Jordan Spieth to his John Deere equivalent.Playing Through Social Media
R4023 Sprayer: Jordan Spieth
Two-time John Deere Classic winner Jordan Spieth is a player known for spraying the ball. He fits the bill to match perfectly with the R4023 Sprayer.
Spieth won his first Tour event here in 2013, but he will need to control his spray tendency if he wants to win the John Deere Classic for the third time in five starts. He fired a 2-under 69 in Round 1, but he will need to go low if he expects to make the cut.
A graphic comparing J.T. Poston and his John Deere equivalent. Playing Through Social Media
2230 Lift-Level Field Cultivator: J.T Poston
A player who can lift his own level in the right field and cultivate a win is the 2021 John Deere Classic champion, J.T. Poston. That ability makes his perfect equipment match the 2230 Lift-Level Field Cultivator.
He is poised for another huge week in the quad cities. Driving accuracy, approach play and clutch putting are all crucial skills at TPC Deere Run, so Poston should be able to leverage those areas for a high finish this week.
A graphic comparing Joel Dahmen and his John Deere equivalent.Playing Through Social Media
X739 Riding Mower: Joel Dahmen
Joel Dahmen looks like he owns an X739 Riding Mower or something close to it. He gives off the dad vibe who drinks cold beer and takes care of his pristine lawn. With his bucket hat and laid-back style, no other piece of equipment would fit him better.
The Netflix star looks to get his way into the FedEx Cup playoffs, and a strong finish at the John Deere Classic will help him get closer to that goal.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
Fifty years after his European Tour debut, Bernhard Langer will make his final DP World Tour start this week at the BMW International Open in Munich, Germany.
It will mark his 513th start on the European circuit—the tour where he amassed 42 career titles, second only to the late, great Seve Ballesteros.
“I’ve never said goodbye to anything so far in terms of golf; this is going to be a first experience [for me],” Langer told DP World Tour media officials.
“I have a feeling it’s going to be very emotional.”
The two-time Masters champion grew up 45 minutes from Golfclub München Eichenried, the host course of this week’s tournament. His connections to this area run deeper than that, though. Langer worked as an assistant professional at nearby Munich Golf Club, which helped give him his start.
Langer then went on to win 123 times around the world.
He is a Ryder Cup legend, too, having played on Team Europe 10 times, winning six. Langer also captained the Europeans to a dominant victory at the 2004 Ryder Cup, winning 18.5-to-9.5 on American soil—one of the more impressive wins in Ryder Cup history.
He is, without a doubt, Germany’s most accomplished golfer.
So, in an ode to German golf, the DP World Tour paired Langer with fellow countryman Marcel Siem, who won last week’s Italian Open, and Martin Kaymer, who, like Langer, won a pair of major championships. Kaymer won the 2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits and the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2.
“It means a great deal just to play in front of the home crowd,” Langer added.
“Hopefully, I can make the cut, but I hear the golf course is a lot longer than it used to be, and that’s a challenge for me.”
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThroughfor more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.
Welcome to Playing Through’s morning ritual — Golf Talk Today.
Each morning will feature a Golf Talk Today, where the crew will discuss various elements throughout the PGA Tour, LPGA, LIV Golf, and more.
Today’s topic is tee markers!
With the John Deere Classic this week, we wanted to look at some of the best tee markers on the PGA Tour.
Various tournament sponsors get so creative with their materials. From paint cans at the Valspar Championship to the little Waste Management dump trucks at the WM Phoenix Open, the creativity just flows.
Earlier this year, the RBC Canadian Open put itself on the list for its rink hole tee markers — goalie helmets.
There are iconic markers like the U.S. Open and other USGA events, but we wanted to do the more unique options for this article. The traditional ones are just as nice, but creativity goes a long way in this instance.
There are plenty of options, but these are the tee markers we consider to be the greatest on the PGA Tour.
The Greatest PGA Tour Tee Markers
Sanderson Farms Championship
Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images
Sanderson Farms Championship uses little chickens as tee markers. However, it’s also a way for the title sponsor to engage with the community. Patients at Friends of Children’s Hospital paint the chickens that sit atop the white Sanderson Farms boxes on each hole.
Valspar Championship
Of course, Valspar is a paint company, so using paint cans as tee markers is on-brand for them. People immediately know the title sponsor because of this, too. We still want to know if paint is in these cans—can someone get this answer for us?
RBC Canadian Open — The Rink Hole
Each year, the RBC Canadian Open changes up “The Rink” hole, but it is one of the most unique things on the PGA Tour. From referee volunteers to the goalie helmet tee markers, it is the most Canadian thing at the Canadian Open. This year, the tournament added an organist to add even more of a facade to the lore.
Wells Fargo Championship
Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Another iconic tee marker is the Wells Fargo stagecoaches. These were used at the Wells Fargo Championship, but now the tournament opts for the box one with the logo.
Regardless, it’s another excellent marker that is so on-brand.
John Deere Classic
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Lastly, the John Deere Classic’s tee markers are truly iconic. The little tractors and various equipment are so creative and fun. John Deere understands its brand, and these tee markers prove it.
This handful of tee markers are just some of the best ones in professional golf. Which pro event has your favorite tee markers? Sound off in the comments below!
ICYMI: Top stories across professional golf
Check out these stories:
Can Jordan Spieth shake off frustrations and win again at John Deere Classic?
Justin Rose qualifies for The Open; see who else made it to Royal Troon
LIV Golf’s Sergio Garcia falls short of The Open, frustrated by slow play warning
Rocket Mortgage Classic gives CBS Sports highest rated non-major/Signature Event of 2024
Solheim Cup: It’s official Lilia Vu easily secures spot on Team USA with World No. 1 Nelly Korda
Rocket Mortgage Classic gives CBS Sports highest rated non-major/Signature Event of 2024
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
Jordan Spieth arrives at the John Deere Classic as one of the betting favorites, according to DraftKings. But the three-time major winner has hardly played like a tournament favorite throughout the 2024 season.
He has had a frustrating campaign, especially after missing the cut at Augusta National. Since then, Spieth has made eight starts. He missed the cut twice and did not post a finish better than T-29. That somewhat respectable result came at the Wells Fargo Championship, where he shot only one round in the 60s: an opening round 2-under 69.
But these last few months have served as a microcosm of Spieth’s career over the past seven years—a stretch filled with disappointment and agony, considering his stature and accomplishments. He has won only two tournaments since his Open Championship triumph at Royal Birkdale in 2017: the 2021 Valero Texas Open and the 2022 RBC Heritage.
Since then, he has had a few calls, finishing runner-up to K.H. Lee at the 2022 AT&T Byron Nelson and losing to Matt Fitzpatrick in a playoff at the 2023 RBC Heritage. He has 13 top 10s dating back to April 2022 but has missed 11 cuts since that juncture, too.
And yet, despite those ups and downs, Spieth, now 30 years old, has a tremendous perspective on where he is at this point in his career.
“Once I know what I’m capable of, I want to obviously stay there. If you fall from that even a little bit, it frustrates you, and then if you fall quite a bit from that, you can be wondering what in the world is going on,” Spieth said ahead of this year’s Charles Schwab Challenge in mid-May.
Jordan Spieth during a practice round ahead of the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge.Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images
“It can overtake you, and it did for me for a little while. I think I have a better perspective now, but at the same time, the drive to get to where I know my ceiling has never been higher. So, every day I’m not there, I still walk away feeling like I progressed towards it; I walk away really pleased with my day. But some days, I feel like I didn’t, and instead of being okay with that, I lose a little patience because I know what I am capable of, and not sustaining that every year is something that I’m not okay with personally.
“I think it’s something I wouldn’t change anything that’s ever happened to me. I’ve accomplished pretty much all the goals that I had in golf, albeit, you know, in a short period of time, but the nature of sustaining that is something that I would like to have another opportunity at, and I’ll continue to work towards.”
Spieth went on to tie for 37th that week at Colonial, the course not far from his hometown of Dallas, Texas. He then missed the cut at the Memorial, tied for 41st at the U.S. Open, and most recently struggled at the Travelers Championship, finishing T-63—almost dead last.
But now, after a week off, Spieth arrives in the Quad Cities hoping to establish some momentum before the season’s final major. He has won the John Deere Classic twice, in 2013 and 2015, but nothing says he cannot make it a third time this year—especially since the best player in the field, Patrick Cantlay, withdrew.
Jordan Spieth won the 2013 John Deere Classic in a five-hole playoff. He was only 19 years old then.Photo by Michael Cohen/Getty Images
And yet, the question is, how?
For starters, Spieth has to gain some confidence in his short game again, an attribute that has been very un-Spieth-like this season. He ranks 78th on tour in strokes gained around the green and 80th in putting—a surprising figure given how good he was with his flat stick when he was at the height of his powers.
Spieth also has to improve his ball striking. He is 110th on the PGA Tour in strokes gained: approaching the green, 70th in greens in regulation percentage, and 86th in proximity to the hole. He has especially struggled with his wedges, ranking 130th in approaches from inside 100 yards, another jarring statistic that is very un-Spieth-like.
So this week, at TPC Deere Run, a course that yields plenty of birdies, Spieth should play to the middle of the greens and look to avoid the big numbers. He already makes tons of par breakers, making more than four per round, but the problem is that Spieth drops too many shots. He makes bogey nearly 17% of the time this season, ranking 139th on tour in bogey avoidance—a reality that will not win you many golf tournaments.
Thus, Spieth must play conservatively and not press too much on a golf course that gives the player a green light in more ways than one. And if he can do that, Spieth will have a good chance of doing a victory lap in one of those famous green John Deere tractors on Sunday night.
That would undoubtedly shake off his frustrations.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThroughfor more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.
The John Deere Classic does not have the strongest field in golf year in and year out, but the event typically features a handful of stars.
Jordan Spieth will tee it up this year. As will defending champion and Ryder Cup star Sepp Straka. This year’s event also includes International stars Sungjae Im and Jason Day, 2023 American Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson, and 2009 Champion Golfer of the Year Stewart Cink.
But Patrick Cantlay, who the tour had listed in the original John Deere Classic field, decided to withdraw on Monday. Scotsman Russell Knox will replace him in the field.
The tour did not specify why Cantlay withdrew.
Yet, if Cantlay had remained in the field, it would have marked his first appearance at the John Deere Classic. TPC Deere Run has hosted this event since 2000.
Another notable withdrawal is Cameron Davis, who won the Rocket Mortgage Classic this past week for the second time in his career. His win in Detroit also vaulted him up the FedEx Cup rankings and gave him exemptions into next year’s Masters, The Players, and all eight Signature Events. As such, Davis felt obligated to take the week off and soak in his victory, which certainly did not come easy both on and off the golf course. Had Akshay Bhatia not three-putted, Davis would have likely faced Bhatia in a sudden-death playoff, and who knows how that would have shaken out. But Davis was the lone man to finish at 18-under as he happily stood atop the leaderboard after 72 holes.
As for Cantlay, his last appearance came at the Travelers Championship, where he tied for fifth. The week before, the former UCLA Bruin turned in the best major performance of his career, tying for third at Pinehurst No. 2. It seems he has found something as of late, an impressive development given that Cantlay has had a sporadic season. Before the U.S. Open, his best two finishes came at Riviera and Hilton Head, tying for third and fourth, respectively. But he also struggled at the Players, the PGA Championship, and the Memorial. He did not have his best stuff at the Masters, either.
Cantlay is also not listed among the entrants for next week’s Genesis Scottish Open, the final tune-up for The Open Championship at Royal Troon. As such, all signs point to golf fans seeing Cantlay next at golf’s oldest major championship in two weeks’ time.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThroughfor more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.
Welcome to Playing Through’s morning ritual — Golf Talk Today.
Each morning will feature a Golf Talk Today, where the crew will discuss various elements throughout the PGA Tour, LPGA, LIV Golf, and more.
There are six normal events, a major championship and the Olympics until the FedEx Cup Playoffs are here. Only the Top 70 get into the Aug. 15-18 FedEx St. Jude Championship.
While there is still plenty of time to gain much-needed FedEx Cup points, the clock is ticking for some of these guys.
Last year, the PGA Tour moved the playoff number from 125 to 70 for its first event. From there, only the Top 50 survive to play in the BMW Championship. To cap off the three-week playoff, the top 30 make it to the Tour Championship in Atlanta, where a FedEx Cup champion will emerge.
Let’s take a way too early look at those on the outside looking in that need a solid finish to the regular season so they can live to fight another day in the playoffs.
Notable PGA Tour Players outside the Top 70
*as of July 1, 202
— Nicolai Højgaard (No.74) — Justin Rose (No. 75) — Keith Mitchell (No. 76) — Nick Dunlap (No.87) — Rickie Fowler (No. 93) — Joel Dahmen (No. 103) — Daniel Berger (No. 123) — Webb Simpson (No. 131) — Matt Kuchar (No. 140)
These are just a handful of players that will currently not make the FedEx Cup playoffs.
Rickie Fowler could miss the playoffs if he does not go on a solid run in the next few weeks. He has just two Top 25s on the season and has missed five cuts in 18 starts.
The former Oklahoma State Cowboy finished T31 last week at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Fowler finally got his second Top 25 at the Travelers as he was T20.
His best finish came at the RBC Heritage, a T18.
Nicolai Højgaard is another name that is interestingly outside the Top 70. He has a runner-up finish, a top 10, and two top 25s. The former Ryder Cup member has missed five cuts this season, though.
He has not completed a tournament inside the Top 20 since the Masters, where he was T16. Since that week, Højgaard missed three cuts, and his best finish came at the RBC Canadian Open in a T35.
However, he is still close enough with a strong stretch of golf and could see himself in Memphis for that first playoff event.
Justin Rose, who is ranked No. 75, is another who could make the playoffs.
It has not been the Englishman’s best season, with just one Top 10 and two Top 25s. He did finish T6 at the PGA Championship but missed the cut at the U.S. Open.
There is a lot of golf left for players to earn FedEx Cup points and a spot in the playoffs. Nonetheless, time is not on these golfers’ side, as they need a momentum boost to push their way into the Top 70.
ICYMI: Top stories across professional golf
Check out these stories:
U.S. Senior Open: Golfer makes mind blowing consecutive holes-in-one that will make your jaw drop
Cameron Davis wins Rocket Mortgage Classic thanks to Akshay Bhatia’s 3-putt
Former World No. 1s Ruoning Yin, Atthaya Thitikul prevail in LPGA team event
DP World Tour’s Italian Open sees ‘Comeback King’ Marcel Siem triumph in playoff
Rocket Mortgage Classic: Akshay Bhatia leads tournament, best dressed players
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
One man’s loss is another man’s treasure, and that mantra certainly applied to the conclusion of the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
With Cameron Davis in the clubhouse at 18-under-par, Akshay Bhatia arrived on the 72nd hole tied for the lead. The 18th hole is a long par-4, measuring 472 yards. This dogleg left ranked as the most challenging hole during the final round, as a creek bisects the fairway and snakes up the right side of the green.
But Bhatia had no issues off the tee. He striped his drive down the middle of the fairway and then knocked his approach to 32 feet away from the back right pin, with his ball nestling in the back left corner of the green.
Then disaster struck.
Bhatia hit a poor stroke with his birdie attempt, coming up four feet short. He then pulled his par putt, which lipped out on the low side and handed Davis the victory. It was the first three-putt Bhatia had all week.
“It sucks, no other way to put it,” Bhatia said after his round.
“Just sucks. It’s hard; you’ve got so much slope there, so you don’t want to run it five, six feet by. Yeah, just a little bit of nerves, honestly. I’m human, and the greens get slower throughout the day here; the poa annua is pretty tough.”
Davis, meanwhile, posted a 2-under 70, which included four birdies and two bogies. His first bogey came at the par-4 1st hole, and his second one came at the par-5 14th, thanks to an unfortunate break. The Australian hammered a 3-wood from 281 yards out and landed onto the front of the green, but his ball trickled back into the penalty area.
It looked like his chances had sunk there, but Davis bounced back with a birdie at the par-5 17th to get back to 18-under. He smashed his 3-wood on that hole again, as his second shot landed just short of the green. Davis then got up and down for birdie with ease.
With Davis at 18-under, a playoff seemed possible, but with the par-5 17th yielding plenty of birdies, somebody, like Bhatia or even Min Woo Lee, looked destined to reach 19-under and leave Davis just short of his second career PGA Tour victory.
But fate left Davis with his second career Rocket Mortgage Classic title, as he now hopes to make the International Team at the President’s Cup this Fall. He has the game to do so, so hopefully, this win will give him some momentum in the coming months—something he has not had as of late.
Before this week, Davis had not recorded a top-20 finish since The Masters, when he tied for 12th at Augusta National. He missed the cut at the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open and most recently tied for 48th at the Travelers Championship. But Davis proved to International Captian Mike Weir that he can turn things around quickly, a necessity for match play.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThroughfor more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.
The DP World Tour has officially awarded Marcel Siem as the ‘Comeback King,’ and rightfully so. The 43-year-old Siem underwent hip surgery in February, roughly one year after winning the Hero Indian Open, which marked his first title since 2014.
He subsequently missed three months, returning to the Soudal Open in late May, where he missed the cut. Siem said he felt old that week because of his hip, a far cry from the emotions he felt on the 18th green on Sunday. The German defeated Tom McKibbin of Northern Ireland in a sudden-death playoff, making an 8-footer for birdie on 18 to clinch his sixth career victory on the DP World Tour.
“Holing that putt on 18 was one the coolest moments in golf for me, and doing it again in a playoff was fantastic,” Siem said.
“I love this sport, and these moments, I work really hard for them. When you get rewarded like this, it’s a very special moment. I think it’s the second-oldest trophy in mainland Europe. So I’ve got the French Open and this one now. I’m so proud of that. My journey is just beginning, it feels like.”
Siem looked in control of the tournament after birdieing the par-3 8th, as he went on to card a 3-under 32 on the front to make the turn at 13-under overall.
But the train veered off the tracks for Siem on his second nine. He bogeyed the par-4 11th, thanks to a terrible lie he faced to the right of the green. He then went on to bogey the 14th, 16th, and 17th holes, dropping him to 9-under-par for the championship and in a dire situation.
While Siem faltered down the stretch, McKibbin, who carded a 6-under 65 earlier in the day, waited in the clubhouse at 10-under-par. The 21-year-old from Belfast looked unflappable on Sunday, making six birdies to zero bogies. He posted the lowest round of the day at the Adriatic Golf Club Cervia—located on the Italian coast about 100 miles south of Venice. He waited three hours to see if he would make a playoff, but it was almost good enough for the victory.
Marcel Siem celebrates his Italian Open victory.Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images
Meanwhile, Siem, who has a penchant for bouncing back, did just that on the 72nd hole. He holed a 22-footer for birdie to match McKibbin and force a playoff, which he wound up winning.
Now, the German has two goals in his career: to play in the Ryder Cup and make it to the Masters. He has never played at Augusta National before. But if he can secure another victory this year on the DP World Tour and shoot up the season-long rankings, perhaps he will earn his PGA Tour card in December through the top 10 eligibility rankings.
Beginning last year, the top 10 players—not otherwise exempt—in the final DP World Tour standings received invitations to join the PGA Tour. Matthieu Pavon took full advantage of this opportunity—the Frenchman earned his PGA Tour card in December and then won the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in January, which booked his ticket to Augusta.
Maybe Siem can follow a similar blueprint, but he still has some work to do. His win propelled him 95 places in the Race to Dubai standings, yet he sits in 31st.
Nevertheless, he had already qualified for the Open Championship at Royal Troon, so perhaps the ‘Comeback King’ can make some noise there.
The same mantra applies to McKibbin, who, as a consolation prize, earned a trip to Royal Troon via the Open Qualifying Series. The R&A invited the top two finishers from the Italian Open—not otherwise exempt—to join the field of 156 in Scotland in three weeks. Sean Cocker of the United States received the other invite.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThroughfor more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.
And it will look a little different than in year’s past.
The 2024 Tour de France, the 111th in history, begins on Saturday June 29. However, the starting point for this year’s Tour de France, as well as the finish line, will mark a series of firsts for the event.
To mark 100 years since Ottavio Bottecchia became the first Italian rider to win the Tour de France, this year’s race will begin in Italy, with riders setting off in Florence. The first three stages of this year’s Tour de France will keep riders in Italy, before the Tour’s fourth stage sees riders make the journey from Pinerolo in Italy, to Valloire in France.
In addition, this year’s Tour de France schedule coincides with the 2024 Paris Summer Games, which begin in Paris at the end of July. As such the Tour de France will conclude in Nice, with the final stage of the 2024 Tour de France bringing riders from Monaco to Nice.
This year’s Tour de France also concludes with an individual time trial, the first time the event has concluded with an ITT since 1989. That year saw the legendary duel on the final day between Greg LeMond and Laurent Fignon.
This year’s event has no shortage of storylines, starting with the battle between Dane Jonas Vingegaard, riding for Visma—Lease a Bike, and Slovenian Tadej Pogačar of UAE Team Emirates.
Vingegaard is the reigning Tour de France champion, winning in both 2022 and 2023 ahead of his rival Pogačar. But his status for this year’s Tour de France is a huge question mark, as Vingegaard endured a horrific crash at the Tour of Basque Country in April. The Danish cyclist suffered a broken collarbone, several broken ribs, a pulmonary contusion and a pneumothorax as a result of the crash, and spent 12 days in the hospital.
Vingegaard’s questionable form has opened the door for Pogačar to perhaps claim another title. The Slovenian took home the prestigious yellow jersey, the maillot jaune, in both 2020 and 2021; his victory in 2020 at the age of 21 made him the second-youngest winner in race history.
The two are the odds-on favorites to compete for the top spot on the podium again in 2024, but Vingegaard’s recent crash has made his rival the favorite.
Beyond the two favorites, there are some other riders in the field who could challenge for the yellow jersey. Primož Roglič from Slovenia, riding for Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe, is one of the older riders in the field but might have some unfinished business after losing out to fellow Slovenian Pogačar in 2020. Roglič failed to finish in both 2021 and 2022, but won the Critérium du Dauphiné at the start of the month, fending off a late challenge from Matteo Jorgenson from Visma—Lease a Bike.
Remco Evenepoel from Soudal Quick-Step is another rider to watch. The Belgian cyclist suffered a crash of his own at Basque Country, but seemed back in form during the Critérium du Dauphiné when he was part of the chasing pack that put Roglič under pressure in the final stage. Considered one of the sport’s premier time trialists, the schedule sets up well for him with the 2024 Tour de France containing a pair of time trials, including the one on the final day previously mentioned.
For American fans Jorgenson represents your best hope for Tour de France glory. However, his role this year might best be described as “undetermined,” given Vingegaard’s questionable form. Should Vingegaard be healthy Jorgenson may serve as an auxiliary leader for Visma, and one of the sport’s premier domestiques. But if Vingegaard struggles with his health as a result of his recent crash, the 24-year-old could be thrust into a major role. And given his recent performance — including finishing just eight seconds behind Roglič at Dauphiné — he is certainly worth keeping an eye on.
For more on the favorites in the 2024 Tour de France field Bernd Buchmasser has you covered here.
Here is how to watch, a look at each stage, and more.
How to watch the 2024 Tour de France
NBC Sports is your home for every stage of the 110th Tour de France, with the bulk of the coverage airing live each day on Peacock. NBC and USA Network will also air live coverage during of three stages of the 2024 Tour de France: Stage 8, Stage 14, and Stage 20.
All NBC and USA Network coverage also streams on NBCSports.com/live, as well as the NBC Sports app.
Here is the full broadcast schedule:
2023 Tour de France Broadcast Information
Date
Time (ET)
Stage
Route
Platform
Date
Time (ET)
Stage
Route
Platform
June 29
6:30 a.m.
1
Florence to Rimini
Peacock
June 30
6:05 a.m.
2
Cesenatico to Bologna
Peacock
July 1
6:50 a.m.
3
Piacenza – Turin
Peacock
July 2
7:00 a.m.
4
Pinerolo to Vallorie
Peacock
July 3
6:55 a.m.
5
Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Saint-Vulbas
Peacock
July 4
7:00 a.m.
6
Mâcon to Dijon
Peacock
July 5
7:10 a.m.
7
Nuits-Saint-Georges to Gevrey-Chambertin
Peacock
July 6
6:00 a.m.
8
Semur-en-Auxois to Colombey-les-Deux-Églises
Peacock
July 6
8:00 a.m.
8
Semur-en-Auxois to Colombey-les-Deux-Églises
NBC
July 7
7:05 a.m.
9
Troys to Troys
Peacock
July 9
6:55 a.m.
10
Orléans to Saint-Amand-Montrond
Peacock
July 10
6:55 a.m.
11
Evaux-les-Bains to Le Lioran
Peacock
July 11
6:55 a.m.
12
Aurillac to Villeneuve-sur-Lot
Peacock
July 12
7:30 a.m.
13
Agen – Pau
Peacock
July 13
6:30 a.m.
14
Pau – Pla d’Adet
Peacock
July 13
8:00 a.m.
14
Pau – Pla d’Adet
NBC
July 14
6:55 a.m.
15
Loudenvielle to Plateau de Beille
Peacock
July 16
6:50 a.m.
16
Gruissan to Nîmes
Peacock
July 17
6:05 a.m.
17
Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaus to Superdévoluy
Peacock
July 18
6:55 a.m.
18
Gap to Barcelonnette
Peacock
July 19
7:05 a.m.
19
Embrun to Isola 2000
Peacock
July 20
7:35 a.m.
20
Nice to Col de la Couillole
Peacock
July 20
4:00 p.m.
20
Nice to Col de la Couillole
NBC (replay)
July 21
10:10 a.m.
21
Monaco to Nice
Peacock
What teams are competing in the 2024 Tour de France
22 teams are competing in the 2024 Tour de France: That includes all 18 UCI WorldTeams, and 4 UCI ProTeams.
18 UCI WorldTeams
Alpecin-Deceuninck Arkéa-B&B Hotels Astana Qazaqstan Team Cofidis Decathalon-AG2R La Mondiale EF Education-EasyPost Groupama-FDJ Ineos Grenadiers Intermarché-Wanty Lidl-Trek Movistar Team Red Bull—Bora—Hansgrohe Soudal—Quick-Step Team Bahrain Victorious Team dsm—firmenich PostNL Team Jayco-AlUla Visma—Lease a Bike UAE Team Emirates
UCI ProTeams
Israel—Premier Tech Lotto—Dstny Team TotalEnergies Uno-X Pro Mobility
The 2024 Tour de France map
Here is the official map of the 2024 Tour de France:
You can also view the map on the official Tour de France website.
Stages, dates, and distances for the 2024 Tour de France
Here are the stages for the 2024 Tour de France. According to the official website there are eight stages classified as flat, four stages classified as hilly, seven mountain stages (including four summit finishes: Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet in Stage 14, Plateau de Beille in Stage 15, Isola 2000 in Stage 19, and Col de la Couillole in Stage 20). There are also two individual time trials, along with a pair of rest days.
2024 Tour de France Stages
Stage
Date
Distance (Miles)
Route
Stage Type
Stage
Date
Distance (Miles)
Route
Stage Type
1
June 29
128
Florence to Rimini
Hilly
2
June 30
123.8
Cesenatico to Bologna
Hilly
3
July 1
143.4
Piacenza – Turin
Flat
4
July 2
86.7
Pinerolo to Vallorie
Mountain
5
July 3
110.2
Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Saint-Vulbas
Flat
6
July 4
101.6
Mâcon to Dijon
Flat
7
July 5
15.7
Nuits-Saint-Georges to Gevrey-Chambertin
ITT
8
July 6
114
Semur-en-Auxois to Colombey-les-Deux-Églises
Flat
9
July 7
124
Troys to Troys
Hilly
July 8
Rest Day
10
July 9
116.4
Orléans to Saint-Amand-Montrond
Flat
11
July 10
131
Evaux-les-Bains to Le Lioran
Mountain
12
July 11
126.5
Aurillac to Villeneuve-sur-Lot
Flat
13
July 12
102.7
Agen – Pau
Flat
14
July 13
94.4
Pau – Pla d’Adet
Mountain
15
July 14
122.8
Loudenvielle to Plateau de Beille
Mountain
July 15
Rest Day
16
July 16
117.2
Gruissan to Nîmes
Flat
17
July 17
110.5
Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaus to Superdévoluy
Mountain
18
July 18
111.5
Gap to Barcelonnette
Hilly
19
July 19
89.9
Embrun to Isola 2000
Mountain
20
July 20
82.5
Nice to Col de la Couillole
Mountain
21
July 21
20.9
Monaco to Nice
ITT
Overall, the 2024 Tour e France route covers 3,498 kilometers (2,174 miles) and contains 52,230 meters (171,358 feet) of total vertical climb.
If riders were hoping to ease into the 2024 Tour de France, they have another thing coming. The opening stage of this year’s Tour not only marks the first time the race has started in Italy, but it might be the toughest opening stage in history, featuring 3,600 meters (11,811 feet) of climbing. The final climb into San Marino, featuring over seven kilometers (4.35 miles) of climb at nearly five degrees.
The two toughest stretches are likely Stages 14 and 15, as well as Stages 19 and 20. Not only are all four stages mountain stages — meaning riders will have to conquer the mountains on back-to-back days — but all four stages contain a summit finish: Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet in Stage 14, Plateau de Beille in Stage 15, Isola 2000 in Stage 19, and Col de la Couillole in Stage 20.
Stage 9 is a very intriguing stage. While it is classified as “hilly” Stage 9, which sees riders start and finish in Troyes, it also contains 14 “white road” sectors. White roads on the Tour de France are dusty, gravel roads that have been a feature of this event.
In addition, the 2024 Tour de France concludes with an Individual Time Trial, the second ITT of this year’s race and the first time the Tour de France will finish in such fashion since the legendary LeMond-Fignon duel in 1989.
2024 Tour de France results
Stage 1: Florence to Rimini
Stage Winner: Romain Bardet, Team dsm-firmenich PostNL Overall Leader: Romain Bardet, Team dsm-firmenich PostNL
Romain Bardet, aided in large part by his Team dsm-firmenich PostNL teammate Frank Van den Broek, captured the difficult first stage of the 2024 Tour de France on Saturday. For Bardet, who is competing in his final Tour de France after announcing his upcoming retirement following next year’s Critérium du Dauphiné before a switch to gravel. This stage win was his first in seven years, and he’s the first Frenchman to don the famous yellow jersey since Julian Alaphilippe in the 2021 race.
Excluding a pair of rest days, the Tour de France is a 21-day event. We recommend you watch as much of it as possible, but also understand that spending three weeks in the middle of summer watching men in lycra pants riding a bike through towns with names like Gignac, Minot, or Chorges — yes, these are all real — might prove to be a challenge.
But, worry not, friend! We are here to help.
We took a close look at this year’s route, and out of the 21 stages picked seven that definitively fall in the must-watch category. What criteria did we use? Mainly the course itself, and what we expect to see on each individual stage.
So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.
Stage 1: Florence > Rimini (Sat 6/29)
A.S.O.
For the first time in its 111-year history, the Tour de France is set to start in Italy. And it is about to kick off with a bang: the first of three-and-a-half stages on Italian soil covers 206 kilometers while featuring over 3,800 meters of elevation gain.
Arguably the hardest opening stage in recent memory, we might already see some general classification action on Day 1. Due to the relentless nature especially over the final 75 kilometers, the big race favorite, Slovenian Tadej Pogačar, might already try to test his competitors led by two-time defending champion Jonas Vingegaard — a similar tactic he employed during his dominant Giro d’Italia showing earlier this year.
Pogačar, who himself is a two-time Tour winner, recently mentioned his shape would be “even better than what I expected.” Given this and the fact that Vingegaard was among several GC contenders to crash hard back in April, the 25-year-old might try to put his early mark on the stage.
Stage 4: Pinerolo > Valloire (Tue 7/2)
A.S.O.
Whether or not Pogačar enters Day 4 as wearer of the yellow jersey remains to be seen. Regardless of his status relative to the rest of the general classification field, however, the 140-kilometer border-crossing stage from Pinerolo to Valloire is the first high-mountain test of this week’s Tour.
The 3,900 meters of elevation gain might be a bit misleading — the first two classified climbs are not particularly difficult — but the ascent to the legendary Col du Galibier could be the perfect GC battle ground. Never before has the Tour reached such heights this early in a race, which might just prompt Pogačar and his climber-heavy UAE Team Emirates squad to try to light some fireworks.
If Vingegaard in particular shows any weakness on the hilly first two stages of the race, the fourth could prove a challenge. He and his Visma | Lease a Bike team need to be on high alert over the last 40 kilometers.
Stage 9: Troyes > Troyes (Sun 7/7)
A.S.O.
A vast majority of this year’s Tour de France takes place on asphalt roads, but there is one notable exception. On July 7, the cyclists will hit the gravel roads around the city of Troyes. The stage itself is not the hardest in terms of elevation gain — only around 2,000 — but the surface below the wheels could lead to some chaos.
In total, there are 14 gravel sectors totaling 32 kilometers. That does not sound like a lot, but a puncture or crash at the wrong time on what will be a nervous day for the entire peloton could spell doom for general classification contenders. You won’t be able to win the Tour on Stage 9, but you very well could lose it.
Stage 15: Loudenvielle > Plateau de Beille (Sun 7/14)
A.S.O.
When it comes to vertical meters gained, this is the hardest stage of the entire 2024 Tour de France. This 198-kilometer monster will see riders climb more than 5,000 meters in the French Pyrenees between Loudenvielle and Plateau de Beille.
While it seems unlikely there will be much general classification action before what looks to be a brutal mountaintop finish, the built up fatigue up until that point could lead to some serious cracks. Every single GC rider, even if they are named Tadej Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard, Primož Roglič, Remco Evenepoel, or Carlos Rodriguez, needs to bring their A-game to Stage 15.
All eyes will naturally be on those and other riders atop the standings at this point, but we will also closely follow the race against the so-called broom wagon: with some serious climbing to be done and a 7-kilometer test right out of the gate, every rider making the time cut is not a foregone conclusion.
Stage 19: Embrun > Isola 2000 (Fri 7/19)
A.S.O.
Stage 19 is comparatively short at only 145 kilometers, but it will see over 4,500 meters of climbing split between three challenging peaks. Tops among those is the highest point ever reached by the Tour de France: at 2,802 meters, the Cime de la Bonette will be crossed for just the fifth time in race history and the first since 2008.
Despite being the highest paved road in France, however, it is merely an appetizer for what projects to be a high-octane finish to Isola 2000. Differences will be made on the 16-kilometer ascent, and riders will get dropped. The question is: who, and by whom?
If Jonas Vingegaard wants to win his third straight maillot jaune, this is where the hyper-talented climber needs to go on the offensive. Likewise, if Tadej Pogačar wants to regain his Tour de France supremacy, he might try to use this stage as either a launching pad or a final dagger to his competition.
Stage 20: Nice > Col de la Couillole (Sat 7/20)
A.S.O.
The mountains may not be quite as high as on the previous day, and 133 kilometers is a quite moderate distance. Stage 20 will nonetheless be an entertaining affair on difficult terrain. In fact, in terms of vertical gain per kilometer, this is the toughest stage in the Tour.
The riders will go up and down throughout the day before finishing on the Col de la Couillole. Given the nature of the stage, and the fact that it is the final mountain test before a closing-day individual time trial, action is guaranteed — especially if the GC battle is still somewhat close at this point in the race.
Stage 21: Monaco > Nice (Sun 7/21)
A.S.O.
For the first time since 1989, when American Greg LeMond stole the yellow jersey from Frenchmen Laurent Fignon by just 8 seconds, the Tour de France will end with an individual time trial. This one will take the riders from the world’s second-smallest nation to the French city of Nice over a hilly 34-kilometer parcours.
The big four participating in this race — Pogačar, Vingegaard, Roglič, and Evenepoel — are all strong against the clock and capable of gaining just enough time on a good day. And even though a repeat of the LeMond-Fignon scenario might seem unlikely, 20 days of racing and the riders participating means that anything can happen on Day 21.
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