Broadcasting Chris Froome Cycling Eurosport Television Tour de France

Tour de France television audience ratings on Eurosport jump 10%

July 26, 2017

Eurosport continues to be the go-to destination for cycling fans across the continent after reporting a series of stunning audience numbers for this year’s Tour de France, cementing its status as the true ‘Home of Cycling’.

Just days after announcing it will show every minute of every Tour de France until 2023, Eurosport recorded an average viewing number of 785,000* over the 21 stages, a 10% increase versus 2016 – a figure all the more impressive by the fact 25 more hours of live coverage was available to fans in 2017.

Significant year-on-year growth was recorded in Germany (+37%), Spain (+32%), Italy (+17%), Denmark (+8%) and Romania (+6%) while Norway enjoyed an astonishing 411% average audience increase compared to 2016, a figure that contributed to its best-ever Tour de France.

This year’s Tour de France was also the most-watched edition in Romania as well as Spain since 2009 – when local hero Alberto Contador claimed the honours.

Moreover, stage 13 between Saint-Girons and Foix represented the most-watched stage on Eurosport since 2013, with an average of 1.203m viewers tuning in to see Warren Barguil become the first French rider to win a stage on Bastille Day since 2005.

Across Europe, viewers watched a total of 3.8 billion minutes* (+45% versus 2016) of a thrilling Tour de France that, as well as the live action on the road, featured unique analysis and insights from the likes of cycling icons Greg LeMond, Juan Antonio Flecha and Sean Kelly.

Eurosport CEO Peter Hutton said: “We have been overwhelmed by the number of messages from fans across the continent praising our coverage of this year’s Tour de France and these figures are testament to those sentiments.

“At Eurosport we firmly believe we are now the undisputed Home of Cycling and aim to not only show what is happening, but why is it happening. Whether it be via insights from our expert analysts or short-form content such as the excellent sport explainers, we aim to have every angle covered.

“With every minute of every Tour de France now confirmed on Eurosport screens for the next six years, we are all excited by the challenge to further improve our coverage of one of the most compelling events on the worldwide sporting calendar.”

As well as the Tour de France, Eurosport’s enhanced agreement with Europe Broadcasting Union and Amaury Sport Organisation covers all three of the Grand Tours, plus 25 UCI World Championship events, including all five monuments.

Broadcasting Chris Froome Cycling Eurosport Television Tour de France