According to figures from taken from members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and ASO, this year’s edition of the Tour de France has seen a huge rise in the number of fans tuning in to watch across Europe.
In Belgium, the Flemish north has seen a rise of 13% while the southern Walloon region counts an increase of 23.8%. Over in Italy audiences have risen, by a solid 17.6%. Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark can also report increases in the numbers watching.
Audiences peaked around 2 million on Saturday in Spain and Germany, with some 1 million tuning in across the Netherlands. Figures for the same weekend in Denmark stand at 0.7 million.
‘It is exciting to see such a historic event as the Tour de France attracting high audiences via the unrivalled exposure delivered by the EBU Members,’ said head of cycling at Eurovision Sport Frédéric Sanz.
Yet, because these numbers only represent those who tuned in to channels that are members of the EBU, viewing figures are even larger than these would suggest as fans can watch coverage on other broadcasters.
With the General Classification standing on a knife edge as the race enters a decisive period in the Alps, and fans more captivated than ever, it is unlikely that these trends are going to be reversed in the Tour’s final days.