ZDF will resume live coverage of the Tour de France from 2027, marking its first broadcast of the event in over 15 years.
The deal, struck between SportA — representing ZDF and ARD — and race organiser Amaury Sport Organization, will run through to the 2028 edition.
It signals a renewed commitment from Germany’s public broadcasters to cycling’s flagship event following a prolonged absence linked to the sport’s doping controversies in the early 2010s.
From 2027, ARD and ZDF will jointly air the Tour de France for the first time in more than a decade, reviving a long-standing alternating broadcast model that predated their withdrawal after the 2011 edition.
ARD has carried the event since 2015, when it re-entered the market following a four-year hiatus. In recent years, it has shared rights with Eurosport, which maintains a long-term agreement with ASO.
The addition of ZDF expands free-to-air coverage in Germany, strengthening reach for one of cycling’s most commercially valuable properties.
Rights package extends beyond Tour
The agreement also includes a broader portfolio of cycling events, notably the Deutschland Tour, Cyclassics Hamburg and several classics such as Paris-Roubaix.
These assets will be shared between ARD and ZDF, further deepening their cycling coverage and providing year-round content beyond the Tour itself.
UK Grand Départ adds international dimension
The 2027 edition will carry additional commercial significance, with the Grand Départ staged in the United Kingdom.
The men’s race is set to begin in Edinburgh before moving through England and Wales, while the women’s event will start in Leeds and pass through major urban centres including Manchester and London.
The UK-hosted opening stages are expected to boost international viewership and commercial interest, aligning with ASO’s strategy of expanding the race’s global footprint.
Rebuilding trust and audience
ZDF’s return underscores how cycling has worked to rebuild credibility and broadcaster confidence following the doping scandals that once drove major networks away.
With public-service broadcasters re-engaging and rights packages expanding, the Tour de France continues to reinforce its position as one of the most valuable annual events in global sport.