Worthwhile Sports

Qualifying sets the grid, and at circuits where overtaking is hard it effectively sets the result. An hour, and it tells you whether Sunday is worth clearing.

A top-ten meeting, #7 against #19, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set. On ABC.

A top-ten meeting, #10 against #14, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set. On ESPN.

A round of the Superprestige, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A regular-season game — worth watching for who is playing rather than for what is riding on it. In because you follow the Steelers, not because it's a marquee matchup. On NFL Net.

A round of the Superprestige, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

NFL RedZone: every Sunday afternoon game at once, cutting to whichever one is about to score, with no commercials and no halftime. Seven hours you can leave running in the background — it goes where the football is, so you never have to pick the right game.

The Grand Prix itself — points, podium and the championship all settled over about ninety minutes. The one session of the weekend that always matters.

A regular-season game — worth watching for who is playing rather than for what is riding on it. In because you follow the Eagles, not because it's a marquee matchup. On ESPN, ABC.

A top-ten meeting, #8 against #25, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A top-ten meeting, #5 against #20, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing. On ABC.

Not a marquee matchup on paper — neither side is ranked into it. It's in because Penn State are playing, and you wanted all of their games rather than only the big ones.

Qualifying sets the grid, and at circuits where overtaking is hard it effectively sets the result. An hour, and it tells you whether Sunday is worth clearing.

A top-ten meeting, #3 against #16, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set. On NBC.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing. On SEC Network.

A round of the X2O Badkamers Trofee, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A round of the X2O Badkamers Trofee, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

NFL RedZone: every Sunday afternoon game at once, cutting to whichever one is about to score, with no commercials and no halftime. Seven hours you can leave running in the background — it goes where the football is, so you never have to pick the right game.

A regular-season game — worth watching for who is playing rather than for what is riding on it. In because you follow the Steelers, not because it's a marquee matchup. On CBS.

The Grand Prix itself — points, podium and the championship all settled over about ninety minutes. The one session of the weekend that always matters.

A regular-season game — worth watching for who is playing rather than for what is riding on it. In because you follow the Eagles, not because it's a marquee matchup. On NBC.

A round of the Superprestige, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A round of the Superprestige, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

Qualifying sets the grid, and at circuits where overtaking is hard it effectively sets the result. An hour, and it tells you whether Sunday is worth clearing.

A top-ten meeting, #2 against #10, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing.

A top-ten meeting, #5 against #7, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing.

Not a marquee matchup on paper — neither side is ranked into it. It's in because Penn State are playing, and you wanted all of their games rather than only the big ones.

A top-ten meeting, #1 against #4, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set. On NBC.

The Grand Prix itself — points, podium and the championship all settled over about ninety minutes. The one session of the weekend that always matters.

NFL RedZone: every Sunday afternoon game at once, cutting to whichever one is about to score, with no commercials and no halftime. Seven hours you can leave running in the background — it goes where the football is, so you never have to pick the right game.

A regular-season game — worth watching for who is playing rather than for what is riding on it. In because you follow the Eagles, not because it's a marquee matchup. On Fox.

A round of the Superprestige, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A round of the Superprestige, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A top-ten meeting, #10 against #25, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A top-ten meeting, #6 against #16, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A top-ten meeting, #5 against #22, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

A top-ten meeting, #3 against #24, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set.

Not a marquee matchup on paper — neither side is ranked into it. It's in because Penn State are playing, and you wanted all of their games rather than only the big ones.

A round of the X2O Badkamers Trofee, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

NFL RedZone: every Sunday afternoon game at once, cutting to whichever one is about to score, with no commercials and no halftime. Seven hours you can leave running in the background — it goes where the football is, so you never have to pick the right game.

A regular-season game — worth watching for who is playing rather than for what is riding on it. In because you follow the Steelers, not because it's a marquee matchup. On NBC.

Qualifying sets the grid, and at circuits where overtaking is hard it effectively sets the result. An hour, and it tells you whether Sunday is worth clearing.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing.

Not a marquee matchup on paper — neither side is ranked into it. It's in because Penn State are playing, and you wanted all of their games rather than only the big ones.

A top-ten meeting, #4 against #23, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. Two top-ten teams, which is exactly the bar you set. On NBC.

The Grand Prix itself — points, podium and the championship all settled over about ninety minutes. The one session of the weekend that always matters.

A round of the X2O Badkamers Trofee, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

NFL RedZone: every Sunday afternoon game at once, cutting to whichever one is about to score, with no commercials and no halftime. Seven hours you can leave running in the background — it goes where the football is, so you never have to pick the right game.

Eagles against Steelers — one of seventeen regular-season games, and the one week both of your teams are on the same screen. Both of yours, so there's no wrong result. On CBS.

A regular-season game — worth watching for who is playing rather than for what is riding on it. In because you follow the Eagles, not because it's a marquee matchup. On Fox.

A round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing. On ABC.

A regular-season game — worth watching for who is playing rather than for what is riding on it. In because you follow the Steelers, not because it's a marquee matchup. On Prime Video.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing. On ABC.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing. On ABC.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing. On Fox.

Qualifying sets the grid, and at circuits where overtaking is hard it effectively sets the result. An hour, and it tells you whether Sunday is worth clearing.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing.

A top-ten meeting, #9 against #16, which in a twelve-game season is close to an elimination game for the playoff. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing.

Not a marquee matchup on paper — neither side is ranked into it. It's in because Penn State are playing, and you wanted all of their games rather than only the big ones.

A round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

The Grand Prix itself — points, podium and the championship all settled over about ninety minutes. The one session of the weekend that always matters.

NFL RedZone: every Sunday afternoon game at once, cutting to whichever one is about to score, with no commercials and no halftime. Seven hours you can leave running in the background — it goes where the football is, so you never have to pick the right game.

A conference championship, with a playoff place usually riding on the result. The part of the season you said you actually care about.

A conference championship, with a playoff place usually riding on the result. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On ESPN.

A conference championship, with a playoff place usually riding on the result. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On ABC.

A conference championship, with a playoff place usually riding on the result. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On CBS.

A conference championship, with a playoff place usually riding on the result. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On Fox.

Qualifying sets the grid, and at circuits where overtaking is hard it effectively sets the result. An hour, and it tells you whether Sunday is worth clearing.

A conference championship, with a playoff place usually riding on the result. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On ABC.

A conference championship, with a playoff place usually riding on the result. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On ESPN.

A conference championship, with a playoff place usually riding on the result. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On ABC.

A conference championship, with a playoff place usually riding on the result. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On ABC.

A conference championship, with a playoff place usually riding on the result. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On Fox.

The Grand Prix itself — points, podium and the championship all settled over about ninety minutes. The one session of the weekend that always matters.

A round of the Superprestige, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

NFL RedZone: every Sunday afternoon game at once, cutting to whichever one is about to score, with no commercials and no halftime. Seven hours you can leave running in the background — it goes where the football is, so you never have to pick the right game.

A regular-season game — worth watching for who is playing rather than for what is riding on it. In because you follow the Eagles, not because it's a marquee matchup. On Fox.

A regular-season game — worth watching for who is playing rather than for what is riding on it. In because you follow the Steelers, not because it's a marquee matchup. On NBC.

A rivalry with enough history that form and records reliably stop mattering once it kicks off. rivalry's biggest game of the year — the one you'd regret missing. On CBS.

A round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

NFL RedZone: every Sunday afternoon game at once, cutting to whichever one is about to score, with no commercials and no halftime. Seven hours you can leave running in the background — it goes where the football is, so you never have to pick the right game.

A regular-season game — worth watching for who is playing rather than for what is riding on it. In because you follow the Eagles, not because it's a marquee matchup. On Fox.

A regular-season game — worth watching for who is playing rather than for what is riding on it. In because you follow the Steelers, not because it's a marquee matchup. On ESPN.

A College Football Playoff game — win and you play on, lose and the season is over. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On ESPN.

A round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A College Football Playoff game — win and you play on, lose and the season is over. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On ABC, ESPN.

A College Football Playoff game — win and you play on, lose and the season is over. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On TNT, truTV.

A regular-season game — worth watching for who is playing rather than for what is riding on it. In because you follow the Eagles, not because it's a marquee matchup. On Fox.

A College Football Playoff game — win and you play on, lose and the season is over. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On TNT, truTV.

A round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

NFL RedZone: every Sunday afternoon game at once, cutting to whichever one is about to score, with no commercials and no halftime. Seven hours you can leave running in the background — it goes where the football is, so you never have to pick the right game.

A regular-season game — worth watching for who is playing rather than for what is riding on it. In because you follow the Steelers, not because it's a marquee matchup. On CBS.

A round of the X2O Badkamers Trofee, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A round of the X2O Badkamers Trofee, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A regular-season game — worth watching for who is playing rather than for what is riding on it. In because you follow the Eagles, not because it's a marquee matchup. On Prime Video.

A round of the Superprestige, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

NFL RedZone: every Sunday afternoon game at once, cutting to whichever one is about to score, with no commercials and no halftime. Seven hours you can leave running in the background — it goes where the football is, so you never have to pick the right game.

A regular-season game — worth watching for who is playing rather than for what is riding on it. In because you follow the Steelers, not because it's a marquee matchup.

A round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A round of the Superprestige, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A College Football Playoff game — win and you play on, lose and the season is over. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On TNT, truTV.

A round of the X2O Badkamers Trofee, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A College Football Playoff game — win and you play on, lose and the season is over. The part of the season you said you actually care about.

A College Football Playoff game — win and you play on, lose and the season is over. The part of the season you said you actually care about.

A College Football Playoff game — win and you play on, lose and the season is over. The part of the season you said you actually care about.

A round of the Superprestige, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

NFL RedZone: every Sunday afternoon game at once, cutting to whichever one is about to score, with no commercials and no halftime. Seven hours you can leave running in the background — it goes where the football is, so you never have to pick the right game.

A regular-season game — worth watching for who is playing rather than for what is riding on it. In because you follow the Steelers, not because it's a marquee matchup. On CBS.

A regular-season game — worth watching for who is playing rather than for what is riding on it. In because you follow the Eagles, not because it's a marquee matchup. On NBC.

NFL RedZone: every Sunday afternoon game at once, cutting to whichever one is about to score, with no commercials and no halftime. Seven hours you can leave running in the background — it goes where the football is, so you never have to pick the right game.

A regular-season game — worth watching for who is playing rather than for what is riding on it. In because you follow the Eagles, not because it's a marquee matchup.

A regular-season game — worth watching for who is playing rather than for what is riding on it. In because you follow the Steelers, not because it's a marquee matchup.

A College Football Playoff game — win and you play on, lose and the season is over. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On TNT, truTV.

A College Football Playoff game — win and you play on, lose and the season is over. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On ABC, ESPN.

A wild card playoff game — single elimination, and the round where the upsets happen. Single elimination from here on.

A wild card playoff game — single elimination, and the round where the upsets happen. Single elimination from here on.

A round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A wild card playoff game — single elimination, and the round where the upsets happen. Single elimination from here on.

A wild card playoff game — single elimination, and the round where the upsets happen. Single elimination from here on.

A wild card playoff game — single elimination, and the round where the upsets happen. Single elimination from here on.

A wild card playoff game — single elimination, and the round where the upsets happen. Single elimination from here on.

Tour Down Under is a WorldTour stage race, which is where the Grand Tour contenders test their form against each other before it counts. Worth a look on the mountain days if you want to know who's flying before the next Grand Tour.

A round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A divisional playoff game, historically the best weekend of the NFL season: rested top seeds against teams already playing well. Four games across two days, all single-elimination.

A divisional playoff game, historically the best weekend of the NFL season: rested top seeds against teams already playing well. Four games across two days, all single-elimination.

A round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A divisional playoff game, historically the best weekend of the NFL season: rested top seeds against teams already playing well. Four games across two days, all single-elimination.

A divisional playoff game, historically the best weekend of the NFL season: rested top seeds against teams already playing well. Four games across two days, all single-elimination.

A College Football Playoff game — win and you play on, lose and the season is over. The part of the season you said you actually care about. On ABC.

Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race is a WorldTour one-day race, so the full top tier of the sport is on the start line. A single afternoon with a winner at the end of it — no standings to follow.

The cyclocross World Championships — one race, one day, and the rainbow jersey for the year. The single most-watched day of the cyclocross season.

A conference championship — the winner goes to the Super Bowl. Two games all day, both of them consequential.

A conference championship — the winner goes to the Super Bowl. Two games all day, both of them consequential.

A round of the X2O Badkamers Trofee, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

A round of the X2O Badkamers Trofee, an hour of racing on a short muddy circuit with the leaders rarely more than a few seconds apart. An hour start to finish, which makes it the easiest bike racing to watch live in full.

The Super Bowl. One game, and then no football until September. On ESPN, ABC.

UAE Tour is a WorldTour stage race, which is where the Grand Tour contenders test their form against each other before it counts. Worth a look on the mountain days if you want to know who's flying before the next Grand Tour.

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is a WorldTour one-day race, so the full top tier of the sport is on the start line. A single afternoon with a winner at the end of it — no standings to follow.

Strade Bianche is a WorldTour one-day race, so the full top tier of the sport is on the start line. A single afternoon with a winner at the end of it — no standings to follow.

Paris–Nice is a WorldTour stage race, which is where the Grand Tour contenders test their form against each other before it counts. Worth a look on the mountain days if you want to know who's flying before the next Grand Tour.

Tirreno–Adriatico is a WorldTour stage race, which is where the Grand Tour contenders test their form against each other before it counts. Worth a look on the mountain days if you want to know who's flying before the next Grand Tour.

Milan–San Remo is one of cycling's five Monuments — a one-day race, usually six hours long, that the sport treats as a career-defining win. The result is almost always settled in the last hour, so joining late costs you very little.

Volta a Catalunya is a WorldTour stage race, which is where the Grand Tour contenders test their form against each other before it counts. Worth a look on the mountain days if you want to know who's flying before the next Grand Tour.

Classic Brugge–De Panne is a WorldTour one-day race, so the full top tier of the sport is on the start line. A single afternoon with a winner at the end of it — no standings to follow.

E3 Saxo Classic is a WorldTour one-day race, so the full top tier of the sport is on the start line. A single afternoon with a winner at the end of it — no standings to follow.

Gent-Wevelgem is a WorldTour one-day race, so the full top tier of the sport is on the start line. A single afternoon with a winner at the end of it — no standings to follow.

Dwars door Vlaanderen is a WorldTour one-day race, so the full top tier of the sport is on the start line. A single afternoon with a winner at the end of it — no standings to follow.

Tour of Flanders is one of cycling's five Monuments — a one-day race, usually six hours long, that the sport treats as a career-defining win. The result is almost always settled in the last hour, so joining late costs you very little.

Tour of the Basque Country is a WorldTour stage race, which is where the Grand Tour contenders test their form against each other before it counts. Worth a look on the mountain days if you want to know who's flying before the next Grand Tour.

Paris–Roubaix is one of cycling's five Monuments — a one-day race, usually six hours long, that the sport treats as a career-defining win. The result is almost always settled in the last hour, so joining late costs you very little.

Amstel Gold Race is a WorldTour one-day race, so the full top tier of the sport is on the start line. A single afternoon with a winner at the end of it — no standings to follow.

La Flèche Wallonne is a WorldTour one-day race, so the full top tier of the sport is on the start line. A single afternoon with a winner at the end of it — no standings to follow.

Liège–Bastogne–Liège is one of cycling's five Monuments — a one-day race, usually six hours long, that the sport treats as a career-defining win. The result is almost always settled in the last hour, so joining late costs you very little.

Tour de Romandie is a WorldTour stage race, which is where the Grand Tour contenders test their form against each other before it counts. Worth a look on the mountain days if you want to know who's flying before the next Grand Tour.

Eschborn–Frankfurt is a WorldTour one-day race, so the full top tier of the sport is on the start line. A single afternoon with a winner at the end of it — no standings to follow.

Giro d'Italia is one of the three Grand Tours — three weeks of racing where the general classification is decided in a handful of mountain stages, not the flat days in between. Every stage is in this calendar separately, so you can pick the days that actually decide it rather than committing to the whole month.

Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is a WorldTour stage race, which is where the Grand Tour contenders test their form against each other before it counts. Worth a look on the mountain days if you want to know who's flying before the next Grand Tour.

Copenhagen Sprint is a WorldTour one-day race, so the full top tier of the sport is on the start line. A single afternoon with a winner at the end of it — no standings to follow.

Tour de Suisse is a WorldTour stage race, which is where the Grand Tour contenders test their form against each other before it counts. Worth a look on the mountain days if you want to know who's flying before the next Grand Tour.

Tour de France: a flat stage, meaning a controlled day and a bunch sprint in the final kilometre. Worth joining for the last 15 minutes rather than the full four hours.

Tour de France: a hilly stage — the kind of day a breakaway survives and the sprinters get dropped. Usually decided in the final half hour, so the last 20 minutes is enough.

Tour de France: a hilly stage — the kind of day a breakaway survives and the sprinters get dropped. Usually decided in the final half hour, so the last 20 minutes is enough.

Tour de France: a hilly stage — the kind of day a breakaway survives and the sprinters get dropped. Usually decided in the final half hour, so the last 20 minutes is enough.

Tour de France: a hilly stage — the kind of day a breakaway survives and the sprinters get dropped. Usually decided in the final half hour, so the last 20 minutes is enough.

Tour de France: a hilly stage — the kind of day a breakaway survives and the sprinters get dropped. Usually decided in the final half hour, so the last 20 minutes is enough.

Tour de France: an individual time trial — no teammates and no tactics, just each rider alone against the clock. Riders go off at intervals, so you can drop in for the last hour and see the contenders back to back.

Tour de France: a hilly stage — the kind of day a breakaway survives and the sprinters get dropped. Usually decided in the final half hour, so the last 20 minutes is enough.

Tour de France: a mountain stage, which is where a three-week race is actually won and lost — the overall contenders have nowhere to hide. One of the handful of days that actually decides the overall, so worth the afternoon.

Tour de France: a mountain stage, which is where a three-week race is actually won and lost — the overall contenders have nowhere to hide. One of the handful of days that actually decides the overall, so worth the afternoon.

Tour de France: a mountain stage, which is where a three-week race is actually won and lost — the overall contenders have nowhere to hide. One of the handful of days that actually decides the overall, so worth the afternoon.

Tour de France: a flat stage, meaning a controlled day and a bunch sprint in the final kilometre. Worth joining for the last 15 minutes rather than the full four hours.

Tour de France: a flat stage, meaning a controlled day and a bunch sprint in the final kilometre. Worth joining for the last 15 minutes rather than the full four hours.

Tour de France: a mountain stage, which is where a three-week race is actually won and lost — the overall contenders have nowhere to hide. One of the handful of days that actually decides the overall, so worth the afternoon.

Tour de France: a hilly stage — the kind of day a breakaway survives and the sprinters get dropped. Usually decided in the final half hour, so the last 20 minutes is enough.

Tour de France: an individual time trial — no teammates and no tactics, just each rider alone against the clock. Riders go off at intervals, so you can drop in for the last hour and see the contenders back to back.

Tour de France: a flat stage, meaning a controlled day and a bunch sprint in the final kilometre. Worth joining for the last 15 minutes rather than the full four hours.

Tour de France: a mountain stage, which is where a three-week race is actually won and lost — the overall contenders have nowhere to hide. One of the handful of days that actually decides the overall, so worth the afternoon.

Tour de France: a mountain stage, which is where a three-week race is actually won and lost — the overall contenders have nowhere to hide. One of the handful of days that actually decides the overall, so worth the afternoon.

Tour de France: a flat stage, meaning a controlled day and a bunch sprint in the final kilometre. Worth joining for the last 15 minutes rather than the full four hours.

Tour de France: a flat stage, meaning a controlled day and a bunch sprint in the final kilometre. Worth joining for the last 15 minutes rather than the full four hours.

Clásica de San Sebastián is a WorldTour one-day race, so the full top tier of the sport is on the start line. A single afternoon with a winner at the end of it — no standings to follow.

Tour de Pologne is a WorldTour stage race, which is where the Grand Tour contenders test their form against each other before it counts. Worth a look on the mountain days if you want to know who's flying before the next Grand Tour.

Hamburg Cyclassics is a WorldTour one-day race, so the full top tier of the sport is on the start line. A single afternoon with a winner at the end of it — no standings to follow.

Renewi Tour is a WorldTour stage race, which is where the Grand Tour contenders test their form against each other before it counts. Worth a look on the mountain days if you want to know who's flying before the next Grand Tour.

Bretagne Classic is a WorldTour one-day race, so the full top tier of the sport is on the start line. A single afternoon with a winner at the end of it — no standings to follow.

Vuelta a España is one of the three Grand Tours — three weeks of racing where the general classification is decided in a handful of mountain stages, not the flat days in between. Every stage is in this calendar separately, so you can pick the days that actually decide it rather than committing to the whole month.

Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec is a WorldTour one-day race, so the full top tier of the sport is on the start line. A single afternoon with a winner at the end of it — no standings to follow.

Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal is a WorldTour one-day race, so the full top tier of the sport is on the start line. A single afternoon with a winner at the end of it — no standings to follow.

Il Lombardia is one of cycling's five Monuments — a one-day race, usually six hours long, that the sport treats as a career-defining win. The result is almost always settled in the last hour, so joining late costs you very little.

Tour of Guangxi is a WorldTour stage race, which is where the Grand Tour contenders test their form against each other before it counts. Worth a look on the mountain days if you want to know who's flying before the next Grand Tour.