GCN Plus Cycling Streaming Review

GCN+: Is the Cycling Streaming Service Worth It?

Cycling streaming options have gotten complicated with all the ownership changes and pricing structures flying around. As someone who subscribed to GCN+ during the pandemic when desperate for cycling content, I learned everything there is to know about whether it’s worth your money. Today, I’ll share my honest take.

What You Get

Probably should have led with this section, honestly.

Live race coverage: Major draw. Grand Tours (Tour de France, Giro, Vuelta), classics, smaller races streamed live with commentary.

Race replays: Missed a stage? Watch later. Full coverage, not just highlights.

Documentaries: Original content about cycling history, legendary riders, behind-the-scenes team access.

How-to content: Training videos, maintenance tutorials, tech reviews.

The Good

That’s what makes GCN+ endearing to us pro cycling fans — comprehensive race coverage in one place.

No ads during races: Commentary continues uninterrupted. Huge improvement over TV.

Quality documentaries: Genuinely good storytelling about cycling legends.

Global access: Works from most countries.

The Not-So-Good

Cost keeps changing: Ownership changes mean shifting pricing. Check current rates.

Platform complications: Discovery ownership means content sometimes split confusingly.

Limited non-cycling: If not into watching races, value drops significantly.

YouTube overlap: A lot of how-to content also on free YouTube channel.

Who It’s For

Pro cycling fans: If you actually watch races — not highlights but full stages — this is essential. No better legal way to follow professional cycling.

Cable cutters: If you’d need cable sports packages otherwise, this is cheaper and more comprehensive.

Documentary fans: Original content is genuinely good if interested in cycling history.

Who It’s Not For

Casual cyclists: If you don’t watch races, not enough other content to justify cost.

Highlight seekers: Race summaries free elsewhere. This is for full race coverage.

My Take

I keep subscription during Grand Tour season (May-September roughly), sometimes cancel off-season. Tour de France alone makes it worth it — watching every stage without commercials or hunting streams is a luxury worth paying for.

If you don’t follow pro cycling, skip it. If you do, it’s basically required.

Alternatives

Peacock (US): Some cycling coverage, often cheaper.

YouTube highlights: Free, decent for catching up without full stages.

GCN+ owns the market for comprehensive, legal cycling coverage. Whether that’s worth paying depends on how much you care about watching bike races.