Abstract: In the case of a tangential belt drive for a plurality of spindles of a spinning or twisting machine, which are arranged in a row, it is provided that, in each case, one pressure roller is arranged in the center between two spindles and deflects the tangential belt in the direction toward these two spindles. The pressure rollers are held in such a manner that when the pressure roller is in the operative position, they can be moved toward each of the two spindles assigned to them, approximately in parallel to the direction of the course of the tangential belt.