This Tour de France is supposed to be epic: it starts in Italy

For the first time, the world's largest cycling race starts in Italy, and for the first time it ends in Nice and not in Paris because of the Olympic Games. As with the legendary battle of seconds in 1989, the next tour (June 29th to July 21st) will be decided in an individual time trial, before which four mountain finishes and a gravel stage await the peloton.

“It will be epic,” said defending champion Jonas Vingegaard at the presentation of the route on Wednesday in the chic Palais de Congrès in Paris. The women will hold their 2024 tour in mid-August. The start is in Rotterdam, the finish is at the end of the famous bends of Alpe d'Huez.

Jonas Vingegaard is looking forward to defending his title. © ANSA / CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

The two-time tour winners Tadej Pogacar and Vingegaard, time trial world champion Remco Evenepoel and Bora-hansgrohe's royal transfer Primoz Roglic are set to fight a breathtaking four-way battle over 21 stages and 3492 kilometers. The organizers have put everything in place for a memorable tour, with every top star able to play to their strengths. There are also up to eight possible sprint finishes, where Mark Cavendish is hoping for his 35th stage win. This would distance him from Eddy Merckx and become the sole record holder.

The start takes place in Florence After the start in Florence, there are two days in Italy before heading to the French Alps. From Tuscany the train rolls via San Marino to Rimini, the next day from Cesenatico to Bologna, before a sprint stage from Piacenza to Turin. After crossing the border on the fourth day of racing, there will be a first endurance test early on at the legendary Col du Galibier. Then we head towards Paris, where the ninth section as a gravel stage is likely to be a spectacle. 14 sections on loose ground have to be overcome, a total of 32 kilometers.

After the first day of rest in Orleans, the field heads to the Pyrenees. The 15th stage ends there on the Plateau de Beille, with an altitude difference of almost 5000 meters it is the most demanding day in the mountains. In the final week, three Alpine stages await the riders. The 19th stage with the 2802 meter Cime de Bonette and the mountain finish in Isola 2000 stands out here. There are 145 meters of altitude to overcome in just 4600 kilometers.

It couldn't be more exciting An extremely demanding individual time trial from Monaco to Nice over 35 kilometers concludes the tour. The winner will be determined on the Promenade des Anglais on the Mediterranean and the organizers are hoping for a similar outcome to 1989. Back then, Frenchman Laurent Fignon and Greg LeMond fought a memorable battle against the clock in Paris. In the end, the American won the yellow jersey with a lead of eight seconds. It is still the closest tour decision in history.

tennis

hockey

Winter sports

football

Italy

International leagues

International

Learn More

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Favorites

This Tour de France is supposed to be epic: it starts in Italy

With several premieres and a hoped-for battle between four cycling stars, the 111th Tour de France 2024 is entering a historic edition.

Comments (0)