Egan Bernal of Ineos Grenadiers during the official presentation of the 2024 Tour de France teams in Florence, Italy.
Photo: EFE – KIM LUDBROOK
The 2024 Tour de France begins this Saturday, June 29, marking the 111th edition of cycling’s most iconic race. In Italy’s first Grand Départ, the race starts in Florence and traces an easterly course across the country, before turning west towards France and the Alps.
The riders will also travel through the Apennines, the Massif Central and the Pyrenees, and will pass through Italy, San Marino, Monaco and France.
In Paris, where the Olympic Games in August are being prepared, there will be no place for the traditional arrival of the last stage of the Tour de France to the Champs-Élysées. Instead, the race will finish in Nice, the first time it has finished outside the capital.
The world’s best riders will be vying for overall victory, with newly crowned Giro d’Italia winner Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) up against Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease A Bike) and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step). Both are currently returning from injury, as is Primoz Roglic (Bora-Hansgrohe).
What will the first stage of the Tour de France be like?
The first stage, which goes from Florence to Rimini, covers a route of 206 kilometers with a gradient of 3,800 meters. After a flat climb of 30 km, the route ascends with moderate slopes to the foot of the Colle de Valico Tre Faggi. This climb of 12.5 kilometers, with an average slope of 5.1%, is crowned after almost 50 kilometers.
A 25 kilometer descent leads to Colle Monte delle Forche, a 2.5 kilometer climb at 6.2%. Next, runners continue towards the Côte de Carnaio, with a 7.1 kilometer ascent at 6%. The first stage of the 2024 Tour is almost halfway to the top.
Another long descent takes cyclists to the toughest part of the route, with four climbs in 50 kilometers. The Colle de Barbotto (5.8 kilometers at 7.6%) and the climbs to San Leo (4.6 kilometers at 7.7%) and Montemaggio (4.2 kilometers at 6.6%) precede the descent to San Marine. The last climb of the day leads 7.1 kilometers at 4.8% to the capital of the dwarf state.
The first three riders to cross the finish line will receive time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds.
Where to watch the first stage of the Tour de France
Date: Saturday June 29
Route: Florence to Rimini (206 kilometers)
Hour: Approximately from 6:30 am (Colombian time)
Channel: Caracol Channel, ESPN and Disney+
