The route of the Tour de France 2024 was officially presented on Wednesday. The reactions to the new route were varied. There was praise from Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar, among others. Another star, however, was shocked.
The organizers let their creativity run wild when planning the 2024 Tour de France route. The fourth stage already takes place in the Alps; instead of the Tour d’Honneur, there is a mountainous individual time trial on the last day with the finish in Nice. In between, the traditional hurdles called Tourmalet, Peyresourde and Co. await the riders – a brutally hard course that provokes different reactions.
“I’m really looking forward to it. It looks really tough, at least the last week,” said defending champion Jonas Vingegaard, welcoming the new route. The Dane said that the climbs in the high mountains in particular were harder than in recent years.
Pogacar: The Tour de France 2024 will be decided here
Tadej Pogacar is particularly looking forward to the first week, which he believes will be “tougher than in recent years”. The Slovenian is particularly looking forward to the last three stages, “because I think the Tour will be decided there,” he explained on Wednesday.
Bora team boss Rolf Aldag assesses the route in a very similar way. He also sees a particular challenge, especially in the first week. For him, the following applies: “It may be an old saying, but it certainly applies here: You can’t necessarily win the Tour that day, but you can lose it early.”
Cavendish “shocked” by new Tour de France route
Sprint star Mark Cavendish’s reaction to the new route was completely different. The Brit said: “I’m a bit shocked. This is a very, very hard Tour de France. Really very hard.”
The route was already brutal in 2023, but he is at a loss for words about the new route, said the oldie, for whom next year’s tour will be the last: “This is probably the most difficult course I have ever seen on a tour .”