The Slovenian of UAE Team Emirates is currently wearing white. The yellow is in the hands of Jonas Vingegaard, the Dane of Jumbo-Visma. The Belgian in that team, Wout van Aert, has the green firmly around his shoulders. Meanwhile, Simon Geschke, the German from Cofidis, still has the polka dot jersey in his possession.
Overview
The winner of this year’s Tour will have to be at home in all markets, as the organization has mapped out a very varied route. Below you will find an overview of what the riders can expect in the coming weeks.
View all the stages still to be completed below:
Stage 16: Carcassonne – Foix
- When: Tuesday 19 July, start at 12.30 pm, arrival around 5.10 pm
- Distance: 179 kilometers
- Type: transition stage
One of the nine mid-mountain rides that this Grande Boucle knows. A transition stage to the real Pyrenees cols, but with the Port de Lers (11.4km at 7%) and the Mur de Péguère (9.3km at 7.9%) there are two serious traps for the classification riders. Towards the finish it is up to the better descenders to dive the twenty kilometers towards Foix.
Stage 17: Saint-Gaudens – Peyragudes
- When: Wednesday 20 July, start at 1.15 pm and arrival around 5 pm
- Distance: 130 kilometers
- Type: mountain ride
Short but sweet. As in the Alps, fierce war can be waged in the Pyrenees for two days in a row. Before the riders arrive, the Tour crosses the Aspin, the annoying Hourquette d’Anzican and the Val Louron-Azet. The final climb is painful, with 8 kilometers at 7.8%. Anyone who is not in his day will be dropped from the standings. Tadej Pogacar explored the ride and his reaction at Peyragudes airport says it all.
Stage 18: Lourdes – Hautacam
- When: Thursday 21 July, start at 1.30 pm and arrival around 5.40 pm
- Distance: 143 kilometers
- Type: mountain ride
The very last fight in the mountains, but one that can count heavily. From the pilgrimage town of Lourdes, the last mountain stage goes over the Aubisque (16.4 kilometers at 7.1%) to the Col de Spandelles, which is brand new in the Tour: ten kilometers long and an average climb of eight percent. Thursday afternoon at Hautacam (13.5km at 7.8%) we basically know the mountain king and the potential final winner.
Stage 19: Castelnau-Magnoac – Cahors
- When: Friday 22 July, start at 1.05 pm and arrival around 5.30 pm
- Distance: 189 kilometers
- Type: flat
Strangely enough, the visit to the Lot after crossing the Gers and the Tarn-et-Garonne is also a nod to the opening scene of the Tour: after all, the nearby castle of Cayx belongs to the royal family from Denmark. We can be brief about the race: in Cahors we can expect a battle between the remaining sprinters after a stage without significant obstacles. Although the two fourth category slopes can cut off your legs just before the final, just after a grueling journey through the Pyrenees…
Stage 20: Lacapelle-Marival – Rocamadour
- When: Saturday 23 July, first start at 13:05 and last arrival around 17:50
- Distance: 40 kilometers
- Type: individual time trial
Finally, on the last Saturday, there is a time trial of forty kilometers in the hilly department of the Lot. That’s going to be a very long one survival of the fittest and the hour of truth. It is a difficult time trial, which is ten kilometers longer than last year. Continuous up and down, twisting and turning. Just like two years ago at Planche des Belles Filles, it can still happen here. In total, this Tour counts five kilometers less against the time than last year, but forty kilometers at the end of a difficult Tour is a killer long.
Stage 21: Paris La Défense Arena – Paris Champs Elysées
- When: Sunday 24 July, start at 4.30 pm and arrival around 7.30 pm
- Distance: 112 km
- Type: flat
In 2024 the Tour through the Olympic Games will not end in Paris, but this year we can enjoy the traditional closing: after a trip through the suburbs of the capital, where traditionally the overall winner already sips from a first glass of champagne, follows the legendary Champs Elysées the ‘World Championship for sprinters’. Or the first criterion, depending on how you look at it. The fact is that every sprinter has this evening stage to write in his name.