The 2024 Tour de France will end unusually with a time trial in Nice. Before that, there is, among other things, a gravel stage and four mountain finishes.
The 2024 tour begins on June 29 in Florence, Italy and ends on July 21 – just five days before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. That’s why the tour will not end in the capital as usual, but in Nice. Perhaps the decision about overall victory will only be made there.
“It’s going to be epic,” said defending champion Jonas Vingegaard at the presentation of the route on Wednesday (October 25th, 2023) in the chic Palais de Congrès in Paris. In the 111th edition of the world’s most traditional tour, cyclists will cover 3,492 kilometers and 52,230 meters in altitude over 21 stages.
memories of steeped in history 1989 final
The Tour of France last ended with an individual time trial in 1989, when the American Greg LeMond the French Laurent Fignon pushed out of first place on a historic day.
In 2024, in addition to the 34-kilometer time trial on the final stage from Monaco to Nice, there will be another 25-kilometer time trial. Eight stages lead through the flatlands, four through the low mountain ranges and seven into the mountains. Four stages end with mountain finishes: Saint Lary Soulan (14th stage), Plateau de Beille (15th), Superdevoluy (17.) and Col de la Couillole (20th).
Three stages in Italy
The start is also steeped in history: it starts for the first time “Le Tour” in Italy. The first stage is 206 kilometers long and leads from Florence to Rimini. 3,600 meters of altitude have to be conquered – more than ever before at the start. Two more stages follow in Italy: the 200 kilometer long section from Cesenatico to Bologna is hilly, the 229 kilometers from Paisance to Turin are flat.
On the ninth stage with start and finish in Troyes 14 gravel sectors will provide a special challenge. The field has to drive a total of 32 kilometers over gravel and gravel; the stage is 199 kilometers long.
Ralph Denk: “A balanced tour”
“At first glance it is a balanced Tour de France,” said Ralph Denk, Bora-hansgrohe team boss. “It’s exciting for the fans that the overall favorites have to show themselves in the first week and that the decision about yellow will probably only be made in the final time trial. The two time trials and many meters in altitude suit our plans.”
It is well known that he is not a fan of pavement and gravel sectors on long tours. “In my opinion, that’s what the classics are for. We’re now analyzing the route in detail, comparing it with the Giro and making our plans,” said Denk.
Tour de France Femmes ends in Alpe d’Huez
The women’s tour, the Tour de France Femmes, will not start on the last day of the men’s race as it did last time because of the Summer Games in Paris. The Grand Départ will only take place in Rotterdam on August 12th and will be the first time abroad. The decision about the overall victory will be made on the final stage on August 18th, a demanding day in the Alps with almost 4000 meters of altitude from Le Grand-Bornand to Alpe d’Huez.