The 2024 Tour de France will start from Italy, and more particularly from Florence, for the first time in its history. It will also finish in a unique location, in Nice, due to the Olympic Games taking place in Paris.
The organization has thus designed a muscular route, passing through four massifs: the Apennines, the Alps (Italian and French), the Massif Central and the Pyrenees. More than 52,000 meters of elevation gain are on the program.
To win this Grande Boucle, you will have to be strong at the start and very strong at the end. Certain steps should be decisive… West France targeted them.
Stage 4: (already) a high altitude mountain stage
The organizers of the Tour de France have drawn up a demanding fourth stage between Pinerolo (Italy) and Valloire. Runners will have to climb Sestrières (39.9 km at 3.7%) and the Col du Galibier (23 km at 5.1%).
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While long passes don’t often make the biggest difference, these two offer irregular slopes and still peak at 2,035 and 2,642 m respectively. At this altitude, some people lose their footing…
Stage 11: the Massif Central often creates surprises
Halfway through the Grande Boucle, the organization has placed a stage that could do more damage than it seems. Following the start in Evaux-les-Bains, the runners will have 150 challenging kilometers. In the last 60 kilometers, they will have to climb four passes, including those of Néronne (3.8 km at 9.1%) and Puy Mary (5.4 km at 8.1%). 4,350 meters of positive altitude difference are on the program. Worthy of a big mountain stage…
In 2016, Greg Van Avermaet triumphed at Lioran, after a long breakaway, and wore the yellow jersey.
Step 14: The roller coaster on a reduced scale
The organizers of the Tour de France have put together a lovely weekend in the Pyrenees. If the July 14 stage seems to bring together all the ingredients for a great fireworks display, the three parts of the plain could calm the enthusiasm. The day before, on the contrary, after 70 kilometers of flat terrain, the peloton will have to climb three passes (Tourmalet, Hourquette d’Ancizan and Pla d’Adet) in 80 kilometers! An ideal playground to dynamite the event…
Tadej Pogacar loves the Pyrenees (victory at Laruns, Col du Portet and Luz Ardiden, Peyragudes, Cauterets-Cambasque). Will the Slovenian do it again?
Stage 19: from “ultra-mountain” to more than 2,000 meters
At the dawn of the last weekend, which will be demanding, the organization has planned a high-flying stage, with three passes (Vars, Cime de la Bonette and Isola 2000) culminating at more than 2,000 meters above sea level. The second named, whose summit is at 2,802 meters, is the roof of the Tour.
Jonas Vingegaard, who loves altitude, could well be one of the men to follow. “This step is the one that suits me best,” said the Dane, defending champion, during the press conference which unveiled the course.
Step 21: one last explosive effort
Accustomed to finishing “freewheeling” on the Champs-Élysées, the runners will have to make one last explosive effort: a 33.7 kilometer time trial between Monaco and Nice. With La Turbie (8.1 km at 5.6%) and the Col d’Èze to climb. No, you’re not dreaming…
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The last time the Tour de France ended with a time trial was between Versailles and Paris, in 1989. That day, Greg Lemond won and beat Laurent Fignon by 58 seconds. The American thus wore the yellow jersey for… Eight seconds!
