LIVE – Tour de France 2024: Madouas and three other Frenchmen at the front, Cavendish and the sprinters in difficulty in the mountains

Yet an experienced climber, the Nice rider from the Arkéa-B&B Hotels team, stage winner of the Vuelta in 2022 (with AG2R-Citroen), gave up his first hectometres to his breakaway companions.

Two names immediately come to mind. First, that of Primoz Roglic, eternally cursed on the Tour (beaten in an unreal time by Pogacar in 2020, retired the following two years) and now freed from the Vingegaard shadow at Visma. But the weight of years can count (34 years old), even if the Slovenian reassured himself by winning the Critérium du Dauphiné by a thread ahead of Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike). Detached to Vingegaard, the American, successful in the ASO races this year (winner of Paris-Nice and 2nd in the Dauphiné) could also have a card to play in the event of a failure of his Danish leader. But the other outsider is one of the attractions of this new edition: Remco Evenepoel. Third man announced, the Belgian advances as a serious outsider, but without much certainty. One thing is certain, if the Pogacar-Vingegaard duo navigate at the altitudes they are at, it will be almost impossible to catch them.

Read alsoTour de France: favorites, French chances, record… the 2024 edition in ten questions

As Sandy Dujardin begins to lose his first few metres on the climb, the other escapees, led by the Madouas-Izaguirre duo, only have a three-minute lead, half the maximum of their lead!

New side classified in category 3, the Côte de Carniao (10.5 km at 4.6%) is the third of the seven difficulties listed throughout this first stage and its 3,600 meters of positive altitude difference.

In the fight for each summit finish, the Norwegian from Uno-X also raced to pass the intermediate sprint of a gut ahead of Sandy Dujardin (TotalEnergies). And for good reason, bonuses are at stake: 1500 euros for him, 1000 for the French rider.

Alone in the world on the Giro d’Italia, Tadej Pogacar is tackling his 5th Tour de France as the huge favourite. But the Slovenian will no longer be able to play for the white jersey. The best young rider in the Dauphiné, Matteo Jorgenson is one of the favourites for the white jersey. On the flat, the green jersey will be a Belgian affair between the experience of Wout van Aert and Jasper Philipsen, without forgetting the youthful enthusiasm of the recent Belgian champion Arnaud de Lie. And in the absence of the sprinters, Romain Bardet, in form on the Giro, will be able to show his mettle on the climbs to secure a second polka dot jersey, for his last on the Tour.

Read alsoTour de France: Pogacar, Philipsen, Barguil… The favorites of the different distinctive jerseys

Great battle between the Spaniard from Cofidis and Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X) on the line, a little ahead of Valentin Madouas. Izaguirre takes an option on the polka dot jersey!

The Briton and his partners were unable to make up the gap on the peloton, which was 4 minutes behind before the second climb of the day.

70 km cleared for the peloton, which now begins the second difficulty of the day, the Côte des Forche, 2.5 km long at 6.2% average. A little more difficult, but significantly shorter than the first, therefore.

Chris Froome holding a grudge? Not selected by his Israel-Premier Tech team, the four-time winner of the Tour skips the first stage to attend a rugby 7s tournament in Monaco, where he lives. Alongside him, British roller Luke Rowe, also not called up for the Tour by Ineos Grenadiers.

The TotalEnergies rider, dropped at the start of the climb by his breakaway companions, is about to be swallowed up by the peloton on the descent.

Well helped by his close guard, the Missile de Man finished three minutes behind the peloton. Time for the descent for the Astana!

The first difficulty of the day is already doing a lot of harm to the sprinters at the back of the peloton, starting with Cavendish, surrounded by four teammates more than two minutes from everyone. Fabio Jakobsen (dsm-Firmenich) and Fernando Gaviria (Movista) also experience great difficulty in the ascent.

The Spaniard from Cofidis was the fastest at the top of the Col de Valico tre Faggi. 5 points from the mountain for the winner of the 12th stage last year in Beaujolais, who arrived on a bike ahead of Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) and Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X).

The feat seems within the reach of the “Cav”, winner of at least one stage on a Grand Tour since 2021. But the “Missile de Man” will have to create the feat against a very tough field of sprinters while he has only won two sprints this season. Having retired last year, he wants to end his story with the Tour in the most beautiful way.

Read alsoTour de France: favorites, French chances, record… the 2024 edition in ten questions

The “Manx Missile” is in great difficulty halfway through this first ascent. The 39-year-old British sprinter is awaited by his teammates, including his luxury pilot fish Michael Morkov. Remember that the Astana sprinter dreams of a 35th victory on the Tour, to surpass the historic record of “Cannibal” Eddy Merckx.

Read alsoTour de France: Marc Cavendish aims for stage record with Astana

Now almost five minutes ahead for the escapees… without Matteo Vercher, slightly dropped on the climb, 45” behind.

Read alsoThe route of the 2024 Tour de France

Read alsoThe profile of the stages of the Tour de France 2024

3’11 margin for the seven escapees in front, and a little less than 30 seconds on the intercalated, the Norwegian Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X) and the South African Ryan Gibbons.

First ascent on the menu with the Col de Valico Tre Faggi, 12.5 km long at 5.1% average. The seven fugitives started it with a little less than three minutes to spare.

Read alsoTour de France: profile, timetable, prediction and places to see for the first stage

Nothing alarming, then, for the Danish champion. Let us recall that he is advancing masked in this month of July, following an express comeback after his serious fall at the Tour of the Basque Country. Advantage Pogacar at the start, then. See you at the finish…

Read alsoTour de France: why Tadej Pogacar leaves with a slight advantage over his competitor Jonas Vingegaard

A small mechanical problem for the double defending champion, who is quietly making his return to the cars.

The two Uno-X riders failed to close the gap with the breakaways. Here they are taken back by the peloton!

Rasmus Tiller and Christian Christian Eking went on a “potato hunt” for the Norwegian team.

The Belgian Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin-Deceuninck), a time in between, did not manage to close the gap with the escapees, posted a little less than a kilometer in front of the peloton.

Four French people, including Clément Champoussin from Nice (Arkea-B&B Hotels) alongside Romain Bardet (dsm-Firmenich), as well as Sandy Dujardin and his teammate Matteo Vercher (TotalEnergies). With them, we find the Slovenian Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious) and the Spaniard from Cofidis Ion Izaguirre, winner of the 12th stage last year.

No general ambition, just the pleasure in the shoulder strap for the Auvergnat, who will leave the Tour de France route on July 21. So he takes advantage, relaunching the tempo at the front of the peloton.

Still no breakaway built after about ten kilometers. One thing is sure, it’s going to be nervous this Saturday. Like a real classic!

Read alsoTour de France: profile, schedule, forecast and places to see in the first stage

A complicated start for Jan Hirt. Having fallen before the start, because of a spectator bag (according to his sports director Patrick Lefévère), the Czech veteran of the Soudal-Quick Step is in difficulty at the back of the peloton, after only 10 km. He would have three broken teeth according to Lefévère.

Madouas is going there again, in the wheel of the German of Cofidis Simon Geschke. Also note the presence of… Romain Bardet, who will start his last Tour de France this Saturday.

Read alsoRomain Bardet and the Tour de France: a love story in seven acts

Having lost his French champion’s jersey last Sunday, the Breton from Groupama-FDJ was the first to leave the pack, without going very far.

Christian Prudhomme lowers his flag for the first time this summer. Let’s go for the 111th edition of the Grande Boucle!

The bodies are preparing to suffer during this first stage. More than 35 degrees felt on the Tour route!

26th Grand Départ from abroad… and the first from Italy. An incongruity made up for this year by the organization of the Tour for a real cycling country, which has produced seven winners and a dozen victories between 1924 and 2014. Note however that there are only eight Italian riders at the start this year, starting with the Italian champion Alberto Bettiol (EF Easy Post), who could have a shot at playing this Saturday…

Read alsoTour de France: the 111th edition in the land of Italian legends

A big appetizer in perspective, with 205 kilometers to cover from Florence to Rimini. Several difficulties listed this Saturday, with the highlight being the San Marino Coast, where the punchers could well make the difference to go and win the first yellow jersey…

Read alsoTour de France: profile, timetable, prediction and places to see for the first stage

After crossing the famous Ponte Vecchio, the runners still have 12 km to cover in the streets of the Tuscan city before the big start.

After a short crossing through the streets of Florence, the platoons stopped on Piazza della Signoria, in front of the Palazzio Vecchio, to observe the anthems in the presence of Christian Prudhomme, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and Sara Funaro, the mayor of Florence. First of all The Marseillaise avant Brothers of Italy !

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