Florence’s Piazza della Signoria smells like a holiday. The sun and the sculptures in the square make you want to sit on a terrace and enjoy a glass of wine or order the local specialty: a Florentine steak.. “It’s a beautiful city, isn’t it?”smiles Greg Van Avermaet as he strolls among the tourists. But for him, there is no question of strolling. The young retiree (39 years old) has mounted his bike with the aim of reconnoitering the first stage of the Tour de France, between Florence and Rimini. “It’s great for the riders to be able to start from Tuscany, a region that loves cycling.”
The Belgian knows what he is talking about. “In 2013 I took part in the World Cup here. Rui Costa won but I remember above all that it was raining and the roads were very slippery. Fortunately, that is not the case today.” This will not be the case on Saturday either: clear skies, blazing sun and oppressive heat (35 degrees) are expected for the Grand Départ of the Tour de France. Which will inevitably make the course even more demanding than it already is. With more than 3,600 meters of elevation gain, the inaugural stage of the 2024 Tour de France will be the most difficult in history. But fortunately for Greg, he has not sat idle since his retirement and he is in almost the same condition as when he was a runner, since he converted to gravel racing, where he has a string of top 10s. .
A coating that is not always impeccable: “A bit like in Wallonia”
Even if he is still in good shape, we still decided to spare him the 206 kilometers that the peloton will take this Saturday to Rimini. A minibus takes the former Olympic champion around a hundred kilometers from the finish. Time to analyze the first climb of the Tour, the Colle Tre Faggi (11 kilometers at 5.7%), from the car. “Wow, you can’t underestimate this first pass. If a team wants to start already, it’s going to be a tough day.” Especially since the coating doesn’t really make you dream. “Italy is a very beautiful country but in terms of roads, it’s a bit like Wallonia (smile). We put patches on but it is rare to see new sections of road that are perfectly new.”
Van Avermaet had barely finished his sentence when we saw workers in yellow vests busy pouring new asphalt on the slope. “It’s good that they’re getting to work, because it’s necessary. Holes in the road are quite rare on the Tour de France.”
At the top of the Côte de Spinello, the former yellow jersey wearer (three days in 2016, eight in 2019) is champing at the bit and finally gets on his bike. “I stayed in the car long enough.” A quick pump of pressure in the tires and off he goes. The Côte de Barbotto quickly rises up in front of him. A good 6 kilometers at an average gradient of 7.4%. Not enough to cause problems for our explorer of the day, who swallows them up without flinching. Even the central part, officially referenced at 18% gradient, does not pose a problem for him. “My GPS never told me that we exceeded 12%. And it’s really short, so for the runners, it won’t be a problem.”
A complicated sequence for the sprinters: “A little difficult for Philipsen and De Lie”
The headwind in the flatter parts doesn’t seem to bother GVA either, whose pedaling pace is impressive. The following passes (San Leo and Montemaggio) are also very exposed and the first signs of fatigue are almost felt. “I think I’ll get back in the car.”laughs the former AG2R Citroën rider, who still rides a BMC frame, as he did during his last professional year.
But giving up is obviously not the style of the house, especially since the last climb of the day, the coast of Saint-Martin (7 kilometers at 4.8%) is already arriving. From its summit, you can see the Adriatic Sea. A superb panorama which allows you to take a breather and provide an analysis. “I’m afraid it’s a bit difficult for men like Philipsen or De Lie to hang on heresays Van Avermaet. There are no really terrible climbs but the sequence makes them difficult. Especially when you have a big frame.”
And even more so if Tadej Pogacar already launches the big maneuvers. We know: the Slovenian is the only one of the favorites to have benefited from flawless preparation. While he won the Giro without pushing himself, Jonas Vingegaard, Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel all had to recover from falls. None of the three seems able to start the Tour at 100%. Enough to make Pogi want to put pressure on them directly? Not sure, according to the native of Lokeren.
“I don’t think he’ll show his cards right away, he notes. The middle of the stage is very difficult and if the finish had been placed closer to the last summit, we would have immediately seen a battle between the best. But after the climb in San Marino, there are still 25 kilometres of descent to the finish. I think everyone will want to save their strength for the rest and I am not sure that UAE Emirates will want to control the race.”
Tadej Pogacar already warns his opponents before the Tour de France: “I have the impression of having progressed further since the Giro”
His advice to Remco: “Control yourself, even if you feel good”
And Remco Evenepoel? How should he behave on the first stage of his career in the Tour de France? “Even if he feels good and even if it’s a bit unnatural, I advise him to control himself. He should especially take advantage of the fact that he’s starting the Tour as an outsider so as not to attract too much attention. Otherwise, he’ll already have a sign. If I were him, I wouldn’t show myself too much. This obviously doesn’t mean that he has to hang around at the back all day. After each climb, there will be a battle for positioning to get the descent off to a good start and we’ll have to be vigilant in those moments.”
Remco Evenepoel is as impatient as he is cautious before his first Tour de France: “I must not race it like a classic”
For the stage victory, Van Avermaet has another Belgian in the lead. “I’m happy that Wout van Aert is at the start of the Tour de France because this first stage is a great opportunity for him to take the yellow jersey. He can survive anything and will be one of the fastest riders at the finish . I hope they will realize this at Visma | Lease a Bike by not letting a breakaway fight for victory. But we will also have to be wary of a guy like Michael Matthews.
Wout van Aert, 5th in the Belgian championship, reassured before the Tour de France: “I am happy to be among the best again”
Rimini in homage to Pantani: “He deserves it despite his tragic history”
After the flat part which ends the day’s stage, the final straight to Rimini is the first finish of the 2024 Tour de France. But for the riders, there is obviously no question of going to party in one of the stations most popular seaside resorts in Italy. “In recent years, we haven’t drunk a lot of alcohol on the Tour”smiled Van Avermaet. “And it’s even less recommended on the first day.”
Rimini is also unfortunately the place where Marco Pantani died twenty years ago. Even more: the Rose, the hotel where the Pirate was found dead, is located about ten meters from the finish. “I was particularly crazy about Lance Armstrong but I also admired Pantaniadmet Golden Greg. He was a pure climber who raced aggressively to compensate for his shortcomings in the time trial. He was spectacular and it’s good that he is honored on the Tour despite his tragic history.”
On Sunday, the favorites will have to discover themselves.
This will be the case again this Sunday, as the second stage of the Grande Boucle will leave Cesenatico for Bologna. The profile: 199 kilometres, 1,900 metres of elevation gain and six listed climbs (five third category, one fourth category).” The slopes will be shorter and steeper and the favorites will have to discover themselves. There will already be a first selection overall. A large number of riders will be eliminated from the race for the yellow jersey and this will make the following days safer. 160 runners or 40 runners who dream of putting on the yellow jersey: that makes a clear difference in terms of nervousness”, finishes Van Avermaet. And after a good shower, he was finally able to enjoy Italian gastronomy. The dolce vita of the young retiree.
