profile, schedule, forecast and places to see of the first stage

Stage profile: Florence – Rimini (206 km)

Buongiorno l’Italia! For the first time since its creation in 1903, the Tour de France will start in Italy and more precisely in Florence.It’s an honor to leave one of the most cities in the world“, declared Christian Prudhomme. During this first rugged stage – 3,600m of elevation gain – the 176 riders in the peloton will have to cover no fewer than seven passes and hills listed for the mountain classification.

It is unusual to see a slope of 7.6% on average rising up in front of you on the first day of racing. However, this will be the case starting this Saturday with the short climb of the Côte de Barbotto (5.8 km) 70.4 km from the finish. While nothing should happen at the front, this category 2 difficulty should allow for a serious thinning out within the peloton, starting with the pure sprinters. For this to happen, they will have to be present at the foot of this climb.

The last climb of the day – the Côte de San Marino (7.1 km at 4.8%) classified in third category – is located 33.4 km from the finish and could allow the punchers to make the difference before the final arrival in Rimini. The possibility of a first fight between the general’s favorites cannot be ruled out.

The timetables for the 1st stage of the Tour

The fictitious start will be given at 12:00 p.m. and the real start at 12:40 p.m. with an expected arrival around 5:34 p.m., at an average speed of 42 km/h.

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How to watch the Tour de France on TV

France 2 from 11:50 a.m. then France 3 at 12:55 p.m. and return to France 2 at 3:00 p.m. and in full on Eurosport.

The editorial team’s prediction

What if the big hill of the day was called Wout van Aert? The rider from the Visma Lease a Bike team, although in the “worst form of his career” according to him, could well take advantage of this rugged course to don the first yellow jersey of this Tour. If he finishes in the sprint, he could use his speed qualities to get ahead of his competitors – who should not be numerous. A risky bet but far from impossible.

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Not to be missed on the course

Do we still need to introduce Florence and its Renaissance treasures (the Uffizi Gallery with the masterpieces of Botticelli and Michelangelo)? On Saturday, the peloton will parade at high speed over the reliefs of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, crossing transalpine villages. San Leo, at km 157, is also considered one of the most beautiful in Italy. Rimini, the finishing town, is the largest seaside resort in the country with its 15 km of beach. It is also the birthplace of Federico Fellini, the director of La dolce vita, and Hugo Pratt, the father of Corto Maltese, the adventurer. Enough to inspire a few adventurers in this first stage?

The specialty to get your teeth into

Bistecca alla fiorentina is a steak that is somewhere between a filet and a rib-eye. The centerpiece of Florentine cuisine. Red meat lovers will enjoy a Florentine steak cooked over a wood fire at Da Burde, a historic trattoria that serves Chianina Florentine steaka local breed of cattle that produces very tender meat. To accompany it, nothing better than a good Chianti, an Italian red wine.

Expression of the day: “To take a leap”

Used to designate a runner who comes back to another in front of him by taking advantage of the slipstream before dropping him.

Example : “You stay in its wake and wait until you make a quick leap to take off.”

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