First stage with arrival in Rimini for the classic French race. Also competing for the yellow jersey will be the special observers Jonas Vingegaard and Tadei Pogacar
The Tour de France kicks off… from Florence. There are four departures from Italy for the 111th edition of the Large Loop. The first, today at 12.40 from the Tuscan capital (but the kilometer zero is in Bagno a Ripoli), with arrival after 206 kilometers in Rimini. The grand finale, instead, is scheduled for July 21 between Monte Carlo and Nice.
Tadej Pogacar, who is the young Slovenian cyclist favored at the Giro d’Italia – guard
THE CHALLENGE OF TWO – Those under special observation are the Danish Jonas Vingegaard, 27 years old (winner of the Tour in 2022 and 2023), who is back on the bike after the bad accident he suffered in April during the Tour of the Basque Country, in which he broke his ribs and collarbone, and the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, who dominated the 2024 Giro d’Italia and is now aiming to triumph in France as he did in 2020 and 2021, but who has also just recovered from Covid.
“Being here at the Tour is already a victory,” explained the first on the eve of the departure. “I’ve never been in such good shape. In this Tour I’m chasing history,” said the second.
Jonas Vingegaard, the scary crash at the Tour of the Basque Country – guard
THE FIRST CLIMBS – The menu for the first day of the Tour includes difficulties right from the start: from Florence the route will climb towards Pontassieve and cross the Apennines, before crossing the finish line on the Riviera Romagnola.
The next stages in Italy will be: Sunday 30 June, Cesenatico – Bologna; Monday 1 July, Piacenza – Turin; Tuesday 2 July departure from Pinerolo (Turin) with the first arrival in France, in Valloire.
Alice Corti
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