Saturday 29 June 2024 – 18:30
The Village, al Cascine Park, was opened at 9am today, Saturday 29 June; therefore, the non-competitive start at 12 in avenue of the Olms and the arrival in Signorina square shortly after, with the institutional departure. Finally, after the suggestive passage on Ponte Vecchio, the start official from Viola Park in Bagno a Ripoli.
Il Tour de Francefor the first time in its history, made its first stop in Italy, with Firenze at the heart of the 111th edition of the most important international cycling race.
An event that saw champions such as Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard, as well as the Tuscan Alberto Bettiol, parade on the streets of Florence and six other municipalities in the province, namely Bath in Ripoli, Pontassieve, In the sea, Rufina, Dicomano e Saint Godenzo. Before entering Emilia-Romagna, where the stage ended with the arrival in Rimini and the victory of Romain Bardetof DSM-FirmenichPostNL, who preceded teammate Frank Van den Broek.
“It’s time for history: this is the first and, perhaps, last time, Florence and Tuscany are at the center of the largest cycling event – said the president Eugenio Giani – our region, from the first road race in the history of Florence-Pistoia in 1870 to the great Bartali and Nencini, has written unforgettable pages of cycling. Today we add a new page: a dream come true“.
At the ribbon cutting, in front of the Loggia dei Lanzi, also the former mayor Dario Nardella and the prince Albert of Monaco.
“This is a beautiful day for Florence, for Bagno a Ripoli and for all of Tuscany, which has always been a land of cycling – commented the president of the regional council, Anthony Mazzeowho took part in the ceremony for the departure of the Tour with Giani and the mayor Sara Funaro – it is a real popular festival: Tuscany today it was tinged with the yellow of the most important stage race in world cycling. I’m thinking at this moment of our runners like Gino Bartali, Gastone Nenciniad Alfredo Martiniwho as technical commissioner was able to win six world championships on the road”.
