The wait is now about to end and the 2024 Tour de France will begin tomorrow. Everything is ready in Florence where the first historic departure from Italy for the Grande Boucle will take place. There will be three stages on Italian soil, for a start to the race that promises a truly great show and perhaps even some twists. The first two stages (Florence-Rimini and Cesenatico-Bologna) are truly explosive, while in the third (Piacenza-Turin) it will be the turn of the sprinters.
FIRST STAGE (June 29): Florence-Rimini (206 km)
It starts immediately with fireworks and a very interesting fraction with 3847 meters of altitude difference and seven GPM to tackle. In the first part the group will have to face the Colle Tre Faggi (12.5 km at 5.1%), Forche (2.5 km at 6.2%) and Carnaio (10.5 km at 4.6%). It continues with the ups and downs with the grand finale with the Barbotto (5.8 km at 7.6%) which precedes San Leo (4.6 km at 7.7%), Montemaggio (4.2 km at 6.6%) and San Marino (7.1 km at 4.8%), with the summit 26 kilometers from the finish line. A classification route where many can attempt an attack from afar or with a narrow sprint finish.
SECOND STAGE (30 June): Cesenatico-Bologna (200 km)
We start from Cesenatico to pay homage to Marco Pantani. Even the second day in Emilia Romagna will not be predictable at all and the group will have to be very careful. This time there are six GPMs: Colle del Monticino (2 km at 7.5%), Gallisterna (1.2 km at 12.8%), Botteghino di Zocca (1.9 km at 6.9%), Montecalvo ( 2.7 km at 7.7%) and above all the San Luca, to be tackled twice. The last climb to the famous Bolognese hill (1.9 km at 10.6% with a maximum gradient of 19%) will also be valid as a bonus and will have the summit 13 kilometers from the finish line. Whoever reaches the top can then take advantage of the descent and play for victory.
THIRD STAGE (July 1st): Piacenza-Turin (229 km)
Probably the quietest day of the three Italian days. The sprinters finally enter the race, with a completely third stage in which the first sprint of the Grande Boucle seems truly obvious. Three GPMs, the last, Sommariva Perno, with the top of the hill 40 kilometers from the finish line. Then it will be a long journey towards Turin for the sprinters’ teams.
