The 2024 Tour de France marks the eagerly anticipated 111th edition of cycling’s most prestigious monument. Commencing its journey in the charming city of Florence, Italy on the 29th of June, the race will culminate in the picturesque destination of Nice, France on the 21st of July.
In a historic twist, the concluding leg will not take place in the traditional city of Paris. Instead, this deviation is a nod to the preparations underway for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This unique alteration adds an extra layer of intrigue to the event, making the 2024 Tour de France a must-watch for cycling enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
Whether you’re a new fan looking to learn the basics or a devoted cycling enthusiast, the 2024 Tour de France promises to be an unforgettable event showcasing the world’s most talented riders in a beautiful region of Europe.
Click here to download the full Tour de France 2024 Route Map PDF.
Tour de France 2024 Schedule Overview
Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 29th, when the Grand Départ rolls out from the sun-drenched streets of Florence, Italy.
The Grand Départ kicks off in the heart of Italy, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Ottavio Bottecchia’s iconic win in 1924.
The route will even touch the tiny Republic of San Marino, making it the 15th country to be graced by the Tour’s wheels.
Why Doesn’t The 2024 Tour de France Finish In Paris?
Paris is hosting the Summer Olympics in 2024, and logistical and security concerns make it difficult to hold both the Tour de France and the Olympics simultaneously. The city simply wouldn’t be able to handle the infrastructure and resource demands of both major events happening so close together.
While the Champs-Élysées is a traditional and iconic ending to the Tour, organisers saw this as a chance to experiment and offer a new experience for both riders and spectators.
Nice, with its sunny Riviera vibes and challenging climb up Côte de Peille, provides a different kind of dramatic finale, testing the riders’ skills in a time trial format.
Stage Overview
The 2024 men’s Tour embarks on an earlier start, commencing on 29 June.
The journey unfolds with the Grand Départ in Florence, featuring three stages in Italy. The race then traverses the Alps into France, navigating from Piedmont to the challenging climbs of Haute Savoie.
Exiting the Haute Savoie, the race travels through Dijon, Colombey-les-Deux-Églises, and 14 sections of gravel tracks leading to Troyes before the first rest day.
From Orleans, the peloton ventures into the Massif Central, facing a brutal stage in the Cantal to Le Lioran. Three stages follow, leading to the Pyrenees, featuring two high-altitude finishes at Pla d’Adet and Plateau de Beille.
After another rest day, the peloton charges into the southern French Alps for a grand finale. Three summit finishes and a closing individual time trial, from Monaco to Nice, along the corniche roads of the Côte d’Azur, conclude the race.
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 June | Florence to Rimini (Italy) | 206 km | Hilly stage |
| 2 | 30 June | Cesenatico to Bologna (Italy) | 200 km | Hilly stage |
| 3 | 1 July | Piacenza to Turin (Italy) | 229 km | Flat stage |
| 4 | 2 July | Pinerolo (Italy) to Valloire | 138 km | Mountain stage |
| 5 | 3 July | Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Saint-Vulbas | 177 km | Flat stage |
| 6 | 4 July | Mâcon to Dijon | 163 km | Flat stage |
| 7 | 5 July | Nuits-Saint-Georges to Gevrey-Chambertin | 25 km | ITT |
| 8 | 6 July | Semur-en-Auxois to Colombey-les-Deux-Églises | 176 km | Flat stage |
| 9 | 7 July | Troyes | 199 km | Hilly stage |
| 8 July | Orléans (Rest Day) | |||
| 10 | 9 July | Orléans to Saint-Amand-Montrond | 187 km | Flat stage |
| 11 | 10 July | Évaux-les-Bains to Le Lioran | 211 km | Mountain stage |
| 12 | 11 July | Aurillac to Villeneuve-sur-Lot | 204 km | Flat stage |
| 13 | 12 July | Agen to Pau | 171 km | Flat stage |
| 14 | 13 July | Pau to Saint-Lary-Soulan (Pla d’Adet) | 152 km | Mountain stage |
| 15 | 14 July | Loudenvielle to Plateau de Beille | 198 km | Mountain stage |
| 15 July | Gruissan (Rest Day) | |||
| 16 | 16 July | Gruissan to Nîmes | 187 km | Flat stage |
| 17 | 17 July | Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux to SuperDévoluy | 178 km | Mountain stage |
| 18 | 18 July | Gap to Barcelonnette | 179 km | Hilly stage |
| 19 | 19 July | Embrun to Isola 2000 | 145 km | Mountain stage |
| 20 | 20 July | Nice to Col de la Couillole | 133 km | Mountain stage |
| 21 | 21 July | Monaco to Nice | 34 km | ITT |
| Total | 3,492 km |
Viva Italia! The Tour’s Passionate History with Italy
Get ready to sip espresso and cheer “Forza!” because the 2024 Tour de France is starting in Italy for the first time ever.
It’s a homecoming of sorts for the Italians, who have woven their own legendary threads into the Tour’s rich tapestry. From the early triumphs of Ottavio Bottecchia in the roaring 20s to the breathtaking battles of Gino Bartali and Fausto Coppi in the post-war era, Italian cyclists have always been a force to be reckoned with on the world’s toughest race.
And let’s not forget the showmen! Mario Cipollini’s flamboyant sprint finishes and Claudio Chiappucci’s polka-dot jersey dominance are etched in Tour history. More recently, Fabio Aru’s victory on La Planche des Belles Filles in 2017 proved that the Italian spirit of daring and determination burns bright.
So, what can we expect from this historic Italian adventure? The first three stages are a beautiful – and challenging – appetiser. We’ll start with a stunning 205km roll from Florence to Rimini along the Adriatic coast, but get ready for some early fireworks with 3,700 meters of climbing! The next day, prepare for another punchy climb fest on the way to Bologna, where the sprinters will get their first chance to shine. And finally, stage 3 takes us to Turin, the capital of Piedmont, for a potentially explosive finish in the shadow of the Alps.
Italian Tour de France Victors
Italy boasts a rich history of Tour de France champions, with seven riders clinching victory:
- Ottavio Bottecchia (1924 and 1925)
- Gino Bartali (1938 and 1948)
- Fausto Coppi (1949 and 1952)
- Gastone Nencini (1960)
- Felice Gimondi (1965)
- Marco Pantani (1998)
- Vincenzo Nibali (2014)
These cycling legends have left an indelible mark on the Tour, contributing to its captivating narrative over the years.
Previous Tour Stages In Italy
1948:
- Marseille > San Remo (won by Gino Sciardis)
1949:
- Briançon > Aoste (won by Fausto Coppi)
- Saint-Vincent-d’Aoste > Lausanne (won by Vincenzo Rossello)
1952:
- Le Bourg-d’Oisans > Sestrières (won by Fausto Coppi)
- Sestrières > Monaco (won by Jan Nolten)
1956:
- Gap > Turin (won by Nino Defilippis)
- Turin > Grenoble (won by Charly Gaul)
1959:
- Lautaret > Saint-Vincent, Aosta (won by Ercole Baldini)
- Saint-Vincent, Aosta > Annecy (won by Rolf Graf)
1961:
- Grenoble > Turin (won by Guy Ignolin)
- Turin > Antibes-Juan-les-Pins (won by Guido Carlesi)
1966:
- Briançon > Turin (won by Franco Bitossi)
- Ivrea > Chamonix (won by Eddy Schutz)
1992:
- Saint-Gervais > Sestriere (won by Claudio Chiappucci)
- Sestriere > Alpe d’Huez (won by Andrew Hampsten)
1996:
- Le Monêtier-les-Bains > Sestriere (won by Bjarne Riis)
- Turin > Gap (won by Erik Zabel)
1999:
- Le Grand-Bornand > Sestriere (won by Lance Armstrong)
- Sestriere > Alpe d’Huez (won by Giuseppe Guerini)
2008:
- Embrun > Prato Nevoso (won by Simon Gerrans)
- Cuneo > Jausiers (won by Cyril Dessel)
2011:
- Gap > Pinerolo (won by Edvald Boasson Hagen)
- Pinerolo > Col du Galibier (won by Andy Schleck)
The 2024 Tour de France In Numbers
The 2024 Tour de France promises a numbers bonanza!
1 – For the first time ever, the Grand Départ takes off from Italy, with Florence basking in the spotlight. Ciao, bella!
2 – Two individual time trials, totalling 59 kilometres, will test the riders’ mettle against the clock. The final Monaco-Nice stage? Hold on for a nail-biting finish reminiscent of the legendary Fignon-LeMond duel.
4 – Four majestic mountain ranges await: the Apennines, Alps (both Italian and French), Massif Central, and Pyrenees. Get ready for breathtaking landscapes and epic battles for the yellow jersey.
4 – Four countries: Italy, San Marino, Monaco, and France. This Tour is a true continental adventure, weaving through diverse cultures and scenery.
8 – Eight bonus seconds, five, then two, awarded at strategic points along the route, will keep the peloton on their toes (pending UCI approval). Bonus: they won’t affect the points classification, just the excitement level!
12 – Out of 39 stage towns, 12 are brand new on the Tour map. Keep an eye out for Florence, Rimini, Cesenatico, Bologna, Piacenza, Saint-Vulbas, Gevrey-Chambertin, Colombey-les-Deux-Églises, Évaux-les-Bains, Gruissan, Superdévoluy, and Col de la Couillole.
14 – Stage nine takes gravel grinding to a whole new level, with 32 kilometres of unpaved roads adding an extra layer of challenge and unpredictability.
21 – The magic number of stages: eight flat, four hilly, seven mountain (with summit finishes at Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet, Plateau de Beille, Isola 2000, Col de la Couillole), two time trials, and two rest days. Plenty of opportunities for drama and glory!
176 – 176 riders, divided into 22 teams of 8, will embark on this epic journey. Who will wear the coveted yellow jersey in Nice?
2802 – Meters of pure majesty: the summit of the Bonette pass, the “roof” of the 2024 Tour, where thin air and stunning views await.
52,230 – Meters of vertical gain: that’s the total elevation the riders will conquer throughout the Tour. Prepare for some seriously impressive climbing feats!
€2.3 million: The total prize money pool, with a hefty €500,000 reserved for the overall individual classification winner. Sweet victory indeed!
So, there you have it! The 2024 Tour de France is not just a race; it’s a symphony of stats, a dance of numbers, and a testament to human endurance. Get ready to cheer on the riders, marvel at the landscapes, and let the numbers tell their own exciting story.
This, cycling fans, is a Tour you won’t want to miss!