Tour de France Tour de France 2024 route rumours and announcements

[Libertine Seguros]

Bartali veneration there, Pantani veneration in Rimini and a tribute Coppi in the Piemonte region, at least that's what I've heared.

A Pantani veneration moment was a given, it seems to be contractually obliged. We've seen a lot of Pantani tributes this last few years, but usually in the Giro obviously. I mean, I'd rather Les-Deux-Alpes after Galibier north as the Pantani veneration moment if they were going to have one, but nevertheless.

 

[Netserk]

A Pantani veneration moment was a given, it seems to be contractually obliged. We've seen a lot of Pantani tributes this last few years, but usually in the Giro obviously. I mean, I'd rather Les-Deux-Alpes after Galibier north as the Pantani veneration moment if they were going to have one, but nevertheless.

I see you have high hopes for stage 4.

 

[Red Rick]

So Rimini is pan flat?

Bologna probably San Luca? I don't remember the Tour ever starting with 2 pure sprints before?

 

[Mayomaniac]

A Pantani veneration moment was a given, it seems to be contractually obliged. We've seen a lot of Pantani tributes this last few years, but usually in the Giro obviously. I mean, I'd rather Les-Deux-Alpes after Galibier north as the Pantani veneration moment if they were going to have one, but nevertheless.

In before stage 4 (should start in Pinerolo) features an uphill finish in Les-Deux-Alpes after Lautaret...

 

[Devil's Elbow]

So Rimini is pan flat?

Bologna probably San Luca? I don't remember the Tour ever starting with 2 pure sprints before?

The 2018 Tour says hi.

 

[Red Rick]

The 2018 Tour says hi.

I had banned that from my memories. And that says something. I still dream of the 2010 World Cup every other night.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Marta Cavalli there at the presentation, at least the short video talked about all 7 Italian Tour winners.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Double San Luca before a downhill finish in the oldtown of Bologna on stage 2.
Stage 1 has a decent amount of hills/medium mountains to wear down the pure sprinters, the Torino finish on stage 3 is almost plain flat and for the sprinters, +220kms long

 

[Mayomaniac]

All the stage profiles, please ignore the French being French and having to use French names:

 

[DNP-Old]

Pantani rolling over in his grave being honoured with a stage like that.

 

[tobydawq]

Pantani rolling over in his grave being honoured with a stage like that.

Sure, sure.

But what an awesome couple of opening stages to the Tour, two years in a row. Of course that will not be appreciated here, but still.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Pantani rolling over in his grave being honoured with a stage like that.

It's pretty much more of a Nove Colli stage than a Pantani stage. I mean, if they did Carpegna before the San Marino climb I could see the Pantani tribute.

Oh well, at least it's not an opening stage for the pure sprinters, aka the bane of cycling and overall a nice first stage.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Can't think of any opening GT stages even remotely comparable to this one. It will probably just be a (heavily?) reduced bunch sprint, though - add a punchy climb in the foothills between San Marino and Rimini and this is a brilliant stage, now it looks similar to a Vosges stage into Mulhouse or Colmar which is not as enticing. Second stage is very nice although San Luca could have been a little closer to the finish line. Third stage is a bit of a shame considering what you can do (and has been done) in Torino but it makes sense considering they'll have to head in to the Alps the day after and the first two days aren't flat. Overall, an intriguing grand départ that could have been stellar with a few tweaks.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

As long as they start on a Saturday so stage 3 is the one on a weekday - which seems very likely as there's no need for the kind of transfer that causes the bonus rest day like they do in the Giro sometimes - I legitimately don't think we could ask for much more.

 

[Red Rick]

Sure, sure.

But what an awesome couple of opening stages to the Tour, two years in a row. Of course that will not be appreciated here, but still.

I was gonna appreciate but I'm not sure I am allowed to.

 

[tobydawq]

I was gonna appreciate but I'm not sure I am allowed to.

If you don't ban Logic for not opening a new thread when there was a ten-year-old alternative, I will not morally ban you for appreciating a (Tour) route.

 

[hayneplane]

Sure, sure.

But what an awesome couple of opening stages to the Tour, two years in a row. Of course that will not be appreciated here, but still.

Would have liked a San Luca stage finish but if the teams take the race on aggressively Stage 1 has the makings of an outstanding start to the Tour.

 

[tobydawq]

As long as they start on a Saturday so stage 3 is the one on a weekday - which seems very likely as there's no need for the kind of transfer that causes the bonus rest day like they do in the Giro sometimes - I legitimately don't think we could ask for much more.

This year was the only time in Tour history (at least within a reasonable time frame) the race started on a Friday. Before that, only the Giro and Vuelta have started on Fridays from time to time (more so the Giro than the Vuelta obviously).

 

[tobydawq]

Would have liked a San Luca stage finish but if the teams take the race on aggressively Stage 1 has the makings of an outstanding start to the Tour.

I think it's more interesting what they have done here than if stage 2 would end on San Luca.

 

[hayneplane]

I think it's more interesting what they have done here than if stage 2 would end on San Luca.

It does certainly open up a lot more tactical possibilities this way rather than just a Puncheurs punch up Flèche Wallone style.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Would have liked a San Luca stage finish but if the teams take the race on aggressively Stage 1 has the makings of an outstanding start to the Tour.

If stage 4 is some sort of MTF (which seems plausible), you don't need a 'guaranteed-gaps' stage like a San Luca HTF before that, so I think this approach is better here because it should allow for a longer finale.

 

[Red Rick]

All the stage profiles, please ignore the French being French and having to use French names:

For some reason I only remember Rimini being pan flat bunch sprints in the Giro, but this is pretty good. I don't expect GC action, and a pretty uncontested reduced sprint but it's still better than most.

Stage 2 is good, but as an early GT selection a finish on top would be fine as well.

Stage 3 is a stage. Of 225km. Can these guys still go 225km?

 

[QueenStagiaire]

They are just putting all the long stages into the Grand Départs so Gouvenou can still salivate over 140 km mountain stages. No worries, there will be plenty to complain about.

 

[tobydawq]

They are just putting all the long stages into the Grand Départs so Gouvenou can still salivate over 140 km mountain stages. No worries, there will be plenty to complain about.

 

[KZD]

I really like this Grand depart. Stage 1 would benefit from finishing earlier but it still offers the opportunity for more than a reduced bunch sprint and on stage 2 double San Luca ascent should already create small gaps among a few contenders. Hope that Evenepoel and Pogačar try to take advantage here before the Alps arrive.