Tour De France 2024: Routes and Stages Explained
Hands down, one of the biggest and most keenly awaited cycling races in the whole world, the Tour de France, wheeled off on June 29. This unique race will create history this year as it’s set to end outside Paris for the first time ever because of the Olympics that Paris will be focusing on. Another first for this race is that it will start in Italy, Florence this year.
Compared to last year’s single time trial of 22km, the Tour de France 2024 route will feature two time trials, totalling 59km, to give more balance to the race. Another boon is that additional time bonuses of 8, 5 and 2 seconds will be awarded amid stages, apart from the typical 10, 6 and 4 seconds that are bestowed at the stage ends.
The riders will have to overcome a challenging hilly beginning, followed by rugged gravel stages, leading to the mighty Alps and a treacherous summit finish to end the race in Nice on July 21. The rider who accomplishes the 3497.3km distance and almost 52,320m of elevation, will be the crowned winner.
In order to understand all the hardships that the riders will go through and get a deeper insight into the race this year, it’s significant to know the Tour de France 2024 route. So, here’s an explicit breakdown of all the stages including the route details. Let’s hit the brakes on confusion about this race and get rolling in information, shall we?
Stage 1: Florence to Rimini
Date: 06/29/2024, Saturday
Type: Hilly
Distance: 206km
The Grand Départ or the start of the race was in the culturally rich Florence where 176 riders began the first stage from Piazzale Michelangelo. With a brief halt in Palazzo Vecchio, the riders headed through Tuscany onto the shorefront of Ramini, where the stage ended. Romain Bardet, of Team dsm-firmenich PostNL, emerged victorious in the first stage, clinching the Yellow Jersey.
Stage 2: Cesenatico to Bologna
Date: 06/30/2024, Sunday
Type: Hilly
Distance: 199.2km
175 riders wheeled off the second stage from Cesenatico. The small ascents in this stage and the gradients of the San Luca climb were the challenging bits that the riders overcame with a finish in the centre of Bologna. Kevin Vauquelin, from UCI WorldTeam Arkéa–B&B Hotels, was the winner of the second stage.
Stage 3: Plaisance to Turin
Date: 07/01/2024, Monday
Type: Flat
Distance: 230.8km
Although the third stage was the longest one in the whole race, the flat route was the first opportunity for sprinters at the end of the stage at Turin. Biniam Girmay, of UCI WorldTeam Intermarché–Wanty, achieved a historic victory as the first black African to win a stage at the Tour de France.
Stage 4: Pinerolo to Valloire
Date: 07/02/2024, Tuesday
Type: Mountain
Distance: 139.6km
The fourth stage started with 174 riders from Pinerolo that took them to France through a few category-2 climbs that were extremely challenging and a quick descent to Valloire. The iconic Tadej Pogacar, from the UAE Team Emirates, gave an impressive performance and grabbed victory for this stage, also claiming back the yellow jersey.
Stage 5: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Saint-Vulbas
Date: 07/03/2024, Wednesday
Type: Flat
Distance: 177.4km
174 riders set off for the fifth stage from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. After a 4.5 neutralised section, the riders had to conquer small hills which didn’t really break their strength as they headed to the finish in Saint-Vulbas. Mark Cavendish, from Astana Qazaqstan Team, broke Eddy Merckx’s record, earning his 35th victory in the Tour stage, stunning the crowd with a brilliant performance.
Stage 6: Mâcon to Dijon
Date: 07/04/2024, Thursday
Type: Flat
Distance: 163.5km
The sixth stage will roll off with a neutralised start with another opportunity for sprinters to end the stage in Dijon. The route for this day features a flatter affair with one category 4 climb for the riders to clinch stage victory.
Stage 7: Nuits-Saint-Georges to Gevrey-Chambertin
Date: 07/05/2024, Friday
Type: Individual Time Trial
Distance: 25.3km
The seventh stage features the first individual time trial for the riders which will lead them through a forest and Burgandy vineyards with a short climb of 1.6km. The stage will halt at Gevrey-Chambertin with a descent.
Stage 8: Semur-en-Auxois to Colombey-les-Deux-Églises
Date: 07/06/2024, Saturday
Type: Flat
Distance: 183.4km
During the eighth stage, five categorised climbs will be a really tough challenge for the riders to overcome in the first two-thirds. Added to that, the end also consists of a 3km steady rise where a bunch sprint or solo attack can be attempted by the riders towards the stage finish.
Stage 9: Troyes to Troyes
Date: 07/07/2024, Sunday
Type: Hilly
Distance: 199km
This stage of the Tour de France will hold up a new challenge for the riders with white roads. Another struggle will be the 14 gravel sectors that will cover a span of 32km. Riders will be propelled into dust and gravel before finishing the first week of the Tour.
Rest day on 07/08/2024, Monday in Orléans.
Stage 10: Orléans to Saint-Amand-Montrond
Date: 07/09/2024, Tuesday
Type: Flat
Distance: 187.3km
The weather will influence this particular stage as riders will be pitched into the Sologne forest followed by the crosswinds on the roads. The last 30km will consist of three directional changes and an 8km climb to the finish, where the peloton will have to quench any attack towards the end.
Stage 11: Évaux-les-Bains to Le Lioran
Date: 07/10/2024, Wednesday
Type: Mountain
Distance: 211km
4,350m of elevation has to be overcome by the tough legs of the riders during this stage. With a whopping six categorised climbs with the last 50km that will push all the riders to their limits, this is indeed a promising stage. The final 2km rise will be a tough opportunity for climbers to clinch victory for this stage.
Stage 12: Aurillac to Villeneuve-sur-Lot
Date: 07/11/2024, Thursday
Type: Flat
Distance: 203.6km
The flatter affair for this stage is just a facade for the hilly terrain that the riders must vanquish. An ideal setting for a breakaway can upset the bunch sprint at the finish, however, the sprinters will try to stop the breakaway. But during the past two similar stages, breakaway riders had emerged victorious. Global fans will be eagerly awaiting the finish of this stage.
Stage 13: Agen to Pau
Date: 07/12/2024, Friday
Type: Flat
Distance: 165.3km
The thirteenth stage in Pau is speckled with a hilly terrain towards the finish. Although this could be slightly difficult, sprinters will attempt a breakaway to make up for the past days and the trying climbs ahead. The Blachon and Simacourbe climbs toward the end will be the real hurdles to cope with.
Stage 14: Pau to Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet
Date: 07/13/2024, Saturday
Type: Mountain
Distance: 151.9km
A gruelling day awaits the riders during the fourteenth stage. They will have to surmount a whole tirade of climbs including the Col du Tourmalet and the Hourquette d’Ancizan with an exhaustive summit finish at Pla d’Adet.
Stage 15: Loudenvielle to Plateau de Beille
Date: 07/14/2024, Sunday
Type: Mountain
Distance: 197.7km
The second week of the Tour de France ends with the fifteenth stage featuring over 200km of racing with five climbs of category one or more, and an elevation of 4850m. The final drag to the Plateau de Beille might display a battle for the yellow jersey.
Rest day on 07/15/2024, Monday in Gruissan.
Stage 16: Gruissan to Nîmes
Date: 07/16/2024, Tuesday
Type: Flat
Distance: 188.6km
The sprinters will have to push their luck as the last chance to nail a stage awaits them on this day. The sixteenth stage can put the riders into a hurdle due to the mistral winds that might whip up a rage, dispersing the peloton.
Stage 17: Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux to SuperDévoluy
Date: 07/17/2024, Wednesday
Type: Mountain
Distance: 177.8km
As the riders enter the southern Alps, bonus seconds will be awarded at the category-one Col du Noyer (7.5km at 8.4%) summit. This stage can expect a large breakaway group that strives to overcome the tough climbs of the final 40km.
Stage 18: Gap to Barcelonnette
Date: 07/18/2024, Thursday
Type: Hilly
Distance: 179.5km
The eighteenth stage can be claimed by a breakaway as they will have to push their limits but might be able to conquer the stage. The day comprises five category-three climbs that seasoned sprinters might be able to conquer and emerge victorious.
Stage 19: Embrun to Isola 2000
Date: 07/19/2024, Friday
Type: Mountain
Distance: 144.6km
Even though the three gigantic Alps will thoroughly test the climbers, this stage will also generate excitement among them. The 150km racing span boasts the highest road in France with an elevation of 2802m.
Stage 20: Nice to Col de la Couillole
Date: 07/20/2024, Saturday
Type: Mountain
Distance: 132.8km
Another ruthlessly challenging mountain stage awaits the riders as the end of the Tour looms on the horizon. If the contest for the yellow jersey is still on, this stage will be quite difficult with a short distance of 132.8km. Four elevations with a separate summit finish will pitch the riders into a tough battle for victory.
Stage 21: Monaco to Nice
Date: 07/21/2024, Sunday
Type: Individual Time Trial
Distance: 33.7km
The race will conclude with an individual time trial for the riders which can have a great impact on the Tour result. Unlike the stage 7 time trial, the route for this stage has more hills which might influence time gaps. During the last time trial final, Greg Lemond snatched the yellow jersey from Laurent Fignon with a difference of just eight seconds on the Champs-Élysées!
People will be right on tenterhooks to see the champion of the Tour de France if this stage comes to a dramatic end.
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