2024 TDF Stage 1:- Florence - Rimini 206km ***Spoilers***

TDF Stage 1:- Florence - Rimini 206km

29th June

Start Time:- 11-00BST.

The opening stage of the 111th edition of the Tour de France on June 29th will deliver multiple firsts.

It’s rare for the Tour de France to start with more than 3,600 metres of climbing – in fact it’s never happened before! – and it’s also the first time that the race has started in Italy and the first time it's visited the home city of Gino Bartali.

Following a flat run-up of 30 kilometres the route starts to climb false flat to the first uphill test, Colle Tre Faggi, and ascent of 12.5 kilometres with an average gradient of 5.1%. from then on, it's climb follows climb, with the hardest part of the route with four climbs within 50 kilometres, occurring towards the stage finale.

Profile.

Map.

The Climbs:

Col de Valico Tre Faggi (Cat. 2)

Climb

Côte des Forche (Cat. 3)

Côte de Carnaio (Cat. 3)

Côte de Barbotto (Cat. 2)

Climb

Côte de San Leo (Cat. 2)

Climb

Côte de Montemaggio (Cat. 3)

Côte de Saint-Marino (Cat. 3)

Total climbing 3,600m.

Final Kms.

After Serravalle, the road flattens out and heads for the Adriatic coast at Rimini. Via Gabrielle Chiabrera takes the riders to the seaside. There's a left turn onto the seafront road, Lungomore Giuseppe di Vittorio.

The finish line is on Rimini's beach road near its junction with Via Roma.

What to Expect.

Well, one thing's for sure, it won't be the usual nondescript breakaway. Expect a right old dust up for the first 40kms, until the first climb begins to bite. The breakaway should be much stronger than usual and include riders with polka dots on their minds.

The finale could go several ways, but I am inclined to think that, given the current Tour champs form will be unknown and that the main protagonist loves to race, a GC battle on day one, will light up this finale.

Florence

Capital of Tuscany

No previous stage

Population: 382,500

FLORENCE AND CYCLING

Florence is first and foremost known to cycling fans as the home of one of the greatest riders ever produced by Italy, Gino Bartali, winner of two Tours de France (1938 and 1948), as well as three Giri d’Italia, and who, had it not been for the Second World War, would undoubtedly have amassed an even more impressive list of achievements. Righteous Among the Nations for his help to Jews during the war, Gino 'the Pious' is also remembered for his rivalry with Fausto Coppi.

Specialities: Tuscan bread, chianti, olives, olive oil, bistecca alla fiorentina, trippa alla fiorentina, crostini toscani, panzanella (bread salad), prosciutto, schiacciata alla fiorentina, zuccotto (ice-cream bomb).

Bistecca à la Fiorentina

The centrepiece of Florentine cuisine is the bistecca alla fiorentina, a T-bone steak, somewhere between a fillet and a ribeye, weighing between two and eight pounds. Red meat lovers will love the wood-fired bistecca alla fiorentina at Da Burde, a historic trattoria that serves bistecca alla fiorentina di Chianina, a local breed of cattle that produces very tender meat.

Rimini

Capital of the province of Rimini, in Emilia-Romagna.

No previous stage

Population: 150,075

RIMINI AND CYCLING

Rimini is the seaside resort where Marco Pantani (see next stage) died. The winner of the 1998 Tour de France, one of the most spectacular climbers in history, was found lifeless in a hotel room on 14 February 2004. Les Wampas, whose lead singer is a great cycling fan, named one of their songs Rimini in tribute to Pantani. Among the riders born in Rimini is Marco Magnani, who took part in the Giro and the Vuelta in the early 2000s.

Specialities: piadine, piada (bread), egg pasta, passatelli, strozzapreti (priest's stew, pasta), spit-roasted cockerel, mora romagnola (salami), ciambella (cake), piada dei morti (dried fruit brioche), fiocchetti (cheese-stuffed pasta), pagnotta (bread ball).

Piadina Romagnola

This griddled flatbread is typical enjoyed as a sandwich, often of prosciutto, creamy soft cheese, tomatoes and wild arugula. It was once merely a staple of the poor.