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Key events
188 km left: We finally have a breakout. Sandy Dujardin, Matteo Vercher (TotalEnergies), Frank Van Den Broek (DSM-Firmenich PostNL), Clement Champoussen (Arkea-B&B), Ion Izaguirre (Cofidis), Valentin Maduas (Groupama-FDJ) and Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious). Uno-X Mobility have missed this and are desperately chasing but so far to little avail.
192 km left: We have another group trying to get away, Warren Bargill and Simon Geschke were busy in the early stages but they are certainly too talented to be allowed in the breakaway.
194 km left: There is still no break and David Miller reckons that won’t happen now until we reach the first climb at around 176km when the peloton climbs the Col de Valico tre Faggi.
201km to go: A large group has formed at the front but looks too big to let go.
205 km left: And we are leaving, the flag fell and Tour de France 2024 is running correctly.
Please email me your predictions. For what it’s worth, I’m backing Tom Pidcock to spring a surprise today. A good week of mountain biking follows, an impactful stage with several second-category climbs.
Close to kilometer zero now, who will want to break early doors?
The Tour de France but Italy did. Florence, setting off from Piazza della Signoria, riders rolling across Le Ponte Vecchio, they’ve done the whole Italian thing about it. Competitors are still deploying and have about 8km to go before the flag drops.
Here’s a look at today’s stage, Saturday 29 June: Florence to Rimini, 206km, with William Fotheringham review.
First the Grand Départ in Italy, ironically when cycling talent in this traditional heartland is vanishingly scarce. There will be almost no Italians on the start list and zero prospect of a repeat of Italy’s last overall win, Vincenzo Nibali’s in 2014. The dramatically tough opening stage suits the strong talent of Giulio Ciccone; however, with three second category climbs, who would bet against Thaddeus Pogacar trying to gain an early advantage?
📈 7 ascents on program aujourd’hui, pour 3 600m de D+ 🥵
🧮 The maximum of 23 points is preventive work. Qui voyez-vous endorse le maillot à pois ce soir? ⚪️🔴#TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/R1mYsUzf2G
— Maillot à Pois E. Leclerc (@maillotapois) June 29, 2024
Preamble
We’ll be in Florence soon and we’ve been loading up on previews all week.
Where else to start but Cav?
This weekend we will see a true great remembered for all his flaws.
The contenders to be in the yellow jersey in Paris.
Here’s your guide to each team.
And, of course, stage by stage.
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