On the eve of the start of the 111th edition of the Grande Boucle in Florence, the sports editorial team of Le Figaro answers the various questions before the start.
Departure in Florence, arrival in Nice, the 2024 edition of the Tour de France is bound to be unique. With a 5-star field among the favorites, the 111th edition of the Grande Boucle raises expectations… as well as questions. Focus on ten of them before the Grand Départ from Florence, this Saturday June 29.
Will the Vingegaard-Pogacar duel keep all its promises?
We certainly hope so. Fierce, homeric at times, the duel between the two extraterrestrials of the global peloton should liven up the three weeks of the 111th edition. Two times, great battles in the mountains, where everyone can count on faithful traveling companions, Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard should compete hard to determine who of the two will win their third Tour first. The only unknown is the state of form of the outgoing double winner, victim of a serious fall in April, and who will resume competition this Saturday in Florence.
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Can an outsider prevail?
Two names immediately come to mind. That of Primoz Roglic first, eternally cursed on the Tour (beaten in an unreal time by Pogacar in 2020, abandoned the following two years) and now rid of the Vingegaard shadow at Visma. But the weight of years can count (34 years), even if the Slovenian reassured himself by winning the Critérium du Dauphiné by a whisker ahead of Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike). Seconded to Vingegaard, the American, successful in the ASO races this year (winner of Paris-Nice and 2nd in the Dauphiné) could also have a card to play in the event of failure of his Danish leader. But the other outsider is one of the attractions of this new edition: Remco Evenepoel. Third man announced, the Belgian comes forward as a serious outsider, but without much certainty. One thing is certain, if the Pogacar-Vingegaard duo sail at their altitudes, it will be almost impossible to pick them up.
Also read: Tour de France: Evenepoel, what ambition for the third man?
Which favorites for distinctive jerseys?
Alone in the world on the Giro d’Italia, Tadej Pogacar is tackling his 5th Tour de France as the huge favourite. But the Slovenian will no longer be able to play for the white jersey. The best young rider in the Dauphiné, Matteo Jorgenson is one of the favourites for the white jersey. On the flat, the green jersey will be a Belgian affair between the experience of Wout van Aert and Jasper Philipsen, without forgetting the youthful enthusiasm of the recent Belgian champion Arnaud de Lie. And in the absence of the sprinters, Romain Bardet, in form on the Giro, will be able to show his mettle on the climbs to secure a second polka dot jersey, for his last on the Tour.
Read alsoTour de France: Pogacar, Philipsen, Barguil… The favorites of the different distinctive jerseys
Which French people will play in the top 5?
The last Frenchman to have finished in the Top 5 of the Tour de France (2022), David Gaudu should not achieve this same performance. The leader of Groupama-FDJ will not play the general role according to the latest comments from his sports director, Marc Madiot. On paper, no tricolor will have the capacity to finish in the first five places overall during this 111th edition. Lucid.
Also read: Tour de France: Gaudu, Bardet, Coquard… the French to follow
Who has the biggest armada?
A real winning machine, the Visma-Lease a Bike is a (very) seized machine in 2024. The recent withdrawal of Sepp Kuss, Vingegaard’s elegant luxury lieutenant in the mountains – incidentally crowned in the 2023 Vuelta -, weakens the Dutch team a little, who will finally be able to count on Wout van Aert and Matteo Jorgenson as ambitious second knives. On the other side, UAE Emirates advances with an armada never seen before around Pogacar. Adam Yates, Joao Almeida, Juan Ayuso… all potential leaders, not to mention lieutenants Pavel Sivakov, Nils Pollitt and Tim Wellens… It remains to be seen whether or not a war of egos could disrupt the whole thing.
Read alsoTour de France: Décathlon-AG2R unstoppable, Groupama-FDJ in the unknown… the barometer of French teams before the Grand Départ
What profile for this 2024 edition?
This 111th edition will take a new route from the Grand Départ in Italy to pay tribute to the memory of the great transalpine champions with two hilly first stages. Then, the peloton will climb the Col du Galibier from the 4th stage. One of the 67 climbs of this Tour which will return to the Pyrenees in the third week. A month before the Paris Olympics, this Tour will be difficult for the sprinters who will have several opportunities to shine with nine flat stages. And to finish, the Tour will leave the Champs-Élysées, the place of arrival since 1975, to take the roads of Nice with a final 33 km time trial, the second of this edition, which could overturn a few surprises like Greg LeMond’s victory at the expense of Laurent Fignon in 1989.
Also read: Tour de France: endless climb, white paths and time trial in Nice… the five stages not to be missed
What is the queen stage?
Fireworks expected as usual… on July 14, between Loudenvielle and the Plateau de Bielle (stage 15). On the program, four first category passes will stand before the riders, including the legendary climb of Portet d’Aspet, for its 35th appearance on the Tour. The peloton will walk along its steepest side. 4.3 km at 9.6% average. A giant among giants. They will finally tackle the ascent of the Beille plateau (15.7 km at 7.8% average, and peaks at more than 12%). Victory will be fought at the summit on this national holiday.
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Will the Tour already be played in Nice?
For the beauty of the Tour, it would be tempting to answer in the negative, but the reality will be quite different. The final time trial between Monaco and Nice (33.7 km) should have no impact on the winner of the 111th edition. Given the demands of the course, the difference will probably be made (well) before the arrival scheduled for July 21. Nevertheless, there could be changes for the places of honor and perhaps even at the gates of the Top 10.
Also read: Tour de France: Pogacar reveals he “had Covid” ten days ago but says he has “recovered”
Can Cavendish go for Merckx’s record?
At 39, the British sprinter has one last chance to beat Eddy Merckx’s record by raising his arms for the 35th time on the roads of the Tour. A feat within the reach of the “Cav”, winner of at least one stage on a Grand Tour since 2021. But the “Missile of Man” will have to create the feat against a very strong field of sprinters while he has only won two sprints this season. Having left on a retirement last year, he wants to end his story with the Tour in the best possible way.
Read alsoTour de France: Marc Cavendish aims for stage record with Astana
What progress has been made for runners’ safety?
Although safety has become one of the major issues with the accumulation of serious falls, there will be nothing new on the Tour… despite the introduction of new measures taken by the UCI in May last (yellow card, restriction on wearing a headset, etc.). These will come into force in January 2025. Before then, the peloton and the marshals will observe a testing period running from August 1 to December 31. The objective is to make adjustments to minimize risks.
