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Tour de France to commence in Florence

Posted 24 November, 2023 By Dijana

Featuring three Italian stages, totalling over 600 kilometres, the Grand Dèpart Tour de France is set for 29 June 2024, beginning in Italy. The 111th edition of the Tour leaves from Piazzale Michelangelo in the heart of Florence, onto Turin, through Emilia-Romagna and Via Emilia, and passes through Piedmont before arriving in France.

What makes this Grand Dèpart from Florence so important?

Italian fans of the two-wheel sport will have the opportunity to celebrate and pay tribute to great champions of the past, like Gino Bartali, Marco Pantani, and Fausto Coppi, as well as the first Italian to grace the Tour de France podium, the Grand Master of Italian Cycling, Ottavio Bottecchia, exactly one hundred years after his Tour victory.

Ottavio Bottecchia
Ottavio Bottecchia: Tour de France 1923

Starting in Italy for the first time ever, the Tour will take to the roads of the Italian Peninsula in three stages amongst mountains, vast landscapes and routes embraced by history, art and Italian culture.

Highlights of the three Stages of the Italian leg of the Tour de France?

Stage 1: Florence to Rimini (206kms). Starting in the City of Art, Florence, overlooking the Florentine skyscape from Piazzale Michelangelo, the cyclists say goodbye to the birthplace of the Renaissance, with the route proceeding along the scenic roads of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, then through to the beaches of the Adriatic.

Piazzale Michelangelo, Florence

Stage 2: Cesenatico to Bologna (200kms): This leg farewells the coastline, featuring several beautiful flat stretches before tackling challenging up hills, and a standout cycling along the magnificent Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca in Bologna, a long and winding portico featuring 666 arches.

Stage 3: Plaisance to Turin (229kms): The sprinters will thrive in this stage, the final sprint in the last Italian stage. Ending in Piedmont, this leg features peaks and plains, UNESCO heritage sites, and lakes, along the land of food, wine and truffles.

Want to experience the destinations of the Italian Stages of the Tour de France?

Vita Italian Tours can personally guide you through some of these beautiful destinations in 2024 on the Grand Tour of Italy and Flavours of Bologna & Tuscany small group tours.

If independent travel is more your style let us devise a tailor-made travel itinerary for you to explore these cities and follow in the footsteps of the Tour.

Contact us today to start planning your visit.

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