by Mick the Ram

One of sports top events got under way over the weekend when the 2024 edition of the Tour de France began, but not on French soil, but instead in the blistering heat of Italy.

The first of 21 stages began in Florence and took riders 206km east across the country, through Tuscany to a seaside finale in Rimini.

Romain Bardet, in what might be his final tour of his career, rolled back the years to record his most stunning win of his long career, on stage 1 of the race.

He attacked with 50km to go and survived a charging peloton to just hold on – with the assistance of his DSM-Firmenich PostNL teammate Frank van den Broek – and net him a first-ever stint in the yellow jersey.

The tour moves on to Stage 2 travelling 198.7km from Cesenatico to Bologna.

Startling stats for the gruelling challenge

The 2024 and 111th edition of the cycling world’s flagship event kicked off on 29 June, ahead of just over 3 weeks of intensive racing. The 2024 Tour de France route encompasses 3,492 km in distance and around 52,320 metres of overall elevation.

It will actually pass through four nations: San Marino and Monaco, in addition to Italy and France. There are 22 teams taking part, with 8 riders in each.

Break in tradition

The race features two individual time trials for a total of 59km, and four mountain-top finishes as they tackle the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Apennines and Massif Central.

They then have a final hilly time trial, travelling along the Côte d’Azur on 21 July, for a finish in Nice for the very first time in the history of the race.

This break in tradition from the usual conclusion on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, is because the Olympics are due to start in the city just a few days later.

Horrific earlier crash put some in doubt of participation

All the leading cyclists are competing, although that did not seem likely just a couple of months ago when three of the top riders were involved in a horrific crash resulting in two-times defending champion Jonas Vingegaard suffering a collapsed lung and a busted collarbone, which required him spending twelve days in hospital.

The other much-fancied cyclists injured were Slovenian Primož Roglič and Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel, who sustained a broken right clavicle and scapula, which necessitated surgery.

Leading riders all declared fit

Nevertheless, all three are fully recovered now and expected to be battling around the top of the placings towards the end of next month.

Another Slovenian Tadej Pogačar has excellent form coming into the tour and could be the one to beat after he made an brilliant start to the 2024 race, storming home in fourth spot on the first stage.

Team player praised

He was unable however, to catch Bardet who crossed the line just ahead of teammate Frank van den Broek, after the two of them put on a masterclass of team riding, completing a breathless finish with only a few metres to spare from Wout van Aert, who took third place.

Aterwards Bardet was elated with his victory and full of praise for his battling and unselfish teammate. “I had to back myself; I didn’t know the course particularly well, but Frank was really strong out in front and I felt that I had nothing to lose essentially,” the Frenchman said.

He also graciously accepted that Van den Broek deserved the win just as much as him.

Gaining the yellow jersey was always a career goal and he remarked: “When I reflect on this victory, I will look back and remember just how special it was.”

Sickness for record seeker

Somebody who did not have such an enjoyable day was Mark Cavendish, who is looking to win a 35th stage at some point in the race, which will pull him clear in the all-time standings.

Unfortunately for him he suffered badly with illness in the extreme Italian heat, actually being sick whilst riding, but to his credit he refused to give up and did make it home, albeit 39 minutes behind the leaders.

His first opportunity for his specialist sprinting will arrive at Stage 3 in a couple of days time, by when he will be hoping to be feeling much better, although the forecast is for the extreme temperatures to continue.