Mary AnneThe Tour de France is the world’s greatest cycling race. It’s the 111th race and this year is slightly different due to the 2024 Paris Olympics. Taking place from Saturday June 29, 2024, it starts in Florence making this race the first one to start in Italy. It’s entirely appropriate as 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the first Italian victory, won by Ottavio Bottecchia in 1924. The Tour de France 2024 then moves into France and ends on Sunday July 21 in Nice. It’s the first time (and may be the only time) when Paris will not be the finishing city.
The Tour de France attracts over 12 million spectators a year lining the roads. 3.5 million TV viewers in 190 countries tune in on a typical day’s coverage. I love watching it, as much for its high drama as for the glorious views of the French countryside both from the road and from helicopters and drones high above the race.
Founded in 1903 by Henri Desgrange, the editor of L’Auto newspaper, it’s the third biggest sporting event in the world after the Olympic Games and the FiFa World Cup.
The Tour de France 2024
The Tour de France is gruelling, exciting and dramatic. Discover the main stages, riders, facts, distances and some fun facts in this guide to the Tour de France 2024 – the 111th race.
The Tour de France 2024 Stages
The 2024 Tour de France is made up of 21 stages. It covers a total distance of 3,492 km (2,170 miles).
The first 3 days are in Italy then on Tuesday July 2 the Tour de France enters France in Valloire. The tour passes through 7 regions and 30 departments.
The tour goes through the Italian Apennines, the Italian and French Alps, Massif Central and Pyrenees.
The route includes eight flat stages for the sprinters, seven mountain stages (with 4 summit finishes at Saint-Lary-Soulan Pl d’Adet, Plateau de Beille, Isola 2000, Col de la Couillole), 4 hilly stages, 2 time trials and 2 rest days.
Out of a total of 39 towns, these are the ones appearing for the first time:
Italy
Florence, Rimini, Cesenatico, Bologna, Piacenza
France
Saint-Vulbas, Gevrey-Chambertin, Colombey-les-Deux-Églises, Évaux-les-Bains, Gruissan, Superdévoluy, Col de la Couillole.
The Tour de France 2024 Route
| Tour de France Stages | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stage | Date | Route | Distance | Stage Type |
| 1 | Jun 29 | Florence to Rimini | 206km/128miles | Hilly |
| 2 | Jun 30 | Cesenatico to Bologna | 200km/120miles | Hilly |
| 3 | Jul 1 | Placenza to Turin | 229km/142miles | Flat |
| 4 | July 2 | Pinerolo to Valloire | 138km/86 miles | Mountains |
| 5 | July 3 | Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Saint-Vulbas | 177km/110miles | Flat |
| 6 | Jul 4 | Macon to Dijon | 163km/101miles | Flat |
| 7 | Jul 5 | Nuits-Saint-Georges to Gevrey-Chambertin | 25km/16miles | Individual Time Trial |
| 8 | Jul 6 | Semur-en-Auxois to Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises | 176km/109miles | Flat |
| 9 | Jul 7 | Troyes to Troyes | 199km/124miles | Hilly |
| 0 | Jul 8 | Orleans Rest Day | N/A | N/A |
| 10 | Jul 9 | Orleans to Saint-Amand-Montrond | 187km/116miles | Flat |
| 11 | Jul 10 | Évaux-les-Bains to Le Lioran | 211km/131miles | Mountains |
| 12 | Jul 11 | Aurillac to Villeneuve-sur-Lot | 204km/127miles | Flat |
| 13 | Jul 12 | Agen to Pau | 171km/106miles | Flat |
| 14 | Jul 13 | Pau to Saint-Lary-Soulan (Pla d’Adet) | 152km/94miles | Mountains |
| 15 | Jul 14 | Loudenvielle to Plateau de Beille | 198 km/123miles | Mountains |
| 0 | Jul 15 | Gruissan Rest Day | N/A | N/A |
| 16 | Jul 16 | Gruisan to Nîmes | 187km/116miles | Flat |
| 17 | Jul 17 | Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux to SuperDevoluy | 117km/111miles | Mountains |
| 18 | Jul 18 | Gap to Barcelonnette | 179km/111miles | Hilly |
| 19 | Jul 19 | Embrun to Isola 2000 | 145km/90 miles | Mountains |
| 20 | Jul 20 | Nice to Col de la Couillole | 133km/83miles | Mountains |
| 21 | Jul 21 | Monaco to Nice | 34km/21miles | Individual Time Trial |
Teams for the Tour de France 2024
There are eight riders in each of the 22 teams. In total (and in theory as there are sometimes very last-minute drop-outs due to injury or illness), 176 riders will take part.
Tour de France 2024 Official Teams and Riders
The teams have been officially declared and here they are. The nationality of the team and the riders is in parentheses after every name. But last-minute changes might occur!
Teams confirmed on June 27, 2024:
Alpecin-Deceuninck (Belgium): Jasper Philipsen (BEL); Mathieu van der Poel (NED); Gianni Vermeersch (BEL); Silvan Dillier (SUI); Robbe Ghys (BEL); Søren Kragh Andersen (DEN); Axel Laurance (FRA); Jonas Tickaert (BEL)
Arkea B&B Hotels (France): Arnaud Démare (FRA); Kévin Vauquelin (FRA); Amaury Capiot (BEL); Clément Champoussin (FRA); Raúl García (SPA); Dan McLay (GBR); Luca Mozzato (UTA); Cristian Rodriguez (SPA)
Astana Qazaqstan (Kazakstan): Mark Cavendish (GBR); Michael Mørkøv (DEN); Davide Ballerini (ITA); Cees Bol (NED); Ide Schelling (NED); Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ); Michele Gazzoli (ITA); Harold Tejada (COL)
Bahrain Victorious (Bahrain): Fred Wright (GBR); Matej Mohoric (SLOVENIA); Pello Bilbao (SPA); Wout Poels (NED); Phil Bauhaus (GER); Santiago Buittrago (COL); Jack Haig (AUS); Nikias Arndt (GER)
Bora–Hansgrohe (Germany): Primoz Roglič (SLO); Jai Hindley (AUS); Danny van Poppel (NED); Alexsandr Blasov (RUS); Nico Denz (GER); Bob Jungels (LUX); Roger Adria (SPA); Jordi Meeus (BEL)
Cofidis Solutions Crédits (France): Guillaume Martin (FRA); Simon Geschke (GER); Axel Zingle (FRA); Bryan Coquard (FRA); Ion Izaguirre (SPA); Victor Lafay (FRA); Alexis Renard (FRA); Stefano Oldani (ITA)
Decathlon AG2R (France): Oliver Naesen (BEL); Felix Gall (AUT); Dorian Godon (FRA); Sam Bennett (IRE); Nans Peters (FRA); Nicolas Prodhomme (FRA); Paul Lapeira (FRA); Bruno Armirail (FRA)
DSM-Firmenich Post (Netherlands): Fabio Jakobsen (NED); Romain Bardet (FRA); Warren Barguil (FRA); Nils Eekhoff (NED); John Degenkolb (GER); Oscar Onley (GBR); Frank van den Broek (NED); Bram Welten (NED)
EF Education – Easypost (USA): Richard Carapaz (ECU); Neilson Powless (USA); Ben Healy (IRE); Alberto Bettiol (ITA); Marijn Van Den Berg (NED); Sean Quinn (USA); Stefan Bissegger (SUI); Rui Costa (POR)
Groupama–FDJ (France): David Gaudu (FRA); Stefan Kǘng (SUI); Valentin Madouas (FRA); Romain Gregoire (FRA) Kevin Geniets (LUX); Lenny Martinez (FRA); Quentin Pacher (FRA); Clément Russo (FRA)
Ineos Grenadiers (Great Britain): Thomas Pidcock (GBR); Geraint Thomas (GBR); Egan Bernal (COL); Michal Kwiatkowski (POL); Carlos Rodriquez (SPA); Laurens De Plus (BEL); Ben Turner (GBR); Jonathan Castroviejo (SPA)
Intermarché-Wanty (Belgium): Kobe Goossens (BEL); Louis Meintjes (RSA); Georg Zimmerman (GER); Biniam Girmay (ERITREA); Laurenz Rex (BEL); Hugo Page (FRA); Mike Teunissen (NED); Gerben Theussen (BEL)
Israel-PremierTech (Israel): Stephen Williams (GBR); Pascal Ackermann (GER); Derek Gee (CAN); Hugo Houle (CAN); Chris Neilands (LAT); Guillaume Boivin (CAN); Jakob Fuglsang (DEN); Jake Stewart (GBR)
Jayco Alula (Australia): Luke Durbridge (AUS); Dylan Groenewegen (NED); Chris Harper (AUS); Chris Juul-Jensen (AUS); Michael Matthews (AUS); Luka Mezgec (SLO); Simon Yates (GBR); Elmar Reindeers (NED)
Lidl-Trek (USA): Mads Pedersen (DEN); Giulio Ciccone (ITA); Julien Bernard (FRA); Tim Declercq (BEL); Ryan Gibbons (RSA); Toms Skujinš (LAT); Jasper Stuyven (BEL); Carlos Verona (SPA)
Lotto-Destny (Belgium): Arnaud De Lie (BEL); Victor Campenaerts (BEL); Maxim Van Gils (BEL); Brent Van Moer (BEL); Jarrad Drizners (BEL); Harm Vanhoucke (BEL): Sébastien Grignard (BEL); Cedric Beullens (BEL)
Movistar (Spain): Enric Mas (SPA); Oier Lazkano (SPA); Gregor Mühlberger (AUS); Nelson Oliveira (POR); Alex Aranburu (SPA); David Formolo (ITA); Fernando Gaviria (COL); Javier Romo (SPA)
Soudal Quickstep (Belgium): Remco Evenpoel (BEL); Mikel Landa (SPA); Ilan Van Wilder (BEL); Louis Verbaeke (BEL); Casper Pedersen (DEN); Gianni Moscon (ITA); Jan Kirt (CZE); Yves Lampaert (BEL)
TotalEnergies (FRA): Mathieu Burgaudeau (FRA); Steff Crass (BEL); Anthony Turgis (FRA); Jordan Jegat (FRA); Thomas Gachignard (FRA); Mattéo Vercher (FRA); Sandy Dujardin (FRA); Fabien Grellier (FRA)
UAE Team Emirates (UAE): Tadej Pogačar (SL); Juan Ayuso (SPA); João Almeida (POR); Marc Soler (SPA); Adam Yates (GBR); Pavel Kivakov (FRA); Tim Wellens (BEL); Nils Politt (GER)
UNO-X Mobility (Norway): Magnus Cort (DEN); Alexander Kristoff (NOR); Søren Wætrnskold (NOR); Tobias Halland Johannessen (NOR); Jonas Abrahamsen (NOR); Rasmus Fossum Tiller (NOR); Johannes Kulset (NOR); Odd Christian Eiking (NOR)
Visma Lease a Bike (Netherlands): Jonas Vingegaard (DEN); Wout van Aert (BEL); Tiesj Benoot (BEL); Christophe Laporte (FRA); Matteo Jorgenssen (USA); Jan Tratnik (SLO); Wilco Kelderman (NED); Bart Lemmen (NED)
British Cyclists
There are 11 British cyclists in the Tour de France 2024: Mark Cavendish (Astana QazaQstan); Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious); Thomas Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers); Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers); Ben Turner (Ineos Grenadiers); Simon Yates (Team Jayco–AlUla); Adam Yates (UAE Emirates); Stephen Williams (Israel Premier Tech); Oscar Onley (DSM-Firmenich Post); Dan McLay (Arkea B&B); Jake Stewart (Israel Premier Tech)
Australian Cyclists
There are six Australian cyclists in the Tour de France 2024: Jack Haig (Team Bahrain Victorious); Michael Matthews (Jacob Alula); Chris Harper (Jacob Alula); Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe); Luke Durbridge (Bora-Hansgrohe); Jarrad Drizners (Lotto-Dstny)
North American Cyclists
The Americans have three riders in the Tour de France 2024: Neilson Powless (EF Education-Easypost); Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike); Sean Quinn (EF Education Easypost)
The Canadians have three riders so far confirmed in the Tour de France 2024: Derek Gee, Hugo Houle and Guillaume Boivin (Israel-Premier Tech)
AND…26 French riders; 26 Belgian riders; 16 Dutch riders; 7 Danish riders; 7 Norwegian riders.
Winners and Losers in the Tour de France
Previous winners
2023 Jonas Vingegaard
2022 Jonas Vingegaard
2021 Tadej Pogačar
2020 Tadej Pogačar
2019 Egan Bernal
2018 Geraint Thomas
2017 Chris Froome
2016 Chris Froome
2015 Chris Froome
2014 Vincenzo Nibali
2013 Chris Froome
2012 Bradley Wiggins
2011 Cadel Evans
2010 Andy Schleck
Five riders have managed to win the Tour five times:
Jacques Anquetil (France) 1957, 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964
Eddy Merckx (Belgium) 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1974
Bernard Hinault (France) 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1985
Miguel Induráin (Spain) 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995
Chris Froome (GB) 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017
Three riders have won three times:
Philippe Thys (Belgium) 1913, 1914, 1920
Louison Bobet (France), 1953, 1054, 1955
Greg Lemond (USA) 1986, 1989, 1990
The record number of wins ever was seven by Lance Armstrong of the United States (1999-2005). But after being found guilty of doping by the USADA in 2012, he was stripped of all of these titles.
Other disqualifications after the winner has been caught out:
In 1904 the winner, Maurice Garin, was stripped of his title after it was discovered that he had caught a train for part of the event
In 2006 Floyd Landis of the United States was found to have raised testosterone levels
In 2010 Alberto Contador was stripped of the win after investigations into his drug use.
And what about…
How do riders in the Tour de France pee? This seems to be a popular question which makes sense. A cyclist can just stop to pee, if possible making sure they are fairly far to the front.
The usual convention is when the leader (rider in the yellow jersey) decides where a pee spot will be, preferably in a remote part of the race. The TV cameras do not film them and riders are not allowed to take advantage of this to improve their position. Sounds very fair to me!
What the jerseys mean and prize money
A total of around 2.3 million Euros will be awarded overall, including €500,000 to the overall winner of each individual classification.
The Yellow Jersey (maillot jaune) is the overall winner of the race up to that point, awarded after each stage.
The Green Jersey is for the best sprinter. Points are awarded at the finish of each stage, and for an intermediate sprint in all normal stages.
Here’s the official website for the Tour de France 2024
Cycling News has excellent up-to-date information on the Tour de France 2024 (and is good on cycling generally). Procycling news is another good source.
Here’s the Le Tour Facebook link
Instagram link
Twitter link
Major events in July 2024 in France
More geographic information about France
More about the regions of France
More about the departments of France
More about the mountains of France