The Tour de France will start in Italy for the first time in 2024 and the opening three stages will be held there, race organisers said on Wednesday.
Italy gets the honour of hosting the Grand Depart 100 years after Ottavio Bottecchia became the first Italian to win cycling's most prestigious event.
The Tour will start on 29 June, with the opening stage from Florence to Rimini on the Adriatic coast. The second stage will be from Cesenatico to Bologna and the third will start in Piacenza and end in Turin.
?? Here are the first 3 stages of the #TDF2024 and its Grand Départ from Florence!
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) December 21, 2022
?? Voici les 3 premières étapes du #TDF2024 avec un Grand Départ depuis Florence ! pic.twitter.com/NAp6KFspmG
The final stage of the Tour, traditionally held on the Champs Elysees in Paris, will be moved to the southern city of Nice in 2024 when the French capital is hosting the Olympic Games.
The Tour is due to end on 21 July, five days before the start of the Olympics.
?? Bottecchia, Bartali, Coppi, Pantani, Nencini, Gimondi, Nibali…
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) December 21, 2022
???? Italy brought cycling so many champions... The #TDF2024 Grand Départ is also a tribute to them!
???? L'Italie a donné tant de champions au cyclisme... Le #TDF2024 sera l'occasion de leur rendre hommage. pic.twitter.com/g58PWIPBOi