The Renaissance of the Tour de France in the City of Classical Art and Culture

On Saturday, June 29, 2024, the Tour de France will kick off in Florence, Italy, with a challenging 206-kilometer ride from the capital of Tuscany to the seaside resort of Rimini. This marks the third consecutive year that Le Grand Départ does not take place in France itself, but it is unique nonetheless. For the first time in the history of the Tour, the starting signal will be given in Italy. In Florence - or Firenze, as the locals call it - the World Cycling Championships were held in 2013. Rui Costa won for the men, Marianne Vos and Ellen van Dijk (time trial) for the women. And in the juniors, a certain Mathieu van der Poel claimed victory.

The starting city of Florence is known worldwide beyond cycling for its art, culture, and architecture. Tourists come to the city to stroll across the Ponte Vecchio and bask in the Tuscan sun. The works of famous artists like Sandro Botticelli, Michelangelo Buonarroti, and Leonardo da Vinci complete the picture. And the latter has perhaps more to do with cycling than you might think.

You could actually call Leonardo da Vinci the father of cycling. In the notes of this Renaissance man, a sketch of a bicycle was discovered, even though it was believed that the invention of the bicycle only occurred in the nineteenth century. Experts, however, argue that Italian monks may have consciously or unconsciously added this sketch to Da Vinci's notes. It seems almost too good to be true, but Da Vinci as the father of cycling is indeed a beautiful thought.

Back to 2024, where the first stage will end in Rimini. This place on the Adriatic coast, known to the Romans as Ariminum, is a popular location to enjoy the sun, sea, and beach. For the riders, there will be no time for relaxation. Upon arrival in Rimini, they will have already tackled 3800 meters of elevation. For perspective, this is somewhere between the Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

The battle for the first yellow jersey will be fought in the Apennines. Between Florence and Rimini lies a stage with seven climbs. After the start at Piazzale Michelangelo in the historic center of Florence, four-time world champion and two-time Tour winner Gino Bartali is honored with a passage through his birthplace, Ponte a Ema. After a flat thirty kilometers, it’s time for the first climb: Col de Valico Tre Faggi (12.5 km at 5.1%). After fifty kilometers in the race, the riders reach the top.

A 25-kilometer descent leads to the Côte des Forche (2.5 km at 6.2%), which is soon followed by the Sella di Raggio, also known as Côte de Spinello (7.1 km at 6%). At the top, the riders are halfway through the stage. Another long descent brings the riders to the toughest part of the route, with four climbs within fifty kilometers. The Côte de Barbotto (5.8 km at 7.6%), Côte de San Leo (4.6 km at 7.7%), and Côte de Montemaggio (4.2 km at 6.6%) lead the riders towards San Marino.

The final climb of the day, the Côte de Saint-Marin (7.1 km at 4.8%), leads to the capital of the microstate. The top is 25 kilometers from the finish line. The first ten kilometers go downhill back to Italy, while the last fifteen kilometers are flat.