The Tour de France 2024 route was revealed in Paris on Wednesday morning – and it looks absolutely monstrous.
The race will enter the Alps as early as Stage 4 before returning in the final week, and will also take in the mountain ranges of the Apennines, the Pyrenees, and the Massif Central. With five summit finishes, the racing is likely to be intense throughout.
It’s a more balanced route overall than we saw at the 2023 Tour, with two individual time trials and up to eight stages that appear contestable for sprinters.
There are many unique features to the 2024 edition that make it stand out from the pack and have cycling fans smacking their lips.
We’ll be covering:
- Headline Features of the 2024 Tour de France Route
- Rider Reaction
- Tour de France 2024 Route: Stage-by-Stage
Headline Features of the 2024 Tour de France Route
Tour de France 2024 Length and Elevation
The 2024 Tour de France route covers 3,492 km (2,170 miles) across 21 stages, for an average distance of 166 km (103 miles) per stage.
The route also includes 52,320 meters (171,654 ft) of total elevation gain, meaning a brutal average of 2,491 meters (8,174 ft) gained per stage.
The “Queen Stage” on Bastille Day (Stage 15) tackles almost 5,000 meters (16,400 ft) of climbing including the Col de Peyresourde, Portet d’Aspet, and Col d’Agnes.
The highest point in the race will be the Bonette Pass. At 2,802 meters (9,193 ft), the pass is the highest paved road in France.
Tour de France 2024 Dates
The 2024 Tour de France will start on Saturday, 29 June, and conclude on Sunday, 21 July.
This period will include two rest days on the 8th and 15th of July.
Credit: Benjamin Werner, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Edited from the original.
Final Stage Time Trial
In a move likely to give cycling fans flashbacks to Greg LeMond’s jaw-dropping 1989 victory over Laurent Fignon, the traditional final-stage procession has been ditched in favor of a 34 km (21 mile) individual time trial from Monaco to Nice.
The Tour’s finish has been moved away from its traditional home on Paris’ Champs-Élysées due to the Olympics being hosted in the French capital. This is also the reason for the race being shifted a week earlier than usual in the calendar.
The First Italian Grand Départ
The Tour de France 2024 Grand Départ will be hosted in Florence, marking the first time the Tour de France has kicked off in Italy.
It’s an appropriate decision for the centenary of Ottavio Bottecchia‘s 1924 Tour de France victory, the first by an Italian.
Gravel Grinding Sectors
Stage 9 in France’s Champagne region features 32 km of gravel across 14 sectors, by far the most extensive use of gravel at the Tour de France to date.
It’s a perhaps unsurprising inclusion given the explosion in popularity of the gravel racing discipline in recent years, and will provide a unique challenge to the peloton.
Cycling tech geeks will also be watching closely to see what equipment choices teams and riders make in response to the rough terrain.
“It’s so hard. I’m in shock.”
Britain’s Mark Cavendish (Astana-Qazaqstan), who recently announced he had reversed his decision to retire in order to chase a record 35th Tour de France stage win at the 2024 edition, led the riders’ reactions.
“It’s perhaps the most difficult course I’ve ever seen for a Tour. I am actually in a bit of shock. It might be the hardest route I’ve ever seen at the Tour de France.”
Defending champion Jonas Vingegaard also shared his thoughts on the route at the presentation.
“I’m really excited about it. It looks super hard – at least, the third week looks super hard. The climbs, certainly the high-altitude ones, look harder [than in previous editions].”
Discussing the French capital’s absence from the 2024 route, race director Christian Prudhomme said, “It’s difficult to replace Paris, so what better scenery could we give than a dazzling Monaco to Nice time trial?”
Regarding the Stage 4 ascent into the French Alps, Prudhomme commented, “The Tour has never climbed so high, so early. The panoramas in the high Alps are just splendid.”
With Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar – who have won the past four editions between them – set to continue their rivalry, the prospect of Remco Evenepoel making his Tour de France debut to challenge their dominance has fans salivating.
Add a concerted challenge from Primož Roglič, fresh from his high-profile transfer to BORA-hansgrohe, into the mix, and it’s easy to see why anticipation is already beginning to simmer eight months before the Tour begins.
“Could this herald a duel playing out between two, three, or – let’s dream a little here – even four contenders?” Prudhomme weighed in.
Tour de France 2024 Route: Stage-by-Stage
Stage 1: Florence to Rimini (206 km)
Stage 1 from Florence to Rimini looks like a day for the puncheurs in the breakaway.
However, don’t be surprised to see the GC contenders scrapping get in on the action in a bid to land the yellow jersey early on, as Vingegaard and Pogačar did on a similar opening stage in 2023.
Stage 2: Cesenatico to Bologna (200 km)
While the sprinters might have a sniff around Stage 2, it looks a little too hilly to end in a bunch finish.
The day starts in Marco Pantani’s hometown of Cesenatico before passing through Emilia-Romagna. It largely follows the route of the Giro dell’Emilia, including the short but iconic climb of San Luca, which is lapped twice.
Stage 3: Piacenza to Turin (229 km)
Stage 3 is a day that the sprinters’ teams are likely to control.
The finish could present the first opportunity for Mark Cavendish to break that magical record of 34 Tour de France stage wins.
Stage 4: Pinerolo to Valloire (138 km)
The first major mountain day arrives much earlier than usual in the Tour de France 2024 route.
As the Tour crosses into French territory, Sestriere, the Col de Montgenèvre, and the Col du Galiber should provide some serious early GC action, before a rapid descent to Valloire.
Stage 5: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Saint-Vulbas Plaine de l’Ain (177 km)
Stage 5 should be one for the sprinters, but windy conditions could allow a breakaway to pick their pocket.
Stage 6: Mâcon to Dijon (163 km)
Another stage that looks like a clear opportunity for the sprinters.
Stage 7: Nuits-Saint-Georges to Gevrey-Chambertin (25 km ITT)
The 2024 Tour’s first time trial looks like a technical route.
That might give GC contenders such as Remco Evenepoel and Primož Roglič a chance at the stage win over purist time trial Watt-crunchers like Filippo Ganna – though the Italian will still be the favorite if he races the Tour.
Stage 8: Semur-en-Auxois to Colombey-les-Deux-Églises (176 km)
Stage 8 should be another opportunity for the sprinters.
No elevation profile is currently available for Stage 8.
Stage 9: Troyes to Troyes (199 km)
Stage 9 in France’s Champagne region features 32 km of gravel across 14 sectors, by far the most extensive use of gravel at the Tour de France to date.
Keep an eye out for how the tricky terrain affects teams’ equipment choices.
No elevation profile is currently available for Stage 9.
Rest Day – July 8 (Orléans)
Stage 10: Orléans to Saint-Amand-Montrond (187 km)
Stage 10 looks like another day for the sprinters.
No elevation profile is currently available for Stage 10.
Stage 11: Évaux-les-Bains to Le Lioran (211 km)
Stage 11 is deceptively tough, with over 4,500 m of elevation gain across 211 km.
None of the individual climbs appear severe enough to generate substantial time gaps at first glance, but such a long day in the saddle could easily take its toll.
Stage 12: Aurillac to Villeneuve-sur-Lot (204 km)
Stage 12 is likely to be a toss-up between the sprinters’ teams and the breakaway.
No elevation profile is currently available for Stage 12.
Stage 13: Agen to Pau (171 km)
Stage 13 also appears to be a day for the sprinters, with less to offer hope to a breakaway than on Stage 12.
No elevation profile is currently available for Stage 13.
Stage 14: Pau Saint-Lary-Soulan to Pla d’Adet (152 km)
Stage 14 sees the race enter the Pyrenees.
It’s likely to be a big day of GC action, with the iconic Col du Tourmalet, the Hourquette d’Ancizan, and a summit finish at Pla d’Adet packed into 152 km of racing.
Stage 15: Loudenvielle to Plateau de Beille (198 km)
Bastille Day (July 14th) is greeted with the 2024 Tour de France’s “Queen Stage”.
It’s a monster, with over 4,800 m of climbing taking in the Peyresourde, Col de Menté, Col de Portet d’Aspet, Col de la Core, and Col d’Agnès, before the summit finish Plateau de Beille.
If any stage in the 2024 Tour de France route looks a sure thing for decisive GC action, it’s this one.
Rest Day – July 15 (Gruissan)
Stage 16: Gruissan to Nîmes (187 km)
A classic transition stage that looks likely to favor the sprinters, although the breakaway might fancy their chances if the wind picks up.
No elevation profile is currently available for Stage 16.
Stage 17: Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux to Superdévoluy (178 km)
Stage 17 traverses the foothill of the Alps before a finish at the ski resort of Superdévoluy.
It doesn’t have the X-factor of some of the 2024 Tour’s mountain days, but there could be enough grinding away involved to catch the GC riders’ attention.
Stage 18: Gap to Barcelonnette (179 km)
Stage 18 appears as clear an opportunity for the breakaway as they’re likely to get.
Stage 19: Embrun to Isola 2000 (145 km)
Whatever has happened up until Stage 19, it is the final three days of racing that will undoubtedly serve up the decisive action in determining the Tour’s winner.
Stage 19 takes in the Col de Vars (2,120 m) and the Col de la Bonnette, the 2024 Tour’s highest point at 2,802 m.
A summit finish then awaits bruised and battered legs at Isola 2000.
Stage 20: Nice to Col de la Couillole (133 km)
Stage 20 is littered with climbs best associated with Paris-Nice.
The Col de Braus, Col de Turini, Col de La Colimiane, are all likely to be rated either Category 1 or Hors catégorie (HC), before a second consecutive summit finish – this time on the Col de la Couillole.
It’s a savage amount of elevation to pack into just 133 km.
Stage 21: Monaco to Nice (34 km ITT)
Stage 21 is the first final-day time trial at the Tour de France since Greg LeMond overhauled Laurent Fignon in 1989 in the most dramatic Tour of all time.
Need we say more?
We want to hear from you!
Which stages stand out to you as potential king-makers?
Which riders do you think the route favors?
Is there anything you’re particularly pleased with or disappointed about with the 2024 Tour de France route?
Let us know in the comments below!
