The first stage of the Tour de France cycling race began Saturday in Florence, in neighboring Italy, and was due to end in Rimini after riders had covered 206 kilometers between the two cities.
The danish Jonas Vingegaard won the legendary race last year for the second time in a row, but this year all eyes are on his main rival, the Polish Tadej Pogačarwinner in 2020 and 2021. The duel between the two can become the highlight of this year’s race.
When the two met in the heat of July last year, the main unknown was whether Pogacar would be fit enough to mount a decent challenge.
This year, as the two cyclists prepare to write the next chapter of one of the greatest rivalities of the history of the Tour de Francethe scenario has changed.
Pogacarthe two-time Slovenian champion who finished behind Vingegaard the last two years, is in top shape before departure on Saturday in the Italian city of Florence. Is he state of form of the Danish champion which worries his team after the fall which wreaked havoc on their season.
“Of course, we still don’t know how far it can go,” said Merijn Zeeman, sporting director of the team. Vingegaard. “We are being cautious because he has not been able to run and his preparation has not been idealto say the least.”
Vingegaard was hospitalized for almost two weeks in Spain in April after a fall at high speed in the Tour of the Basque Country. He suffered a fractured collarbone, ribs and pulmonary atelectasis.
Leg-breaker with 3,600 km of accumulated unevenness in seven ports
He hasn’t competed since, but this weekend he will immediately be put to the test with a inaugural stage in which runners will traverse a series of difficult hills and climbs which could set the stage for an early battle between the main contenders.
Before the fall, Vingegaard was among the Tour favorites after dominating the race the last two years. Now it’s impossible to know how his body will respond to three weeks of intense cycling.
“We have worked together to get to this moment and, of course, I am very excited to see where I am. I feel good and very motivated,” declared Vingegaard.
As to Pogacaryou don’t ask yourself too many questions while pursuing a rare double after his victory in the Giro d’Italia this season.
“This is my fifth time at the Tour and I’m very excited,” said Pogacar, whose preparation for last year’s Tour was hampered by a fall that left him with a broken wrist.
“We have worked very hard all year as a team to prepare and we look forward to offering everyone three weeks of exciting racing.”
Pogacar is possibly the most exciting racer of his generationcapable of winning in all fields with an appetite for victory that has drawn comparisons with the great Eddy Merckx.
Who has won the first and tough stage of the Tour de France?
Frenchman Romain Bardet wins the first stage of the 2024 Tour de France in a sprint. With the peloton practically half a second behind, Bardet and his teammate Van der Broek They sprinted to finally cross the finish line.
