In a few days, we will witness an unforgettable moment. The 2024 edition of the Tour de France - the most important and challenging cycling race in the world - will start on June 29th from Italy for the first time in its long history (three consecutive stages plus the start of the fourth). And for the first time, it will conclude in Nice - the pearl of the French Riviera - on July 21st, to avoid interfering with the final preparations for the Paris Olympic Games, which will begin a week later.
The moments leading up to the start of the Grande Boucle are filled with competitive tension: teams work on the final details and perfect their strategies, from race tactics to sports nutrition. Everything is meticulously planned, nothing is left to chance. From Tuscany to France, for 3 weeks, we will see a peloton of 176 riders from 22 teams riding: 18 World Tour teams, the 2 best-ranked ProTeams (Israel-Premier Tech and Lotto-Dstny), and the wild cards Uno-X Mobility and TotalEnergies.
Setbacks, form, and Olympic goals have shaped the choices and ambitions of the teams at the start, but all will fight to leave their mark during the 21 days of racing: some aiming for overall victory, others for stage wins. Still, others will use the Tour's stage to shine in the eyes of the cycling world on a course of 3,497.3 km and 52,320 meters of elevation, 20% more than the 2024 Giro d'Italia, with many climbs in the final week that could overturn any predictions made until that point. It will be tough even for Pogačar, winner of the 2020 and 2021 Tour de France, to aim for a Giro-Tour double.
Photo Credit: Luca Bettini
The protagonists of the 2024 Tour de France
Who will win the 2024 Tour de France? It's impossible to give a certain answer. The data suggests it could be a two-man battle between the protagonists of the last four editions: Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar. However, nothing is certain in the Tour de France, and everything can change. Let's analyze the latest events in chronological order. About two weeks ago, Team Visma-Lease a Bike announced the surprise presence of Vingegaard, the winner of the 2022 and 2023 Tour de France, who has been inactive since last April after a nasty fall at the Itzulia Basque Country. This brings the first unknown: what will his form be like?
It's a different story for the Slovenian from Team Colnago UAE Team Emirates, who has not hidden his intentions and is hungrier than ever to reclaim the yellow jersey he lost in the past two years to the Danish phenomenon. Then there is the long-awaited return of Primož Roglič, winner of the 2024 Dauphiné with Bora-Hansgrohe, eager to make his mark and confirm his improving form. Other modern cycling greats won't be missing either: Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep), the winner of the green jersey at the 2023 Tour Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), the Manx Missile Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) who is racing his 18th Pro season and seeking the record of the 35th stage win at the Tour de France. And then there are three more giants who need no introduction and certainly won't stand by and watch: the "terrible youngster" Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-QuickStep), Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), winner this season of the E3 Saxo Classic, Tour of Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix, who will head to the Olympics after the Tour. No Grande Boucle, however, for Chris Froome, excluded for the second consecutive time.
Experience the thrill of the Tour de France exclusively on Bikeroom
Bikeroom celebrates the excitement of the Tour de France with a stunning selection of World Tour bicycles used by the pros in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Here they are:
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BMC Teammachine SLR01 2023 Team AG2R Citroën: used by Belgian Oliver Naesen, a standout in the Northern Classics, the BMC SLR01 Teammachine is the lightest bike in the BMC range and the best ally for climbers thanks to the Aerocore Design system, a plus that combines comfort, maneuverability, and attention to detail in one pedal stroke! [CHECK IT OUT HERE]
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BMC Teammachine SLR Masterpiece LTD 2023 Team AG2R Citroën: ridden by Australian all-rounder Ben O’Connor, this limited edition BMC masterpiece is handcrafted, lighter, stiffer, and more aerodynamic. Unavailable on the market, this bike is a true work of art in innovation, research, and development waiting just for you. [CHECK IT OUT HERE]
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Scott Foil RC 2023 Team DSM-Fiermenich PostNL: belonging to German John Degenkolb, winner of the 2015 Milano-Sanremo, Scott's 2023 road bike combines aerodynamics, lightness, and comfort without sacrificing rigidity. Pure no shortcuts style! [CHECK IT OUT HERE]
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Pinarello Dogma F 2022 Team INEOS Grenadier: a dream come true. The bike of Britain's rising cycling star Thomas Pidcock (fresh from winning his second gold medal in the MTB World Cup at Crans-Montana), is a true collector's item. The INEOS Grenadier team, a powerhouse in professional cycling, has always trusted Pinarello to create bikes with one goal: winning! [CHECK IT OUT HERE]
- Bianchi Oltre RC 2023 Team Arkea Samsic Pro Cycling: the ride companion of French cyclist Warren Barguil, the Oltre RC is the flagship road bike from the Treviglio-based brand. A revolutionary frame in terms of design and approach, it's engineered to dominate by actively exploiting airflow through two "systems": bike-athlete and frame-components. [CHECK IT OUT HERE]
