Tour de France 2024: 11th edition kicks off in Italy

The Tour de France embarks from the Italian city of Florence on Saturday with Tadej Pogacar gunning for a historic Giro-Tour double, while champion Jonas Vingegaard seeks a third straight title with the battle set to go down to the wire in three weeks time in Nice. The 176-strong peloton heads out of Florence in sizzling heat for an opening stage packed with hills. Ahead is a gruelling 3,498 kilometre-route that crosses the Alps twice and ends exceptionally on the French Riviera rather than the Champs-Elysees on July 21 due to the upcoming Paris Olympics.