If you try to think about it for a moment, you will quickly realize how this statement is absolutely true. Over the past hundred years, the Italian peninsula has given birth to many champions on two wheels.
Try to stop for a moment, and you will immediately realise how this land has given birth over the last century to many champions on two wheels: the Tuscan Gino Bartali, also known as the Giant of the Mountains, the Piedmontese Fausto Coppi, nicknamed the Heron, and finally the Pirate, the Romagna-born Marco Pantani.
Three champions from different backgrounds, with three distinct sporting histories behind them, but who were able to lead Italian cycling to the international Olympus with passion and dedication.
It can therefore be no coincidence that, for the first time since 1903, Grand Départ del Tour de France 2024, will start from Italy with three exciting stages that will run precisely along the roads of their homelands.
It is by cycling that you learn the contours of a country best, because you have to sweat it out on the hills and freewheel down the slopes.
Ernest Hemingway
THE GRAND DÉPART STAGES
Exactly one hundred years after Ottavio Bottecchia's victory in the Tour de France and the participation of Alfonsina Strada in the Giro d'Italia as the only woman, in 2024 it will be Italy's turn to kick off the world's most-watched cycling event, thanks mainly to the collaboration between Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont, which have always loved cycling and are committed to promoting a strong cycling culture, including from a tourism perspective.
Three not-to-be-missed race stages that will cross much of the territory of north-central Italy and take us all the way to the French border, for a total route of more than 600 km in total.
1ST STAGE
Florence ➟ Rimini
Saturday 29 June 2024
Climbers' stage | 205 km
Cesenatico ➟ Bologna
Sunday 30 June 2024
Sprint stage | 200 km
Piacenza ➟ Turin
Monday 1 July 2024
Sprinters' stage | 225 km
From Piacenza to Rimini, Emilia-Romagna succeeds in delighting bikers and cyclists, thanks to its territory made up of plains, rolling hills but also steep climbs and descents.
Many itineraries are possible and suitable for everyone: there are those that are family-friendly, with children in tow, up to those that are suitable for experts and experienced sportsmen.
A unique territory that thanks to the low speed of two wheels, it is possible to get to know in its most intimate aspects, thus going to reveal some precious gems from the artistic, cultural, naturalistic and gastronomic points of view.
Emilia-Romagna: 7 reasons to travel by bike
The region can therefore be visited to the rhythm of the pedals (of all types of bicycles) and you do not have to be an athlete, but simply have a desire for an active holiday.
The bicycle is beautiful because of what it can give you. It makes you feel good, it gives you a chance to feel, to talk, to see the world from another angle.
Davide Cassani
All updates on the Grand Départ on the official website https://www.letouritalia.it/
Tour De France #TDF2024 🚴♂️.
