First big test for the climbers in the peloton. On Tuesday, July 2, the 175 riders entered will meet in Pinerolo, Italy, for the start of the fourth stage of the Tour de France. From the Piedmontese town to the first finish in France in Valloire, the cyclists will set off on a mountainous course, the first of this 2024 edition.
- Last stop from Italy
After a first stage between Florence and Rimini, a second between Cesenatico and Bologna, and a third between Piacenza and Turin, the peloton will set off from Italy for the fourth and final time, with a scheduled start in Pinerolo, in the Piedmont region. The finish will be in the small Savoyard town of Valloire, which will serve as a stage town for the fourth time.
For this fourth day, the riders will have the right to a high mountain stage of 139.6 km, with three climbs on the program, including an hors catégorie pass. In the race for the points classification, an intermediate sprint will animate the stage from the 18th kilometer. First difficulty of the day, the very long climb of the Col de Sestrières (39.9 km at 3.7%) will present itself to the cyclists from the 50th kilometer. The last part of the stage promises to be the most difficult, with the climb of the Col du Galibier (23 km at 5.1%), the first hors catégorie pass of this Tour de France. The riders will finish with 20.1 km of descent towards the finish in Valloire.
- First real test for the favorites?
Big favourites for the overall victory, the Dane Jonas Vingegaard, winner of the last two editions, and the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, triumphant on the Giro at the end of May, will be able to test their form in the first mountain stage of this Tour de France. In yellow but with the same time as them, Richard Carapaz will have to try to follow them if he wants to keep his place, just like Remco Evenepoel, provisionally third in the overall standings.
Winner of four Grand Tours, but never crowned in the Grande Boucle, Primoz Roglic will also try to join the party. Winner on the wire of the Critérium du Dauphiné earlier in the month, the other Slovenian champion will approach the race with benchmarks, and the will to stand up to his main rivals for the final victory.