Final Stage Launched in Monaco: A Hundred Year Tour De France First
The last time the Tour de France did not finish in Paris dates back almost 120 years to the 1904 edition. Since then, we have been used to cyclists concluding their adventure on the Champs Élysées.
The Olympic Games in 2024 are going to swamp Paris so the organizers of the 2024 Tour have wisely designed an optimum route which will showcase the Principality and its Riviera neighbours.
Prepare yourselves for the last two days especially of this 2024 edition, where an extremely tasty menu presents itself with speculation of major upsets at the top… on the Saturday, July 20th with a 132 km mountain stage (the 20th stage with over 4,000 metres of ascent) as well as on the final 31st stage on Sunday!
After starting out this Tour de France from Italy the riders will cross borders for a handful of kilometres, this time for a short visit to Monaco. But it is the finish of the 2024 Tour de France where the eyes of Monegasques, all Europe, France and Italy especially, but of the whole world will be on Monaco. And it is historic.
Prince Albert II has been broadcast in the news as very proud of the start of the last stage of the Tour de France 2024 in Monaco attending personally the official presentation event of the last stage in Nice. And he has always been noted as an enthusiastic fan of this great cycling event, spurring the riders on whenever possible when a stage passes nearby. And this time it will centre right on the Principality after the 20th and penultimate stage leaves from Nice joining the Col de la Couillole.
And then the culminating excitement for the 21st and last stage, a 32 km challenging time trial which will leave from Monaco and will join Nice.
Both the 2009 Launch and 2024 Finish Feature Monaco
The Rock of the Principality was already the launchpad of an individual time trial for the first stage of the 2009 Tour, using part of the Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit.
This time the main contenders will not be seeking the first prized yellow jersey from the surrounds of Monaco’s Grand Prix circuit but, much more importantly, competing for the last!
Can an upset happen to change victory at such a final stage of the Tour? Indeed yes, there are Tour time trial shocks. Remember Charly Gaul winning the 1958 edition ahead of Vito Favero; Jan Janssen did it at beating out Herman Van Springel in 1968; Greg LeMond sprinted to the line to the dismay of Laurent Fignon in 1989; Cadel Evans against Andy Schleck in 2011; and most recently the battle between Slovenians Tadej Pogacar and Primoz Roglic in 2020.
Could the same two perhaps face each other again in 2024 in this final 35.2-km effort including La Turbie and Col d’Eze features on the route that will lead them swiftly to Nice and Place Masséna.
The exact route of this time trial from Monaco to Nice (the finish organized as a time trial is also a first since 1989) passes by Port Hercule heading towards Place du Casino via the Larvotto tunnel and avenue Princesse Grace, La Turbie (8.1 km climb at 5.6%), the Col d’Eze (1.6 km climb at 8.1%) and Villefranche-sur-Mer for a finish on the Promenade des Anglais at the Place Massena.
Don’t miss out on this July 21st historic epic.
