From Pogacar to Vingegaard, Florence prepares to kick off Tour de France

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Hundreds of fans, Italians and foreigners gathered collectively Florence Michelangelo Sq.Many individuals participate in spectacular style present on bicycles 22 groups From tomorrow will probably be given life The 111th Tour de France. “The Tour de France has lastly corrected the error of by no means ranging from Italy,” mentioned race director Christian Prudhomme. A strategy to pay tribute to an incredible champion who has made an incredible contribution to biking”. The best Florentine champion amongst them, Gino Bartali, Grande Boucle winner 1938 and 1948: His niece Gioia remembers him on stage. However Florence can be dwelling to different nice champions who achieved glory past the Alps, Gastonesini, 1960 Tour de France winner, “Lion of Flanders” Fiorenzo Mani Who’s sporting a yellow shirt. For brand new Mayor Sara Funaro, it was “a rare second for our metropolis,” whereas her predecessor Dario Nadella joined her on stage to applause and whistles to want everybody “three No peculiar day,” commemorating Batali and a legend.Florence and Italian biking as former coach of the Italian nationwide group Alfredo Martiniwho “goals of a visit to Florence.”

In-depth evaluation

2024 Tour de France, routes and phases. photograph

Pogacar is the favourite

Nobody appears to have any doubt that the largest favourite for the Tour de France would be the Tour de France which begins in Italy for the primary time and reaches Emilia Romagna and Piedmont after Florence. Tadej PogakarThe newly topped Slovenian champion journey to italy and dedicated to creating historical past by hitting targets double Solely seven runners have accomplished it prior to now: The ultimate profitable Coppi, Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault, Roche, Indurain and Pantani, taken in 1998. Because the 24-year-old Belgian places it, Pogakar appears invincible to specialists and particularly to his opponents Remco Evenpoolhis first Tour de France however already has two wins in Liège-Bastogne-Liège and a world title within the 2023 Glasgow Time Trial: “Up to now Pogaca is unbeatable and that is going to be very robust, however clearly we are going to all struggle”. It’s clear that the good-natured Tadej is able to tackle the problem, regardless that, as he mentioned immediately at a gathering in Palazzo Vecchio, he comes from a sophisticated interval, his grandfather died and he was contaminated with COVID-19 ten days in the past Virus: “However it was like a gentle flu, I am nice now.” So right here he’s on the lookout for that feat, a double on the Tour de France: “”It is a huge problem however I actually get pleasure from challenges and nothing comes straightforward on a motorcycleAnyway, I am prepared and after a tricky first interval we’ll see who has higher legs. Probably the most anticipated duel shall be Jonas Vingardparis champion The final two variations Nonetheless, he has solely simply recovered from a severe fall on the Tour of the Basque Nation on April 4 final yr, so there’s nonetheless uncertainty over his standing. “I am proud to compete with him, We will even work arduous to placed on a beautiful present, he’s a rare athlete – Pogacar mentioned – how will I attempt to beat him? Arrive first and keep away from making errors. I believe after the fourth stage, the hills are very excessive and there might be an enormous hole”. Wengegaard didn’t wish to say an excessive amount of in the interim: “After the autumn blissful to be right here, that is already a victory. I simply went by means of the worst interval of my profession and I needed to work arduous to get again into form. Individually, I hope to regain momentum within the race and if I do not crash I can win the race, I can not say now, I put in loads of arduous work, The accident was horribleI’ve been in mattress for 2 weeks, the whole lot that occurs any further shall be a present.”