Tour de France, departure from Florence: what a show the presentation of the teams was
In the Tuscan capital, the fans embrace the champions, who take to the stage one by one two days before the start of the Grand Boucle. A city in celebration. Pogacar: “See you on the streets”. Vingegaard: “For me it is already a success to be here
Florence, 27 June 2024 – “For me it is already a success to be here”: after the terrible fall at the Tour of the Basque Country and his recovery, the reigning Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard spoke thus at the presentation of the teams in Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence.
A presentation in grand style with the incomparable scenery of Piazzale Michelangelo. There was absolutely everyone on stage: from pogacar a Van Aert, evenepoel a Mark Cavendish. Relive the live broadcast.
Tour de France 2024 favourites
Florence, many fans in the city
The Florence show ends. Justin Mattera presents the yellow jersey and closes a memorable presentation of the teams, in the incomparable setting of Piazzale Michelangelo. The idea of leaving the stage open, with the natural background is beautiful of the historic center of the city. Now let's talk about the road, the legs and the bicycles. A Tour de France begins on Saturday 29 June with many champions, in which there will be no shortage of spectacle.
It's time for Visma Lease a Bike, the team that has the reigning champion Jonas Vingegaard. A super team with Wout van aert, Vingegaard himself and then Kan Tratnik, Laporte, Jorgenson. But it is the Danish Vingegaard who obviously attracts the most attention. He won the last ones two Tours, three stages won and 22 days in yellow. Vingegaard comes from a complicated period after a very bad fall at Tour of the Basque Country. "First of all, I'm happy to be here in Florence, it's already a victory to be at the start", says Vingegaard to those who ask him about his dreams of a hat-trick.
And it's time for one of the best known teams, Ineos Grenadiers. It's the team of Geraint Thomas, who won a Tour. And then Tom Pidcock, also a great mountain bike champion and then Egan Bernal, also with a Tour under his belt before the accident two years ago in which he risked ending his career. "I'm happy to be here in Italy. You made a nice presentation, we hope to do good things for you", he says Bernal.
Here is the recipe Groupama Fdj. They stand out in the team David Gaudu and Valentin Madouas, in addition to the highly experienced Swiss Kung, who will try to place himself in the upper areas of the ranking.
A much awaited moment for the presentation. Here she is on stage UAE Team Emirates, a very strong team on paper. From Ayuso a Almeida to Pavel Sivakoc to Tim Wellens to Adam Yates. And then here is Tadej Pocagar. A real ovation from Florence for him, who raises his hands to greet everyone. A real rock star. The early favorite to win, with reigning champion Vingegaard arriving in less than optimal condition. Pogacar, who until last year wore the white jersey of the Tour, defeating the competition (it is the jersey reserved for the best during 25), from this year he will no longer dress her because she is out of age. On stage, her incredible feat in the white jersey is highlighted: she wore it for 72 stages in a row. "Thank you all for being so many here. Thanks from the whole team, see you on the road."
Ovation for Primoz Roglic, captain of Red Bull Bora Hangsroe, who changes his name for the new sponsor, Red Bull which has made a large investment in cycling. A great team with Matteo Sobrero among others, the last of the eight Italians presented. For Roglic a big ovation. He will perhaps make his last determined assault on the Tour de France. The whole team is for Roglic. "I'm having fun, I'm enjoying the day, thanks to the fans," says Roglic.
Here she is on stage Ag2r La Mondiale by Sam Bennett. He will try to have his say even in the time trial. It should be remembered that the last stage of the Toru will be a time trial. Then it's the Movistar team's turn with Davide Formolo, one of the eight Italians. And then many other important players such as Enric Mas, with great experience. For Formolo it is the fifteenth career grand tour that he has faced. There is also the Spanish national champion Aranburu.
It's Israel Premier Tech's time on stage. Many champions including Jacob Fuglsang e Pascal Ackermann, sprinter and winner of several stages. Then it's Bahrain Victorious's turn, an interesting team. Among the most experienced runners Wout Poels, Pello Bilbao and Santiago Buitrago, the Colombian climb specialist who also wants to have his say on the Tour mountains.
The French seven-eighths formation of Total Energie is on the rise, with many men who can enter the breakaways and win stages. The total prize money is three million euros, whoever wins takes home 500 thousand. So it's time for Lidl Trek Julius Ciccone, holder of the polka dot jersey for best climber. A prestigious goal that he achieved in a great 2023. It is also the team of Mads pedersen. But the ovation is all for Ciccone, who also wore the yellow jersey. "Hello Florence - says Ciccone - Starting from Italy is already a great success. I'm very excited. It will be very tough straight away. As a team we will try as always to put on a show".
On stage the Team DSM by Romain Bardet, who won three stages at the Tour. A highly experienced team with, among others, the sprinter Fabio Jakobsen. Then it's the turn of Intermarché Wanty with Biniam Girmay and Louis Mentjes, as well as Mike Teunissen. "I would like to thank everyone and greet them - he says Girmay - This year we have a strong team with at least two sprinters, we will try to give the team the first Tour victory."
It's the turn of the presentation of the Soudal Quickstep by evenepoel and, among others, Italian Gianni moscon. But also of an institution like Mikel Landa. But the ovation is all for Evenepoel, world road time trial champion. What are his goals: "I feel ready for Tour. We have a strong team, we will try to do our best in the three weeks. We'd like to win at least one stage, it doesn't matter if it's the first or the last."
And he goes on stage there Alpecin Deceuninck di Matthiew Van Der Poel. A great not only in road cycling but also in cyclocross, where he has won practically everything in recent years. Choirs and applause for the super champion, honored by all the public present in the square. Van Den Poel he is the reigning world champion on the road: "I know how tough racing is in Italy, I'll try tomorrow and see. I'll try to honor the rainbow jersey." After Alpecin Deceuninck a musical moment begins: the legendary on stage Casadei orchestra, which brings Romagna to Florence.
And it's time for Uno X Mobility, a team made up of only Norwegian cyclists. Meanwhile, 45 riders made their debut at the Tour. The most famous name among them is Remco Evenepoel. There are nine national champions at the start, including Bettiol.
The presentation of the teams now continues. Here she is Jayco Alula by Michael Matthews and Dylan Groenewegen. And then there's Simon Yates, with his great experience. So, there it is Cofidis by Guillaume Martin and Ion Izagirre. Red and white shirt for Cofidis. Many teams present special jerseys for the Tour.
Now there is the institutional moment. "This great departure is very important - he says Dario Nardella -. Yesterday was my last day as mayor. May you experience three extraordinary days for one of the most important sports in the world. We are happy to host this event also in the name of a great in the history of cycling like Gino Bartali". Nardella also mentions on stage the late coach of the national cycling team Alfredo Martini. The new mayor of Florence Sara Funaro: "It's a great emotion, it's my first public outing as mayor. I'm proud to be here. Our city's bond with cycling is very close." "I'm happy," he says Prudhomme - that the Tour starts from Italy for the first time. The mistake of the Tour never starting from Italy has been repaired, a way to pay homage to the great champions of this sport." The director of the Tour also mentions Emilia Romagna and Piedmont, the other regions touched by the 2024 Grand Boucle.
Mark Cavendish's Astana takes to the stage: 39 years old, 34 stages won per Tour de France. If he wins one more he writes history because he becomes the rider with the most stage victories in the Tour, surpassing Eddie Merckz. Two Italians here, Michele Gazzoli and Davide Ballerini. Cavendish speaks to the audience: "What a sight here, my goodness", he says speaking of Florence. "I'm ready for the Tour but maybe the others are more ready," jokes Cavendish.
Arkea B&B Hotels takes the stage, featuring among others Luca Mozzato, another Italian flag at the Tour, excellent second at the Tour of Flanders. So it's up to Lotto Dstiny Victor Campenaerts. A team with all Belgian riders aside Jarrad Drizners. Many of the cyclists film the spectacle of the people crowding the audience in Piazzale Michelangelo.
Immediately on stage there Ef Education Easypost with, among others, also Alberto Bettiol who proudly wears the tricolor shirt. He is the national champion, after the victory a few days ago in Sesto Fiorentino. Applause for him. Own Bettiol he speaks to the public: "Being at the Tour is already a great victory. On Saturday I'll go all out and see what happens." The reference is to the hope of winning a yellow jersey which would truly be a great achievement for the athlete from Castelfiorentino. Two years ago he came close to winning the stage. Fans hope that 2024 will be the right time.
The show on stage began. Stefano Bertolotti e Paolo Mei they are the two presenters. For the part in English on stage there is Justin Mattera, presenter, face of Italian TV and great cycling enthusiast. The stage is open: in the background a thrilling postcard, the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the historic center. The presenters immediately introduce a video on the 2023 edition of the Tour, in which the winner was vingegaard. There will be 3498 km from Florence to Nice. Two days of rest. And there is a difference in altitude of 52 thousand metres. There are 176 starters and 27 nations represented.
Ten minutes into the presentation the Piazzale Michelangelo it's packed. The international live broadcast starts at 18.30pm. The teams will parade one by one, called to the stage. The team captains will say a few words. Obviously the wait is all for the big names. In recent days in Florence there has been a hunt for autographs and selfies with the most prominent names. Obviously Tadej pogacar, winner of the last Giro d'Italia, is very popular.
"For me, winning a stage in this Tour would be a success and also getting to Nice." He says it Remco Evenepoel. The standard bearer of Soudal Quickstep he is making his debut in the Grand Boucle. "I hope to stay with the best as long as possible - continues Evenepoel - it will be difficult to win the race because it lasts three weeks. pogacar could be unbeatable, but I will try to do everything I can to test myself as much as possible and finish in the best positions, at least on paper"
To show the world Florence and its artistic beauties, the organization has designed a route of at least a couple of kilometers also for the presentation. The runners will start from Palazzo Vecchio and then cross the center and go up the ramps that lead to Piazzale Michelangelo, where the stage is located. And where there are already many fans. For them music and entertainment under a scorching sun. The weather, after the rain of recent days, rewards the Tour de France but the day is scorching.
The presentation of the teams will begin at 18.30pm Tour, in the classic show held every Thursday before the departure of the Grande Boucle. But the party has already begun, with music and entertainment. In the city of Florence there are fans from all over Europe and not just to follow the celebrations of the 2024 start. A Tour with many champions, each driven by different motivations: everyone wants to arrive in Paris in yellow.
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