Tour de France 2024: 11th edition kicks off in Italy
![Tour de France 2024: 11th edition kicks off in Italy](https://s.france24.com/media/display/cf380aa0-35f4-11ef-bd1e-005056a97e36/w:1024/p:16x9/EN_20240629_101127_101317_CS.jpg)
The Tour de France embarks from the Italian city of Florence on Saturday with Tadej Pogacar gunning for a historic Giro-Tour double, while champion Jonas Vingegaard seeks a third straight title with the battle set to go down to the wire in three weeks time in Nice. The 176-strong peloton heads out of Florence in sizzling heat for an opening stage packed with hills. Ahead is a gruelling 3,498 kilometre-route that crosses the Alps twice and ends exceptionally on the French Riviera rather than the Champs-Elysees on July 21 due to the upcoming Paris Olympics.