For the primary time since 1905, the Tour de France will not make its standard end in Paris in 2024, closing as an alternative with a time trial in Good, organisers introduced on Thursday.
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Though the race has been introduced ahead one week to keep away from clashing instantly with the Olympic Video games, that are being hosted in 2024 by Paris, it’s going to nonetheless end on July 21, simply 5 days earlier than the opening ceremony.
Therefore the choice to maneuver the end to Good on the Mediterranean coast. Town has hosted the Tour 37 instances beforehand with two begins, in 1981 and 2020.
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“Good is a metropolis that shines. It’s identified around the globe,” Tour director Christian Prudhomme instructed AFP
“There’s the fantastic thing about the setting and the mountains close by. Town affords an distinctive setting and a terrific course.”
Tour de France time-trial ended 1989 race
As with Paris, Good can be has iconic avenues, with the race more likely to culminate on the Promenade des Anglais.
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The race will even conclude with a probably decisive particular person time-trial as an alternative of the normal dash end over eight laps of the Champs-Elysees.
A final-day time-trial produced a breath-taking finale in 1989 when American Greg Lemond took the general chief’s yellow jersey from surprised Frenchman Laurent Fignon, successful the Tour by simply eight seconds.
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The 2024 version begins in Florence with three days in Italy anticipated, however as but no route particulars have been confirmed.
Prudhomme was cagey in regards to the 2024 time-trial size suggesting it could not be quick.
“It could be a disgrace if the time-trial was fully flat too,” Prudhomme mentioned, suggesting the hills surrounding Good may present a dramatic backdrop to the finale.
The primary two Tour de France races in 1903 and 1904 concluded in Ville d’Avray, simply exterior Paris, however each version since 1905 has ended within the capital.
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Since 1975, that has meant a grand showpiece alongside the Champs-Elysees.
The race is already slated to return there in 2025.
“We will likely be delighted to return to Paris and the Champs-Elysees for the fiftieth anniversary of the primary arrival on the Champs in 2025,” mentioned Prudhomme.
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
