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Gallery: Behind the scenes at the Tour de France 2024 Grand Départ
Contrary to the race’s name, the Tour de France kicked off last weekend in Italy, not France.
The Tuscan capital of Florence had the honour of waving off the 111th Tour de France. Between the effigies of Machiavelli and Dante and cobbled Tuscan piazzas, the Tour set up camp in Florence’s Parco delle Cascine ahead of the first stage. Italian fans swapped Giro pink for Tour yellow to make the race feel at home in the Renaissance city.
We headed over with photographer Patrik Lundin to capture the scenes on the ground in Florence before the riders began their 3,498km journey to Nice.
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I’m not sure you can win the polka-dot jersey on a city bike.
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EF’s paint job never gets old.
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The Alberto Bettiol fan club are out in full force.
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You can be a world champion at any age nowadays.
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Behind the mask is Romain Bardet, the eventual winner of Stage 1.
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Two British riders will make their Tour debuts for Israel-Premier Tech: Stevie Williams [left] and Jake Stewart [right].
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Three days later Biniam Girmay would become a Tour de France stage winner.
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Are these Visma-Lease a Bike caps the accessory of the summer?
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Casper Pedersen’s Tarmac SL8 sits atop the Soudal-QuickStep team car.
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We’re a long way away from Llanelli.
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The ever-eccentric Victor Campanaerts returns to the Tour after a super-combative victory in 2023, in what is set to be his last at Lotto-Dstny.
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‘Mum, I’ve seen Mads Pedersen. Can we go home now?’
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Wout waves to the crowd. He’s on chaperoning duties for Jonas Vingegaard behind him.
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Nibali: Astana of old. Cavendish: Astana of new. There are quite a few Grand Tour stage wins between these two.
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Remco Evenepoel is suited and booted.
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Mr ‘I’m just a farmer’s son from Belgium’, Yves Lampaert.
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Egan Bernal, the 2019 Tour champion, makes his way to the sign-on podium.
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Davide Ballerini takes the time to catch some fan selfies before the stage.
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A fresh look for Roglic in the new Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe colours.
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Rumour has it, this is Alejandro Valverde.
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The Florence merchandise shop is still reeling from these girls’ raid.
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Team Roglič, or team Pogačar?
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The boy prince emerges from the team bus.
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Mathieu van der Poel wins the prize for the best shades on show in Florence.
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A thousand-yard stare from the Tour’s most anticipated debutant.
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A final Tour de France for Geraint? We’ll find out.
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The beauty is in the detail.
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Some have predicted glory for Vingegaard. Some are more sceptical.
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Pogačar is well trained at this media malarkey.
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Tadej, the world is watching.
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Pidcock-ception.
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Mathieu was rather late to the start line. The race can’t start without him.
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…c’est parti!
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