Tour de France 2024: Stages 20 and 21 of the Tour of France presented

For the first time in 35 years, the Tour de France will end with an individual time trial. In Nice, the organisers, the Amaury Sports Organisation (A.S.O.), unveiled the details of the final two stages.

Tour de France 2024 not in Paris due to Olympics

Due to the Olympic Games in Paris, next year's tour will finish on the Mediterranean on 21 July, the first time it will be outside the French capital's metropolitan area. The opening ceremony of the Summer Games will take place just five days later.

The individual time trial on stage 21 covers 35 kilometres between Monaco and Place Massena in Nice. With the climbs to La Turbine and the Col d'Eze, the first 20 kilometres are predominantly uphill. After the descent from the Col d'Eze, there is a flat section to complete before reaching the finish in Nice. The course therefore favours the climbers rather than the rouleurs.

>> This is the route of the Tour de France 2023

Eight-second thriller between LeMond and Fignon

The last time the Tour of France ended with an individual time trial was in 1989, when the American Greg LeMond ousted the Frenchman Laurent Fignon from first place on a historic day. LeMond made up the 50-second deficit thanks to better aerodynamic equipment and won the Tour by eight seconds. It was the closest decision in history.

Tour de France 2024: Mountain finish on the penultimate day

The penultimate stage will be a tough one. Over 132 kilometres and 4400 metres in altitude, the route leads from Nice into the hinterland to the mountain finish on the Col de la Couillole. The 2024 Tour will start in Italy for the first time three weeks earlier. Florence was awarded the contract for the Grand Départ, with a total of three stages planned in France's neighbouring country.

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