This year’s event, the 111th edition, will span 3 492 km’s and include seven mountain stages.  The race will depart from Italy for the first time and experts say it is one of the toughest opening stages in recent memory.

Today’s race will take place over 206 km and finish in the seaside resort of Rimini on the Adriatic coast.

The favourite for this year’s tour is 2020 and 2021 winner Tadej Pogacar, who triumphed in the Giro d’ Italia.  Pogacar, however, has recently recovered from Covid and his form is under doubt. 

Defending champion, the Dane Jonas Vingegaard, is also not quite a hundred percent, after a heavy crash at the Tour of the Basque Country in April.  He told the media at a press conference on the eve of the event that he starting in today’s race, is already a victory.

“It was a real challenge to regain the level I have now.  I experienced the hardest moment of my career, so I really fought to come back,” he said.  

Another favourite is Slovenian Primoz Roglic, who also had to overcome injuries from the Tour of the Basque Country event.

Twenty-seven countries are represented at this year’s Tour de France, with France having the highest number of riders at 21, followed by Belgium at 28.  Mark Cavendish, riding in his 15th tour, is the rider with the most participations.

There are nine national road race champions in this year’s race and eight national time trial champions on the start list, including South Africa’s Ryan Gibbons, who holds national titles in both disciplines.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger