The Tour de France Grand Départ in Florence: My 2024 Recap and Where to Ride Now
Updated: Oct 25
Updated October 2026
On 29 June 2024 the Tour de France started in Italy for the first time, and Florence hosted the Grand Départ. I was in town all weekend. Here is my recap and where to ride now.
The team presentation
The weekend opened on 27 June with the team presentation in Piazza della Signoria, with Palazzo Vecchio as the backdrop. The square was packed, and the crowd sang along when Queen's "Bicycle Race" came over the speakers.
A city dressed for cycling
Palazzo Medici Riccardi hosted a free exhibition of vintage bicycles, and a fan park took over Piazza Santa Croce from 27 to 29 June. It felt like the energy of Calcio Storico in the same square, with bikes instead of a ball.
Race day
Stage 1 ran 206 km from Florence to Rimini. Riders gathered at the Cascine park, rolled through the center behind a neutral start, passed the ceremony in Piazza della Signoria and climbed past Piazzale Michelangelo before the racing began outside the city.
I stood behind the barriers in the square, and the noise when the peloton came through was something I will not forget.
Gino Bartali
The weekend honored Gino Bartali, the Florentine champion who won the Tour twice, in 1938 and 1948, and who is recognized as Righteous Among the Nations for carrying forged documents for Jewish families during the Second World War.
You can visit the Museo del Ciclismo Gino Bartali at Via Chiantigiana 177 in Ponte a Ema, his hometown on the southern edge of Florence. In 2026 it opens Friday and Saturday 10:00 to 13:00 and Sunday 10:00 to 16:00, and entry is free.
Where cyclists ride today
The climbs are still there. Riders head south on the Via Chiantigiana into Chianti, or north up the long climb to Fiesole. Guided road and e-bike day trips run from the city most of the year. My guide to day trips from Florence covers the towns worth riding to.
What the day felt like
I staked out a spot near Piazza della Signoria before eleven. Barriers lined every street, flags hung from the windows, and the crowd was a mix of Florentines, Italians from every region and cycling fans from all over Europe.
When the peloton rolled through the center behind the official cars, it was over in a minute, a blur of colors and the sound of hundreds of wheels on the stone. Then everyone ran for a screen in a bar to watch the rest of the stage. It was one of the best days I have had in Florence.
The Florentine love of cycling
Cycling is part of Tuscan identity. Sunday mornings, the roads out of Florence fill with club riders in matching kits heading for Fiesole, Vallombrosa or the Chianti hills, and stopping for an espresso halfway.
Gino Bartali and Alfredo Martini, the long-serving national coach, both came from the Florence area, and the 2013 Road World Championships finished here too. The Tour start felt like a celebration of all of that history.
Visiting the Bartali museum
The Museo Gino Bartali is in Ponte a Ema, the village on the southern edge of Florence where he was born. It is small and full of bikes, jerseys and photographs, with the story of his secret wartime rides carrying documents hidden in his frame.
It is open Friday to Sunday with free entry, and an easy ride or bus trip from the center. Combine it with a ride up to the hills above Bagno a Ripoli for a lovely half day.
Classic rides from Florence
Fiesole: the short, steep classic from the city, with a view back over the dome at the top.
Chianti via the Chiantigiana: rolling roads through vineyards to Greve and Panzano.
Vallombrosa: a long climb into the forest east of the city, cool even in summer.
The Arno valley: flatter rides west along the river, good for an easy spin.
Watching big races in Tuscany now
You do not need a Grand Départ to see world-class racing here. Strade Bianche, held each March in Siena, runs on the white gravel roads of the Crete Senesi and finishes in the Piazza del Campo.
It is an easy day trip from Florence by train or car, and the finish in the Campo is one of the great sights in cycling. The Giro d'Italia also passes through Tuscany in many years.
Riding in Florence safely
Inside the city, cycling is easiest along the river and in the parks, like the Cascine. The historic center has narrow streets, cobbles and pedestrians everywhere, so I walk my bike through the busiest piazzas.
Rent a road bike or e-bike from a local shop for the hills, and always ride with lights in winter. For a gentler way to see Tuscany, my slow travel guide has more ideas.
Staying for a cycling trip
If you come to ride, a base in the hills makes sense, with a garage for bikes and roads starting at the door. Browse Tuscan villas at Exclusive Villa Collection.
Why Florence was chosen
The 2024 Tour de France was the first to start in Italy, and it honored the hundredth anniversary of Ottavio Bottecchia's 1924 victory, the first by an Italian. The opening stage ran from Florence to Rimini, across the Apennines and through Emilia Romagna, with a climbing route that suited the attackers.
Stage 2 started in Cesenatico, the hometown of Marco Pantani, and stage 3 started in Piacenza before the race headed to Turin. For Florence, it was a chance to show the world its streets, its love of sport and its long cycling history. The city also celebrated Gino Bartali and Alfredo Martini, two local cycling legends.
The route out of the city
The riders left from the center and rolled out past landmarks like the Duomo and the river before the race began in earnest outside the city. The first stage then climbed into the hills toward Fiesole and Vallombrosa and over the Apennine passes.
Watching the peloton on the edge of the city, with the green Tuscan hills behind, I felt the scale of a race that would end three weeks later in Nice, the first time since 1905 that the Tour did not finish in Paris, because of the Olympics.
Tips if a big race comes to town
Big races close roads for hours, so plan ahead. Pick your spot early, ideally on a climb where the riders are slower and you see them longer. Bring water, a hat and sunscreen in summer.
The publicity caravan passes well before the riders and throws out free hats and souvenirs, which children love. Check the official timetable for road closures and expect trains and buses to be busy.
Florence and the World Championships
This was not Florence's first big cycling event. The city hosted the Road World Championships in 2013, with a demanding circuit that climbed to Fiesole. Many amateur cyclists come to ride that route today. The climb from San Domenico up to Fiesole is short, steep in places and rewards you with a view of the whole city.
Renting a bike for your own ride
Several shops in Florence rent quality road bikes and e-bikes, and some run guided rides into Chianti. Bring your own pedals and saddle if you are particular, and start early in summer to beat the heat.
FAQ
When did the Tour de France start in Florence?
On 29 June 2024. It was the first Grand Départ in Italy.
Where did stage 1 finish?
In Rimini, on the Adriatic coast.
Can I visit the Bartali museum?
Yes, Friday to Sunday in Ponte a Ema, with free entry.
Is Florence good for cycling?
Yes for road riding in the hills around it. In the center, walking is easier than riding.
Who was Gino Bartali?
A Florentine champion who won the Tour de France in 1938 and 1948 and helped Jewish families during the Second World War.
About the author
I'm Jason GaNung, and I write every guide on Florence Life. I have spent extensive time in Florence over many trips, and I have stayed in many of the hotels and villas I cover, so my picks come from my own stays, not press releases. More about me.
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