Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme awaits a spectacle this summer involving Tadej Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel, Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic. He has not shied away from speaking about what he dreams from the Grand Boucle in 2024, and how the yellow jersey may be decided.
"Vingegaard is the double title holder and with Pogacar we also have the man who became his challenger. Roglic changed teams with his BORA-hansgrohe transfers and, despite his flaws, still has the ambition to win the Tour," Prudhomme said in an exclusive interview with Cyclism'Actu. "And then there is Evenepoel, an incredibly eager rider."
In all senses of the word, the Tour promises action. This year all of the main Grand Tour contenders in the current peloton will aim for a result in France, and most of the second-liners will also be present. Fans gear up to witness a battle that is set to have UAE Team Emirates, Soudal - Quick-Step and BORA - hansgrohe throw their absolute best lineups to capture the yellow jersey - whilst Team Visma | Lease a Bike has other big figures prioritizing other races, but nevertheless is set to come in with an extremely strong lineup.
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"At his last Vuelta I thought he (Evenepoel, ed.) would give up after his breakdown, but from that moment on he showed that he has an extraordinary mentality. Naturally, I dream that he will compete for the final victory in the Tour," Prudhomme admits. "He should feel comfortable in the first ten days of the upcoming Tour and I dream of an alliance between him and Pogacar towards Le Lioran (stage 11, ed.)."
With the race presenting hills and mountains right from the opening days of the race, Prudhomme hopes that the fight for the overall classification begins right from the first stages as was the case in 2023. A first part suited better to the explosive riders, whilst the second half of the race presents mammoth mountain stages that can suit others.
"In the second part of the Tour it will probably be more for Vingegaard. I saw his smile during the Tour presentation including the Col de la Bonette.," he tells. Vingegaard will be supported by Vuelta a España winner Sepp Kuss in an attempt to score a hattrick of consecutive victories in France - a feat not achieved since Chris Froome's 2015-2017 streak.
The race also ends in Nice this year, unlike the traditional format as Paris is already set to host the Olympic Games this summer. The race ends with a hilly time-trial, which can provide for an even more exciting situation than what is usually the case. "A limited time difference prior to the final time trial would of course be ideal for a breathtaking battle."
"Vingegaard attacks, Pogacar who has to give in time, Evenepoel who blows everything and everyone away, Roglic in whom we no longer believe, but who suddenly surprises... but more importantly I don't want to see any accidents and lots of smiling people on the sidelines," he concludes.
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