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The course runs in the opposite direction to the great F1 race, with the Cavendish (AST) heading up the hill and through Lowe’s Bend.
Cavendish (AST) started with a big smile.
Mark Cavendish departs
The first rider starts
The stage starts on the road known as the start-finish straight of Formula One’s famous Monaco Grand Prix.
The weather in Nice is around 24 degrees Celsius, it is raining in the area and there is a wind blowing from the east-southeast at 18 kilometres per hour.
There are barely ten minutes left until the stage opens with Davide Ballerini (AST).
Retired French cycling icon Thibaut Pinot enjoyed a day out with friends today exploring the area around Nice on Limebikes…
Today’s course is tough, narrow and technical with lots of climbs and descents, and what makes it even more technical is that it’s raining locally and already raining.
In some great racing from several other riders involved in the break, Jonas Abrahamsen (UXM) lit up the first week and a half of racing before Richard Carapaz (EFE) took over the baton and went on to win a stage, the Polka Dot and also the Super Combat Power award.
It’s been exactly 100 days since Jonas Vingegaard (TVL) was hospitalized after breaking almost every bone in the upper right half of his body and suffering from a punctured and collapsed lung. Vingegaard finished an impressive second place and is also likely to win the stage. Vingegaard will start today around 3 minutes ahead of reigning time trial world champion Remco Evenepoel (SOQ).
The first man to watch today is Sir Mark Cavendish (AST), who will finish his final Tour de France as the all-time record holder for stage wins, with Manx Missile going down with 35 wins. It will be an emotional moment for him.
All eyes will be on Tadej Pogacar (UAD) today, and rightly so. But there was a lot more to this race that was worth noting…
There were 45 minutes left until the first rider, Davide Ballerini (AST), started.
The Cube has really stepped it up with a custom paint job from history-making Biniam Girmay (IWA)… What a beautiful bike!
Fans in Nice were treated to a truly spectacular light show last night, with drones painting different shapes in the sky and taking centre stage, much like this cyclist…
Check out this preview of the time trial course from Nice resident and former WorldTour pro Joe Dombrowski.
And some photos of the Stage 20 results/overall standings heading into Stage 21…
Looking back at yesterday’s 20th stage, Tadej Pogačar won again…
Richard Carapaz, who has already been crowned a stage winner and King of the Mountains at this Tour, also received the Super Combat award.
There is also news from Chloe Dygert, who is preparing to compete in the Paris Olympics.
In non-Tour news this morning, Peter Sagan’s racing career will end today.
And a map showing the route winding west from Monaco to Nice…
Today’s stage profile is…
See the complete list Tour de France Stage 21 start time here.
Ballerini will start the time trial at 14:40, with Tadej Pogacar starting last at 18:45.
There are roughly two hours left until the first riders, Davide Ballerini, Mark Cavendish and Jarrad Drizner, start today’s race.
Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews’ live coverage of Stage 21 of the 2024 Tour de France!
