The Tour de France 2024 is heating up as it enters its 4th stage, a challenging 139.6 km mountain route from Pinerolo to Valloire. The stage features the iconic Col du Galibier, which could prove decisive in the battle for the yellow jersey. Ecuadorian cyclist Richard Carapaz currently wears the coveted yellow jersey, making history as the first Ecuadorian to do so. However, he faces stiff competition from top contenders including Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, and Remco Evenepoel.The cycling world is also celebrating another historic moment as Biniam Girmay, an Eritrean cyclist, became the first African black rider to win a stage in the Tour de France. Girmay’s victory in the sprint finish of the third stage marks a significant milestone for African cycling and adds an exciting dimension to this year’s race.As the Tour progresses, all eyes will be on the mountain stages, particularly the ascent of the Galibier, where the top contenders are expected to test each other’s limits. The race has already seen some unexpected developments, including injuries affecting team strategies, such as Remco Evenepoel losing key support rider Casper Pedersen to a clavicle fracture.Meanwhile, controversy has arisen over the use of advanced technology in race strategy, with the Visma team’s ‘control room’ raising questions about fair play and the changing nature of professional cycling. As the Tour continues, these technological and strategic elements will likely play an increasingly important role alongside the physical challenges of the race.
Key points
- Richard Carapaz becomes the first Ecuadorian to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France.
- Biniam Girmay makes history as the first African black rider to win a stage in the Tour de France.
- The 4th stage, featuring the Col du Galibier, is expected to be a crucial test for the top contenders.
- Advanced technology in race strategy, such as Visma’s ‘control room’, is raising questions about fair play in cycling.
