Romain Bardet won the first stage of the 2024 Tour de France, taking the yellow jersey after a dramatic finish in Rimini, Italy. Bardet, aided by teammate Frank van den Broek, attacked from the peloton with 50 kilometers remaining and narrowly held off the chase group. This victory marks Bardet's first stage win since 2017. Meanwhile, Mark Cavendish struggled significantly due to apparent illness and intense heat, finishing over 30 minutes behind the main pack. Cavendish's pursuit of a record-breaking 35th stage victory is now in doubt. The Tour's Grand Depart from Florence featured unprecedented climbing and extreme conditions, setting a challenging tone for the race.