It’s that time again. The 110th edition of cycling’s greatest spectacle is just virtually the corner and today we are going to be taking a deep swoop into everything you need to know well-nigh this year’s race, including the key stages, main contenders and top sprinters.
Starting on the 1st of July in Bilbao, the 110th edition looks set to be an intriguing one as the route features all five major mountain ranges in France and just one time trial. It’s a race for pure climbers, serving up a mouthwatering duel between the mountain goats throughout the race. Let’s get into it.
Key Stages to watch
Stage 6 – Tarbes – Cauterets – Cambasque – 144.9km – Mountains. 6th July 2023.
This short, but challenging stage takes in four categorised climbs including the Col d’Aspin and the legendary Col du Tourmalet. The stage doesn’t finish on the Tourmalet though. Instead, the peloton faces one last climb to the Cambasque Plateau.
Stage 9 – Saint Léonard de Noblat – Puy de Dôme – 182.4km – Medium Mountains. 9th July 2023.
35 years since the Tour de France last visited, the Puy de Dôme climb returns to the route this year. This stage is on constantly rolling terrain and looks like an energy sapping day. The Puy de Dôme isn’t the highest climb, however it’s gradients are scary. 13.3km at an stereotype of 7.7% including lengthy sections at 12%. There are sure to be significant gaps.
Stage 13 – Chtillon Sur Chalaronne – Grand Colombier – 137.8km – Mountains. 14th July 2023
Another short but spectacular stage awaits in the Jura mountains. A unappetizing start should indulge a breakaway to form en-route to the foot of the Grand Colombier, though a GC wrestle will likely be today’s focus. The final climb is a brute; 17.4km at an stereotype of 7.1%. We’ll get a good mid-race squint at the contenders’ respective conditions today.
Stage 16 – Passy – Combloux – 22.4km – ITT. 18th July 2023.
The only time trial of the race looks set to be one that will suit the GC riders. The route takes the riders uphill from the start as a gentle false unappetizing gives way to the Côte de la Cascade de Coeur. The climb is just 1.5km long but with an stereotype gradient of 9.4%, it’s a wall that will test everyone’s legs. It will moreover be interesting to see who chooses to go for a velocipede transpiration at the foot of the climb.
Stage 17 – Saint Gervais Mont Blanc – Courchevel – 165.7km – Mountains. 19th July 2023.
There’s no relaxing for the GC men pursuit the TT, as the queen stage of this edition awaits on stage 17. A tough day in the saddle will see the riders take on four categorised climbs surpassing the ascension of the Col de la Loze. This modern giant is over 28km long, with an stereotype gradient of 6%. Pursuit a short descent, the small matter of an 18% ramp up to Courchevel airfield closes the stage.
Stage 20 – Belfort – Le Markstein Fellering – 133.5km – Mountains. 22nd July 2023
At just 133.5km long, the stage is flipside short one, however this didn’t stop the organisers from including six categorised climbs. The final two climbs of the day should be where the whoopee happens, as the Petit Ballon leads into the Col du Platzerwasel surpassing the finish in Le Markstein Fellering.
Main Contenders
2022 saw Danish climber Jonas Vingegaard upset the established order by taking the first yellow jersey of his career, forcing two-time victor Tadej Pogaar to settle for second place. This edition looks set to be a near stat reprinting of this wrestle as both target the yellow jersey once more.
Jonas Vingegaard
The defending champion comes into this race in sparking form having soared to victory at the Dauphinè. The Dane won the week-long stage race by over two minutes, sending a message to all his rivals. Despite this, when he last faced Tadej Pogaar at Paris – Nice, Vingegaard was comfortably.
Tadej Pogaar
It’s been a sensational season for the Slovenian, plane by his impeccable standards. Surpassing picking up a wrist injury at Liège – Bastogne – Liège, Pogaar had taken a staggering 15 individual and nomenclature victories at the time of writing. His overall victory at Paris – Nice laid lanugo a marker to his rivals that in 2023 he doesn’t squint like taking any prisoners.
David Gaudu
The host nation’s weightier endangerment at a podium finish for the past few seasons. Second place at Paris – Nice was a sunny result, as he write-up Jonas Vingegaard and finished less than a minute overdue Tadej Pogaar. The lack of TT kilometres is moreover a major plus point for the Frenchman’s chances of reaching the podium.
Richard Carapaz
Already a Giro d’Italia champion, Carapaz will be aiming for the podium this time virtually and looks to be picking up form at the right time. Victory at the Mercan’Tour Classic Alpes Maritimes proves he will be a threat .
Enric Mas
The Spaniard’s performance at the Dauphinè left a lot to be desired, however his usual consistency when aiming for the unstipulated nomenclature should inspire hope of a good showing over the undertow of this race.
Ben O’Connor
O’Connor looked sharp in picking up a podium at the Dauphinè recently. He’s flipside rider that will be buoyed by the lack of TT kilometres.
Other potential contenders
Jai Hindley, Mikel Landa, Guillaume Martin, Andreas Leknessund, Matias Skjelmose, Simon Yates. Egan Bernal, Carlos Rodríguez
The Sprinters
After a few seasons in which the sprinting field has looked somewhat thin on the ground, this year looks set to be a vintage edition for the fast men.
Jasper Philipsen
The Belgian has taken a plethora of impressive victories over the past few seasons and has stated that the untried jersey is his main objective for the Tour. In Mathieu van der Poel, he moreover has a luxury teammate to help in his lead-out train.
Fabio Jakobsen
European champion Fabio Jakobsen will lead Soudal – Quickstep in the sprints for a second subsequent season. Jakobsen did take a stage early in last years’ race but struggled in the mountains.
Mark Cavendish
Before heading to the Giro d’Italia, the Manx Missile was struggling to get to grips with life at Astana Qazakhstan. An impressive victory on the final stage, however, will have boosted his conviction and gives him hope of delivering a 35th stage win at his final Tour de France. If he pulls it off, it will be one of the stories
Wout van Aert
The imperious all-rounder took the untried jersey in 2022 but has stated that it won’t be his primary objective this time around. Van Aert has once taken plenty of sprint victories at the Tour and will be a contender whenever he decides to go for it.
Mads Pedersen
Former world champion Mads Pedersen is now worldly-wise to compete with the weightier sprinters, proving he can win Grand Tour tuft sprints at the Giro d’Italia. The Dane was targeting the points nomenclature in Italy surpassing a premature withdrawal; I’d be surprised not to see him in the mix for the untried jersey.
Other Sprinters
Dylan Groenewegen, Caleb Ewan, Sam Bennett, Bryan Coquard, Alexander Kristoff, Michael Matthews, Peter Sagan, Giacomo Nizzolo.
The Brits
The Tour de France has undeniably wilt plane increasingly fascinating with the inclusion of British riders in recent years. The riders from the U.K have injected a fresh wave of excitement, captivating fans virtually the world. From the relentless determination of riders like Chris Froome, Tom Pidcock and Geraint Thomas to the exhilarating sprint finishes by Mark Cavendish, British cyclists have unceasingly delivered unforgettable moments that have elevated the spectacle of the Tour de France
The passionate support from British fans lining the roads, ornate in Union Jacks, remoter amplifies the electric atmosphere. It certainly makes well-spoken that the U.K is one of the cycling nations main power houses. This year, we have Mark cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan Team), Fred Wright (Team Bahrain Victorious), Thomas Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) and Simon Yates (Team Jayco–AlUla). Buckle up, we’re in for
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