Ready for a new crazy race? This Saturday, July 1, 2023 will mark the first day of the month, but above all the launch of the long-awaited 110th edition of the Tour de France. On the program, a new start in unknown territory, ever more numerous climbs and an epilogue that promises to be historic. This course will not forget these great champions. A tribute will be paid to Raymond Poulidor, in his native village, while memorable places filled with history will be crossed by the 176 runners.
Will we witness a new battle of champions between the defending champion, Jonas Vingegaard and his lifelong rival, Tadej Pogacar? One thing is certain, the two enemies are ready and ready to fight. Only, many suitors hope to shake up the hierarchy and create surprise. On the French side, this edition will be marked by Thibaut Pinot’s farewell to the world of cycling.
Last year, the Tour was suspended in the fight for the final victory between Pogacar, winner in 2021 and Vingegaard, winner of the 109th edition. Well helped by these teammates, will the Norwegian hold on as much as last year? The Slovenian intends to confirm this hypothesis thanks to new assets in his wheel. At his side, he can count on the Polish Rafal Majka, the Spaniard Marc Soler or the British Adam Yates in his UAE-Emirates team. This fierce new war could see some spoilers. Among these outsiders, we find the Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz, winner of the Tour of Italy 2019 and Olympic champion in 2020 and the Colombian Egan Bernal, winner of the event in 2019, who will also return after three years of absence. In short, in terms of those who want to get out of the game, places are expensive.
The French meanwhile will not be there to make up the numbers. It will still be necessary to do better than the previous edition during which only Christophe Laporte will have raised his arms, on the occasion of the arrival in Cahors. The latter, in great shape since the beginning of the year (4 victories including two on Flanders classics) intends to sow blue revolt. The brand new French champion Valentin Madouas will try to shine the tricolor on at least one of these 21 stages. The whimsical Julian Alaphilippe will want to catch a second wind, trying to achieve a performance as legendary as that of 2019, during which he will wear the yellow jersey two weeks after winning two stages. Another French asset: David Gaudu. The young FDJ climber will want to grab a podium at the end of the race, even if his recent performances are puzzling.
Heat, reliefs and spectators will dynamite this 110th Tour de France. Discover without further delay the 21 stages that await the runners from this Saturday, July 1, 2023.
