2023-06-26 21:47:00
STEPS 1
When: Saturday July 1
Departure : Bilbao
Arrival: Bilbao
Distance : 182km
Departure time: 12:30 p.m.
Type: Uneven
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First novelty of this 110th edition with high percentages, from the first day of racing. With a Grand Départ in the Basque Country, it might not be otherwise. If the organizers remained quite sober all the same on the difficulty, in other words that the first yellow jersey will not be a sprinter but a strong man. If the first part of the stage is not very flat, the last thirty kilometers will be frankly difficult, since the riders will face the well-known slopes of Vivero (4.2km at 7.3%) and the Pïke coast (2km at 10 %), judge of the Circuit de Gexto since 2020. At the top, there will be less than 10km to reach the finish line. What to see the favorites move input?
The profile of the 1st stage: Punch, from the start
STEPS 2
Date: Sunday July 2
Departure: Vitoria-Gasteiz
Arrival: San Sebastian
Distance : 208,9km
Departure time: 12:15 p.m.
Type: Uneven
New stage in the Basque Country and new reference to a Spanish race on the calendar. This time, it’s hard to avoid the wink with the Clasica San Sebastien, of which this 2nd stage resumes in its finale the mythical climb: the Jaizkibel. An ascent of 8.1km at 5.3%, in two parts with percentages that regularly exceed 7% on its final portion, which should once more push the punchers to the attack, with a summit located 16km from the arrival. With a stage a little easier than the day before, even if once once more badly flat, the chances of the breakaway will be a little higher, especially if a favorite wants to let go of the yellow jersey. But the Jaizkibel should in any case offer a new pass of arms.
The profile of the 2nd stage: On an air of Clasica
STEPS 3
When: Monday, July 3
Departure: Amorebieta-Etxano
Arrival: Bayonne
Distance: 187.4km
Departure time: 1:00 p.m.
Type : Plaine
Third day in the Basque Country but it’s time to return to French territory with a stage that should smile on the sprinters. Overall traced along the coast, this 3rd opus will offer four new climbs in its first part but, once past San Sebastian and then the border crossed, the riders will find a much flatter route favorable to the return of the peloton. It will still be necessary to be wary of the false flat at the exit of Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle, place of departure of the final time of the Tour 2018, where teams might try to harden to wear out certain sprinters.
The profile of the 3rd stage: Entry into France, entry on the scene of the sprinters?
STEPS 4
Date: Tuesday, July 4
Departure: Dax
Arrival: Nogaro
Distance : 181,8km
Departure time: 1:10 p.m.
Type : Plaine
After three trying stages and never really flat, at best, the riders will be able to breathe with a stage that is practically without difficulty, on the Landes and Gers roads. If the false flats of the Gers might somewhat complicate the management of the peloton vis-à-vis the breakaways, difficult to imagine anything other than a massive arrival on the racing circuit of Nogaro, where the racing cars of the peloton will want to offer themselves a one-shot victory.
The profile of the 4th stage: The sprint cars have an appointment on the Nogaro circuit
STEPS 5
When: Wednesday, July 5
Departure: Pau
Arrival: Laruns
Distance : 162,7km
Departure time: 1:05 p.m.
Type: High mountain
Two years later, bis repetita for the Tour de France, which offers a new Pau-Laruns stage beyond the Col du Soudet, the Col d’Ichère and the Col de Marie-Blanque. In 2020, success had been there with a great battle between the favorites, but the stage was then leaving the Pyrenees, just before the rest day. His positioning is less favorable to a big fight this time but we will still have first answers and the state of form of the favorites. With, the ascent of the Soudet by its hardest side (15.2km at 7.2%) and the infernal slopes of the Col de Marie-Blanque (7.7km at 8.6%, including 4km at 11% to finish) , watch out for failures.
The profile of the 5th stage: The mountain is already there!
STEPS 6
When: Thursday, July 6
Departure: Tarbes
Arrival: Cauterets-Cambasque
Distance : 144,9km
Departure time: 1:10 p.m.
Type: High mountain
Twenty-four years later, the Tour is making its return to the Cambasque plateau. The Pyrenean ascent had only been taken once in history, during the 1989 edition, with the victory of Miguel Indurain. However, the climb above Cauterets presents 16km at 5.4%, with an irregular slope and in particular 3km at more than 9% in its final portion, enough to offer an interesting playground to the favorites if they want to. , especially following the usual ascents of Aspin and Tourmalet, on its hardest side. But, for the big manoeuvres, you will probably have to wait a little longer, as the summit of the Tourmalet is so far from the steep slopes of Cauterets (43km). Unless slipping team members into the breakaway, who might well go to the end as the start of the stage is favorable to him.
The profile of the 6th stage: Aspin, Tourmalet, Cauterets… The great Pyrenean meeting
STEPS 7
When: Friday, July 7
Departure: Mont-de-Marsan
Arrival: Bordeaux
Distance : 169,9km
Departure time: 1:15 p.m.
Type : Plaine
New meeting for the sprinters in Bordeaux, at the end of one of the flattest stages of this 110th edition. The only difficulty of the day, the Béguey coast will pose no problem for the peloton’s racing cars, which will have a magnificent setting to express themselves, with an arrival on the quays and a straight line of two kilometers. Historically, Bordeaux has also very often smiled on sprinters, especially for twenty years with 6 massive arrivals out of 7. But beware: the last time the Tour de France started from the Basque Country, in 1992, sprinters were trapped in Bordeaux by the breakaway and Dutchman Rob Harmeling won.
The profile of the 7th stage: For a sprint classic?
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