2023-07-01 23:45:00
The 2023 Tour de France kicked off in Bilbao, Spain. Adam Yates (UK, UAE Team Emirates) won a duel with his twin brother Simon on the first day of the steep Basque hills. Carapaz also left on the first day following suffering mass and a broken knee in a crash.
Esteban Chavez in a basque beret (Colombia, EF Education Easypost) Photo: So Isobe Julien Alaphilippe, one of the favorites (France, Soudal Quickstep) Photo: So Isobe
176 players start the city of Bilbao Photo: So Isobe
July 1 (Sat) Bilbao-Bilbao image: ASO 1st stage Bilbao-Bilbao 182km image: ASO
The 110th Tour de France Grande Part (opening ground) is Bilbao, the capital of the Basque province of Vizcaya. It was the second time in 31 years that the tournament was held in Spain, and at that time Miguel Indurain (Spain) from Basque Country won the first day and won the overall championship for the third consecutive year.
Normally, the first day of the race would have included an individual time trial and a flat stage, but this year the race began with a hilly stage with an elevation gain of 3,300m and a distance of 182km, highlighting the Basque terrain. A total of 5 category mountains appear. All of them are “short and steep” hills, especially the final 3rd class mountain Côte de Piquet, which appears 11.6km before the finish, is tough with an average of 10% (2km), 12% from the remaining 1km, and the last 500m. 15.6% “wall” stands in the way. After that, downhill and flat roads continue to the city of Bilbao, and the winner is given the maillot jaune that every cyclist dreams of.
Five people including Pascal Einkorn (Lott Destiny, Netherlands) formed an escape group Photo: So Isobe
Immediately following the start at 12:55 local time, Pascal Einkorn (Netherlands, Lot Destiny) and Lilian Carmejane (France, Intermarche Circus Wanty) jumped out. As the main group saw this off, the escape was established smoothly. Covered in thin clouds and fairly pleasant weather, the Basque stage got off to a surprisingly calm start.
5 people who escaped in the first stage
Lilian Carmegane (France, Intermarche Circus Wanty)
Simon Guglielmi (France, Arkea-Samsic)
Pascal Einkorn (Lot Destiny, Netherlands)
Jonas Gregor (Denmark, Unoex Pro Cycling Team)
Valentin Ferron (France, Total Energie)
At 13.8km following the start, Gregor passed the top in the first category mountain of this tournament and got 2 points. One minute and 40 seconds behind in the peloton, Jumbo Visma, Alpecin Dukuning, and Sudar Quickstep, who are aiming for their second straight overall title, are in charge of the lead. The main group smoothly digested the distance to the finish, escaping with a maximum difference of 2 minutes and 30 seconds.
The difference between escape and proton did not increase by more than 3 minutes Photo: So Isobe
Einkorn took the lead at the sprint point set in the middle of the course (88.2km point), and Mads Pederson (Slovakia, Total Energy) competed with Peter Sagan (Slovakia, Total Energie), who will make his last Tour appearance in the peloton. Denmark, Riddle Trek) won with 10 points (Sagan with 9). After the two of them returned while exchanging words with smiles, the main group immediately got serious regarding running away.
With 50km to go until the finish, he caught a runaway group and increased his speed while crossing the 4th grade mountain, and European champion Fabio Jacobsen (Netherlands, Sudar Quickstep) dropped out. Similarly, the pure sprinters and leadout personnel are also delayed, and the group is gradually narrowed down.
Neilson Paules (EF Education Easypost, USA) jumps out of the group led by Jumbo Visma as the remaining 27.1km point enters the summit, the Class 2 Côte de Vivero (distance 4.2km/average 7.3%). . Georg Zimmermann (Germany, Intermarche Circus Wanty) reacted, and Paules came first following a heated battle for mountain points. With 5 points, last year’s Japan Cup winner was able to wear the Maillot Apova (mountain award jersey).
Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark, Jumbo Visma) who advances while being protected by teammates in the group Photo: So Isobe
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) in the brand new Slovenian champion jersey Photo: So Isobe
From the peloton, who was accelerating towards the final and most difficult mountainous Côte de Piqué, Vinyam Girmay (Eritrea, Intermarche Circus, Eritrea) Wanty) is also late. Then, at the remaining 22km point, an accident occurred in which Richard Carapaz (Ecuador, EF Education Easypost) and Enric Mas (Spain, Movistar) fell and were slammed into the road.
Mass withdrew from the race on the spot with a fractured right shoulder blade. Carapaz started running and finished late, only to discover that his left kneecap was broken. A little later, the team announced Carapaz’s retirement.
UAE Team Emirates and Jumbo-Visma lined up in the lead to raise the pace of the group, while the two Maillot Jaune contenders had their bad luck on the first day. Countless Basque fans entered the picket roaring with cheers, and Adam Yates (Great Britain), whom UAE Team Emirates called a ‘double ace’, picked up the pace in front of the group for Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia). Victor Rafe (France, Cofidis) followed, and Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark, Jumbo Visma) joined later.
With 500m remaining to the summit, Yates finished pulling and Pogacar led the climb despite it being the first day of the competition. Pogacar urged Vingego to change the lead, but the defending champion refused. Rafe attacked the loose pace due to restraint, but it was not successful, and the three of them passed the summit alone.
Adam Yates (United Kingdom, UAE Team Emirates) stepping forward as an assist for Pogacar Photo: CorVos
Victor Raphé (Cofidis, France) who comes forward when Pogacar and Vingego check it out Photo: So Isobe
A climbing match that was brought into chaotic development from the first day. However, on the descent, Simon Yates (England, Jaiko Alullah), Adam, David Godu (France, Groupama FDJ) and others joined the first three. It seemed that he would calm down for a while, but Adam attacked on the counter. Simon jumped right away.
The twin brothers, who met at a Grand Tour for the first time since splitting up the team in 2021, spearheaded the final stages of the opening stage of the Tour. In the back, Wout van Aert (Belgium) and Jumbo Visma caught up with Vingegaard and started chasing the Yates brothers. At first, Simon was in the lead, but Adam, who said, “The team car told me to keep going,” added to the lead, and the time lead gradually increased.
The Yates brothers jump out at the counter where they joined the leading group on the descent Photo: CorVos
Adam and Simon aim for the finish while rotating. Photo: CorVos
The Yates brothers passed Flamm Rouge (1km remaining) 19 seconds behind the chase group. A sprint showdown between Simon, who has won two stages in the 2019 tournament, and Adam, who has yet to win the Tour. It was a match that was expected, but Adam pulls away Simon, who regrets that “My leg cramped in the final stages” on the climb to the finish. Adam dived into the finish with open arms to claim his first Tour stage victory.
“I’m so happy I have no words. It’s a stage win in the Tour de France. I’m full of pride and joy. It was my job to set the pace for Tadej (Pogacar) on the climbs. But then. He attacked… (laughs) Simon responded to me jumping out on the descent, got permission over the radio and continued on. Simon was strong and almost fell behind halfway through,” Adam recalls the race.
Adam Yates (UK, UAE Team Emirates) who won the twin showdown and won his first section victory Photo: CorVos
Simon Yates (England, Jaiko Alullah) congratulating Adam Photo: CorVos Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia, UAE Team Emirates) finishing celebrating Adam Yates’ victory Photo: CorVos
“It will be the maillot jaune since the Tour in 2020. But the boss of the team is Tadej. So I want to run for Tadei for three weeks without being swayed by this result.” emphasized.
Pogacar won the sprint battle of the chasing group that came 12 seconds behind, and succeeded in “holding” the 3rd place in the section and the maillot blanc (Young Rider Award jersey), which has never been surrendered since the 13th stage in 2020.
While Vingegaard finished in the tsuiso group (9th), Egan Bernal (Colombia, Ineos Grenadiers) and Guillaume Martin (France, Cofidis) were 33 seconds behind. Basque-born Pello Bilbao (Spain, Bahrain Victorious) also finished 33 seconds behind following suffering a puncture on the way.
Adam Yates (UK, UAE Team Emirates) who won the first day and won the Maillot Jaune Photo: CorVos
Tadej Pogacar in maillot blanc (Slovenia, UAE Team Emirates) photo: CorVos Neilson Paules who shot Mailoapova (USA, EF Education Easypost) photo: CorVos
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