The contours of the Tour de France 2023 are taking shape with a big start from Bilbao and a first stage drawn around the Basque city, on July 1. 3,300 m of elevation will be on the menu for the 185 km, for a course intended for the strong.
The first yellow jersey of this Tour will have to overcome his adversaries on a difficult terrain between the coast and the Biscay hinterland with already 5 climbs on the program (Laukiz coast, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe coast, Morga coast, of Vivero, Pike Coast). The finish will be judged at the top of a 5% slope.
The three Basque provinces (Biscay, Álava and Guipuzcoa) are on the map for the first three days of racing, which will mark the start of the 110th edition. The peloton will evolve on steep roads, where the punchers will have to go on the offensive from the first slopes.
The second stage, on July 2, which will start from Vitoria-Gasteiz, will resemble the course of the “Clasica” of San Sebastian, which is traditionally held following the Tour. The Jaizkibel will be the main difficulty, the summit of which is 20 km from the finish.
In 1992, during the Tour de France prologue in San Sebastian, Miguel Indurain won and took possession of the yellow jersey, which he brought back to the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
The stay of the Grande Boucle in the Basque Country will end with a departure from Amorebieta-Etxano on July 3, heading for France and a still unknown city, which will be revealed by the organizers on October 27 next. It might be Bayonne. The organizers have announced that they have received several applications for this arrival on the other side of the Pyrenees.