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, an unprecedented departure in unknown territory, ever more numerous climbs and an epilogue which 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 full of history will be crossed by the 176 runners.
Will we witness a new fight of champions between the title holder, Jonas Vingegaard and his long-time rival, Tadej Pogacar? One thing is certain, the two enemies are ready and ready to fight. However, many contenders hope to shake up the hierarchy and create a 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 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 will be able to count on the Polish Rafal Majka, the Spaniard Marc Soler or the British Adam Yates in his UAE-Emirates team. This new fierce war could see some disruptive elements. 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 make his return after three years of absence. In short, for those who want to do well, places are expensive.
The French, for their part, will not be there to make up the numbers. We will still have to do better than the previous edition during which only Christophe Laporte raised his arms upon arrival in Cahors. The latter, in great form since the start of the year (4 victories including two over Flandrian classics) intends to sow the blue revolt. The brand new French champion Valentin Madouas will try to make the tricolor flag shine on at least one of these 21 stages. The whimsical Julian Alaphilippe will want to get a second wind, by 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 secure 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.
