18 juli tour de france 2023

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Tour de France 2023: Kasper Asgreen wins stage 18 as breakaway stays clear – as it happened

A punishing day in the breakaway for Kasper Asgreen was richly rewarded as he held off the chasing sprinters by a few metres

• 20 Jul 2023 KOM classification: top five after stage 18
• 20 Jul 2023 General classification: top five after stage 18
• 20 Jul 2023 Points classification: top five after stage 18
• 20 Jul 2023 Top five on stage 18
• 20 Jul 2023 Kasper Asgreen (Soudal Quick-Step) wins stage 18!
• 20 Jul 2023 Abrahamson wins the intermediate sprint at Saint-Rambert-en-Bugey
• 20 Jul 2023 And they're off! We're racing on stage 18
• 20 Jul 2023 Jumbo-Visma's Van Aert leaves race
• 20 Jul 2023 Preamble

93km to go: Nothing is happening. Well, not in terms of the race situation. And that suits so many riders and teams just fine. The finish today will be flat-out, and no doubt it’ll be exciting, but for now it is all the same. The three-man break continues to work up front. Asgreen has a drink. Abrahamsen takes a bottle from his team car, that pulls up alongside.

Actually, the gap falls to 52sec.

96km to go: I was going to mention earlier that there are clearly issues with the current anti-doping regime. While I should stress that this is not intended as a reflection on any particular rider or team, here is James, on email, with some of the ongoing concerns:

“Some of the issues with the bio passport are as follows.

“Do they take measurements often enough? I mean, do they send sample collecters to a remote hotel on Mount Teide in Tenerife? And if they do, would the riders be warned in advance by ‘spotters’ at the airport and could they mask the skewed values in some way? Let’s also not forget that riders can miss two surprise tests without facing sanction.

“Why were some athletes that we now know were doping not flagged by the Biopassport? (In a similar vein (ha!) to plenty of riders that we know were doped to the gills never failing a ‘traditional’ test.

“Why were some riders reinstated after appeals by their national federations to the UCI / WADA, despite the latter being satisfied of their guilt?

“How faithfully is this enforced? I mean, the independent expert that the UCI used to assess profiles resigned in protest when the UCI refused to sanction ‘a certain Texan’ for suspicious values. Can we be confident they would take action if a lucrative star rider had strange values? The sport has never been more vulnerable to scandal. A top rider testing positive now would do incredible damage to what has become a global industry worth billions.

“How well does it work for riders who might have illnesses of use medications that affect their blood measurements? Are there riders who are effectively impossible to monitor?”

Coffee-clutching , bleary-eyed Australian sports fans are embracing the immortal words of Jon Bon Jovi this month: “You can sleep when you’re dead.”

That’s because July is delivering an RSL-sized smörgåsbord of northern hemisphere sport. While the Women’s World Cup may be time zone-friendly for Australians for the first time ever, there’s still men’s and women’s cricket, including the remaining Ashes series; the Open Championship in the United Kingdom and Tour de France and Le Tour Femmes in western Europe; and Formula One, where Australian Daniel Ricciardo is back behind the wheel. And it’s all happening past most people’s bed times, prompting many to choose between sleep and sporting stimulation.

101km to go : Asgreen is the Denmark’s current individual time trial champion. FACT.

He won it last month, in Aalborg. Do we have any readers in Aalborg? Get in touch by email or Twitter

Meanwhile, here are Lotto Dstny, celebrating having a rider in the break. “Who else,” indeed.

🇫🇷 #TDF2023 Who else? 🤪 Breakaway day for @VCampenaerts on stage 18 of @LeTour , he is joined by Asgreen and Abrahamsen. pic.twitter.com/1v5b3dKFUl — Lotto Dstny (@lotto_dstny) July 20, 2023

105km to go: Notably, the temperature stated on the Tour de France website for the front of the race is 29.9C. Unusual to see something that’s not in the 30s, these days.

(Of course, as you know, the actual temperature on the road will be more than that.)

107km: I told you Moeen Ali was good enough to bat at No 3 for England, didn’t I?*

108km to go: Alpecin-Deceuninck lead the way at the front of the peloton. The gap, still, refuses to budge from around one minute.

111km to go : I should have told you that Abrahamsen “won” the categorised climb at Côte de Chambéry-le-Haut. Not that it really matters.

🔥First place at the Côte de Chambéry-le-Haut for @abrajonas 🔥Première place à la Côte de Chambéry-le-Haut pour @abrajonas #TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/oHOJPziSDy — Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 20, 2023

113km to go: Not an awful lot happening, in truth. The gap is just over a minute. The three breakaway riders – Kasper Asgreen (Soudal–Quick-Step), Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team) and Victor Campanaerts (Lotto–Dstny) – continue to work hard up front.

There are some lovely TV pictures from the helicopter. Which is something.

118km to go: “I heard a take the other day that if riders were doping, it would happen months ago during training,” emails Tyler. “No longer are the days of blood bags in team cars. So makes you wonder whether the testing after races is just a mild inconvenience to the dehydrated riders after races.”

Sure, but that in theory is where the blood passport comes in. Tracking an athlete’s blood values consistently over a long period of time, rather than just at races, should show if there has been anything untoward away from competition. But again, that is in theory.

The scandal surrounding a certain British team showed that up until relatively recently, injecting Kenacort (Triamcinolone) out of competition was permitted under anti-doping regulations. Which was madness, in hindsight, considering its potency as a performance enhancer.

119km to go: Mathieu Van der Poel had a chat with Eurosport before the stage: “I think for us it’s difficult to predict … our biggest chance is to win today with Jasper. Tomorrow will be even more for a breakaway … but I hope the guys [peloton] will feel the stage from yesterday. We will see.

“He [Philipsen] is tired as well. But everybody is. I was really suffering yesterday on the last climb … but he’s a typical sprinter. He’ll feel good again towards the end [of the stage].”

122km to go: Daryl Impey, a former yellow jersey wearer, is guesting on commentary for Eurosport and he says there are plenty in the peloton are desperate for an easy (or easier) day and that is determining the shape of the race. Hard to argue.

“Everybody in this peloton is thinking about Paris,” he adds.

123km to go : Some welcome shade for the riders on this first climb. A tree-lined road winds its way up the Côte de Chambéry-le-Haut.

125km to go: “Like all cycling fans I have been digesting the past two stages,” emails Barry. “The domination of Jonas Vingegaard was so complete it has thrown up suspicions. Looking at the comments on the Guardian and elsewhere shows people wondering the same thing … Unfortunately the past scandals mean whoever is in yellow gets this, of course …

“So I guess my question is – will cycling ever get away from its dodgy past?”

I think the answer is no, it will never completely escape the past – but an amount of scepticism is surely both healthy and understandable in view of the history. Vingegaard is being tested left, right and centre and clearly there is no problem there. The cynicism is a shame, in one sense, but I would be more worried if no one was asking the question.

127km to go: The gap is down to exactly one minute, yet again.

128km to go: The first categorised climb of the day, at Côte de Chambéry-le-Haut, is coming up after another 6km of racing.

Jonas Vingegaard had a chat with Eurosport before the stage start and is asked if this is the form of his life: “I would say I’ve never been better in my life. Obviously, I’m super-happy about it.”

Of his preparation, he says: “It all starts in the early months … there you have to be … don’t have weeks when you cannot train. I had a really good winter. No injuries or sickness. You come to the first altitude camp in May, already in good shape, then you start building towards the Tour.”

And finally a word for Tadej Pogacar: “I have a lot of respect for Tadej … in my opinion he’s the best rider in the world … I only have good things to say about Tadej, he’s a really nice person as well.”

133km to go: Just looking at the “final”, as cycling people call it. When the race hits Bourg-en-Bresse and approached the finish, there is a sharp left-hander, then a sweeping right-hander, and there is a little uphill kick to the finish.

135km to go: The gap is 1min 11sec.

Here’s a screenshot of the gentlemen at roadside, thanks to a screenshot by Felix Lowe on Twitter:

French Dad's Army? Or... the unselected members of Israel-PremierTech cheering on their team-mates in the #TDF2023 ? pic.twitter.com/JWf4FST4Jy — Felix Lowe (@saddleblaze) July 20, 2023

138km to go: Team DSM, Alpecin-Deceuninck and Jayco-AlUla are the teams visible at the front of the race, working to control the gap to the break.

I think it’s entirely possible that we see this race come back together sooner than expected.

On Eurosport, we hear one of the Ineos Grenadiers sports directors on the radio, reminding their riders to keep hydrated, because it’s hot. Not exactly fascinating insight, it must be said, but in fairness the team radio idea is in credit after yesterday and the Pogacar drama.

140km to go: The gap is holding at around a minute. As I type, it’s 1min 06sec.

At the Women’s World Cup , hosts Australia have just beaten Ireland 1-0:

Elsewhere, England are trying to Bazball the hell out of Australia at Old Trafford:

Golf is occurring on the first day of the Open at Royal Liverpool :

County cricket is occurring at various locations around the UK:

147km to go: Jonas Vingegaard, who leads the overall race by seven and a half minutes, has a chat with his compatriot, Mads Pedersen.

Pedersen won stage eight, thanks to a fantastically powerful, long sprint finish, that was overshadowed by Mark Cavendish’s traumatic exit from the race:

149km to go: Indeed, it looks like the breakaway riders are taking it relatively easy up front, knowing that the peloton have no interest in catching them.

Dan Lloyd, one of the Eurosport commentators, describes Asgreen and Campanaerts as “absolute machines”, in terms of their power, which is right.

150km to go: William Fotheringham, in our pre-race preview , wrote this of today’s stage, which is spot on:

“A long flat run out of the Alps offers respite after the mountains. On paper this is a bunch sprint, but that depends on which sprinters have survived and what state their teammates are in. Last year the Belgian Jasper Philipsen was the pick of the sprinters in the second half of the Tour; if he and his teammate Van der Poel are in form, look no further.”

(I always find it interesting to read the pre-race previews in the final week … often interesting historical documents.)

152km to go: What appears to be a real-life French Dad’s Army is pictured at the roadside applauding the riders past.

“I’m not sure how active they are … but we salute them anyway,” quips Kirby.

The gap is exactly 1min.

154km to go: The average speed thus far today is 44.5 km/h, which is obviously crazily fast for mere mortals, but comfortable for these highly trained athletes riding in a bunch.

The three breakaway riders – Kasper Asgreen (Soudal–Quick-Step), Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team) and Victor Campanaerts (Lotto–Dstny) – will obviously be toiling a lot harder than the riders back in the bunch.

Again, it’s worth remembering how fiendishly hard yesterday’s stage was, if anyone is disappointed at the lack of action so far today. It’s hardly surprising that we are seeing a ceasefire, for want of a better word.

158km to go: Maybe the riders up front have eased up a bit, secretly hoping the peloton will catch them? I don’t know, but we have to find a bit of intrigue from somewhere.

159km to go: Now, Eurosport’s Kirby reckons that Adam Blythe has “ironed his sunglasses overnight. I’ve never seen such flat lenses.

“This is going to take quite a while,” Kirby adds, for the 100 or so miles that now lie ahead.

159km to go: Jasper Philipsen has dropped back to the team cars. He’s having a drink, resplendent in green jersey, and riding a green bike.

💚 Eyes on @Bourg_en_Bresse and a 5th stage win? 💚 Les yeux rivés vers @Bourg_en_Bresse et une 5ème victoire d'étape ? #TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/YFzQZuNjmY — Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 20, 2023

• Tour de France 2023
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Tour de France 2023 route: Every stage of the 110th edition in detail

This year's race has kicked off in Bilbao, in Spain's Basque Country. It looks like it'll be a Tour for the climbers, with the Puy de Dôme returning and 56,400 metres of climbing in all

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The 2023 men's Tour de France began in Bilbao, Spain on Saturday, July 1, with a route that looks set to be one for the climbers. It features four summit finishes, including a return for the iconic Puy de Dôme climb for the first time since 1988.

There is just one time trial across the three-week event, a short uphill race against the clock from Passy to Combloux over 22km. There are also returns for other epic climbs like the Col de la Loze and the Grand Colombier, with 56,400 metres of climbing on the Tour de France 2023 route.

The race started on foreign soil for the second year in a row, with a Grand Départ in the Spanish Basque Country , the setting for the race's 120th anniversary. There were two hilly stages in Spain, before the peloton crossed the border into France for a stage finish in Bayonne on day three. 

After visiting Pau for the 74th time on stage five, the race's first real mountain test came on stage six, leaving Tarbes and cresting the Col d’Aspin and Col du Tourmalet before a summit finish in Cauterets. 

On stage seven, the Tour’s second most visited city, Bordeaux, will welcome its first stage finish since 2010, when Mark Cavendish claimed his 14th of a record 34 stage wins. Leaving nearby Libourne the next day, stage eight will head east on a 201km slog to Limoges. 

Before the first rest day, the riders will wind up to the summit of the Puy de Dôme, a dormant lava dome which hasn’t featured in the Tour for 35 years. They’ll then enjoy a well-earned day off in Clermont-Ferrand before continuing their passage through the Massif Central. 

France’s national holiday, 14 July, will be celebrated next year with a summit finish on the Grand Colombier, the site of Tadej Pogačar ’s second stage win back in 2020. From there, the mountains keep coming. The riders will climb over the Col de Joux Plaine to Morzine on stage 14, before another mountaintop test in Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc the next day. 

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The sole individual time trial of the Tour de Franc route comes on stage 16, when a hilly 22km dash from Passy to Combloux will give the GC contenders a chance to force time gaps. The following day will bring the stage with the highest elevation gain, counting 5000m of climbing en route to the Courchevel altiport, via the Cormet de Roselend and the monstrous Col de la Loze. 

On stages 18 and 19, the sprinters are expected to come to the fore, with flat finishes in Bourg-en-Bresse and Poligny. 

The penultimate stage will play out in the country’s most easterly region, ascending the Petit Ballon, Col du Platzerwasel and finishing in Le Markstein, as the Tour de France Femmes did last year. 

The riders will then undertake a 500km transfer to the outskirts of Paris for the curtain-closing stage. The final day will start at France’s national velodrome in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, the track cycling venue for the 2024 Olympics, and will conclude with the customary laps of the capital’s Champs-Elysées. 

The 2023 Tour de France will begin on 1 July, with the winner crowned in Paris on 23 July. 

2023 Tour de France stage table

Jonas Vingegaard raced in the Basque Country this year

Tour de France route week summary

Tour de france week one.

The race began in Bilbao, starting in the Basque Country for the first time since 1992, when the Tour started in San Sebastian. The first two stages are packed full of climbs, with ten classified hills in over the opening couple of days, meaning there will be a fierce battle for the polka-dot jersey. Watch out for Basque fans going crazy on the roadside.

Stage three saw the race cross into France, which it will not leave for the rest of the 18 days. As expected we saw a sprint finish in Bayonne, even after four categorised climbs en-route. Nothing is easy this year.

The fourth day was another sprint, on a motor racing circuit in Nogaro, as the race moved, ominously, towards the Pyrenees. The Hors Categorie Col de Soudet on stage five was the first proper mountain of the race, and was followed by the Col de Marie Blanque, which has tough gradients. A GC day early on, although they are all GC days, really.

Stage five was a mountain top finish in Cauterets-Cambasque, but its gradients didn't catch too many out; it is the Col d'Aspin and Col du Tourmalet that will put people through it.

The seventh day of the race was a chance for the riders to relax their legs as the race headed northwest to an almost nailed-on sprint finish, before another opportunity for the the remaining fast men presented itself on stage eight - after two category four climbs towards the end, and an uphill finish.

The long first week of the race - which will have felt longer because last year had a bonus rest day - ended with the mythical Puy de Dôme.

Tour de France week two

Magnus Cort in the breakaway on stage 10 of the Tour de France 2022

The second week begins with a lumpy road stage around Clermont-Ferrand, starting from a volcano-themed theme park. This will surely be a day for the break. The next day could also be one if the sprint teams fail to get their act together, with two early categorised climbs potential ambush points.

Back into the medium mountains on stage 12, with a finish in the wine making heartland of the Beaujolais, Belleville. Another day for the break, probably, but none of the five categorised climbs are easy.

The following day, stage 13, is France's national holiday, 14 Juillet. The Grand Colombier at the end of the day is the big attraction, with its slopes expected to cause shifts on the GC. Stage 14 is yet another mountain stage as the Tour really gets serious, with the Col de la Ramaz followed by the Col de Joux Plane. The latter, 11.6km at 8.5%, will be a real test for a reduced peloton, before a downhill finish into Morzine.

The final day of week two, stage 15, is yet another day in the Alps before a rest day in Saint-Gervais-Mont-Blanc. There is nothing as fearsome as the previous days, but 4527m of climbing should still be feared.

Tour de France week three

Tadej Pogačar in the final time trial at the 2022 Tour de France

The third and final week begins with the race's only time trial, 22km long and with a lot of uphill. It is not a mountain event, but it is certainly not one for the pure rouleurs .

Stage 17 looks like the race's Queen Stage, with the final climb up to the Col de la Loze looking incredibly tough on paper, and in real life. That follows the Col de Saisies, the Cormet de Roselend and the Côte de Longefoy, adding up to 5,100m of climbing. The race might be decided on this day.

After that, there is a nice day for the sprinters on stage 18, with a flat finish in Bourg-en-Bresse surely one for the fast men. The next day, stage 19 could be a breakaway day or a sprint finish, depending on how desperate teams are feeling, or how powerful the remaining leadout trains are.

The final mountainous day comes on the penultimate stage, with the men following the Femmes lead and finishing in Le Markstein. However, there's no Grand Ballon, just the Petit Ballon, and so unless something chaotic happens, there should not be great time switches on this stage.

Then, at last, there is the usual finish on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, after the race heads out of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, which has a long-term deal to host the start of Paris-Nice too. ASO country.

Remember, this will be the last time Paris hosts the Tour de France until 2025. So, be prepared.

Tour de France 2023: The stages

Stage one: Bilbao to Bilbao (182km)

The opening stage is very lumpy

There was no easing into the Tour de France for the peloton this year, with a tough, punchy day in the Basque Country. Adam Yates took the first yellow jersey of the 2023 Tour de France after a scintillating stage in the Basque Country that saw the overall battle for the Tour take shape at the earliest opportunity.

The Briton emerged clear over the top of the final climb of the stage, the short and steep Côte de Pike, with his twin brother Simon a few seconds behind him. The pair worked well together to stay clear of the chasing bunch of GC contenders before Adam rode his brother off his wheel inside the final few hundred metres to claim victory.

Stage two: Vitoria-Gasteiz to Saint Sebastian (208.9km)

Still in the Basque Country, there is a Klasikoa theme to stage two

This was the longest stage of the Tour, surprisingly.  Five more categorised climbs meant  it was unlikely to be a sprint stage, including the Jaizkibel, famous from the Clasica San Sebastian, tackled on its eastern side 20km from the finish. This second stage from Vitoria Gasteiz to San Sebastian on the Basque coast followed many of the roads of the San Sebastian Classic, held here every summer.

An early break was soon established in the first 50km and established a three-minute advantage. However, the break was reeled in and a group, including the yellow jersey Adam Yates, pressed towards the finish with Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) clearly hoping it would finish in a sprint. 

Victor Lafay (Cofidis) had other ideas however, and with all and sundry already having attacked Van Aert, Lafay finally made it stick with a kilometre to go, holding off the reduced bunch all the way to the line.

Stage three: Amorebiata-Etxano to Bayonne (187.4km)

Still some hills, but this should be a sprint stage

The third stage took the riders from Amorebieta-Etxano in the Basque Country and back into France, finishing at Bayonne in what was always tipped to be a bunch sprint.  Ultimately, despite a very strong showing in the leadout by Fabio Jakobsen's Soudal-Quick Step team, it was Jasper Philipsen who triumphed , having benefited from a deluxe leadout by team-mate Mathieu Van Der Poel.

Mark Cavendish, who is hunting for a record 35th stage win in what will be his final Tour de France, was sixth.

Stage four: Dax to Nogaro (181.8km)

A nailed on bunch sprint, surely. Surely!

Now this one was always going to be a sprint finish, right? It finished on a motor racing circuit in Nogaro, meaning teams have a long old time to sort their leadout trains.  After a sleepy day out all hell broke lose on the finishing circuit with a series of high speed crashes. Jasper Philipsen was one of the few sprinters to still have a lead-out man at his disposal and when that lead-out man is of the quality of Mathieu van der Poel he was always going to be very difficult to beat. So it proved with Australian Caleb Ewan chasing him down hard but unable to come around him.  Philipsen's win handed him the green jersey too .

Stage five: Pau to Laruns (162.7km)

The first proper mountain, and the first sorting out, as early as stage five

The first Hors Categorie climb of the race came on stage five, the Col de Soudet, which is 15.2km at 7.2%, before the Col de Marie-Blanque and its steep gradients. It certainly ignited the GC battle!  

A break that at one point contained 37 riders was never allowed more than a few minutes, but that proved unwise for Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar behind. Ultimately, with the break already splintering on the final big climb – the Col de Marie-Blanque – Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe), riding his first Tour de France, attacked. 

With Hindley time trialling the largely downhill 18km to the finish, Vingegaard attempted to chase him down – and put time into Pogačar as he did so.

Picking up strays from the early break on the way, Vingegaard got to within 34 seconds of Hindley, but it wasn't enough to stop the Australian from taking the stage win, and the yellow jersey .

Stage six: Tarbes to Cauterets-Cambasque (144.9km)

While in the Pyrenees, why not tackle a few more mountains?

A day of aggressive racing in the Pyrenees towards the first summit finish saw Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) take the yellow jersey but Tadej Pogačar (UAE Emirates) win the stage .

Having had his team set a blistering pace on the Col du Tourmalet, Vingegaard attacked with 4km until the summit. Only Pogačar could follow him as yellow jersey holder Jai Hindley dropped back to the peloton

Having joined up with super domestique Wout van Aert over the top, the group of favourites were towed up the first half of the final climb before Vingegaard attacked. Once again Pogačar followed and with two kilometers to go the Slovenian counter-attacked.

He clawed back nearly half a minute by the line, making the race for yellow a three horse race between those two and Hindley in the process. 

Stage seven: Mont-de-Marsan to Bordeaux (169.9km)

Bordeaux is always a sprint finish

Renowned as a sprint finish town, Bordeaux didn't disappoint the hopeful fastmen –except perhaps for Mark Cavendish, who had to concede victory to hat-trick man Jasper Philipsen, despite a very strong charge for the line from the Manxman .

With Cavendish hunting that elusive 35th record stage win, and having won here last time the Tour came visiting in 2010, many eyes were on the Astana Qazaqstan rider, with on-form Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) who has won twice already, starting as favourite.

The day began with Arkéa-Samsic's Simon Gugliemi forging what turned out to be a solo break that lasted 130 kilometres. He was joined by Pierre Latour (TotalEnergies) and Nans Peters (Ag2r-Citroën) halfway through the stage, the trio forming a purposeful triumvirate of home riders.

However, with the sprinters and their teams on the hunt and few places to hide on what was a hot day crammed with long, straight roads, the break served only as a placeholder for the day's main action in Bordeaux.

A technical finish with roundabouts aplenty, first Jumbo-Visma (in the service of GC leader Jonas Vingegaard) and then Alpecin-Deceuninck took the race by the scruff of the neck in the final. Philipsen enjoyed a marquee leadout from team-mate Mathieu Van Der Poel, but when Cavendish turned on the afterburners at around 150m and leapt forward, the whole cycling world held its breath.

That 35th stage win had to wait for another day though, with Philipsen sweeping past in what was yet another command performance from the Belgian.

Stage eight: Libourne to Limoges (200.7km)

Three categorised climbs in the final 70km could catch people out

Mads Pedersen powered to victory up a punchy finish on stage eight of the  Tour de France , managing to hold off green jersey  Jasper Philipsen  in the process.

Pedersen, the Lidl-Trek rider, now has two Tour stage wins to his name, in a finish which mixed pure sprinters and punchier riders. Alpecin-Deceuninck's Philipsen was third, with Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) in third. To prove how mixed the top ten was, however, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) finished behind the likes of Corbin Strong (Israel-Premier Tech) and Bryan Coquard (Cofidis).

On a day which could have been one for the breakaway, the race was controlled expertly by Jumbo, Trek and Alpecin for their options, and so the escapees were never allowed much time. Sadly, stage eight turned out to Mark Cavendish's last - the Astana-Qazaqstan rider crashed heavily and was forced to abandon .

Stage nine: Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat to Puy de Dôme (184km)

The Puy de Dôme is back, and is vicious

In a north American showdown it was Canada that came out on top as  Michael Woods  beat American rival  Matteo Jorgenson  to the win atop the legendary Puy de Dôme.

Jorgenson had gone solo form a breakaway with 40km left to race. However, on the slopes of the Puy de Dôme where the gradient remains over 105 for more than four kilometres, Woods closed the gap and came around Jorgenson with just 600m left to go.

In the final kilometre, of what had been a blisteringly hot day with temperatures north of 30 degree Celsius, Tadej Pogačar managed to drop Jonas Vingegaard but the Jumbo-Visma captain dug deep to minimise his losses and came across the line eight seconds down.

Stage 10: Vulcania to Issoire (162.7km)

Five categorised climbs over this Volcanic stage

The breakaway had its day in Issoire, as Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious) won beneath the scorching sun in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. 

After a frantic start, the mood finally settled and a 14-rider move went clear. Krists Neilands (Israel Premier Tech) launched a solo bid with around 30km remaining, but was caught in the closing moments by a chasing group led by Bilbao. The Spaniard then policed attacks in the finale, before sprinting to his team's first victory at this year's race. 

"For Gino," Bilbao said afterwards, dedicating his win to his late teammate, Gino Mäder .  

Stage 11: Clermont-Ferrand to Moulins (179.8km)

The flat finalé hints at a sprint, but it could be a break day

After a difficult previous day that was hot and hilly, the bunch allowed the break to go very quickly, with Andrey Amador, Matis Louvel and Daniel Oss quickly gaining three minutes. They were kept on a tight leash though, with the sprinters' teams eyeing a bunch finish. And this they delivered, with Jasper Philipsen winning a fourth stage after a tricky finale.

Stage 12: Roanne to Belleville-en-Beaujolais (168.8km)

Hills return, with some steep, punchy ones towards the end

Just like stage ten, Thursday's stage 12 was a fast and frenetic affair on the road to Belleville-en-Beaujolais. A strong group of puncheur type riders eventually got up the road after the breakaway took more than 80 kilometres to form. Ion Izagirre (Cofidis) came out on top at the finish, soloing to the line after a big attack on the final climb of the day. 

Stage 13: Châtillon-Sur-Chalaronne to Grand Colombier (138km)

Welcome to the Alps, here's an hors categorie climb

Michał Kwiatkowski took an impressive solo victory on the summit finish of the Grand Colombier. The Polish rider caught and passed the remnants of the day's breakaway which included Great Britain's James Shaw to grab his second-ever Tour stage win. Behind the Ineos rider, Tadej Pogačar attacked and took eight seconds back on Jonas Vingegaard in the fight for the yellow jersey. 

Stage 14: Annemasse to Morzine Les Portes du Soleil (151.8km)

Five categorised climbs, four of which are one and above. Ouch.

Carlos Rodríguez announced himself on his Tour de France debut on stage 14 with a career-defining victory in Morzine. While all eyes were on Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar, the Spaniard broke free on the descent of the Col de Joux Plane and descended as if on rails to the finish. 

Stage 15: Les Gets Les Portes du Soleil to Saint-Gervais-Mont-Blanc (179km)

Back to a summit finish, there is no escape at this Tour

The breakaway had its day at the summit of Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc. After dedicating his career to domestique duties, the victory went to Wout Poels (Bahrain Victorious), who launched a late attack on the steepest slopes and held off Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) to the line.

Stage 16: Passy to Combloux ITT (22.4km)

A time trial! But not a flat one

Stage 16 brought the fewest time trial kilometres at the Tour de France in 90 years. On the uphill test to Combloux, Jonas Vingegaard proved the strongest , and by quite a way, too. The Dane's winning margin of 1-38 over Tadej Pogačar left him in the driving seat to taking his second Tour title.

Stage 17: Saint-Gervais-Mont-Blanc to Courchevel (165.7km)

Back to  the proper mountains, and there will be no let up on the final Wednesday

The Queen stage brought a career-defining victory for Austrian Felix Gall (AG2R Citroën), but all eyes were on the GC battle, and the demise of Tadej Pogačar. The UAE Team Emirates rider cracked on the slopes of the Col de la Loze, losing almost six minutes to Jonas Vingegaard, and slipping to 7-35 in the overall standings.

Stage 18: Moûtiers to Bourg-en-Bresse (184.9km)

Two category four climbs on the road to a chicken-themed sprint

Denmark's Kasper Asgreen put in one of the best performances of the race to grab his first-ever Tour victory . The Soudal Quick-Step rider was part of a four man breakaway that managed to hold on all the way to the line by just a handful of seconds ahead of the peloton.

Stage 19: Moirans-en-Montagne to Poligny (172.8km)

Another sprint, maybe, or a heartbreaking chase which fails to bring the breakaway back

Matej Mohorič of Bahrain Victorious took an emotional victory in Poligny after a chaotic day of racing. The Slovenian rider launched an attack with Kasper Asgreen and Ben O'Connor on the final climb of the hilly stage before beating his breakaway compatriots in a three-up sprint for the line. It was Mohorič's third-ever Tour victory.

Stage 20: Belfort to Le Markstein Fellering (133.5km)

One last chance. Six categorised climbs, will it shake up the GC?

The race might be very near Germany at this point, but Belfort remained French after the Franco-Prussian War, unlike the territory the penultimate stage travels into. 

This is the last chance saloon for all teams and riders who aren’t sprinters, especially those with GC ambitions. However, it is not quite the task of the previous Alpine days, with the six categorised climbs not the most testing. Still, there will be a lot of people trying to make things happen.

Stage 21: Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines to Paris (115.1km)

The classic Parisian sprint. Lovely.

This will be the last time the Tour heads to Paris until at least 2025, so make the most of those shots of the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées. The classic procession will happen for the first 55km until the race hits the Champs for the first time 60km in. From that point on, anything goes, although that anything will probably be a bunch sprint.

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Adam is Cycling Weekly ’s news editor – his greatest love is road racing but as long as he is cycling on tarmac, he's happy. Before joining Cycling Weekly he spent two years writing for Procycling, where he interviewed riders and wrote about racing, speaking to people as varied as Demi Vollering to Philippe Gilbert. Before cycling took over his professional life, he covered ecclesiastical matters at the world’s largest Anglican newspaper and politics at Business Insider. Don't ask how that is related to cycling.

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Sprint | Saint-Rambert-en-Bugey (132.9 km)

Points at finish, kom sprint (4) côte de chambéry-le-haut (62.1 km), kom sprint (4) côte de boissieu (105.2 km), youth day classification, team day classification, race information.

• Date: 20 July 2023
• Start time: 13:35
• Avg. speed winner: 44.951 km/h
• Race category: ME - Men Elite
• Distance: 184.9 km
• Points scale: GT.A.Stage
• UCI scale: UCI.WR.GT.A.Stage
• Parcours type:
• ProfileScore: 18
• Vert. meters: 1216
• Departure: Moûtiers
• Arrival: Bourg-en-Bresse
• Race ranking: 1
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• Won how: Sprint of small group
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Tour de France 2023 stage guide – Schedule and key dates as Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard chase yellow

Updated 30/06/2023 at 16:11 GMT

Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar resume their Tour de France rivalry as the duo do battle for the yellow jersey this July. Defending champion Vingegaard and the two-time winner Pogacar top the list of favourites as Egan Bernal makes his first Tour appearance in three years. So what is the route and schedule for this year’s Tour? And what are the key stages in the race?

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Tour de france 2023 route map.

TOUR DE FRANCE 2023 - Seven key stages

Stage 1, july 1: bilbao – bilbao (182km, hills).

STAGE 6, JULY 6: TARBES – CAUTERETS-CAMBASQUE (145KM, HIGH MOUNTAINS)

STAGE 9, JULY 9: SAINT-LEONARD-DE-NOBLAT – PUY DE DOME (182KM, MEDIUM MOUNTAINS)

STAGE 13, JULY 14: CHATILLON-SUR-CHALARONNE – GRAND COLOMBIER (138KM, MOUNTAINS)

STAGE 16, JULY 18: PASSY – COMBLOUX (22.4KM, ITT)

STAGE 17, JULY 19: SAINT-GERVAIS MONT-BLANC – COURCHEVEL (166KM, HIGH MOUNTAINS)

STAGE 20, JULY 22: BELFORT – LE MARKSTEIN FELLERING (133.5KM, MEDIUM MOUNTAINS)

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Tour de France 2023 Route stage 18: Moûtiers – Bourg-en-Bresse

Two minor obstacles are situated in the middle section of the race. The Côte de Chambéry-le-Haut is 1.6 kilometres long and averaging 4.1% and the Côte de Boisseu is 2.4 kilometres at 4.7%. There are still almost 80 kilometres to go after the latter.

Bourg-en-Bresse saw two Tour de France stage finishes in its history. On both occassions it was a fast finisher who took the spoils – Thor Hushovd in 2002 and Tom Boonen in 2007.

The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds.

Ride the route yourself? Download GPX stage 18 2023 Tour de France.

Another interesting read: results 18th stage 2023 Tour de France.

Tour de France 2023 stage 18: routes, profiles, more

Click on the images to zoom

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Trending Teams

Highlights: 2023 tour de france, stage 18.

Check Out the Route for the 2023 Tour de France

It’s going to be a mountainous ride through France for the men in the 2023 edition of the Tour.

The route for the 2023 men’s Tour de France was released on Thursday, October 27, and now it’s almost time for the Tour to start.

There’s just one individual time trial set, a 22km race against the clock which will open up the final week of racing on Stage 16. The riders will cover 3,404 kilometers (2,115 miles) in total over the 21 stages.

It all gets started on July 1 and runs through July 23 just in time for the Tour de France Femmes to begin on the same day that the men ride into the Champs-Élysées.

Here are the stages for the 2023 Tour de France:

• Stage 1 : July 1 - Hilly - Bilbao to Bilbao - 182km
• Stage 2 : July 2 - Hilly - Vitoria-Gasteiz to Saint-Sébastien - 209km
• Stage 3 : July 3 - Flat - Amborebieta-Etxano to Bayonne - 185km
• Stage 4 : July 4 - Flat - Dax to Nogaro - 182km
• Stage 5: July 5 - Mountain - Pau to Laruns - 165km
• Stage 6 : July 6 - Mountain - Tarbes to Cauterets-Cambasque - 145km
• Stage 7 : July 7 - Flat - Mont-De-Marsan to Bordeaux - 170km
• Stage 8 : July 8 - Hilly - Libourne to Limoges - 201km
• Stage 9 : July 9 - Mountain - Saint-Léonard-De-Noblat to Puy de Dôme - 184km
• July 10 - Rest Day
• Stage 10 : July 11 - Hilly - Vulcania to Issoire - 167km
• Stage 11 : July 12 - Flat - Clermont-Ferrand to Moulins - 180km
• Stage 12 : July 13 - Hilly - Roanne to Belleville-en-Beaujolais - 169km
• Stage 13 : July 14 - Mountain - Châtillon-Sur-Chalaronne to Grand Colombie - 138km
• Stage 14 : July 15 - Mountain - Annemasse to Morzine Les Portes Du Soleil - 152km
• Stage 15 : July 16 - Mountain - Les Gets Les Portes Du Soleil to Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc - 180km
• July 17 - Rest Day
• Stage 16 : July 18 - Individual Time Trial - Passy to Combloux - 22km
• Stage 17 : July 19 - Mountain - Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc to Courchevel - 166km
• Stage 18 : July 20 - Hilly - Moûtiers to Bourg-En-Bresse - 186km
• Stage 19 : July 21 - Flat - Moirans-en-Montagne to Poligny - 173km
• Stage 20 : July 22 - Mountain - Belfort to Le Markstein Fellering - 133km
• Stage 21 : July 23 - Flat - Saint-Quentin-En-Yvelines to Paris Champs-Élysées - 115km

Dan is a writer and editor living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and before coming to Runner’s World and Bicycling was an editor at MileSplit. He competed in cross country and track and field collegiately at DeSales University.

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Tour de France 2023 preview: Full schedule and how to watch live

Another thrilling battle at the 2023 Tour de France is in sight as Tadej Pogacer will try to take back the Tour de France crown that he lost to Jonas Vingegaard last year. Here is all you need to about this year’s race which begins on 1 July in Bilbao, Spain.

The Tour de France 2023 has all the makings of another road cycling thriller.

Will the world’s most prestigious race be the third act in the epic battle between defending champion Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark and 2021 champion Tadej Pogacar ?

Soon we will have all the answers with the 110 th edition of the French Grand Tour starting on Saturday (1 July) in Bilbao, the largest city in the Basque Country, Spain.

Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) is hoping to be crowned champion again, after he won last year’s race as just the second Dane in history ahead of Slovenia’s two-time Tour de France winner, Tadej Pogacar

It is the 110 th edition of the French Grand Tour that will feature Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Richard Carapaz , silver medallist Wout van Aert and bronze medallist Pogacar.

La Grande Boucle will cover 3,404 km over the 21 stages, with the final stage taking place at the Champs-Élysées in Paris on 23 July. There are eight flat stages, four hilly stages, one time trial and eight mountain stages. Four of these have summit finishes, including the stage to the mythical Puy de Dôme.

176 riders will be on the start line at the Guggenheim Museum, one of Bilbao’s major tourist attractions, with eight riders for each of the 22 teams.

Below you will find everything you need to know about this year’s Tour de France.

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In 2022, we witnessed a breathtaking duel between Vingegaard and Pogacar , and they are coming into this year’s race as the two big favourites.

The 26-year-old Dane has participated in four stage races this season, having won three of them in dominant fashion - O Gran Camiño, Itzulia Basque Country, and most recently the Critérium du Dauphiné.

Pogacar and Vingegaard last faced each other at the Paris-Nice in March, where the 24-year-old Slovenian claimed victory ahead of David Gaudu and Vingegaard .

UAE Tean Emirates captain Pogacar has claimed no less than 14 victories this season including Paris-Nice, Tour of Flanders, Amstel Gold Race and La Flèche Wallonne, before he crashed and broke his wrist at the Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

The two-time Il Lombardia winner made his comeback last week, claiming both the Slovenian national time trial and road race championship.

2022 Giro d’Italia winner Jai Hindley is going to be the leader on a strong BORA - Hansgrohe team. At the Critérium du Dauphiné, 27-year-old Hindley finished fourth behind Adam Yates of the UAE Team Emirates and his compatriot Ben O'Connor of AG2R Citroën Team.

With his win at last year’s Giro, the Australian has shown that he has the endurance needed to compete in a three-week Grand Tour.

22-year-old Mattias Skjelmose (Denmark) stunned the world of cycling by winning the Tour de Suisse earlier this month ahead of the likes of Remco Evenepoel and Juan Ayuso .

He continued his impressive run and was crowned Danish road race champion on Sunday (25 June), after a spectacular solo effort in the final kilometres.

The Trek-Segafredo rider has participated in one Grand Tour previously as he rode the Giro d’Italia last year finishing just 40 th . This year’s Tour de France will be a test of his stamina.

And dont count out Enric Mas. The 28-year-old Spaniard has finished second in the general classification at the Vuelta a España three times and is hoping to make the podium at the Tour.

The Movistar rider came in top six overall in three stage races this season.

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Other key riders at the tour de france 2023, green jersey.

Last year's points competition winner Wout van Aert has already announced that the green jersey will not be a target for him as he aims to win stages and prepare for the UCI Cycling World Championships that takes place just two weeks after the finish in Paris.

That leaves Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Deceuninck as the favourite to take the crown. The Belgian clinched two stages last season - including the most prestigious sprint finish on the Champs-Élysées - and he has already six race wins this season. His versatile teammate Mathieu van der Poel seems to be in the shape of his life, and if the Paris-Roubaix winner gets the freedom to chase the green jersey, watch out for the Dutchman.

The biggest threat might come from Soudal-Quick Step that always target stage wins with their sprinter. Fabio Jakobsen will be their trusted sprinter, like last year. The Dutchman is supported by a strong sprint cast with the most experienced lead-out man in the peloton, Michael Mørkøv, to set him up. 

Sprinter’s teams like Team Jayco Alula with Dylan Groenewegen and Lotto Dstny with Caleb Ewan will also chase stage wins and are contenders for the green jersey.

Denmark’s Mads Pedersen and Biniam Girmay of Eritrea are not only great sprinters but also good climbers. That ability can secure points for the green jersey classification on the more hilly stages. Pedersen took his first Tour de France stage win in last year’s edition and claimed the green jersey in the Vuelta a España, but like van Aert he has announced his focus is to arrive in top shape at the UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow.

Polka dot jersey

In the last three editions of the Tour de France, the winner of the king of the mountains classification has also been the overall winner of the Tour de France. Therefore, Pogacar and Vingegaard are the top contenders this year.

For the French riders it will be a special achievement to be on the podium in Paris wearing the polka dot jersey. Thibaut Pinot , who was king of the mountains classification at the Giro d’Italia in May is keen on challenging the two top guns as is 2019 polka dot jersey winner Romain Bardet .

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Tour de france 2023 route and important stages.

The 2023 Tour de France begins with a hilly stage containing some 3,400 metres of climbing. Contenders for the overall win will have to be ready from the start on the hills around Bilbao. The stage suits classics specialist like Mathieu van der Poel , Wout van Aert and Julian Alaphilippe who all want to be the first rider to wear the yellow jersey at this year’s Tour de France.

After another hilly stage in the Basque Country to San Sebastian on stage two, the peloton will cross the French border and resume the race with flat stages on day three and four. 

Stage five will take the peloton on the first mountain stage in the Pyrenees which includes Col du Soudet and Col de Marie Blanque. The following day, the riders will tackle the mythical mountain Col du Tourmalet before finishing the stage on the category 1 climb Cauterets-Cambasque. Week one concludes with an eagerly anticipated summit finish to the volcano Puy de Dôme that returns to the Tour after a 35-year absence.

On stage 13 in week two, the teams face a gruelling finish to Col du Grand Colombier in the Jura mountains. The two following days will also test the riders’ climbing skills with stage 15 featuring a summit finish to Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc in the Alps to end week two.

The final week kicks off with stage 16, the only individual time trial in the race. It is just 22 kilometres long but contains a fair amount of climbing, especially in the second part of the route. After the time trial, the queen stage of the Tour de France with more than 5000 metres of climbing is sure to generate plenty of drama. Colo de la Loze, the highest point of the race at 2304m, is the biggest obstacle on this stage being 28 kilometres long, with an average gradient of six percent.

Two flatter stages follow ahead of a short but mountainous penultimate stage in the Vosges on stage 20. It will be the last chance for the general classification contenders to gain time before the celebrations in Paris.

Africa Cycling Revolution (Trailer)

Day-by-day route of the 2023 tour de france.

Saturday 1 July: Stage 1 - Bilbao-Bilbao (182km)

Sunday 2 July: Stage 2 - Vitoria-Gasteiz - Saint-Sebastian (208.9km)

Monday 3 July: Stage 3 - Amorebieta - Etxano-Bayonne (187.4 km)

Tuesday 4 July: Stage 4 - Dax - Nogaro (181.8 km)

Wednesday 5 July: Stage 5 - Pau - Laruns (162.7 km)

Thursday 6 July: Stage 6 - Tarbes - Cauterets-Cambasque (144.9 km)

Friday 7 July: Stage 7 - Mont-de-Marsan - Bordeaux          (169.9 km)

Saturday 8 July: Stage 8 - Libourne - Limoges (200.7 km)

Sunday 9 July: Stage 9 - Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat - Puy de Dôme (182.4 km)

Monday 10 July: Rest Day

Tuesday 11 July: Stage 10 - Vulcania - Issoire (167.2 km)

Wednesday 12 July: Stage 11 - Clermont-Ferrand - Moulins (179.8 km)

Thursday 13 July: Stage 12 - Roanne - Belleville-en-Beaujolais (168.8 km)

Friday 14 July: Stage 13 - Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne - Grand Colombier (137.8 km)

Saturday 15 July: Stage 14 - Annemasse - Morzine Les Portes du Soleil       (151.8 km)

Sunday 16 July Stage 15 - Les Gets les portes du soleil - Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc (179 km)

Monday 17 July: Rest Day

Tuesday 18 July: Stage 16 - Passy - Combloux (22.4 km individual time trial)

Wednesday 19 July: Stage 17 - Saint-Gervais-Mont-Blanc - Courchevel (165.7 km)

Thursday 20 July: Stage 18 - Moûtiers - Bourg-en-Bresse (184.9 km)

Friday July 21: Stage 19  - Moirans-en-Montagne - Poligny (172.8 km)

Saturday July 22: Stage 20 - Belfort - Le Markstein Fellering (133.5 km)

Sunday July 23: Stage 21 - Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines - Paris Champs-Élysées (115.1 km)

Men's Individual Time Trial - Cycling Road | Tokyo 2020 Replays

How to watch the 2023 tour de france live.

The Tour de France will be shown live in 190 countries. Here is a list of the official broadcast partners across different territories.

Basque Country - EiTB

Belgium - RTBF and VRT

Czech Republic - Česká Televize

Denmark - TV2

Europe - Eurosport Eurosport

France - France TV Sport France TV Sport and Eurosport France

Germany - Discovery+ and ARD

Ireland - TG4

Italy - Discovery+ and RAI Sport

Luxemburg - RTL

Netherlands - Discovery+ and NOS

Norway - TV2

Portugal - RTP

Scandinavia - Discovery+

Slovakia - RTVS

Slovenia - RTV SLO

Spain - RTVE

Switzerland - SRG-SSR

United Kingdom - Discovery+ and ITV

Wales - S4C

Canada - FloBikes

Colombia - CaracolTV

Latin America & Caribbean: ESPN

South America - TV5 Monde

United States - NBC Sports and TV5 Monde

Asia Pacific

Australia - SBS

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Tour de France: Jai Hindley wins stage 5 as Vingegaard drops Pogacar in Pyrenees

Australian moves into yellow jersey after day-long attack

Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe) won a tumultuous stage 5 of the Tour de France in Laruns to move into the yellow jersey, but Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) is now the clear favourite for overall victory after he dropped Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) on the Col de Marie Blanque, gaining more than a minute on his rival in the process.

Vingegaard is now up to second overall, 47 seconds behind Hindley, and the Dane is already some 53 seconds ahead of Pogačar after an ominous show of force on the Tour’s entry into the Pyrenees. Paris is still two and a half weeks away, but the road to overall victory very clearly runs through Vingegaard.

The Basque Grand Départ meant the first high mountains of this Tour arrived much earlier than normal, but there was nothing cagey about the peloton’s approach to a day that produced spectacle from start to finish, with Hindley part of a dangerous split that went clear before the road had even started to climb.

Powered by strongmen that included Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), that sizeable group built up a maximum lead of four minutes over the top of the Col de Soudet and they still had 2:30 in hand at the base of the Col de Marie Blanque.

Four kilometres from the top of the Marie Blanque, Hindley tracked an acceleration from Felix Gall (AG2R-Citroën) and the 2021 Giro d’Italia winner then proceeded to drop the Swiss rider to crest the summit alone and drop to the finish in Laruns as the stage winner.

“I was sort of improvising out there and enjoying bike racing and I just managed to find myself in that group,” said Hindley, who is making his Tour debut. “I enjoyed it out there today. It's really incredible. I have no words – I really have no words.”

Further down the mountain, Jumbo-Visma had taken over the pace-making in the yellow jersey group from UAE Team Emirates, and when Sepp Kuss went into overdrive on the upper slopes of the Marie Blanque, only Vingegaard and Pogačar could follow.

Vingegaard was clearly encouraged by what he saw. 1500m or so from the summit, he delivered a familiar acceleration that Pogačar simply could not match. While Pogačar battled to limit his losses, Vingegaard zoomed ahead into the mist, picking off the remnants of the break as he set about closing the gap to Hindley.

“We didn’t think this was the perfect stage for me, but, yeah, then when they started riding on the last climb, I had the feeling I had good legs,” Vingegaard said. “I said to Sepp that maybe he goes on the front. He did and I decided to attack as well.”

As simple and as complicated as that. The defending champion crested the summit 1:05 down on Hindley but 36 seconds clear of Pogačar, and he continued to improve his position on the 18.5km that remained to the finish in Laruns.

Vingegaard caught Gall, Emanuel Buchmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) in the closing kilometres, coming home fifth on the stage, 34 seconds behind the Australian.

Pogačar, meanwhile, waited for overnight leader and teammate Adam Yates on the descent off the Marie Blanque, but the damage was still considerable by the finish. In the Basque Country at the weekend, Pogačar picked off the bonus seconds, but the momentum of the race is suddenly all with Vingegaard, who confessed that he was surprised by his gains.

“Actually, yes,” Vingegaard said. “I wanted to test him a bit. And my legs were good and I’m super happy with where I am. I’m super happy with taking a minute, that’s a good time gain for me.”

How it unfolded

The opening instalment of the Pyrenean doubleheader saw the race encounter its first hors categorie ascent, but in keeping with the anarchic, ‘new normal’ of the modern Tour, the first defining moment of the day came even before the climbing had even begun.

The flat terrain after the start Pau encouraged a rapid start, and the peloton split after 15km or so during which Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) was always prominent towards the head of the bunch.

Once the dust settled, Van Aert was part of a 35-strong front group that also included Jumbo-Visma teammates Tiesj Benoot and Christophe Laporte, as well as GC dangerman Hindley, who had quality support in the form of German champion Emanuel Buchmann. The 37-strong group would proceed to amass a lead in excess of two minutes over the bunch before the Col de Soudet.

The UAE Team Emirates squad of Pogačar and yellow jersey Adam Yates took up the reins of pursuit, given that Vingegaard teammates up ahead, but their efforts failed to prevent the leaders from stretching their advantage to four minutes over the top of the mist-shrouded Soudet after Van Aert had briefly gone off the front with Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) and Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek).

Gall attacked atop the climb to nab the mountains points, with Hindley looking very comfortable indeed, and the front group split up still further over the other side. Krists Neilands (Israel-Premier Tech) would slip away, later joined by Van Aert and Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-QuickStep) over the Col d'Ichère, but they were pinned back by the rest of the break at the base of the final climb, the Col de Marie Blanque.

At that point, the Hindley et al had 2:30 in hand over the UAE-led peloton, but the AG2R contingent were keen to press on the pace on behalf of Gall. When the Swiss rider attacked 4km from the summit, only Hindley could follow. After working together for a time, the Australian opted to proceed alone.

At that point, the question seemed to be whether UAE Team Emirates could make inroads into Hindley’s buffer or indeed whether Pogačar would take matters in hand himself. Instead, it was Jumbo-Visma who laid down a marker in the yellow jersey group once Van Aert had dropped back, and their forcing created a selection that saw Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers), Romain Bardet (Team dsm-firmenich) and Ben O’Connor (AG2R-Citroën) among those quickly distanced.

Adam Yates, Simon Yates (Jayco-AlUla) and David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) were the next to go, and once Sepp Kuss came to the front on the upper reaches of the climb, only Vingegaard and Pogačar were able to follow. It was a striking selection given that this was still only the fifth day of the Tour, and an even starker message arrived shortly afterwards when Vingegaard pressed clear of Pogačar to strike the first telling blow of their prize fight.

It is far too soon, of course, to couch this as a knock-out blow, but Vingegaard’s early advantage on the scorecard is a sizeable one all the same. Pogačar, meanwhile, found himself relying on help from the undercard to stay in the contest, reaching Laruns in a group that included the Yates brothers, Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek), David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) and Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos).

Others suffered even more sobering afternoons, including Ben O’Connor (AG2R-Citroën), who lost 1:57, Mikel Landa (Bahrain Victorious), who conceded 2:55, and Egan Bernal (Ineos), who shipped 3:22.

The day and the jersey belonged to Hindley, who confirmed his credentials as a contender for the biggest prize, but Vingegaard already looms with intent. “We’ll just do our best,” the Dane said at the finish. “We’ll see what it ends with in Paris.”

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Barry Ryan is Head of Features at Cyclingnews. He has covered professional cycling since 2010, reporting from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and events from Argentina to Japan. His writing has appeared in The Independent, Procycling and Cycling Plus. He is the author of The Ascent: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and the Rise of Irish Cycling’s Golden Generation , published by Gill Books.

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