The wait is over! The 2023 Tour de France kicks off on Saturday, July 1 and the roads of Bilbao look set to serve up a treat on Stage 1.
There’s no prologue or rudimentary bunch sprint for the first day of this Tour. Instead, a hilly opener to and from Bilbao features 3,300m of vertical gain and includes the spiky Pike Bidea climb 10km from the finish, with an average gradient of 10% over 2km.
Along with the preceding Vivero climb, these two tests often spice up the finale of the Circuito de Getxo race which, last year, was won by Juan Ayuso and, the year before, by Giacomo Nizzolo.
If Nizzolo’s win shows that not all sprinters will be ejected by the difficulty of the climbs, Ayuso’s suggests that we won’t see a normal fast finish to decide the race’s first yellow jersey. Indeed, with Stage 2 also a hilly affair to San Sebastian, we are not likely to see a bunch sprint until the race enters France and finishes at Bayonne on day three.
Is this a day for Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-QuickStep), perhaps?
Excited? Here’s how you can follow the opening stage in Spain.
How can I watch the 2023 Tour de France on TV and live stream?
Rob Hatch and Carlton Kirby will be leading things in the commentary box, with Sean Kelly, Lloyd, Blythe and McEwen for company, while Philippe Gilbert, Alberto Contador, Jens Voigt and Blythe will be bringing fans closer to the action from the back of the motorbike during the race.
Tour de France 2023 TV and live stream schedule, plus route details
Stage | Date | Start / Finish | Distance | Breakaway on-air time |
Stage 1 | Sat July 1 | Bilbao – Bilbao | 182km (Hills) | 12:00 |
Stage 2 | Sun July 2 | Vitoria-Gasteiz – San Sebastian | 209km (Hills) | 12:00 |
Stage 3 | Mon July 3 | Amorebieta-Etxano – Bayonne | 185km (Flat) | 12:45 |
Stage 4 | Tue July 4 | Dax – Nogaro Circuit | 182km (Flat) | 12:45 |
Stage 5 | Wed July 5 | Pau – Laruns | 165km (Mountains) | 12:45 |
Stage 6 | Thu July 6 | Tarbes – Cauterets | 145km (Mountains) | 13:00 |
Stage 7 | Fri July 7 | Mont de Marsan – Bordeaux | 170km (Flat) | 13:00 |
Stage 8 | Sat July 8 | Libourne – Limoges | 201km (Hills) | 12:15 |
Stage 9 | Sun July 9 | Saint-Leonard-de-Noblat – Puy de Dome | 184km (Mountains) | 13:00 |
Rest day | Mon July 10 | – | – | – |
Stage 10 | Tue Jul 11 | Parc Vulcania – Issoire | 167km (Hills) | 12:45 |
Stage 11 | Wed Jul 12 | Clermont Ferrand – Moulins | 180km (Flat) | 12:45 |
Stage 12 | Thu July 13 | Roanne – Belleville-en-Beaujolais | 169km (Hills) | 12:45 |
Stage 13 | Fri July 14 | Chatillon-Sur-Chalaronne – Grand Colombier | 138km (Mountains) | 13.30 |
Stage 14 | Sat July 15 | Annemasse – Morzine | 152km (Mountains) | 12:45 |
Stage 15 | Sun July 16 | Les Gets – Saint Gervais | 180km (Mountains) | 12:45 |
Rest day | Mon July 17 | – | – | – |
Stage 16 | Tue July 18 | Passy – Combloux | 22km (ITT) | 12.45 |
Stage 17 | Wed July 19 | Saint Gervais – Courchevel | 166km (Mountains) | 12.00 |
Stage 18 | Thu July 20 | Moutiers – Bourg en Bresse | 186km (Hills) | 13.00 |
Stage 19 | Fri July 21 | Moirans-en-Montagne – Poligny | 173km (Flat) | 13.00 |
Stage 20 | Sat July 22 | Belfort – Le Markstein | 133km (Mountains) | 13.00 |
Stage 21 | Sun July 23 | Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines – Paris Champs-Elysees | 115km (Flat) | 16.00 |
Stage 1 profile video
Stage 1 profile and route map – Bilbao to Bilbao
Tour de France 2023 route map
![https://sportsglitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/3726469.jpg](https://sportsglitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/3726469.jpg)
Who’s riding at the Tour de France?
Vingegaard and Pogacar will lead the field at the Tour, while there will also be plenty of interest in Cavendish’s bid to break Merckx’s record.
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Source: Euro Sports