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Tour de France 2023 stage-by-stage guide: Route maps and profiles for all 21 days

A closer look at every day of the race from bilbao to paris, article bookmarked.

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The 2023 Tour de France has all the ingredients of a classic: two leading protagonists ready to tear lumps out of each other in reigning champion Jonas Vingegaard and the deposed Tadej Pogacar; entertaining multi-talented stage hunters Wout van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel, Julian Alaphilippe and Tom Pidcock; the great Mark Cavendish chasing a historic 35th stage win; all facing a brutal route with 56,000m of climbing and four summit finish.

The Tour began in the Spanish Basque country on Saturday 1 July, where Adam Yates edged twin brother Simon to win the opening stage, and these hilly routes will throw open the yellow jersey to a wide range of contenders. The race crosses the French border for some flat stages and an early jaunt into the high Pyrenees, where the Col du Tourmalet awaits. The peloton takes on the Puy de Dome volcano on its journey across France towards the Jura Mountains and the Alps, and it is in the mountains that this Tour will ultimately be decided. It all ends on the Champs-Elysees in Paris on Sunday 23 July.

Here is a stage-by-stage guide to how the race will unfold.

Stage 1: Bilbao to Bilbao, 182km

The 2023 Tour de France starts outside Bilbao’s iconic Guggenheim Museum, and winds north to the Bay of Biscay coastline before returning to the city where the stage winner will take the yellow jersey. This 182km opening stage is a hilly route with 3,000m of climbing featuring five categorised ascents, of which the final two are sharp and testing: they are tough enough to shake off the dedicated sprinters and open up early glory for the best puncheurs – those riders with the legs to get over short climbs and the power to surge away on the other side.

The profile of this stage is a great choice by organisers as it could suit just about anyone, from the speed of Wout van Aert to the climbing strength Tom Pidcock or Simon Yates – even two-time champion Tadej Pogacar.

• Jumbo’s Death Star and Pidcock’s dog: Inside the Tour de France’s Grand Depart

Stage 2: Vitoria Gastiez to Saint Sebastian, 209km

The peloton will head east from Bilbao, touching more picturesque Basque coastline before arriving at the finish in San Sebastian. At more than 200km this is the longest stage of the 2023 Tour and, with the sizeable Jaizkibel climb (8.1km, 5.3% average gradient) shortly before the finish, this is even more tough on the legs than the first day. Another puncheur with the climbing strength to get over the steeper hills can capitalise, like two-time world champion Julian Alaphilippe.

• ‘ Coup du kilometre’: How to win a Tour de France stage hiding in plain sight

Stage 3: Amorebieta to Bayonne, 187km

Stage three starts in Spain and ends in France, and the finale in Bayonne is ripe for a bunch sprint. Mark Cavendish will get his first shot of this race at trying to win a historic 35th Tour de France stage, but he will be up against a stacked field including former QuickStep teammate Fabio Jakobsen and the awesome speed of Wout van Aert. It will be fascinating to get a first glimpse of how the power riders stack up.

• ‘Jasper the Disaster’ rebuts Netflix nickname with controversial win

Stage 4: Dax to Nogaro, 182km

Another flat day and an even faster finish in store on the Circuit Paul Armagnac, a race track in Nogaro. The 800m home straight will almost certainly tee up a showdown between the Tour’s serious fast men.

• Cavendish falls short as Philipsen wins crash-laden sprint

Stage 5: Pau to Laruns, 163km

The first major mountains of the Tour come a little earlier than usual, as the peloton heads up into the high Pyrenees on day five. The Col de Soudet (15km, 7.2%) is one of the toughest climbs of the race and rears up halfway through this 163km route from Pau to Laruns. The category one Col de Marie Blanque (7.7km, 8.6%) guards the finish 20km out, and holds bonus seconds for those first over the top to incentivise the major contenders to come to the fore and fight it out.

• Hindley grabs the yellow jersey as Vingegaard punishes Pogacar

Stage 6: Tarbes to Cauterets, 145km

This has the potential to be a thrilling day: the 145km route takes on the double trouble of the category one Col d’Aspin (12km, 6.5%) followed by the monstrous hors categorie Tourmalet (17.1km, 7.3%), before a fast ascent and a final climb to the summit finish at Cauterets (16km, 5.4%).

It is a day with several possible outcomes. The general classification contenders could fight it out in a showdown to the summit. Then again, a breakaway could be allowed to escape which would open up victory – and perhaps the yellow jersey – to an outsider. The last time the Tour finished in Cauterets in 2015, breakaway specialist Rafal Majka surged clear of his fellow escapers to win. Keep an eye on Ineos’s Tom Pidcock, who could use the long, fast descent from the Tourmalet summit to speed to the front, as he did before winning atop Alpe d’Huez last year.

• Pogacar responds to send message to Vingegaard

Stage 7: Mont de Marsan to Bordeaux, 170km

The first week of racing finishes in the Tour’s second most visited city, Bordeaux, and it’s a third flat day for the sprinters to contest. Much will depend on who has best preserved their legs through the high mountains when they come to this tight, technical finish on the banks of the Garonne river in the city centre.

• Philipsen pips Cavendish in thrilling finish to deny Brit all-time record

Stage 8: Libourne to Limoges, 201km

A long, hilly day will see the peloton head 201km east from Libourne outside Bordeaux to Limoges. The lumpy stage should suit a puncheur but it is not a particularly taxing set of climbs – only three are categorised and the toughest of those is just 2.8km at 5.2%. So could a determined team carry their sprinter to the finish and the stage win? Look out for Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel, superstars with the all-round talent to conquer the climbs and still finish fast.

• Cavendish crashes out to end Tour de France record hopes

Stage 9: Saint-Leonard-de-Noblat to Puy de Dome, 184km

The final stage before the relief of the first rest day is relatively flat and gentle – until a brutal finish atop the iconic Puy de Dome volcano, a 13.3km drag at a gruelling 7.7% average gradient that last appeared in the Tour in 1988. The summit finish will require a serious climber’s legs to clinch the stage win, and the general classification contenders may well let a breakaway get ahead and fight for that prize.

• Woods takes win as Pogacar hits back at Vingegaard

Rest day: Clermont-Ferrand, Monday 10 July.

Stage 10: Parc Vulcania to Issoire, 167km

The race resumes in the centre of France from Vulcania – a volcano-themed amusement park – where riders will embark on a hilly 167km route through the Volcans d’Auvergne regional park, finishing down in the small town of Issiore. With five categorised climbs, including the sizeable Col de Guery (7.8km at 5%) and the Croix Saint-Robert (6km at 6.3%), it will be a draining ride with virtually no sustained flat sections, and a long descent to the finish town. It looks like a good day to plot something in the breakaway, as the big GC contenders save their legs for bigger challenges to come.

• Bilbao dedicates emotional stage win to late Gino Mader

Stage 11: Clermont Ferrand to Moulins, 180km

The final flat stage before the hard Alpine climbs will present an opportunity for those fast men who managed to haul themselves through the Pyrenees to get here – although there is still some climbing to be done including three category-four leg-sappers along the 180km route. The day begins in the university city of Clermont-Ferrand before the riders wind north and then east to Moulins, a small town on the Allier river. Any breakaway is likely to be reeled by those teams with dedicated sprinters eyeing their only opportunity for a stage win between the two rest days.

• Philipsen continues flat-stage dominance even without van der Poel

Stage 12: Roanne to Belleville-en-Beaujolais, 169km

The race caravan will shift east to start stage 12 in Roanne in the Loire region, before taking a 169km route to Belleville, situated on the Saone river north of Lyon. This has been categorised as a hilly or medium mountain stage, but it might feel harder than that by the time the peloton reaches the foot of the fifth categorised climb of the day, the Col de la Croix Rosier (5.3km at 7.6%). That should be enough to put off the best puncheurs like Van der Poel and Van Aert, because the stage winner will need strong climbing legs. The GC riders will want to conserve energy, so expect a breakaway to stay clear and fight amongst themselves.

• Izagirre solos to victory

Stage 13: Chatillon-Sur-Chalaronne to Grand Colombier, 138km

The first of three brutal stages that could decide the destiny of this year’s yellow jersey is only relatively short – 138km – but will provide a stern enough test to reveal any weaknesses in the major contenders. The peloton will enjoy a relatively flat and gentle first 75km from Chatillon-sur-Chalaronne before entering the Jura Mountains. A short climb and fast descent precedes the big climax: all 17.4km (7.1%) of the Grand Colombier providing an epic summit finish. This could be another day for a breakaway away to get free, but the overall contenders like Pogacar and Vingegaard will also fancy stage glory and the chance to stamp their authority on the race.

• Kwiatkowski wins as Pogacar eats into Vingegaard’s lead

Stage 14: Annemasse to Morzine, 152km

Part two of this triple header of mountain stages sees the peloton ride into the Alps with a 152km route from Annemasse to Morzine ski resort. Three tough category one climbs line the road to the hors categorie Col de Joux Plane (11.6km at 8.5%), a brutally steep grind where bonuses await the first few over the top – and stage victory is the prize at the bottom. This is another potential spot for yellow jersey fireworks.

• Rodriguez wins first Tour stage as Pogacar thwarted by motorbike

Stage 15: Les Gets to Saint Gervais, 180km

The last ride before the final rest day will take the peloton further east into the Alps, towards the French border with Italy. The 179km route is almost constantly up and down, with a fast descent before the final two climbs, and the summit finish atop Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc will require strong climbing legs once more.

• Pogacar and Vingegaard in stalemate as Poels wins stage

Rest day: Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc, Monday 17 July.

Stage 16: Individual time trial from Passy to Combloux, 22km

This year’s home stretch begins with the only time trial of the race: a short, relatively flat 22km from Passy to Combloux in the shadow of Mont Blanc. The route includes one categorised climb, the steep but short Cote de Domancy (2.5km at 9.4%). There is an opportunity here to make up crucial seconds for those that need them.

• Vingegaard takes control of yellow jersey

Stage 17: Saint Gervais to Courchevel, 166km

Put Wednesday 19 July in the diary: this will surely be the most brutal day of the entire Tour de France and it could be decisive. The 166km route features four big climbs, the last of which offers up this year’s Souvenir Henri Desgrange for the first rider over the highest point of the race. To get there the riders must endure a 28.1km slog averaging 6% gradient to the top of the Col de la Loze, towering in the clouds 2,304m above sea level. There are bonus seconds up here too, before a short descent down to the finish at Courchevel.

A breakaway will probably form, but can they last the distance? Whatever happens up the road, the fight for the yellow jersey will be fierce – only the strongest handful of riders will be able to stand the pace and this will likely be the day that the 2023 winner is effectively crowned.

• Vingegaard dominates to put seal on Tour de France

Stage 18: Moutiers to Bourg en Bresse, 186km

After a potentially explosive stage 17, stage 18 is classified as “hilly” but is really a relatively sedate 185km which the sprinters are likely to contest if their teams can haul in the inevitable breakaway. The big question is whether there will be many sprinters left in the peloton after such a demanding set of stages in the Alps. For those fast men still in the race, the descent into Bourg-en-Bresse precedes a technical finish, with roundabouts and a sharp corner before a swinging right-hand turn on to the home straight where the stage will be won and lost.

• Breakaway stays away as Asgreen takes win

Stage 19: Moirans-en-Montagne to Poligny, 173km

Another flat day gives a further opportunity for those sprinters left in the field, as the peloton travels 173km from Moirans, near Grenoble, north to Poligny. The general classification contenders will be happy to rest their legs before one final push to Paris.

• Matej Mohoric takes photo finish to win stage 19

Stage 20: Belfort to Le Markstein, 133km

The final competitive stage of the Tour is a 133km ride from Belfort to Le Markstein ski resort in the Vosges mountains, and it offers just enough for one final attack to steal the yellow jersey, should the overall win still be on the line. The last two climbs of the day are both steep category one ascents: first the Petit Ballon (9.3km, 8.1%) followed by the Col du Platzerwasel (7.1km at 8.4%). Whoever is wearing yellow just needs to hang on to the wheel of their fiercest rival here, and that should be enough to see them home.

• Chapeau, Thibaut Pinot

Stage 21: Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines to Paris Champs-Elysees, 115km

As is tradition, the peloton will transfer to Paris and ride a truce to the Champs-Elysees. The stage will start at France’s national velodrome, home of cycling for the 2024 Paris Olympics. It will finish with one final sprint: Cavendish has won four times in Paris and it would be a fitting way to end the race that has defined his career if he were to repeat the feat one last time. And once the race is done, the winner of the 2023 Tour de France will be crowned.

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Tour de France 2022 Stage 3 preview: Route map and profile as Fabio Jakobsen eyes another sprint win

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The 2022 Tour de France ’s spectacular jaunt around Denmark comes to an end today with a 182km route down the east coastline of the Danish mainland which is perfectly set up for the sprinters to fight for victory once more.

Dutch sprinter Fabio Jakobsen triumphed on stage 2 to silence anyone questioning Quickstep’s decision to leave Mark Cavendish at home, and he will be hunting for another win amid a Tour de France with very few opportunities ahead for the fast men.

That means his sprint rivals will be equally determined to get their hands on a stage, with riders like Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Fenix) and Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal) aiming to challenge Jakobsen at the finish in Sonderborg, a small town which straddles the Strait of Alssund.

The old town is on the island of Als which the newer suburbs have built up on the mainland side. The peloton must cross King Christian X's Bridge before sweeping round the southern and eastern edges of the town, which will bring them to a sharp left bend before the charge to the finish line on a street heading right into the heart of the Sonderborg called Augustenborg Landevej.

There are three category four climbs which the man in the King of the Mountains’ polka dot jersey, Magnus Cort Nielsen (EF Education), will target for more points to strengthen his grip. There is also an intermediate sprint shortly after the second of those climbs where the man in sprinters’ green, Wout van Aert ( Jumbo-Visma ), will hope to pick up some points.

Crosswinds could play a factor, especially in the second half of the route when the road hugs the coastline, and the main contenders will need to be wary of any potential attacks which could split the bunch. After yesterday’s crashes, staying safe and making to the finish intact will be the overriding priority of those hoping to challenge near the top of the general classification, like double champion Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates) and Denmark’s very own Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma).

The Tour will pack its bags and head to north-west France over Monday’s first rest day.

Stage 2 start time

The stage is scheduled to begin at around 12:15pm BST and should finish around 4:15pm BST.

How to watch on TV and online

Tour de France coverage can be found this year on ITV4, Eurosport, Discovery+ and GCN+ (Global Cycling Network).

Live racing each day will be shown on ITV4 before highlights typically at 7pm each day. ITV’s website lists timings here .

Eurosport and GCN+ will show every minute of every stage. More on Eurosport’s coverage here and the GCN+ coverage here .

It is also being shown on Eurosport’s Discovery+ streaming service, with broadcast info here .

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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. He's usually out and about on the roads of Bristol and its surrounds. 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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The Tour de France 2024

A tour like never before.

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The Tour de France 2024

Le Tour 2024 - A GUIDE TO THE ROUTE

Tour de France 2024 -stage details  

Everything you need to know about cycling in France your independent guide

Tour de France 2023 route: Stage-by-stage guide

The 2023 tour de france will take place july 1 to july 23. it will be the  110th edition of great race. the grand depart will take place in the basque country. .

• 2023 Tour de France Femmes routes
• Finding accommodation for the Tour de France
• Finding bike hire for the Tour de France
• Tour de France road closure information
• Advice for watching the TDF in person
• Advice for watching the TDF in Paris
• Beginner's guide to the Tour de France
• Riding Etape du Tour
• 2023 Tour de France program and race guide

The 2023 Tour de France Grand Depart  will be a big one as it takes place in cycling heartland, the Basque Country on the Spanish side of the border. This is an area with a rich cycling tradition and super passionate supporters. 

The race kicks off on July 1 and finishes on July 23. As is tradition, the Tour de France will  finish in Paris. 

Specific info on each stage and more detailed maps are also usually published online each May and in the official race program . We'll post links to it when it's released.

We have this page for Tour de France road closure information , which we also update as information comes to hand (usually not from around May onwards).

See here for accommodation near the route (it will be progressively updated throughout 2023).

Where to find more useful information: Official 2023 Tour de France Race Guide

2023 tour de france grand depart map.

Note that all maps and stage profiles are also available  from the official website . Stage timings are also provided there.

Stage 1: Saturday, July 1  – Bilbao to Bilbao, 182km 

For the first time in a few years, the Tour de France starts with a full stage, rather than a time trial – and it isn't an easy introduction to the Tour.

Bilbao is the host for this 185km loop ride that takes in a good 3300m of climbing. There are five  climbs with points up for grabs straight away in the polka dot contest. The climbs on the route are the  Côte de Pike – just 10km from the finish – plus the   Côte de Laukiz , the  Côte de San Juan de Gaztelugatxe , the  Côte de Morga  and the  Côte de Vivero .

Stage 2: Sunday, July 2 – Vitoria-Gasteiz to San Sebastian, 209km

The opening stages are a whistle-stop tour of the jewels of the Basque region. From Bilbao on day one we go to the popular seaside resort of San Sebastian.  The day may end on the coast but it's not a flat ride: there are  5 climbs on stage 2.

Stage 3: Monday, July 3 – Amorebieta-Etxano to Bayonne, 185km 

We know the stage starts in Amorebienta-Etxano and heads back across the border into France .   

Stage 4: Tuesday , July 4 -  Dax to Nogaro Circuit, 182km

Potentially another day for the sprinters as they go head-to-head on the Nogaro circuit.

Stage 5: Wednesday, July 5 - Pau to Laruns, 165km

It wouldn't be the Tour de France without Pau on the map – today is also the first mountain stage.

Stage 6: Thursday, July 6 - Tarbes to Cauterets, 145km

Say hello to the Aspin and Tourmalet, part of 3750 metres of climbing.

Stage 7: Friday, July 7 - Mont de Marsan to Bordeaux, 170km

The Tour visits Bordeaux for the 82nd time – until recent times, it was one of the regular Tour towns. This is the first visit in more than 10 years, though. It'll be a sprint finish along the riverfront, ending at  Place des Quinconces.

Stage 8: Saturday, July 8 - Libourne to Limoges, 201km

The sprinters capable of powering up a short but difficult climb could take the win.

Stage 9: Sunday, July 9 -  Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat to Puy de Dôme, 184km

An icon returns.

Rest day - Monday, July 10 - Clermont-Ferrand

The area around Clermont-Ferrand also features prominently in the Tour de France Femmes 2023 .

Stage 10: Tuesday, July 11 - Parc Vulcania to Issoire, 167km

One for the breakaway.

Stage 11: Wednesday, July 12 - Clermont Ferrand to Moulins, 180km

A day for the sprinters.  

Stage 12: Thursday, July 13 - Roanne to  Belleville-en-Beaujolais 169km

The formation of the breakaway will be one of the critical moments on this hilly stage.

Stage 13: Friday, July 14 - C hâtillon-Sur-Chalaronne to Grand Colombier,  138km

Stage 14: Saturday, July 15 -  Annemasse to Morzine, 152km

4200 metres of climbing, including the Col de la Ramaz and Joux Plane . This is also the 2023 L'Etape du Tour stage . That's on July 9.

Stage 15: Sunday, July 16 - Les Gets to Saint Gervais, 180km

More mountains!

Rest day: Monday, July 17 - Saint Gervais Mont Blanc

Stage 16: tuesday, july 18 - passy to combloux, 22km.

A quick little individual time trial.

Stage 17: Wednesday, July 19 - Saint Gervais to Courchevel, 166km

More than 5000 metres of vertical gain, the infamous Col de la Loze before reaching Courchevel's altiport.

Stage 18: Thursday, July 20 - Moutiers to Bourg en Bresse, 186km

After 5 very hard stages, the sprinters will find a route that should facilitate their return front and centre .

Stage 19: Friday, July 22 - M oirans-en-Montagne to Poligny, 173km

A 8km long final straight, the dream for the sprinters' teams .

Stage 20: Saturday, July 22 - Belfort to L e Markstein, 133km

A final chance in the mountains with a route for the leaders . This stage has the last 2 climbs in the Tour.

Stage 21: Sunday, July 23 - Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines to Paris Champs-Elysées, 115km   

As is tradition, we finish on the  Champs-Elysées . 

Time bonuses and points

In 2023, time bonuses will be awarded at the finish of each stage – 10, 6 and 4 seconds for the first three riders across the line.

Bonus points will also be awarded on strategic mountain passes and summits. The first three riders across these will pick up bonuses of 8, 5 and 2 seconds. The mountain-top bonus points won't count towards the points classification.

Bike hire for watching the Tour de France

A reminder that if you need bike hire during the Tour de France you should book early. It ALWAYS sells out and it can be very hard to find quality carbon road bikes closer to the time.  More info here .

2023 Tour de France Race Guide

Get the official 2023 Tour de France Race Guide: This collates all stage maps and race times into one booklet.

See here for bike-friendly accommodation  

Related articles

• Tour de France 2022 route: Stage-by-stage guide
• Tour de France 2024 route: Stage-by-stage guide
• Tour de France 2021 route: Stage-by-stage guide
• 2024 Tour de France program and race guide
• Tour de France 2020 route: Stage-by-stage guide
• 2019 Tour de France Official Race Guide
• Tour de France Femmes 2023 Stage-by-stage guide

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Tour de France 2023: Route and stages

Read about the entire route of the 2023 Tour de France.

Please click on the links in underneath scheme for in-depth information on the individual stages.

Tour de France 2023 stages

Tour de france 2023: route, profiles, more.

Click on the images to zoom

More about the Tour de France

Tour de france 2023: the route, tour de france 2023 route stage 1: bilbao - bilbao.

Tour de France 2023 Route stage 2: Vitoria-Gasteiz - San Sebastián

Tour de France 2023 Route stage 3: Amorebieta-Etxano - Bayonne

Tour de France 2023 Route stage 4: Dax - Nogaro

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Tour de France 2023 stage-by-stage guide: Route maps and profiles for all 21 days

The 2023 Tour de France has all the ingredients of a classic: two leading protagonists ready to tear lumps out of each other in reigning champion Jonas Vingegaard and the deposed Tadej Pogacar; entertaining multi-talented stage hunters Wout van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel, Julian Alaphilippe and Tom Pidcock; the great Mark Cavendish chasing a historic 35th stage win; all facing a brutal route with 56,000m of climbing and four summit finishes.

The Tour begins in the Spanish Basque country on Saturday 1 July, and these hilly routes will throw open the yellow jersey to a wide range of contenders. The race crosses the French border for some flat stages and an early jaunt into the high Pyrenees, where the Col du Tourmalet awaits. The peloton takes on the Puy de Dome volcano on its journey across France towards the Jura Mountains and the Alps, and it is in the mountains that this Tour will ultimately be decided. It all ends on the Champs-Elysees in Paris on Sunday 23 July.

Here is a stage-by-stage guide to how the race will unfold.

Stage 1: Bilbao to Bilbao, 182km

The 2023 Tour de France starts outside Bilbao’s iconic Guggenheim Museum, and winds north to the Bay of Biscay coastline before returning to the city where the stage winner will take the yellow jersey. This 182km opening stage is a hilly route with 3,000m of climbing featuring five categorised ascents, of which the final two are sharp and testing: they are tough enough to shake off the dedicated sprinters and open up early glory for the best puncheurs – those riders with the legs to get over short climbs and the power to surge away on the other side.

The profile of this stage is a great choice by organisers as it could suit just about anyone, from the speed of Wout van Aert to the climbing strength Tom Pidcock or Simon Yates – even two-time champion Tadej Pogacar.

Stage 2: Vitoria Gastiez to Saint Sebastian, 209km

The peloton will head east from Bilbao, touching more picturesque Basque coastline before arriving at the finish in San Sebastian. At more than 200km this is the longest stage of the 2023 Tour and, with the sizeable Jaizkibel climb (8.1km, 5.3% average gradient) shortly before the finish, this is even more tough on the legs than the first day. Another puncheur with the climbing strength to get over the steeper hills can capitalise, like two-time world champion Julian Alaphilippe.

Stage 3: Amorebieta to Bayonne, 187km

Stage three starts in Spain and ends in France, and the finale in Bayonne is ripe for a bunch sprint. Mark Cavendish will get his first shot of this race at trying to win a historic 35th Tour de France stage, but he will be up against a stacked field including former QuickStep teammate Fabio Jakobsen and the awesome speed of Wout van Aert. It will be fascinating to get a first glimpse of how the power riders stack up.

Stage 4: Dax to Nogaro, 182km

Another flat day and an even faster finish in store on the Circuit Paul Armagnac, a race track in Nogaro. The 800m home straight will almost certainly tee up a showdown between the Tour’s serious fast men.

Stage 5: Pau to Laruns, 163km

The first major mountains of the Tour come a little earlier than usual, as the peloton heads up into the high Pyrenees on day five. The Col de Soudet (15km, 7.2%) is one of the toughest climbs of the race and rears up halfway through this 163km route from Pau to Laruns. The category one Col de Marie Blanque (7.7km, 8.6%) guards the finish 20km out, and holds bonus seconds for those first over the top to incentivise the major contenders to come to the fore and fight it out.

Stage 6: Tarbes to Cauterets, 145km

This has the potential to be a thrilling day: the 145km route takes on the double trouble of the category one Col d’Aspin (12km, 6.5%) followed by the monstrous hors categorie Tourmalet (17.1km, 7.3%), before a fast ascent and a final climb to the summit finish at Cauterets (16km, 5.4%).

It is a day with several possible outcomes. If the yellow jersey is on the shoulders of a fast puncheur at the start then it may well be transferred to one of the general classification contenders by the end, should they decide to fight for the stage win. Then again, a breakaway could be allowed to escape which would open up victory – and perhaps the yellow jersey – to an outsider. The last time the Tour finished in Cauterets in 2015, breakaway specialist Rafal Majka surged clear of his fellow escapers to win. Keep an eye on Ineos’s Tom Pidcock, who could use the long, fast descent from the Tourmalet summit to speed to the front, as he did before winning atop Alpe d’Huez last year.

Stage 7: Mont de Marsan to Bordeaux, 170km

The first week of racing finishes in the Tour’s second most visited city, Bordeaux, and it’s a third flat day for the sprinters to contest. Much will depend on who has best preserved their legs through the high mountains when they come to this tight, technical finish on the banks of the Garonne river in the city centre.

Stage 8: Libourne to Limoges, 201km

A long, hilly day will see the peloton head 201km east from Libourne outside Bordeaux to Limoges. The lumpy stage should suit a puncheur but it is not a particularly taxing set of climbs – only three are categorised and the toughest of those is just 2.8km at 5.2%. So could a determined team carry their sprinter to the finish and the stage win? Look out for Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel, superstars with the all-round talent to conquer the climbs and still finish fast.

Stage 9: Saint-Leonard-de-Noblat to Puy de Dome, 184km

The final stage before the relief of the first rest day is relatively flat and gentle – until a brutal finish atop the iconic Puy de Dome volcano, a 13.3km drag at a gruelling 7.7% average gradient that last appeared in the Tour in 1988. The summit finish will require a serious climber’s legs to clinch the stage win, and the general classification contenders may well let a breakaway get ahead and fight for that prize.

Rest day: Clermont-Ferrand, Monday 10 July.

Stage 10: Parc Vulcania to Issoire, 167km

The race resumes in the centre of France from Vulcania – a volcano-themed amusement park – where riders will embark on a hilly 167km route through the Volcans d’Auvergne regional park, finishing down in the small town of Issiore. With five categorised climbs, including the sizeable Col de Guery (7.8km at 5%) and the Croix Saint-Robert (6km at 6.3%), it will be a draining ride with virtually no sustained flat sections, and a long descent to the finish town. It looks like a good day to plot something in the breakaway, as the big GC contenders save their legs for bigger challenges to come.

Stage 11: Clermont Ferrand to Moulins, 180km

The final flat stage before the hard Alpine climbs will present an opportunity for those fast men who managed to haul themselves through the Pyrenees to get here – although there is still some climbing to be done including three category-four leg-sappers along the 180km route. The day begins in the university city of Clermont-Ferrand before the riders wind north and then east to Moulins, a small town on the Allier river. Any breakaway is likely to be reeled by those teams with dedicated sprinters eyeing their only opportunity for a stage win between the two rest days.

Stage 12: Roanne to Belleville-en-Beaujolais, 169km

The race caravan will shift east to start stage 12 in Roanne in the Loire region, before taking a 169km route to Belleville, situated on the Saone river north of Lyon. This has been categorised as a hilly or medium mountain stage, but it might feel harder than that by the time the peloton reaches the foot of the fifth categorised climb of the day, the Col de la Croix Rosier (5.3km at 7.6%). That should be enough to put off the best puncheurs like Van der Poel and Van Aert, because the stage winner will need strong climbing legs. The GC riders will want to conserve energy, so expect a breakaway to stay clear and fight amongst themselves.

Stage 13: Chatillon-Sur-Chalaronne to Grand Colombier, 138km

The first of three brutal stages that could decide the destiny of this year’s yellow jersey is only relatively short – 138km – but will provide a stern enough test to reveal any weaknesses in the major contenders. The peloton will enjoy a relatively flat and gentle first 75km from Chatillon-sur-Chalaronne before entering the Jura Mountains. A short climb and fast descent precedes the big climax: all 17.4km (7.1%) of the Grand Colombier providing an epic summit finish. This could be another day for a breakaway away to get free, but the overall contenders like Pogacar and Vingegaard will also fancy stage glory and the chance to stamp their authority on the race.

Stage 14: Annemasse to Morzine, 152km

Part two of this triple header of mountain stages sees the peloton ride into the Alps with a 152km route from Annemasse to Morzine ski resort. Three tough category one climbs line the road to the hors categorie Col de Joux Plane (11.6km at 8.5%), a brutally steep grind where bonus seconds await the first few over the top – and stage victory is the prize at the bottom. This is another potential spot for yellow jersey fireworks.

Stage 15: Les Gets to Saint Gervais, 180km

The last ride before the final rest day will take the peloton further east into the Alps, towards the French border with Italy . The 179km day is almost constantly up and down, with a fast descent before the final two climbs, and the summit finish atop Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc will require strong climbing legs once more.

Rest day: Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc, Monday 17 July.

Stage 16: Individual time trial from Passy to Combloux, 22km

This year’s home stretch begins with the only time trial of the race: a short, relatively flat 22km from Passy to Combloux in the shadow of Mont Blanc. The route includes one categorised climb, the steep but short Cote de Domancy (2.5km at 9.4%). This stage is unlikely to decide the yellow jersey or podium spots, but there is an opportunity here to make up crucial seconds for those that need them.

Stage 17: Saint Gervais to Courchevel, 166km

Put Wednesday 19 July in the diary: this will surely be the most brutal day of the entire Tour de France and it could be decisive. The 166km route features four big climbs, the last of which offers up this year’s Souvenir Henri Desgrange for the first rider over the highest point of the race. To get there the riders must endure a 28.1km slog averaging 6% gradient to the top of the Col de la Loze, towering in the clouds 2,304m above sea level. There are bonus points seconds up here too, before a short descent down to the finish at Courchevel.

A breakaway will probably form, but can they last the distance? Whatever happens up the road, the fight for the yellow jersey will be fierce – only the strongest handful of riders will be able to stand the pace and this will likely be the day that the 2023 winner is effectively crowned.

Stage 18: Moutiers to Bourg en Bresse, 186km

After a potentially explosive stage 17, stage 18 is classified as “hilly” but is really a relatively sedate 185km which the sprinters are likely to contest if their teams can haul in the inevitable breakaway. The big question is whether there will be many sprinters left in the peloton after such a demanding set of stages in the Alps. For those fast men still in the race, the descent into Bourg-en-Bresse precedes a technical finish, with roundabouts and a sharp corner before a swinging right-hand turn on to the home straight where the stage will be won and lost.

Stage 19: Moirans-en-Montagne to Poligny, 173km

Another flat day gives a further opportunity for those sprinters left in the field, as the peloton travels 173km from Moirans, near Grenoble, north to Poligny. The general classification contenders will be happy to rest their legs before one final push to Paris.

Stage 20: Belfort to Le Markstein, 133km

The final competitive stage of the Tour is a 133km ride from Belfort to Le Markstein ski resort in the Vosges mountains, and it offers just enough for one final attack to steal the yellow jersey, should the overall win still be on the line. The last two climbs of the day are both steep category one ascents: first the Petit Ballon (9.3km, 8.1%) followed by the Col du Platzerwasel (7.1km at 8.4%). Whoever is wearing yellow just needs to hang on to the wheel of their fiercest rival here, and that should be enough to see them home.

Stage 21: Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines to Paris Champs-Elysees, 115km

As is tradition, the peloton will transfer to Paris and ride a truce to the Champs-Elysees. The stage will start at France’s national velodrome, home of cycling for the 2024 Paris Olympics. It will finish with one final sprint: Cavendish has won four times in Paris and it would be a fitting way to end the race that has defined his career if he were to repeat the feat one last time. And once the race is done, the winner of the 2023 Tour de France will be crowned.

A little bit of information ...

The program for the grand départ of the tour de france 2023.

• Wednesday June 28, 2023 - 9:00 am : opening of the welcome desk and press center at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre in Barakaldo
• Friday, June 30, 2023 - 10:00 am to 8:00 pm: opening of the Fan Park at the Parque del Arenal in Bilbao - free entry
• Saturday, July 1, 2023 : Stage 1 - Bilbao > Bilbao
• Sunday, July 2, 2023 : Stage 2 - Vitoria-Gasteiz > Donostia San Sebastian
• Monday, July 3, 2023 : Stage 3 - Amorebieta-Extano > Bayonne

The Tour de France 2023 route on Open Street Maps

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1/ Saturday July 1 - Bilbao 🇪🇸 > Bilbao 🇪🇸 - 182 km

• start : - the start will take place on the Felipe Serrate Kalea in Bilbao (12:30 p.m.) - the actual start is scheduled on the BI-704 , after 11.3 km of the parade route (12:55 p.m.)
• passes and climbs : - Côte de Laukiz (3rd category) at km 13.8 - ^ 211 m / 2.2 km at 6.9% - Côte de San Juan de Gaztelugatxe (3rd category) at km 67.8 - ^ 286 m / 3.5 km at 7.6% - Col de Morga (4th category) at km 140,9 - ^ 307 m / 3.9 km at 4.1% - Côte de Vivero (2nd category) at km 154.9 - ^ 361 m / 4.2 km at 7.3% - Côte de Pike (3rd category) at km 140.9 - ^ 212 m / 2 km at 10%.
• intermediate sprint : Carlos Gangoiti Kalea in Gernika-Lumo at km 88.2
• bonus sprint : Côte de Pike
• finish : Zumalacárregui Etorbidea / BI-625 in Bilbao at the end of a 150 m straight line at sight / width 6.5 m
• departments crossed : Vizcaya (Spain) from km 0 to km 182
• main towns : Bilbao, Getxo, Bermeo and Gernika-Lumo

2/ Sunday, July 2, 2023 - Vitoria-Gasteiz 🇪🇸 > San Sebastian 🇪🇸 - 208.9 km

• start : - the start will take place on the Mendizabala Area in Vitoria-Gasteiz (12:15pm) - the actual start is scheduled on the N-104 , after 6.7km of the parade route (12:25pm)
• passes and climbs : - Col d'Udana (3rd category) at km 81.3 - ^ 515 m / 4.5 km at 5.1% - Côte d'Aztiria (4th category) at km 87.6 - ^ 572 m / 2.7 km at 5.3% - Côte d'Alkiza (3rd category) at km 140,9 - ^ 324 m / 4.2 km at 5.7% - Gurutze hill (4th category) at km 174.2 - ^ 150 m / 2.6 km at 4.7% - Jaizkibel (2nd category) at km 192.4 - ^ 455 m / 8.1 km at 5.3
• intermediate sprint : N-240 in Legutio at km 40.6
• bonus sprint : Jaizkibel
• finish : Zurriola Hiribidea in San Sebastian at the end of a final straight 550 m at sight / 6 m wide
• Departments crossed : Alava from km 0 to km 53.9, Gipuzcoa from km 58 to km 208.9
• main towns : Vitoria-Gasteiz, Irun, Hondarribia and San Sebastian

3/ Monday, July 3, 2023 - Amorebieta-Extano 🇪🇸 > Bayonne - 187.4 km

• start : - the start will take place on Nafarroa Kalea in Amorebieta-Extano (1:00 p.m.) - the actual start is scheduled on the N-634 , after 6.8 km of the parade route (1:15 p.m.)
• passes and climbs : - Côte de Trabukua (3rd category) at km 13.8 - ^ 369 m / 4.1 km at 5.4% - Côte de Milloi (4th category) at km 32.8 - ^ 162 m / 2.3 km at 4.5% - Col d'Itziar (3rd category) at km 70.9 - ^ 212 m / 5.1 km at 4.6% - Côte d'Orioko Benta (3rd category) at km 102 - ^ 316 m / 4.6 km at 6.3
• intermediate sprint : Hondartza Kalea in Deba at km 65.8
• sprint bonus : XXXX à XXXX
• finish : Avenue de l'Aquitaine in Bayonne at the end of a 200 m straight line at sight / width 6.5 m
• Departments crossed : Biscaye from km 0 to km 53.8, Gipuzcoa from km 59 to km 128.8, Pyrénées-Atlantiques (64) from km 134.1 to km 187.4
• main towns : Amorebieta-Extano, Durango, Zarautz, San Sebastian, Errenteria, Irun, Hendaye, Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Bayonne

4/ Tuesday, July 4, 2023 - Dax > Nogarro - 181.8 km

• start - the start will take place on the Place de la Fontaine Chaude in Dax (1:10pm) - the actual start is scheduled on the D32 / Route de Candresse , after 4.8 km of the parade route (1:20pm)
• passes and climbs : - Côte de Dému (4th category) at km 154.4 - ^ 218 m / 2 km at 3.5
• intermediate sprint : in front of Notre-Dame des Cyclistes at km 93.6
• finish : on the Circuit Paul Armagnac in Nogaro at the end of a 750 m / 9 m wide final straight
• departments crossed : Landes (40) from km 0 to km 93.6 and from km 98.9 to km 181.8, Gers (32) at km 98
• main towns : Dax, Eauze and Nogaro

5/ Wednesday, July 5, 2023 - Pau > Laruns - 162.7 km

• start : - the start will take place in Rue Pierre Bordelongue in Pau (1:05pm) - the actual start is scheduled on the D802 , after 9.1 km of the parade route (1:25pm)
• passes and climbs : - Col de Soudet (hors catégorie) at km 87.5 - 15.2 km at 7.2% - Col d'Ichère (3e catégorie) at km 124.8 - 4.2 km at 7% - Col de Marie Blanque (1ère catégorie) at km 144.2 - 1.3 km at 5.8%.
• intermediate sprint : D918 at Lanne-en-Barétous at km 48.8
• bonus sprint : Col de Marie Blanque
• finish : D934 at Laruns at the end of a 3.4 km final straight (including 800 m at sight) / width 5.5 m
• departments crossed : Pyrénées-Atlantiques (64) from km 0 to km 162.7
• main towns : Pau, Oloron-Sainte-Marie, Arette and Laruns

6/ Thursday, July 6, 2023 - Tarbes > Cauterets-Cambasque - 144.9 km

• start : - the start will take place on Place Marcadieu in Tarbes (1:10pm) - the actual start is scheduled on the D21 , after 7.6km of the parade route (1:25pm)
• passes and climbs : - Côte de Capvern-les-Bains (3rd category) at km 29.9 - ^ 602 m / 5.6 km at 4.8% - Col d'Aspin (1st category) at km 68.1 - ^ 1490 m / 12 km at 6.5% - Col du Tourmalet (hors catégorie) at km 97.9 - ^ 2115 m / 17.1 km at 7.3% - Cauterets-Cambasque (1st category) at km 144.9 - ^ 1355 m / 16 km at 5.4%.
• intermediate sprint : D929 / Route d'Espagne in Sarrancolin at km 49.2
• finish : Route de Cambasque in Cauterets-Cambasque at the end of a final straight 50 m at sight / width 5 m
• departments crossed : Hautes-Pyrénées (65) from km 0 to km 144.9
• main towns : Tarbes, Arreau, Luz-Saint-Sauveur, Pierrefitte-Nestalas and Cauterets

7/ Friday, July 7, 2023 - Mont-de-Marsan > Bordeaux - 169.9 km

• start : - the start will take place on Place Joseph Pancaut in Mont-de-Marsan (1:15pm) - the actual start is scheduled on the D53 , after 5.4 km of the parade route (1:30pm)
• passes and climbs : - Côte de Béguey (4th category) at km 131 - ^ 84 m / 1.2 km at 4.4
• intermediate sprint : Route des Landes in Grignols at km 88
• finish : Quai Louis XVIII in Bordeaux at the end of a 2 km final straight (including 400 m at sight) / width 6 m
• departments crossed : Landes (40) from km 0 to km 67.3, Gironde (33) from km 70.3 to km 169.9
• main towns : Mont-de-Marsan, Roquefort, Langon and Bordeaux

8/ Saturday, July 8, 2023 - Libourne > Limoges - 200.7 km

• start : - the start will take place in Rue Roudier in Libourne (12:30 p.m.) - the actual start is scheduled on the D1089 , after 4.8 km of the parade route (12:45 p.m.)
• passes and climbs : - Côte de Champs-Romain (3rd category) at km 130.4 - ^ 303 m / 2.8 km at 5.2% - Côte de Masmont (4th category) at km 184.7 - ^ 353 m / 1.3 km at 5.5% - Côte de Condat-sur-Vienne (4th category) at km 191.4 - ^ 289 m / 1.2 km at 5.4%.
• intermediate sprint : Route de Royan in Tocane-Saint-Apre at km 79
• finish : Place Jourdan in Limoges at the end of an 800 m final straight (of which 200 m on sight) / width 6.5 m
• departments crossed : Gironde (33) from km 0 to km 30.4, Dordogne (24) from km 30.8 to km 137.2 and to km 145.4 and Haute-Vienne (87) from km 140.8 to km 145.3 and from km 147.4 to km 200.7
• main towns : Libourne, Ribérac and Limoges

9/ Sunday, July 9, 2023 - Saint-Leonard-de-Noblat > Puy de Dôme - 182.4 km

• start : - the start will take place on the Avenue du Champ de Mars in Saint-Leonard-de-Noblat (1:30 pm) - the actual start is scheduled on the D13 , after 4.3 km of the parade route (1:45 pm)
• passes and climbs : - Côte de Felletin (4th category) at km 74.8 - ^ 660 m / 2.1 km at 5.2% - Côte de Pontcharraud (4th category) at km 85.7 - ^ 692 m / 1.8 km at 4.6% - Côte de Pontaumur (3rd category) at km 126.2 - ^ 734 m / 3.3 km at 5.3% - Puy de Dôme (outside category) at km 182.4 - ^ 1415 m / 13.3 km at 7.7%.
• intermediate sprint : D222 at Lac de Vassivière at km 30.4
• finish : at the summit of the Puy de Dôme at the end of a 10 m / 4 m wide final straight.
• departments crossed : Haute-Vienne (87) from km 0 to km 37, Creuse (23) from km 38.6 to km 105.1, Puy de Dôme (63) from km 107.9 to km 182.4
• main towns : Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat, Felletin and Clermont-Ferrand

R1/ Monday, July 10, 2023 - rest in Clermont-Ferrand

10/ tuesday, july 11, 2023 - vulcania > issoire - 167.2 km.

• start : - the start will take place on the Vulcania parking lot (1:05pm) - the actual start is scheduled on the D942 , after 7.8 km of the parade route (1:20pm)
• passes and climbs : - Col de la Moréno (3rd category) at km 7 - ^ 1065 m / 4.8 km at 4.7% - Col de Guéry (3rd category) at km 27.3 - ^ 1277 m / 7.8 km at 5% - Col de la Croix Saint-Robert (2nd category) at km 66,6 - ^ 1451 m / 6 km at 6.3% - Côte de Saint-Victor-la-Rivière (3rd category) at km 84.3 - ^ 1041 m / 3 km at 5.9% - Côte de la Chapelle-Marcousse (3rd category) at km 138.6 - ^ 980 m / 6.5 km at 5.6
• intermediate sprint : Place Charles de Gaulle, Le Mont-Dore at km 59.9
• finish : Route de Saint-Germain / D716 in Issoire at the end of a 700 m / 6 m wide final straight.
• departments crossed : Puy-de-Dôme (63) from km 0 to km 167.2
• main towns : Murat-le-Quaire, Le Mont-Dore, Chambon-sur-Lac, Murol, Besse and Issoire

11/ Wednesday, July 12, 2023 - Clermont-Ferrand > Moulins - 179.8 km

• start : - the start will take place on Boulevard Desaix in Clermont-Ferrand (1:05pm) - the actual start is scheduled on the D210 , after 10.3 km of the parade route (1:25pm)
• passes and climbs : - Côte de Chaptuzat-Haut (4th category) at km 31.8 - ^ 490 m / 1.9 km at 5% - Côte du Mercurol (4th category) at km 49.5 - ^ 457 m / 2.9 km at 4.6% - Côte de la Croix Blanche (4th category) at km 118.5 - ^ 292 m / 1.6 km at 5.4
• intermediate sprint : D998 at Lapeyrouse at km 70.5
• finish : Boulevard de Nomazy in Moulins at the end of a 1,300 m final straight (including 300 m at sight) / width 7 m
• departments crossed : Puy-de-Dôme (63) from km 0 to km 44.7 and from km 66.5 to km 74.3, Allier (03) from km 45.4 to km 64.5 and from km 76.5 to km 179.8
• main towns : Clermont-Ferrand, Aigueperse, Ébreuil, Commentry, Néris-les-Bains, Montluçon, Cosne-d'Alier and Moulins

12/ Thursday, July 13, 2023 - Roanne > Belleville-en-Beaujolais - 168.8 km

• start : - the start will take place at the Parking du Scarabée in Roanne (1:05 pm) - the actual start is scheduled on the Roanne , after 10.4 km of the parade route (1:20 pm)
• passes and climbs : - Côte de Thizy-les-Bourgs (3rd category) at km 20.5 - ^ 633 m / 4.3 km at 5.6% - Col des Écorbans (3rd category) at km 37.9 - ^ 853 m / 2.1 km at 6.9% - Col de la Casse Froide (3rd category) at km 109,9 - ^ 740 m / 5.2 km at 6.1% - Col de la Croix Montmain (2nd category) at km 125 - ^ 737 m / 5.5 km at 6.1% - Col de la Croix Rosier (2nd category) at km 140.4 - ^ 717 m / 5.3 km at 7.6
• intermediate sprint : Rue Chaussée d'Erpent in Régnié-Durette at km 93.3
• bonus sprint : Col de la Croix Rosier
• finish : Avenue de l'Europe / D306 à v at the end of a 400 m / 6 m wide final straight line
• departments crossed : Loire (42) from km 0 to km 13.2 and to km 38, Rhône (69) from km 15.1 to km 37.9 and from km 40.2 to km 76.9 and from km 78.7 to km 168.8, Saône-et-Loire (71) from km 77.8 to km 78.2
• main towns : Roanne, Bourg-de-Thizy, Régnié-Durette and Belleville-en-Beaujolais

13/ Friday, July 14, 2023 - Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne > Grand Colombier - 137.8 km

• start : - the start will take place on Place de la République in Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne (1.45pm) - the actual start is scheduled on the D2 , after 4.3km of the parade route (1.55pm)
• passes and climbs : - Grand Colombier (out of category) at km 137.8 - ^ 1501 m / 17.4 km at 7.1
• intermediate sprint : Avenue de la Liberté in Hauteville-Lompnes at km 87.3
• finish : D120 at Grand Colombier at the end of a final straight 1400 m (including 400 m at sight) / width 5 m
• departments crossed : Ain (01) from km 0 to km 137.8
• main towns : Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne, Villars-les-Dombes, Ambérieu-en-Bugey, Hauteville-Lompnes and Culoz

14/ Saturday, July 15, 2023 - Annemasse > Morzine - 151.8 km

• start : - the start will take place in the Rue des Amoureux in Annemasse (1:05pm) - the actual start is scheduled on the D1205 , after 8.3 km of the parade route (1:20pm)
• passes and climbs : - Col de Saxel (3rd category) at km 18.7 - ^ 944 m / 4.2 km at 4.6% - Col de Cou (1st category) at km 35.3 - ^ 1116 m / 7 km at 7.4% - Col du Feu (1st category) at km 52,7 - ^ 1117 m / 5.8 km at 7.8% - Col de la Ramaz (1st category) at km 101.6 - ^ 1619 m / 13.9 km at 7.1% - Col de Joux Plane (non-category) at km 139.8 - ^ 1691 m / 11.6 km at 8.5%.
• intermediate sprint : Col de Jambaz (^ 1029 m) at km 65.5
• bonus sprint : Col de Joux Plane
• finish : Place de l'Office de Tourisme in Morzine at the end of a 50 m straight line at sight / width 5.50 m
• departments crossed : Haute-Savoie (74) from km 0 to km 151.8
• main towns : Annemasse, Saint-Jeoire, Taninges, Samoëns and Morzine

15/ Sunday, July 16, 2023 - Les Gets > Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc - 179 km

• start : - the start will take place in Rue du Centre in Les Gets (1:05pm) - the actual start is scheduled on the D902 , after 11.6km of the parade route (1:20pm)
• passes and climbs : - Col de la Forclaz de Montmin (1st category) at km 82.8 - ^ 1157 m / 7.2 km at 7.3% - Col de la Croix Fry (1st category) at km 124.5 - ^ 1477 m / 11.3 km at 7% - Col des Aravis (3rd category) at km 133,3- ^ 1487 m / 4.4 km at 5.8% - Côte des Amerands (2nd category) at km 170.6 - ^ 888 m / 2.7 km at 10.9% - Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc (1st category) at km 179 - ^ 1372 m / 7 km at 7.7%.
• intermediate sprint : Route de Thônes à Bluffy at km 72
• finish : Route du Bettex in Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc at the end of a final straight 50 m at sight / width 5 m
• departments crossed : Haute-Savoie (74) from km 0 to km 133.3 and from km 148.5 to km 179, Savoie (73) from km 137.7 to km 147.4
• main towns : Les Gets, Cluses, Bonneville, La Roche-sur-Foron, Faverges, Praz-sur-Arly, Megève, Combloux and Saint-Gervais-les-Bains

R2/ Monday July 17, 2023 - rest in Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc

16/ tuesday, july 18, 2023 - passy > combloux - individual time trial - 22.4 km.

• start : - the launch ramp will be in l 'Avenue Joseph Thoret in Passy (the first rider will start at 1:05 p.m.; first minute by minute, then every 1'30" and finally 2 minutes by 2 minutes; the last start is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.)
• timing points : - Passy Chef-Lieu at km 7.1 - Domancy at km 16.1 - Côte de Domancy at km 18.9
• passes and climbs : - Côte de Domancy (2nd category) at km 18.9 - Passy
• finish : Route de Megève / D1212 in Combloux at the end of a 120 m straight final stretch on sight / width 5 m
• departments crossed : Haute-Savoie (74) from km 0 to km 22.4
• main towns : Passy, Sallanches and Combloux

17/ Wednesday, July 19, 2023 - Saint-Gervais > Courchevel - 165.7 km

• start : - the start will take place at the Viaduc de Saint-Gervais in Saint-Gervais-les-Bains (12:20 p.m.) - the actual start is scheduled on the D909 , after 3.5 km of the parade route (12:30 p.m.)
• passes and climbs : - Col des Saisies (1st category) at km 28.4 - ^ 1650 m / 13.4 km at 5.1% - Cormet de Roselend (1st category) at km 66.7 - ^ 1968 m / 19.9 km at 6% - Côte de Longefoy (2nd category) at km 105.7 - ^ 1174 m / 6.6 km at 7.5% - Col de la Loze (non-category) at km 159.1 - ^ 2304 m / 28.1 km at 6%.
• intermediate sprint : Avenue des Sports in Beaufort at km 46
• bonus sprint : Col de la Loze
• finish : Altiport in Courchevel at the end of a 370 m final straight, 30 m of which on sight / width 7 m
• departments crossed : Haute-Savoie (74) from km 0 to km 9.9, Savoie (73) from km 13.4 to km 165.7
• main towns : Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, Megève, Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Moûtiers, Salins-les-Thermes, Bride-les-Bains, Méribel-les-Allues and Courchevel

18/ Thursday, July 20, 2023 - Moûtiers > Bourg-en-Bresse - 184.9 km

• start : - the start will take place on the Square de la Liberté in Moûtiers (1:05pm) - the actual start is scheduled on the D990 , after 16.2 km of the parade route (1:35pm)
• passes and climbs : - Côte de Chambéry-le-Haut (4th category) at km 62.1 - ^ 349 m / 1.6 km at 4.1% - Côte de Boissieu (4th category) at km 105.2 - ^ 362 m / 2.4 km at 4.7%.
• intermediate sprint : Avenue de l'Europe in Saint-Rambert-en-Bugey at km 132.9
• finish : Boulevard Charles de Gaulle / D1075 in Bourg-en-Bresse at the end of a final 750 m straight at sight / width 6.5 m
• departments crossed : Savoie (73) from km 0 to km 89.2, Ain (01) from km 91.6 to km 184.9
• main towns : Moûtiers, Albertville, Chambéry, Belley, Ambérieu-en-Bugey and Bourg-en-Bresse

19/ Friday, July 21, 2023 - Moirans-en-Montagne > Poligny - 172.8 km

• start : - the start will take place in Rue du Collège in Moirans-en-Montagne (1:15pm) - the actual start is scheduled on the D470 , after 7.7km of the parade route (1:30pm)
• passes and climbs : - Côte du Bois de Lionge (4th category) at km 23.7 - ^ 686 m / 1.9 km at 5.7% - Côte d'Ivory (3rd category) at km 144.7 - ^ 602 m / 2.3 km at 5.9%.
• intermediate sprint : Route de Champagnole in Ney at km 97.7
• finish : Route de Dole / D905 in Poligny at the end of a 7 km / 6.5 m wide final straight.
• departments crossed : Jura (39) from km 0 to km 172.8
• main towns : Moirans-en-Montagne, Arinthod, Orgelet, Pont-de-Poitte, Champagnole, Salins-les-Bains, Mesnay, Arbois and Poligny

20/ Saturday, July 22, 2023 - Belfort > Le Markstein - 135.5 km

• start : - the start will take place in Rue de l'Ancien Théatre in Belfort (1:30 pm) - the actual start is scheduled on the D5 , after 6.6 km of the parade route (1:45 pm)
• passes and climbs : - Ballon d'Alsace (2nd category) at km 24 - ^ 1173 m / 11.5 km at 5.2% - Col de la Croix des Moinats (2nd category) at km 56.5 - ^ 891 m / 5.2 km at 7% - Col de Grosse Pierre (2nd category) at km 64.9 - ^ 944 m / 3,2 km at 8% - Col de la Schlucht (3rd category) at km 79.4 - ^ 1139 m / 4.3 km at 5.4% - Petit Ballon (1st category) at km 108.2 - ^ 1163 m / 9.3 km at 8.1% - Col du Platzerwasel (1st category) at km 125.3 - ^ 1193 m / 7.1 km at 8.4
• intermediate sprint : Rue d'Alsace in Fresse-sur-Moselle at km 37.2
• finish : D27 at Le Markstein at the end of a 170 m straight finish at sight / width 6 m
• departments crossed : Territoire de Belfort (90) from km 0 to km 24, Vosges (88) from km 33.1 to km 79.4, Haut-Rhin (68) from km 92.5 to km 133.5
• main towns : Belfort, Saint-Maurice-sur-Moselle, Fresse-sur-Moselle, Le Thillot, Cornimont, La Bresse, Munster and Sondernach

21/ Sunday, July 23, 2023 - Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines > Paris Champs-Elysées - 133.5 km

• start : - the start will take place on the Place de la Paix Céleste , in front of the Vélodrome National de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (in the commune of Montigny-le-Bretonneux) (4:30 p.m.) - the actual start is scheduled on the D11 , after 3 km of the parade route (4:40 p.m.)
• passes and climbs : - Côte du Pavé des Gardes (4th category) at km 42.8 - ^ 180 m / 1.3 km at 6.5
• intermediate sprint : top of the Champs-Elysées in Paris (3rd passage) at km 75.1
• finish : Champs-Elysées in Paris at the end of a 700 m / 8 m wide final straight line
• departments crossed : Yvelines (78) from km 0 to km 39.2, Hauts-de-Seine (92) from km 41.1 to km 43.6, Paris (75) from km 48.8 to km 115.1
• main towns : Montigny-le-Bretonneux (Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines), Fontenay-le-Fleury, Les Clayes-sous-Bois, Plaisir, Élancourt, Montigny-le-Bretonneux, Voisins-le-Bretonneux, Guyancourt, Versailles, Viroflay, Chaville, Meudon, Issy-les-Moulineaux and Paris.

The Tour de France 2023 route in Google Earth

Thanks for all your work over the years! Really enjoy it to have all the race routes available in Google Earth.

Thank you very much for this. I am looking forward to it every year.

I was looking forward to open the kmz-file in Google Earth, but in a full hour of trying to download it, I din't succeed, nor by clicking the link nor by copy-pasting the url in a new window. I'll try again later.

I created a public iCal calendar based on this website and links to all stages. https://short.thover.com/?ID=863

Thanks again, Thomas! Like the others, each year I look forward to downloading the KMZ file.

Downloading the kmz file doesn't work, neither does the alternative link

Leave a comment

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Tour de France 2023: From Bilbao to Paris, our stage-by-stage guide to cycling’s biggest race

First Published Jun 10, 2023

Opening paras changed to reflect recent events since first publishing date.

It’s nearly time for Bilbao to host the start of the 2023 Tour de France on 1 July, marking the second time that Spain’s Basque Region has staged the Grand Départ of the race after it began in San Sebastian in 1992. From the word go there will be some tough racing in prospect as Jonas Vingegaard – who was in imperious form at the Dauphiné – seeks to retain his title. Here’s our stage-by-stage guide to what promises to be three weeks of gripping racing.

Taking in all of France’s mountain ranges, the race kicks off with what is widely seen as the toughest opening week in its history in terms of climbing, with the Grand Départ followed by a pair of flat stages after the race heads into France, then two stages in the High Pyrenees and a summit finish at the Puy de Dôme in the Massif Central ahead of what will be a very welcome first rest day.

The second week sees a pair of hilly stages flank the third one of the race tagged as flat before three days in the mountains from Friday to Sunday, two of those stages ending in a summit finish, the first on the Grand Colombier.

There are three days in the Alps at the start of the final week, the first of those the only individual time trial of the race, and a short one at that, ahead of two transitional stages taking us via the Jura mountains to the penultimate day` and a first-time stage finish at Le Markstein in the Vosges, followed by the traditional final day in Paris.

Along the way, there will be crashes, injuries and illnesses as well as dramatic moments that may shape the eventual destination of the yellow jersey, and which will live long in the memory. Here is the fly through video of the route, together with an overview map of the Grand Départ, followed by all of the 21 stages in detail.

Stage 1 Saturday 1 July Bilbao – Bilbao (182km, hilly)

The 110th edition of the Tour de France gets under way on the race’s 120th birthday with what looks like a cracker of a stage starting and finishing in the largest city in the Basque Country, Bilbao, but also passing twice through its historical capital, Guernika, and with 3,300 metres of climbing today it’s a tough opener to a race in which nerves are typically fraught in the opening days.

Today’s stage, which like tomorrow will be played out in front of huge crowds, is bound to see Basque riders try and get into the early break, and with five categorised climbs and several others that do not count towards the mountains classification, it’s a day for the puncheurs, with the last ascent, the Pike, crested just 9.6km from the finish in back in Bilbao.

Stage 2 Sunday 2 July Vitoria-Gastiez – Saint Sebastien (209km, hilly)

A few weeks after the Giro d’Italia boasted a stage into Bergamo that was in effect a mini-Tour of Lombardy, and a year since the Grand Boucle thundered over the Paris-Roubaix cobbles, Spain’s biggest one-day race gets similar treatment with today’s final featuring the Jaizkibel climb, so often decisive in the Clásica de San Sebastián, typically held the week after the Tour de France ends.

That race, plus the annual Tour of the Basque country, means that the roads featuring in the opening two days will be familiar to many of the riders, and that late 6.4 per cent climb, which has its summit 16.5km from the line, will almost certainly be the springboard for attacks from stage-hunters – you can bet that several local riders will have ringed this one in red as soon as it was announced.

Stage 3 Monday 3 July Amorebieta-Etxano – Bayonne (185km, flat)

Today’s stage sees the race depart Spain, but we are still in the Basque Country on the French side of the border with a finish in the region’s capital, Bayonne. Much of the stage hugs the coast – the last sight of the sea in this year’s race – and if the wind is up, the GC teams will be jostling for position at the front of the bunch in case echelons form, meaning any break may be kept on a tight leash.

There are four categorised climbs on today’s parcours, but the last of those comes just after the halfway point as the race heads towards Saint Sebastien and beyond that, the border towns of Irun and Hendaye. Consequently, this looks very much like the first chance for the sprinters to open their account in this year’s race, with a fast finish in prospect in Bayonne.

Stage 4 Tuesday 4 July Dax – Nogaro (182km, flat)

This sprinter-friendly stage has just one categorised climb, the Category 4 Côte de Dému, which tops out at just 218 metres above sea level with 27.4km remaining to the finish at France’s first purpose-built motor racing venue, the Circuit Paul Armagnac, with the intermediate sprint at 83.8km taking place outside the Notre Dame des Cyclistes church in Labastide-d’Armagnac.

The start in Dax honours one of the peloton’s all-time great fast men, André Derrigade, who was born in nearby Narrosse. Now aged 94, he won 22 stages of the Tour de France, a record for sprint stages that stood until it was eclipsed by Mark Cavendish, who took his 23rd victory at the race on the Champs-Elysées in 2012 and is now seeking a 35th win that would put him ahead of Eddy Merckx.

Stage 5 Wednesday 5 July Pau – Laruns (165km, mountain)

Halfway through the opening week, and we’re already in the Pyrenees for the first mountain test of this year’s race, one that starts in Pau which welcomes the race for the 74th time – more than anywhere else, other than Paris or Bordeaux.

After a flattish opening 70km or so, the riders tackle the hors-categorie Col de Soudet, which has an average gradient of 7.2 per cent over 15.2km, though attacks, if any, are likely to wait until the Col de Marie Blanque, crested 18.5km out from Laruns, which hosts a stage for the fourth time – the last two winners there being Primož Roglič in 2018, and Tadej Pogačar three years ago.

Stage 6 Thursday 6 July Tarbes – Cauterets-Cambasque (145km, mountain)

The second of two days in the Pyrenees sees the first summit finish of the race at Cauterets-Cambasque, though first there is the small matter of two of this area’s most fabled climbs to tackle, the Col d’Aspin and the Col du Tourmalet, the summit of the latter coming with 47km left followed by a long, sweeping descent of 30km or so ahead of the final ascent.

While the race has visited Cauterets four times, only once has the finish line been on the Plateau du Cambasque, where it is today – that was back in 1989, the stage won by a young Miguel Indurain, the first Tour de France stage win for the eventual five-time champion. Today’s final climb, 16km long with an average gradient of 5.4 per cent, could well end with a change in the yellow jersey.

Stage 7 Friday 7 July Mont-de-Marsan – Bordeaux (170km, flat)          

The flattest stage of this year’s race heads north away from the Pyrenees to Bordeaux, which hosts the race for the 81st time – though this is the first time a stage has finished here since 2010, when Mark Cavendish took his fourth victory at that year’s race just two days before adding his fifth as the race ended in Paris.

There’s less than 1,000 metres of climbing today, and the sole categorised climb, the Category 4 Côte de Béguey, stands just 82 metres above sea level. In recent years, we’ve often seen the peloton misjudge catching the break, making for some thrilling will-they-or-won’t-they finishes – though a 2km straight ahead of the line on the vast Place des Quinconces minimises the chances of that today.

Stage 8 Saturday 8 July Libourne – Limoges (201km, hilly)

There’s another bunch finish in prospect today, but the characteristics of the stage are very different to the two that have preceded it as the race heads to Limoges, centre of France’s porcelain industry, which last hosted a stage finish in 2016, the German sprinter Marcel Kittel edging out Frenchman Bryan Coquard for what would prove to be his only win in that year’s race.

The final of today’s stage is much tougher than that one seven years ago, however, with two Category 4 climbs to be tackled inside the closing 18 kilometres, and a 5 per cent uphill drag to the line in the closing 700 metres. If it’s a sprint, it is likely to be a very select one featuring the stronger finishers, but it could also be a day for the break to stay clear or even a late solo attack to prevail.

Stage 9 Sunday 9 July Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat – Puy de Dôme (184km, mountain)

The first week of the race ends with a visit to the Massif Centrale, starting in the adopted hometown of three-time runner-up Raymond Poulidor, who never wore the yellow jersey, his grandson Mathieu van der Poel becoming the first member of the family to do so after winning the second stage of the 2021 edition in Brittany.

Poulidor’s stage-winning battle with eventual overall champion Jacques Anquetil in 1964 is just one of the past visits that has sealed the Puy de Dôme’s place in Tour history, but today is the first summit finish there for 35 years. The climb covers 13.3km at an average gradient of 7.7 per cent – but the real test comes in the final 4.5km, which averages a leg-sapping 12 per cent. There could be some big winners and losers on GC today.

Rest Day Monday 10 July Clermont-Ferrand

Stage 10 Tuesday 11 July Vulcania – Issoire (167km, hilly)

Racing resumes after the rest day with one of two stages this week that pretty much have ‘win from the break’ written all over them, so we’d expect a frantic start as riders try and get off the front of the peloton after leaving the volcano-themed Vulcania amusement park, an intermediate sprint just under 60km in meaning the break could also feature some with designs on the green points jersey.

There are 3,100 metres of climbing today and five categorised climbs the last of those crested with 28.6km still to go and a mainly downhill run to what will be only the second-ever stage finish in Issoire, the last coming 40 years ago. Attacks from the break look likely on that final climb, the Côte de la Chapelle Marcousella, with a select group fighting it out for the win, or even a solo triumph.

Stage 11 Wednesday 12 July Clermont-Ferrand – Moulins (180km, flat)

After four days in the Auvergne, the race heads north-west from Michelin’s home city then east towards Moulins, hosting its first stage finish. Shortly before halfway it goes through Montluçon, home of two-time world champion and former Tour de France yellow jersey Julian Alaphilippe, who is bound to receive a warm welcome from family and friends as the race passes by.

With no significant climbs, on paper it’s a day for the sprinters with a flat, 900-metre run to the finish, but the complexion of the race could change if there is a strong wind blowing from the south-east which would be at the back of the riders for the first 115km before turning into a crosswind, raising the prospect of echelons forming and the frantic racing that invariably ensues.

Stage 12 Thursday 13 July Roanne – Belleville-en-Beaujolais (169km, flat)

Officially, this is a flat stage, but it’s not one that looks likely to end in a bunch sprint, with some tough climbs to be tackled, three of those coming in the final 60km or so, the lats of them the Col de la Croix Rosier which averages 7.6 per cent over its 5.3km, making it a day that looks suited for the break.

A hilly start to the afternoon’s racing means that we’re likely once again to see a big battle to get into the break, and no doubt some of the specialist escape artists will have marked today out as one on which they can go for a stage win, the overall contenders likely to keep their powder dry ahead of some tough days in the Jura mountains followed by the Alps.

Stage 13 Friday 14 July Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne – Grand Colombier (138km, mountain)

With Bastille Day falling on a Friday, the roadsides will be lined with revellers kicking off their long weekend in party mode and hoping to see a home win on the Fête Nationale for the first time since Warren Barguil triumphed in Foix in 2017 – and certainly, there will be no shortage of French riders trying to get into the break during a long, flat opening to the stage which ends in the Jura mountains.

The intermediate sprint comes during a long but uncategorised climb, followed by a descent before the road flattens out ahead of the final ascent, which begins with 17.4km left and averages 7.1 per cent. The Tour first tackled the Grand Colombier in 2012, with the first summit finish in 2020 when Tadej Pogačar prevailed – although today’s tough ascent will be from a different direction.

Stage 14 Saturday 15 July Annemasse – Morzine les Portes du Soleil (152km, mountain)

A weekend in the Alps kicks off with a fairly short but very tough stage in the mountains south of Lake Geneva, the Swiss city that gives the lake its name sitting just across the border from today’s start, with the five categorised climbs in total providing 4,100 metres of vertical ascent during the afternoon.

Those climbs get progressively harder as the stage unfolds, with some steep ramps on the Col de la Ramaz potentially seeing a thinning-out of the GC group ahead of the Hors-Categorie Col du Joux Plane, covering 11.6km at 8.5 per cent. That’s crested with just 12km to go, with a tricky, very fast descent into Morzine likely to prove attractive to some of the peloton’s more fearless descenders.

Stage 15 Sunday 16 July Les Gets les Portes du Soleil – Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc Le Bettex (179km, mountains)

Today’s parcours is a near-loop through the mountains of Haute-Savoie, with racing starting after an unusually long neutralised section that gives the riders 15 minutes to get their legs warmed up. With a rest day tomorrow several, including those with their sights set on the mountains competition, will be tucked in behind the race director’s car, itching to attack the moment the flag drops.

The GC action will come on the day’s final two climbs, which in effect are one long climb with the briefest of descents between them. The first of those, the Côte des Amerands, is only designated Category 2 but averages 10.9 per cent and hits a maximum of 17 per cent, providing a potential launch pad for attacks ahead of the final ascent to Le Bettex, where Romain Bardet won in 2016.

Rest Day Monday 17 July Saint-Gervais – Mont Blanc

Stage 16 Tuesday 18 July Passy – Combloux (22km, individual time trial)

There’s a sharp contrast with the Giro d’Italia this year, which featured 73.2km of riding against the clock split between three stages, including that penultimate day’s thriller in which Primož Roglič snatched the maglia rosa from Geraint Thomas to set up his overall victory. Tour organisers ASO have instead gone for a minimalist approach, with today’s short time trial the only such stage of the race.

On that memorable day in Italy, riders switched from time trial to road bikes ahead of the last climb, but here, the benefits of changing bikes is less cut and dried. There’s a short, punchy climb early on, but most of the stage is on flattish, rolling roads. The Côte de Domancy though hits 15 per cent – could the risk of losing time to change bikes be offset by the potential reward of gaining precious seconds?

Stage 17 Wednesday 19 July Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc – Courchevel (166km, mountain)

A potential cracker of a stage in the Alps, including the Col de la Loze which at 2,304 metres will be the highest point the Tour reaches this year, on a day that begins with the familiar combination of the Col des Saisies and Cormet de Roseland and which will no doubt see a lot of fighting to get into the break, particularly from riders or teams that have had a disappointing race to date.

After the descent from Nôtre-Dame-du-Pré, the road heads upwards again, with the climb to the Col de la Loze covering 28.1km at an average gradient of 6 per cent but hitting a brutal 24 per cent at times. The summit comes with 6.6km to go, followed by a fast descent ahead of a final 18 per cent ramp to the finish. It’s very much a day that could see a big reshuffling of the top 10 on GC.

Stage 18 Thursday 20 July Moûtiers – Bourg-en-Bresse (186km, hilly)

This is one of those intriguing stages that is often thrown into the last week of the Tour, and is consequently a difficult one to call. With rolling terrain and no categorised climbs, it should be one for the sprinters, but the exertions of the past few days in the mountains, plus the reduction of teams to eight riders a few years ago, means sprint trains don’t now dominate as they once did.

Add to that the fact that with the race fast approaching its end, chances to make an impression are running out, which means many riders – including some still looking for a new contract for next year – will try and get in the break and take it all the way to the line. It could very well be one of those days when the bunch tries to reel in the escapees at the death, with a close finish in prospect.

Stage 19 Friday 21 July Moirans-en-Montagne – Poligny (173km, flat)

Another one that should, in theory, end in a bunch finish, but subject to the same caveats that applied yesterday. We’re back in the Jura today, but the two categorised climbs, the second of which has its summit 29.1km from the finish town, shouldn’t prove too taxing for the legs of the fastest men in the peloton.

A finishing straight that is around 8km in length also plays into the hands of the chasers – psychologically, it’s easier to chase down a break when it is within line of sight, and the absence of twists and turns late on, more easily negotiated by individual riders or a small group rather than the peloton, also favours the sprinters who today have their last chance of success before Paris.

Stage 20 Saturday 22 July Belfort – Le Markstein Fellering (133km, mountain)

The final mountain stage is also the shortest road stage of the race, but it is one that certainly packs a punch with six categorised climbs in wait ahead of a first-time finish at Le Markstein Fellering in the Vosges mountains. Quite how the day pans out will depend a lot on the gaps at the top of the GC – if they are small, this will be an explosive stage, and we’d expect a big break to get away eventually.

That could take some time as teams that missed the move counter attack. We should also see GC teams try and get riders up the road to fall back and help their leaders later on. The penultimate climb, the Petit Ballon, averages 8.1 per cent over 9.3km, followed by the Col du Platzerwasel, 7.1km at 8.4 per cent ahead of the finish when we’ll know who is poised to win the 110th Tour de France tomorrow.

Stage 21 Sunday 23 July 2023 Saint-Quentin-En-Yvelines – Paris Champs-Elysées (115km, flat)

The traditional procession into Paris will be missing next year, the 2024 Tour concluding with an individual time trial in Nice as the French capital gears up to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which are acknowledged by today’s stage starting outside the velodrome that will host the track cycling events a little more than 12 months from now.

It is of course a well-worn script, with the peloton in end-of-term mood as it heads into the heart of Paris, the jersey wearers posing for photographs, before a break that will almost certainly be doomed going clear on the iconic Champs-Elysées circuit ahead of a bunch sprint that is widely acknowledged as the unofficial sprinters’ world championship.

If Mark Cavendish, winner in May of the final stage of the Giro d’Italia in Rome,  makes it to Paris, this will be the 224th and final Tour de France stage (including Prologues) of his career. From 2009-12, he was unbeatable on the Champs-Elysées, his four straight stage wins here coming when he was at his peak, the last of those in the rainbow jersey of world champion on the same day as Sky team-mate Bradley Wiggins became the first British rider to win the yellow jersey.

By tradition, it is the team of the winner in waiting that leads the peloton across the line for the start of the first lap of the closing circuit, but the honour is sometimes given to a rider taking part in the race for the final time – although if Cavendish is here, it will be with the goal of clinching what has proved to be an elusive fifth win on cycling’s most famous finish line, and one which, if he has not yet clinched his 35th stage victory, would be the one that would finally see him pull clear of Eddy Merckx as the rider with the most stage wins in the history of the race.

Whatever happens, for the riders who have made it through the three weeks, reunions with friends and family plus celebrations with team-mates and staff beckon in the evening after the race ends for another year, the baton passing to the cradle of the Renaissance, Florence, with the city next year hosting what will be Italy’s first ever Grand Départ of its neighbouring country’s Grand Tour.

Arrivederci Paris, ed all’anno prossimo in Toscana – Goodbye Paris, and until next year in Tuscany.

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Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

Add new comment

Re stage 9, finishing up the Puy de Dôme, you say "Poulidor’s stage-winning battle with eventual overall champion Jacques Anquetil in 1964 is just one of the past visits that has sealed the Puy de Dôme’s place in Tour history." Poulidor dropped Anquetil on the Puy de Dôme, but he didn't win the stage. They were behind the Spanish climbers Bahamontes and Jiménez, with Jiménez being the stage winner.

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A bit pedantic, but your opening paragraph is wrong...it's only three days to go until the 2023 Tour....not three weeks until the 2024 Tour!!

There's more detail here , including a lot about the areas, towns and villages the race passes through on each stage.

Quote: The start in Dax honours one of the peloton’s all-time great fast men, André Derrigade, who was born in nearby Narrosse. Now aged 94, he won 22 stages of the Tour de France, a record that stood until it was eclipsed by Mark Cavendish, who took his 23rd victory at the race on the Champs-Elysées in 2012 

Wasn't it eclipsed earlier by Eddy Merckx?

I think they meant to say sprint stages. Wheras Eddie won a mix of sprint and mountainous stages on his way to winning pretty much anything you can on a bike. 

And so the excitement builds.

Rest day on my birthday, boo.

But I will have that whole week off anyway.

I hope ITV still have the live rights, or I will be riding a lot that week , and trying to be back for 7. DMAX has been alright, apart from the weird cancelled days, and ITV4s Dauphine is good, but I need a bit of live Tour.

ktache wrote: And so the excitement builds. Rest day on my birthday, boo. But I will have that whole week off anyway. I hope ITV still have the live rights, or I will be riding a lot that week , and trying to be back for 7.

ITV only go from 2 pm, about two hours into the stage. However, Discovery+ have flag to flag coverage and there is a seven day free trial available, which would fit nicely into your birthday week!

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As it happened: Philipsen takes hotly contested sprint on Tour de France stage 3

193.5km from Amorebieta-Etxano to Bayonne

Tour de France - Everything you need to know Tour de France sprinters ready to take over after 'hardest start in 20 years' Tour de France favourites Tour de France teams guide

Bonjour and welcome to Cyclingnews live coverage of stage 3 of the 2023 Tour de France!

We've seen two brutal days of racing in the Spanish Basque Country with Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) and Victor Lafay (Cofidis) taking the wins. Today should be the first opportunity for the sprinters to stretch their legs in a bunch finish into Bayonne.

We've had a change of route due to safety concerns for today with the stage extended to 193.5km to avoid dangerous road furniture. Read about the full changes and why they've been made here.

The riders are gearing up for the start in Amorebieta-Etxano, a location which has hosted it’s own one-day uci race, the Klasika Primavera, since the 50s and has been won by the likes of Alejandro Valverde and Carlos Sastre.

There were no more abandonments after stage 2 thankfully, despite a scare for Lotto-Dstny lead-tour rider Jasper De Buyst. The Belgian team tweeted that he and young prospect Maxim Van Gils would start the stage today after they were cleared. They will be working in aid of Caleb Ewan today.

Update and it's good news 😉Following a test on the rollers this morning, @JasperDeBuyst will take the start in Amorebieta-Etxano for the #TDF2023 stage three. https://t.co/THSWb1EfPN July 3, 2023

The riders are underway from start line in Amorebieta-Etxano. We've of course, got our neutralised start as the riders pass more lines of Basque fans out in great support.

Here is another look at the profile for today's 193.5km stage before we get to kilometre 0. You can see the four categorised climbs coming in the first 100km of racing, so expect a fight for the break to fight it out for those king of the mountains points. Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) should certainly be trying to get in the break and he currently leads that KOM classification by four points ahead of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates)

193.5KM TO GO

Here we go! Official start is taken and racing is fully underway. It's, as expected, Powless who immediately shoots off the front to ensure he is in the fight for king of the mountains points so he can defend his jersey. He is joined by Laurent Pichon (Arkéa-Samsic)

The gap to the duo out in front has already grown past 30 seconds as the peloton settles in to the start. It won't take long for us to get onto the first climb which comes in 6km at the Côte de Trabakua (4.1km at 5.4%). Powless has clearly prepped for the exact move he made as the flag was waved, as he is in his skin suit and ready for a day of chasing KOM points.

We're heading out of Durango at the moment where the fans have again come in masses to support the riders. Cycling is well known to be a religion in the Basque Country, but the crowds have been quite incredible throughout the Grand Depart. 

Here's a look at the four jersey wearers from today's start: Lafay in green after his incredible stage win yesterday, Yates in the maillot jaune after holding onto it on stage 2, Powless who is already in the break to try and gain more KOM points and Pogačar, who will be delighted with the start his UAE team have made to the 2023 Tour so far. 

Spirits are high at the front with Powless and Pichon sharing a laugh at the head of the race. No team in the peloton has got on the front to establish any sort of control as of yet, with the gap now approaching 2:00 as they ride the first climb of the day.

Tim 'El tractor' Declercq (Soudal-Quick Step) has taken up his position at the front of the peloton for the Belgian side that has on many occasions dominated the sprints. He and his teammates will be working in aid of Fabio Jakobsen (Soudal-Quick Step) who won the first stage at last year's Tour de France.

180KM TO GO

Powless takes the first full haul of two king of the mountains points over the first climb as he eased ahead of Pichon. The American even gave us a small bike lunge as he and Pichon continued their relaxed journey at the head of the race. 

Powless and Pichon are leading the descent towards the next town of Markina Xemein as the riders continue heading north back towards the coast. Once they reach Lekeitio, they will turn right and start heading up the Bay of Biscay coastline into France. 

While we have this more quiet period of racing, make sure you take a chance to read some of Cyclingnews being produced on the ground at the Tour de France. Tech Editor, Josh Croxton, has been keeping an eagle eye on the latest tech, newest bikes, and tricksiest hacks on show at the Grand Depart. Take a look at Josh's gallery of the best tech highlights including Caleb Ewan's prototype bike and Mark Cavendish's limited edition Willier below. Tour de France mega tech gallery: All the nerdy highlights from the Grand Depart

Adam Yates is back at the team car having his race radio adjusted in his yellow jersey.

165KM TO GO

Powless and Pichon's advantage out in front has gone out further to 2:44 with no urgency behind to start even thinking about reeling them in yet. Jakobsen, one of the favourites for the day has just had a bike change and is now riding to get back into the peloton. 

The two leaders have entered the second categorised climb of the day, the Côte de Milloi (2.3km at 4.5%). 

Powless has set off to gain the solitary KOM point atop this second climb of the day. He's eased over the line ahead of Pichon with his arms aloft and his thumbs up. He's certainly enjoying his day in red shorts and in the break. 

We've got some of the main teams with a sprint focus coming to the front of the peloton, albeit with one rider each for now. Soudal-Quick Step for Fabio Jakobsen, Alpecin-Deceuninck for Jasper Philipsen, Jayco AlUla for Dylan Groenewegen and Lidl-Trek for Mads Pedersen. The gap to the leader is now out to 3:30.

Take a look below at Neilson Powless having the time of his life in the polka-dot jersey for EF Education-EasyPost

👍 😁 👍🔴⚪️ @NPowless 🇺🇸#TDF2023 | @maillotapois pic.twitter.com/6kgtLzBm6a July 3, 2023

Ridiculous crowds in Lekeitio to cheer on our two leaders. Everyone is out on the roads cheering on our two leaders in the Basque sunshine. They are now making the turn back up the Bay of Biscay's coastline as they go towards the French border.

Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) has had a puncture but is in no form of panic as the bunch is still incredibly calm. He's being aided back to the peloton by Alexey Lutsenko and Yevgeniy Federov. Today could be the first chance for the Manx Missile to try and get that record-breaking 35th Tour de France stage win, which would see him overtake Eddy Merckx at the top of the all-time Tour stage wins leaderboard. 

148KM TO GO

Tadej Pogačar has had a back wheel puncture which is now being changed back at the team car. He's, of course, not stressed with so long left in today's stage. 

Take a look below at the fantastic Basque fans in Lekeitio watching the peloton fly past them. The red, white and green of the Basque flags have been seen all over the roads across these opening three stages, showing just how important cycling is to this region. 

Here's Victor Lafay looking great in the green jersey, which he earned after his heroic victory on stage 2 yesterday. His attack under the flame rouge was too much for the rest of the reduced bunch at the head of the race and he powered away to take Cofidis' first win at the Tour de France since 2008. Check out Lafay in the green jersey below. 

La première étape du reste de sa carrière 🔥#TDF2023 🎥 @MathildeLAzou pic.twitter.com/kRufxPNCoE July 3, 2023

Lafay has just made his way off the front of the peloton in his new green jersey. He'll be looking for more points in the green classification at the intermediate sprint into Deba. He knows he probably won't feature in the bunch sprint today, so this is his best chance to mop up more points. 

130KM TO GO

Lafay is in time trial mode and is making short work of the leading duo's advantage. He's already gained a minute on them and is now 1:36 away from the breakaway. 

Pichon takes the intermediate sprint with Powless in second. They take 20 and 17 points respectively and Lafay is set to gain 15 more points for crossing the line into Deba in third. 

Lidl-Trek nail the lead-out for the intermediate sprint again with Mads Pedersen taking the remaining top prize of 13 points. Quinn Simmons, Jasper Stuyven and Alex Kirsch was the order and they look a well-oiled machine so far. We'll see how they go in the final bunch sprint later today, if there is one. Jordi Meeus (Bora-hansgrohe) crossed the line next after Pedersen with Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) the next best and taking the 10 points.

It's job done for Lafay who has extended his points total to 80. There are only three sprinters who could overtake or equal that total should they win today and take the full 50 point haul: Van Aert (36), Pedersen (31) and Philipsen (30).

120KM TO GO

Lafay has now been re-absorbed and the gap to the leading duo has been reduced to only 1:50 with Alpecin-Deceuninck and Jayco-AlUla sitting on the front. Powless has taken two more KOM Points atop the Col d’Itziar (5.1km at 4.6%) and he will only want to repeat that on the final categorised climb of the day, the Côte d’Orioko Benta (4.6km at 6.3%), before he knocks off his effort. 

We've got a status quo in the peloton again as the gap to the duo out in front has been allowed to go out to 2:33. We're still going up the Bay of Biscay coastline with our one categorised climb remaining before we pass back through San Sebastián and approach the French border.

Declercq is back on the front for Soudal-Quick Step and is likely settling in for a very long turn on the front. All the sprinters are sat very calmly in the bunch for now with no real urgency or pressure required for the current, calm race situation. 

Ben O'Connor is having chain issues off the back of the peloton and has had to change his bike twice. There's still nothing to worry about, but he'll hope for some better luck as the stage enters the final 100km of racing. Read Cyclingnews' recent news piece on the Australian that details how his ambitions are still high despite having a difficult opening two stages. Ben O’Connor - ‘The simple matter is I’m not good enough at the moment, weirdly’

100KM TO GO

We've gone at a relatively slow pace throughout the opening 93.5km, but we're now entering the final half of the race. There's a long way to go, but once the sprint teams get interested, the pace will accelerate very quickly. 

There's still great vibes in the front group as Powless and Pichon share another joke once they hit the bottom of the final categorised climb of the day, the Côte d’Orioko Benta (4.6km at 6.3%). The sprinters behind should be fine as the pace has been so low all day. Juan Pedro López is leading the peloton up the climb behind with 'El Tractor' Tim Declercq alongside him. Slightly contrasting frames on the two domestiques working for their respective sprinters today. 

Here's a beautiful view of the Atlantic coastline passed by the riders on today's stage.

Van Aert stopped as I was writing that for what appeared to be a re-lubing of the cleat on the bottom of his shoe. He'll chase back on easily as they complete the climb. 

Powless takes another KOM sprint and the final one of the day that completes his successful day of riding in the breakaway. Job done from the American who has clearly learned well from teammate Magnus Cort who entertained the crowds at each KOM sprint in Denmark last year. 

We've got a traffic jam at the bottom of the climb due to the narrowing of the road. It's helped Wout Van Aert easily make it back to the peloton. Riders were stood as the inclines were so steep and there simply wasn't enough room for all the riders to fit. 

The peloton have once again slowed massively at the back of the bunch, and we can see British national champion Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious) is bleeding from his left elbow and must've been down. He's chasing back onto the peloton now. 

We're getting a second look at San Sebastián during this Tour as the riders are about to pass through the beautiful coastal city. Powless and Pichon are still leading and are loving the huge crowds that line the entry to the city. They've shared a fist-bump at the front after a successful days riding. 

Powless has sat up after completing his KOM charge for the day and has allowed Pichon to go off on his lonesome up the road. He's taking his musette and getting some lunch into his system. Pichon has the crowds all to himself and he will be roared on for every single pedal stroke from now until he is caught by the peloton. 

Here's a look at our two escapees from the day on the final climb. 

Make sure to read Simone Giuliani's feature on one of the big contenders for the day, Sam Welsford (dsm-firmenich), who is on Tour de France debut. As I write this, he's actually stopped at the side of the road to get some adjustments made to his stem, but he should feature prominently in today's finish. Sam Welsford – Time cuts, debut goals and a Tour de France stage win dream

Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Dstny) is the next to change his bike today and is now riding with Welsford and a teammate to make his way back to the bunch. Pascal Eenkhorn has dropped back to bring the Australian back to the peloton. Neilson Powless has returned to the peloton and is guaranteed to wear the polka-dot jersey again tomorrow's stage. 

It's puncture-city out here with Alexey Lutsenko (Asian Qazaqstan) and Rui Costa (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) the next to require a back-wheel change. Lutsenko was pointing at his back wheel to some fans on the side of the road, suggesting we may have more tacks being, very sadly, thrown onto the course. Read the full Cyclingnews piece which shows some of the tacks in rider's wheels after the stage 2 finish yesterday below. Tacks in the road spark mass punctures in finale of Tour de France stage 2

We're just about the head into France across the border in Irun with Simmons riding on the front in his American national champion's jersey for Lidl-Trek. 

I appear to have cursed Sam Welsford by talking about him, as he's been forced to change another wheel on his bike. Hopefully his last issue of the day. 

Declercq is back on the front in full tractor mode. 

The Spanish Basque Country is saying goodbye as Laurent Pichon is about to say bonjour and cross back into France, the motherland. The peloton will cross the river Bidasoa as they enter the French Basque Country and continue their journey towards Bayonne. 

Pichon is still pushing on, but is showing just how tight some of the corners are in these first few kilometres of French roads. Hopefully everyone stays safe. Barring some incredible injustice, the Frenchman should surely have secured today's combatively prize. 

Pichon's advantage at the head of the race is melting away as the peloton starts to wind it up behind. His gap is now 1:10.

Simmons has been doing his fair share of work in aid of the sprinters today, alongside Declercq who you can see in the background of the image. Stars and Stripes in full flight for Lidl-Trek. 

Felix Großschartner (UAE Team Emirates) is the next to suffer a puncture at the back of the bunch.

Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) are both making their way back into the bunch. 

There's now only 39 seconds separating our lone leader, Pichon, and the peloton. He'll be reeled in quickly, but who will take up the mantle of leading the peloton once he is back in the bunch? 

While you still have a chance, make sure to read Cyclingnews' article with insight from lead-out experts Michael Mørkøv (Soudal-Quick Step) and Mark Renshaw. Renshaw long acted as Cavendish's last lea-out rider and was hired as a sprint advisor for Astana Qazaqstan before the Tour. Tour de France sprinters ready to take over after 'hardest start in 20 years'

Pichon's adventure out in the day's break is over and full focus will now turn to the sprint lead-outs.

The tension has built with a change in wind direction and it's very difficult to move up any positions in the bunch. 

Today's finish location, Bayonne, is at the confluence of the Nive and Adour rivers and is the capital of the French Basque country. It may seem a relatively simple finish on paper with a bunch sprint on the cards, but the riders have got a very tricky finish on their hands. There are four roundabouts between 5km to 3km to go which will be furiously fought for by the GC teams and the sprint lead-outs. Following this, at 2km to go, there is a u-turn to tackle which could cause riders to lose their trains or fall back multiple positions which could put them out of the sprint. The first bunch sprint of the Tour de France is always hectic, but today's could be absolute chaos. 

The nerves are high in the bunch as the washing-machine effect is happening in full force. It's so difficult to stay up towards the front of the peloton, and all the teams are working so hard to keep their sprinters and leaders safe from any danger. 

The teams all know exactly what they are getting into today, a hectic finale where luck will be very important. They'll all be hoping to stay out of trouble and launch their sprinters at the line. Lotto will also have a less than 100% Jasper De Buyst who crashed yesterday and had some serious issues with tendons in his wrist. He thankfully, took the start today, but may not be able to help Ewan in pursuit of his sixth Tour de France stage win. 

🇫🇷 #TDF2023The guys are keeping @CalebEwan safe in what will be a hectic final for sure 😱 pic.twitter.com/e1bkWb5uSF July 3, 2023

Uno-X are showing themselves nicely on the right-hand side of the road. This is their debut Tour de France and they have the experienced Alexander Kristoff to work for on today's finish. He'll be led out by Classics specialist, Rasmus Tiller and U23 time trial World Champion, Søren Wærenskjold. 

Can Mark Cavendish take the record for stage wins at the Tour de France? He put on a heroic performance, with the help of some old friends, to win the final stage of the Giro d'Italia. He's made enough history in his illustrious career, but could make more today with another victory.

The Manx Missile will be hoping to either work in tandem with Cees Bol, but could also latch onto one of his rivals' wheels and try to launch out of their slipstream. 

Soudal-Quick Step are showing all their experience and dominating the left side of the road. They'll want to keep Jakobsen safe with Mørkøv, which should allow the duo to get to work in the final kilometre. 

Current line-up at the head of the race from left to right is: Soudal-Quick Step, Groupama-FDJ, Intermarché-Circus-Wanty, Bahrain Victorious, Bora-hansgrohe, Alpecin Deceuninck and Jumbo-Visma.

De Buyst has understandably dropped off the back of the peloton so won't play any part in helping Ewan. Florian Vermeersch and Victor Campenaerts will likely slot into that last-man role. 

Jumbo-Visma have split into two clusters of riders in the peloton. One side has Dylan van Baarle looking after Jonas Vingegaard and the other has Christophe Laporte and Wout Van Aert together. As I type, they've all joined together now, but Vingegaard's safety appears to be their no.1 priority. 

We're getting our first taste of roundabouts that characterise today's finish and we can already see the affect it can have on stringing out the bunch and pushing riders out of position. 

Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-AlUla) is sitting comfortably in the middle of the bunch for now and his team are only now just moving up to the front. He's one of the out and out fastest riders if given a shot at the line, so expect him to be right amongst the action. 

Philipsen and his Alpecin-Deceuninck teammates are sat directly behind the Jumbo-Visma train for the moment, but will want to move up as soon as possible before we enter the multiple roundabouts. 

Remi Cavagna (Soudal-Quick Step) is lighting things up on the front for Jakobsen and they Lotto Destiny are the only team able to match the Frenchman for now. We're seeing more and more roundabouts squeezing the bunch down from six trains wide to just two. Nervous times. 

Mark Cavendish has two teammates with him for now and they've manoeuvred well to hit the front on the left side of the road as we look at it. 

Jumbo-Visma are keeping Vingegaard safe and Van Aert in good position. Will the Belgian superstar go for the bunch sprint? It wouldn't be a surprise after his rage-filled disappointment from yesterday. 

We're on one of the rises now as the road isn't just pan flat all the way. We're into the roundabouts. Who will survive the twists and turns in the road best?

INEOS have taken up position on the front alongside QuickStep and we will now have the huge charge to make it to the 3km safe zone for the GC riders. Uno-X are making another charge in their red and yellow jerseys and they are set up perfectly for now. 

Some of the big favourites' teams are absent from the front of the peloton and have huge amounts of work to do. Uno-X, Arkéa-Samsic and Soudal-Quick Step are the most prominent at the front for now. 

Bahrain Victorious are working well for Phil Bauhaus in his first Tour de France. He's been successful in chaotic sprints in the past, so will fancy today's technical run in. 

Jakobsen is in prime position for now! There are shoulders being thrown throughout the front of the bunch as the battle for position heats up even more. 

hairpin taken with Quick Step still dominating the front- they've played it perfectly so far. Can they finish the job?

Girmay in great position! Cavendish, Ewan, Sagan, Philipsen, they are all here to fight for this first bunch sprint. 

Alpecin suddenly hit the front with three riders! Philipsen looks fantastic, but will he time it right?

Van Aert is sat in third wheel!

STAGE FINISH

Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) wins stage 3 of the Tour de France! Jasper 'Disaster' is far from it, with a fine charge at the line to take the first bunch sprint of the 2023 Tour de France. What a sprint, what a lead-out. 

Van der Poel did a tremendous job to launch Philipsen ahead of Van Aert. He closed to the barriers and put in another dig as Bauhaus and Ewan kicked out of the slipstream. The Belgian was able to hang on as he sprinted all the way to the line where he raised his arms aloft. 

Here is today's stage winner, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) celebrating his win in Bayonne on stage 3 of the Tour de France. His Alpecin-Deceuninck teammates came to the front under the flame rouge, where they launched their lead-out. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) did the final turn before Philipsen launched to the barriers and out-kicked Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious) and Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Dstny) to take his third Tour de France stage victory. 

The jury are reviewing the sprint for now, as Philipsen could be relegated for a deviation in his sprint line. For now, here's what runner-up on the road, Bauhaus had to say after the finish. "It's something special, we are here for GC but all those guys, they did their best. They did amazing. Matej [Mohorič], Fred [Wright], Nikias [Arndt], Pello [Bilbao], they are all amazing bike riders so it's really a pleasure for me in my first Tour that they help me in the sprint." "I was confident, I felt really good and I knew I had to be more towards the front. It's a really close battle and fortunately today ended up good for me. I believed for a few seconds that I could win, but Philipsen kept the speed, he was the strongest." "It's a great result, I say in the future that I' proud of that day, but to be honest as a sprinter you need to win. It's my dream to win one stage."

Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) has been confirmed as the winner of stage 3 of the Tour de France! It was a painful wait, but here's what he had to say after the stage. "It was a bit in doubt, but it did make it really exciting in the end," Philipsen said about his arduous wait for the jury to make their decision. "It was tense, but it's the Tour de France and there are no presents to nobody, so I think everybody goes all in and I think I can be really happy with our team performance today." "We had a great lead-out with Jonas [Rickaert], who took the first part and then Mathieu [Van der Poel] did a fantastic job, I'm really happy to keep it to the finish line." Philipsen got an incredible final turn from Van der Poel, here's what to had to say on his superstar teammate's performance: "If he can have the space to go then for sure he has the speed and you know that no other lead out will pass it." "It was a tricky final with an s-bend in the end, so I tried to take the shortest road to the finish and I'm really happy to get first over the line." "I think we try to aim for another stage win after, but I'm just already super happy that we can take the first sprint."

Take a look below at Pogačar watching closely with his good friend and former teammate Philipsen as the Belgian sprinter waited for the jury to decide on the stage win.

Caption this ✍🏻 pic.twitter.com/EFaq7LZnYh July 3, 2023

There we no changes to our jersey wearers after the first bunch sprint of the 2023 Tour de France. Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) remains in the yellow jersey, Victor Lafay (Cofidis) holds on to his green jersey thanks to the 15 points he gained at the intermediate sprint, Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) went into the break to solidify his lead in the polka-dot jersey and Tadej Pogačar, of course, is still in the white jersey. 

Make sure to read Alasdair Fotheringham's full stage report from today and check out our growing image gallery of the action. Tour de France: Jasper Philipsen wins stage 3 after impressive lead-out from Mathieu van der Poel

Take a look also at the full results from today's sprint stage thanks to FirstCycling.

Van der Poel played no part in the opening two stages, despite being touted as one of the favourites for the Basque Country opener, but had said his legs were fine and he that he was saving them to help Philipsen. Here's what he had to say after Alpecin-Deceuninck's first win of the Tour. "Yesterday, I just tried to save as much energy as possible because I knew it would be really hard today, the first sprint stage. Everybody still has the legs so it's difficult to make a difference. In the end I think we did a perfect lead-out today." "My goal is to go for a stage win. Coming in here, I knew the shape was good, but the  last two days I was not riding with the legs I had before the Tour, but I mean it's three weeks and there are still a lot of chances to come and I'm really happy we already have this one with the team and now we try to go for a second one." "Tomorrow is another sprint opportunity, but it's going to be difficult to deliver him [Philipsen] like this every-time, but we will try."

That's a wonderful Grand Depart in the Basque Country done and dusted. We've had three hectic days of racing and it's only going to get better as we head further into France and into the Pyrenees. Tomorrow's stage is another sprint opportunity from Dax to Nogaro and should be another tension-filled day that finishes in a big bunch charge to the line. Can Philipsen double-up on stage wins? Or will Mark Cavendish break Eddy Merckx's Tour de France stage win record? Check back tomorrow with Cyclingnews and find out. 

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Tour de France Stage 3 Preview: The First Day for the Sprinters to Shine

After two brutal stages in the Basque mountains, all eyes will be on the sprinters during the first flat stage of this year's Tour.

Stage 3 - Amorebieta-Etxano to Bayonne (193.5km) - Monday, July 3

And it’s a worthwhile move, with seven points available on the four categorized climbs spread through the first half of the stage. The riders summit the final categorized climb, the Category 3 Côte d'Orioko Benta with about 90km left to race, which is why we expect this to be the first stage in this year’s Tour that ends in a field sprint. But it will be close: there’s an uncategorized “bump” about 20km from the finish line in Bayonne, the perfect point from which to launch an attack.

Teams wishing to eliminate the Tour’s pure field sprinters might try and do it here. The run-in to the finish in Bayonne will be tight, with a series of roundabouts from about 5km- to 2km-to-go. At 2km from the finish line, there’s a 180-degree right-hander as the riders loop under and then up onto the avenue that takes them to the finish line. The run-in will be fast: the road heads downhill toward the 1km to go banner before rising in the final 500m toward the line.

The weather should be perfect: mostly sunny with highs in the upper 70s, with a slight headwind helping the sprinters’ teams keep the race together in the final 20km.

Riders to watch

After two days of intense racing in which the Tour’s overall contenders needed to be at their best, the sprinters should be front and center at the end of Stage 3 in Bayonne.

Assuming no one gets dropped, it’s the first chance for Great Britain’s Mark Cavendish (Astana) to break the record for the most stage wins in Tour history, with the Netherland’s Fabio Jakobsen (Soudal-Quick Step) and Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jayco AlUla), Australia’s Caleb Ewan (Destny Lotto), and Belgium’s Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) looking to deny him a chance at history.

But if the finale proves hard for these riders, look for one of the Tour’s more versatile sprinters to win the stage with Belgium’s Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), Eritrea’s Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty), Denmark’s Mad Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), and Norway’s Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X) the top candidates to win in Bayonne.

When to Watch

You can tune-in a bit later for this one: the riders should hit that uncategorized “bump” at about 10:55 a.m. EDT with the final sprint taking place around 11:25 a.m. EDT. Don’t miss it, though: with only a handful of chances for Cav to make history, you’ll want to be sure you’re tuned in.

Since getting hooked on pro cycling while watching Lance Armstrong win the 1993 U.S. Pro Championship in Philadelphia, longtime Bicycling contributor Whit Yost has raced on Belgian cobbles, helped build a European pro team, and piloted that team from Malaysia to Mont Ventoux as an assistant director sportif. These days, he lives with his wife and son in Pennsylvania, spending his days serving as an assistant middle school principal and his nights playing Dungeons & Dragons.

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What We Know About Iran’s Attack on Israel and What Happens Next

Israel is deciding how to respond to an attack by Tehran in which it fired hundreds of drones and missiles. Its allies are urging restraint.

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By Matthew Mpoke Bigg

World leaders are urging Israel to act with restraint after Iran launched a large aerial attack over the weekend, firing at least 300 drones and missiles. Israel’s war cabinet has not yet said how it will respond to the first such direct assault launched from Iranian territory after decades of shadow warfare between the two countries.

Here’s a look at what we know about the Iranian attack and its implications:

Why did Iran attack Israel?

Iran and Israel have long engaged in clandestine warfare , attacking each other’s interests on land, sea, air and in cyberspace.

Iran provides support for militant groups that have targeted Israel, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in the Palestinian territories and the Houthis in Yemen. Israel has launched a series of attacks including killing Iran’s top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh , in 2021, and assassinating an Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps commander, Col. Sayad Khodayee , in 2022.

The conflict escalated on April 1, when warplanes struck a building in Damascus that is part of the Iranian Embassy complex, according to Iranian and Syrian officials. At least three senior commanders and four officers overseeing Iran’s covert operations in the Middle East were killed. Israel did not publicly claim responsibility for the strikes, but Iran vowed to retaliate.

What happened during the Iranian attack?

Iran’s attack had been expected for days and, in the end, almost all of the missiles and drones were intercepted. An Israeli air base in the Negev desert sustained light damage and a 7-year-old girl was seriously wounded .

Israel used two primary defensive weapons systems , the Iron Dome and the Arrow 3, to thwart the attack. Allies also came to its defense: Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said that U.S. forces had intercepted missiles and attack drones launched from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen, and Britain and France said their planes had also helped with interceptions. Jordan, which shares a border with Israel , said that its military had shot down missiles and drones that entered its airspace.

Where weapons and interceptors were seen

Where air defense systems were seen intercepting missiles or drones Damage or other evidence of attack visible

The New York Times

Regional involvement in the conflict

Israel struck the Iranian Embassy complex in Syria on April 1.

Iran fired hundreds of missiles and drones toward Israel starting Saturday night.

A small portion of the bombardment was launched from Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

Israel said 99 percent

of the attack was intercepted.

Iran’s attack was in response to an Israeli strike earlier this month on a building in the Iranian Embassy complex in Syria.

Iran fired hundreds of missiles and drones from multiple locations toward Israel.

Israel said it and its allies had intercepted approximately 99 percent of the missiles and drones fired at it.

What have leaders said about the attack?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel on Sunday praised the defensive response, saying in a social media post: “We intercepted. We blocked. Together we will win.”

Leaders of the Group of 7 nations, which include the United States, France, Germany and Britain, issued a joint declaration after a virtual meeting on Sunday that reaffirmed support for Israel and accused Iran of “provoking an uncontrollable regional escalation” that must be avoided.

The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting on Sunday where António Guterres, the secretary general, said that it was “time to step back from the brink.” Other leaders including those of Britain and France have also urged restraint.

President Biden, who has used increasingly strong language to criticize Mr. Netanyahu’s war in Gaza, has also repeatedly affirmed the country’s right to defend itself and has sent weapons to the country. But he privately advised Israel against firing back at Iran, U.S. officials said on Sunday .

In a signal that Tehran was not seeking a wider war, Iranian leaders on Sunday said that their retaliation against Israel was over . But they also warned that they could launch a bigger military operation depending on Israel’s response.

What could happen next?

Iran’s attack comes more than six months after a deadly incursion led by Hamas on Israel, which prompted Israel to go to war in Gaza . The Iranian attack has distracted some attention from that conflict, but it also shows the region’s wider volatility, according to Nomi Bar-Yaacov, an expert on Middle East politics at Chatham House, a research group in London.

Israel’s government will be under pressure to respond to the attack, she said. The Israeli defense minister, Yoav Gallant, said on Sunday that its confrontation with Iran was “not over yet.”

Even so, it is possible that any Israeli response will not include a large-scale attack on Iranian territory itself, thus limiting the chances of further escalation, according to Ms. Bar-Yaacov.

“Iranians have made it abundantly clear that they consider the attack over,” she said. “I would expect the U.S. to put a terrific amount of pressure on Israel not to respond inside Iran, but rather to attack Iranian assets abroad, meaning its proxies.”

Matthew Mpoke Bigg is a correspondent covering international news. He previously worked as a reporter, editor and bureau chief for Reuters and did postings in Nairobi, Abidjan, Atlanta, Jakarta and Accra. More about Matthew Mpoke Bigg