Tour de France 2023 LIVE result: Adam Yates wins stage 1 and the yellow jersey in Bilbao
Adam Yates beat twin brother Simon to victory on the opening stage of the Tour de France to take the yellow jersey in Bilbao.
The pair, riding for rival teams, went clear from a select group at the top of the Cote de Pike towards the end of the lumpy opening 182km stage and opened up a gap on the descent back into town.
Having opened up a gap of 20 seconds on a chasing group, the brothers knew the fight was between themselves on the uphill sprint to the finish line and it was Adam who had the power to ride away at the very end to take yellow for the second time in his career.
Follow all the reaction and latest updates from stage one below.
Tour de France 2023
Adam Yates takes yellow jersey with twin brother, Simon, finishing second
Two-time winner Tadej Pogacar finishes third with defending champion, Jonas Vingegaard, ninth
111km to go - Eenkhoorn takes two points in the second mountain sprint
167km to go - Gregaard claims first mountain points
‘I didn’t want to work with him’: Adam Yates borrows twin Simon to win first Tour de France stage
Saturday 1 July 2023 18:45 , Lawrence Ostlere
Adam Yates has ridden many thousands of kilometres with his identical twin Simon, as boys growing up in Bury, on the boards of the Manchester Velodrome and together for six years at Australian team Orica-GreenEdge. But none had ever been so consequential as the final eight kilometres here in Bilbao, with a Tour de France stage win on the line as well as the prestige of the yellow jersey.
Adam led the peloton up a gruelling final climb to set up an attack by his UAE Emirates teammate Tadej Pogacar, one which the reigning champion Jonas Vingegaard repelled. But when Yates flew past them going down the other side and looked around, he found himself out at the front with only his brother Simon for company.
“At first I didn’t want to work with him,” Adam said of his twin, who rides for Jayco–AlUla. “I asked my team on radio and they said, yeah, go for it.”
Full story:
‘I didn’t want him’: Adam Yates borrows twin Simon to win first Tour de France stage
Inside the Grand Depart
Saturday 1 July 2023 17:30 , Lawrence Ostlere
In the narrow gap between thick rows of fans lining either side of a Bilbao boulevard, 21 giant buses waited for the race to begin. Riders emerged from behind curtains to varying levels of excitement: Australian sprinter Caleb Ewan was road-blocked into posing for selfies, detectable by his tattoos; Tom Pidcock slammed on his breaks en route to the start when he spotted his girlfriend and their sausage dog, who wagged furiously; a deep, encouraging roar spread through the crowd as two-time winner Tadej Pogacar stepped out to stretch his legs.
One bus stood alone, deliberately stationed around the corner, closest to the start line under Athletic Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium. Jumbo-Visma’s hotel-on-wheels looked menacing in jet black paint with golden wing mirrors hanging either side like insect eyes. Once upon a time it was Team Sky’s so-called Death Star filling the prime parking space, but there is a new order these days and whether reigning champion Jonas Vingegaard likes it or not, his Jumbo team are kings with a crown to protect.
Full story:
Jumbo’s Death Star and Pidcock’s dog: Inside the Tour de France’s Grand Depart
ADAM YATES WINS STAGE ONE
Saturday 1 July 2023 17:07 , Ben Fleming
Adam Yates beat twin brother Simon to victory on the opening stage of the Tour de France to take the yellow jersey in Bilbao.
The pair, riding for rival teams, went clear from a select group at the top of the Cote de Pike towards the end of the lumpy opening 182km stage and opened up a gap on the descent back into town.
Having opened up a gap of 20 seconds on a chasing group, the brothers knew the fight was between themselves on the uphill sprint to the finish line and it was Adam who had the power to ride away at the very end, winning by four seconds to take yellow for the second time in his career.
Read the full report from stage one below:
Adam Yates beats twin brother Simon to opening stage win and yellow jersey
ADAM YATES WINS STAGE ONE
Saturday 1 July 2023 16:56 , Ben Fleming
A couple of notable later finishers - Mark Cavendish and Richard Carapaz - are safely over the line.
For Cavendish, today was all about finishing and he did just that. Day three will offer up the first chance for the British sprinter to try and get his record-breaking 35th Tour stage win.
Carapaz, racing for EF Education-EasyPost, suffered a big crash which saw Enric Mas abandon the race. Carapaz had a nasty gash on the left knee but managed to get back on the bike and get over the line.
Only time will tell if the Ecuadorian will be able to continue tomorrow but if he does, it will be a case of chasing stage wins rather than the yellow jersey after today’s finishing time.
ADAM YATES WINS STAGE ONE
Saturday 1 July 2023 16:46 , Ben Fleming
Adam’s brother, Simon, finished second in a historic family one-two. Speaking after the race, he said:
“It was a bit tricky just getting into the climb there - it was just me and Chris Harper trying to position ourselves which wasn’t easy against teams who have the numbers but we did a good job.
“I was caught a little behind when Team UAE made the first push and I couldn’t get around because the crowds are so big. I grovelled my way across, managed to make the junction at the top with the fast boys and then there was a bit of cat and mouse at the top with Tadej and Adam. He went and I got across to him.
“When he saw me coming across he was put in a difficult situation and asked on the team radio: ‘what should I do?.’ At first, he wasn’t pulling but I had to take the opportunity because I wouldn’t beat Pogacar or Vingegaard in a sprint. So to get away with Adam, I thought maybe there was a chance [to win] but I had some cramps in the final so unfortunately he got the better of me but I’m sure there are more chances coming up.”
ADAM YATES WINS STAGE ONE
Saturday 1 July 2023 16:38 , Ben Fleming
Speaking after the race, the Brit said: “I don’t even know what to say. We tried to set the climb up for Tadej and he attacked - but then it was headwind on the descent. I tried my best. I slid back and attacked from behind.
“My brother came across to me and we started to work together. At first, I didn’t know if I should work with him and I asked on the radio and they said ‘go for it.
“To share this experience with him [my brother] is really nice. I wish he’d have pulled a little easier because he almost dropped me at one moment. I’m super happy.
“We’re here for Tadej [Pogacar] - the boss - he’s shown before he’s the best in the world. Over the next few weeks, I’m sure he’ll show that a lot. I’m not really a leader, but more in support. When I can do things like this when the team’s under pressure and it works out like this, it’s perfect.
“Over the next few weeks, I’m 100 per cent for Tadej.”
ADAM YATES WINS STAGE ONE
Saturday 1 July 2023 16:34 , Ben Fleming
Here is how the top ten rounded out:
1. Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates)
2. Simon Yates (Jayco-AlUla)
3. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates)
4. Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ)
5. Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech)
6. Victor Lafay (Cofidis)
7. Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe)
8. Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek)
9. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma)
10. David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ)
ADAM YATES WINS STAGE ONE
Saturday 1 July 2023 16:28 , Ben Fleming
That is Adam Yates’ first Tour stage win and what a time to do it. He’ll carry the yellow jersey into tomorrow and what a way to do it.
Alongside his brother Simon, the pair broke free after the final climb and held off the chasing pack for the final 10kms or so.
Simon pulled clear to win in the end but that is a moment that will live long in the memory for both brothers. Plenty of smiles in the Yates household tonight.
ADAM YATES WINS STAGE ONE
Saturday 1 July 2023 16:20 , Ben Fleming
Adam’s UAE team-mate Tadej PogaÄar wins the sprint in the chasing pack and it’s a superb first day as well for the two-time winner and team UAE as a whole.
ADAM YATES WINS STAGE ONE
Saturday 1 July 2023 16:18 , Ben Fleming
Jumbo-Visma are leading the chasing pack but they aren’t going to catch the Yates brothers at the top. It’s a brutal last kilometre climb to the finish line and it’s Adam Yates who takes to the front and pulls ahead of his brother, Simon.
It’s a historic brotherly one-two for the Yates brothers as ADAM YATES TAKES THE YELLOW JERSEY!
2km to go - Yates brothers still in front
Saturday 1 July 2023 16:15 , Ben Fleming
It’s going to be decided between these two as they have a 17-second lead over the chasing pack. Simon or Adam - who is going to take it? Surely a historic first with two brothers eyeing up the yellow jersey.
3km to go - Yates brothers maintain lead
Saturday 1 July 2023 16:13 , Ben Fleming
The pair still have a lead over the chasing pack. It’s an uphill finish so they’ll have to dig deep but what a performance to this point from the British performance who extend their lead to 15 seconds.
8km to go - Yates brothers in front
Saturday 1 July 2023 16:10 , Ben Fleming
And now the brothers take the lead! Adam for Team UAE Emirates and Simon for Jayco-AlUla - what a story this could be for the Brits.
PogaÄar and Vingegaard are in the pack chasing them down but they’re about ten seconds behind.
10km to go - Pogačar and Vingegaard move to the front
Saturday 1 July 2023 16:07 , Ben Fleming
I think the Austrian was surprised that nobody went with him on the climb but he has the lead for Team UAE Emirates. A great platform for Tadej PogaÄar surely...and he does take over but he’s joined by Vingegaard and Lafay as we reach the top.
We have a breakaway three!
Adam Yates and his brother Simon are in a two behind the main peloton.
15km to go - final climb approaching as Mas abandons
Saturday 1 July 2023 15:59 , Ben Fleming
Carapaz is back on the bike but gritting his teeth as he tries to pedal through the pain. The task for him will be just to try and get home and see if he can recover for stage two tomorrow. There hasn’t been any pictures of Mas back on a bike - what a shame that would be for the Spaniard if he can’t continue.
And there we have it. Confirmation that Movistar’s Enric Mas has abandoned the race.
20km to go - big crash
Saturday 1 July 2023 15:53 , Ben Fleming
Concerning pictures as Richard Carapaz and Enric Mas are two involved in a crash. The former, in particular, looks in a bad way and is still sitting on the road. Both their general classification hopes are all but gone on the first day.
A nasty gash on Carapaz’s left knee and he’s barely able to walk but a bike is out for him and he’ll look to continue.
25km to go - Powless takes mountain points
Saturday 1 July 2023 15:46 , Ben Fleming
A real narrow climb up to the top of this Cote de Vivero climb. In the end, America’s Neilson Powless takes the five points and moves to the top of the KOM standings for EF Education-EasyPost. Georg Zimmermann a close second.
Jumbo-Visma still with plenty of prominence at the front of the peloton. Plenty falling off too - Alexey Lutsenko and Warren Bargui perhaps the two biggest names who may have fancied their chances today.
30km to go - Cote de Vivero upcoming
Saturday 1 July 2023 15:36 , Ben Fleming
Onto the hardest climb of the day. It’s just over 4km at an average of just over 7%. Plenty of big names making their way to the front including Tadej PogaÄar who is not far off those at the front.
40km to go - Down off the climb
Saturday 1 July 2023 15:27 , Ben Fleming
Just the one point available for that category four climb so no breaks out of the peloton but they now head down quickly before a big category two climb, the Cote de Vivero. The pace has picked up significantly and we’re still quite some distance from the end.
In the end, it is Jonas Abrahamsen of Uno-X who takes the solo point.
45km to go - Next climb upcoming
Saturday 1 July 2023 15:17 , Ben Fleming
It’s the Col de Morga, a category four climb, coming up next in just under 5kms. There are also the first signs of UAE Team Emirates and Tadej PogaÄar towards the front of the peloton this race. Jumbo-Visma and Lotto DSTNY also prominent as they have been throughout.
50km to go - breakaway caught
Saturday 1 July 2023 15:10 , Ben Fleming
And just like that, the lead is gone. The breakaway five had been on their own since the get-go but with 50kms to go, we’re back to just one group. Who will make the next move?
55km to go - narrow gap remains
Saturday 1 July 2023 15:04 , Ben Fleming
The Col de Morga climb is the next categorised ride in a little over 10km. The leading five still have their slender 30-second lead but you feel like the peloton could eradicate that at any moment.
For now, they are happy to keep them there, but with two more mountain sprints shortly after the Col de Morga, you suspect that may change rather quickly as some of the peloton’s best climbers go after the Polka Dot jersey.
65km to go - More tough climbing
Saturday 1 July 2023 14:51 , Ben Fleming
It’s another tough climb for the leading group, albeit not a categorised one. Once they’ve descended this they’ll have a category four climb for more King of the Mountain points. Whether these five will still have their 30-second advantage by then is another question altogether...
73km to go - Peloton closing in
Saturday 1 July 2023 14:37 , Ben Fleming
The peloton has really closed that gap on the breakaway five and their lead is down to just 20 seconds. Guglielmi and Gregaard look to move away from the other three and create a separate group but they are caught up and come back together again.
After those bursts the lead is back to about 30 seconds.
75km to go - Bilbao eyeing home win for Basque Country
Saturday 1 July 2023 14:32 , Ben Fleming
The aptly named Pello Bilbao would be the first winner of a Tour de France stage to share a surname with the finishing town (I haven’t actually researched this fact but it almost has to be true). As if he needs any inspiration, he has just ridden past a giant mural of himself in his hometown, Guernica.
80km to go - peloton slowly reeling in breakaway
Saturday 1 July 2023 14:25 , Lawrence Ostlere
This five-rider break is losing it’s advantage, second by second as the kilometres tick by. The gap to the peloton is now down to less than a minute.
90km to go - Pascal Eenkhoorn wins intermediate sprint
Saturday 1 July 2023 14:13 , Lawrence Ostlere
Pascal Eenkhoorn (Lotto Dstny) is the first of the breakawayers through the day’s intermediate sprint and picks up 20 points for the green jersey – he is now provisionally leading the King of the Mountains and Points classifications, though that will all change by the end of the day.
At the front of the peloton, a few of the sprinters stretch their legs to pick up the remaining points, with Tour veterans Peter Sagan and Mark Cavendish putting in half efforts alongside Mads Pedersen and Jasper Philipsen.
95km to go - Peloton takes a pitstop on the move
Saturday 1 July 2023 14:08 , Lawrence Ostlere
Jonas Vingegaard pulls over to the side of the road and answers a call of nature, and it signals to the rest of the peloton that this would be a good moment to pull out a bottle or sachet and refuel while the race leader catches back up.
100km to go - five-man breakaway leads peloton
Saturday 1 July 2023 14:00 , Lawrence Ostlere
A reminder of who makes up this leading quintet, now around 1min 30sec ahead of the peloton: Lilian Calmejane (Intermarché - Circus - Wanty), Simon Guglielmi (Arkéa Samsic), Pascal Eenkhoorn (Lotto Dstny), Jonas Gregaard (Uno-X) and Valentin Ferron (TotalEnergies).
This group are likely to be reeled in at some stage and it is all set up for some fireworks in the final 20km.
111km to go - Eenkhoorn takes two points in the second mountain sprint
Saturday 1 July 2023 13:43 , Ben Fleming
Last time, Gregaard made a move early but with 800 metres to go, nobody has made a move. That fist move does come shortly after, though, as Gregaard tries to get away again but the other five are alert this time and stay with him with the exception of Calmejane who drops out.
The remaining four settle again but now it’s Eenkhoorn who makes the move! Gregaard can’t stick with him and the Lotto Dstny rider takes the two points - he now has three overall having finished second in the previous mountain sprint.
Guglielmi (Arkéa Samsic) follows Eenhoorn over the line in second place and takes a point.
115km to go - Côte de San Juan de Gaztelugatxe climb
Saturday 1 July 2023 13:36 , Ben Fleming
It’s time for the start of the second climb with more mountain points on the board. Gregaard claimed two with Eenkhoorn taking one earlier in the race. Who in the leading five will take the honours this time?
It’s 3.6km long and just under an 8 per cent gradient. Tough going.
125km to go - Next big climb upcoming
Saturday 1 July 2023 13:20 , Ben Fleming
You can tell from the TV footage just how brutal a first stage this is as the riders continue to tackle this heavily undulating route.
Coming up in about 10km will have another category three climb - the Côte de San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. The deficit from the peloton to the leading group hasn’t changed much in the last half an hour and currently sits at around 1m 40secs.
130km to go - Julian Alaphlippe and Wout van Aert in the hunt
Saturday 1 July 2023 13:07 , Ben Fleming
Both Soudal-QuickStep and Jumbo-Visma remain at the front of the peloton with the gap still around 90 seconds. You suspect that means that both of their specialist climbers - Alaphlippe and Van Aert - will be looking to get their hands on the yellow jersey if they can close that gap to the breakaway group.
And a reminder of who is in that breakaway group: Lilian Calmejane (Intermarché - Circus - Wanty), Simon Guglielmi (Arkéa Samsic), Pascal Eenkhoorn (Lotto Dstny), Jonas Gregaard (Uno-X) and Valentin Ferron (TotalEnergies)
140km to go - Crowds still lively
Saturday 1 July 2023 12:55 , Ben Fleming
One of the great things about bringing the Grand Depart to different countries is the enthusiasm from the crowds who get to witness the historic race in their backyard. And Bilbao is no different from the off here, as the leading pack and now the peloton are swarmed by a frenzied crowd as they make another climb with just under 140km to go.
The lead back to around 1m 30secs from the peloton.
150km to go - Peloton closes the gap
Saturday 1 July 2023 12:40 , Ben Fleming
Alpecin Deceuninck and Soudal-QuickStep’s riders are leading the peloton and the breakaway pack are now being closed in on. Jumbo-Visma take a turn at the front now, and in the last 10km, the leader’s advantage has been cut from two and a half minutes to just over one minute.
Lawrence Ostlere reports from Bilbao
Saturday 1 July 2023 12:33 , Ben Fleming
The Independent’s man on the ground, Lawrence Ostlere witnessed this morning’s Grand Depart:
The Grand Depart drew huge crowds to the streets around Athletic Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium, where thousands from all around the world came to get a glimpse of the peloton take off. It was a phenomenal atmosphere.
As the riders filed through thick layers of fans to the start line, the biggest cheers were reserved for local riders Pello Bilbao and Gorka Izagirre, and Colombians Egan Bernal and Rigoberto Uran – at every part of the Tour de France the Colombians always turn out in force.
Within a few minutes the buses and cars had all gone, and the streets are now quiet except for some fans sitting out having lunch.
161km to go - Two and half minute gap for leaders
Saturday 1 July 2023 12:26 , Ben Fleming
The deficit from the peloton to our leaders has now lengthened to over two minutes as they make their way up the first climb now.
167km to go - Gregaard claims first mountain points
Saturday 1 July 2023 12:17 , Ben Fleming
Jonas Gregaard (Uno-X) is the first to make a break out from the leading group of five. He’s flying up the hill and the attack is timed to perfection. He claims the first mountain points of the Tour de France.
Eenkhoorn (Lotto Dstny) can’t get up to the Dane and claims one point as he crosses the line second at the top.
170km to go
Saturday 1 July 2023 12:12 , Ben Fleming
Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) with a mechanical issue means the Frenchman is racing off the back through the cars. Around him is heavy favourite, Tadej PogaÄar (UAE Team Emirates) - it’s unclear if he has had a similar issue.
174km to go - One minute gap for leaders
Saturday 1 July 2023 12:05 , Ben Fleming
The leading five now have a minute advantage over the trailing peloton. You wonder whether anyone else will make a move sooner rather than later to try and get near them?
176km to go - early attack lengthen lead
Saturday 1 July 2023 12:03 , Ben Fleming
Lilian Calmejane (Intermarché - Circus - Wanty), Simon Guglielmi (Arkéa Samsic), Pascal Eenkhoorn (Lotto Dstny), Jonas Gregaard (Uno-X) and Valentin Ferron (TotalEnergies) are the five riders in the breakaway group which have been allowed with ease to get away from the peloton.
Early attack
Saturday 1 July 2023 11:58 , Ben Fleming
Five riders make an early attack and form a breakaway. There’s a good gap opening up of just over 20 seconds from the peloton.
Official start
Saturday 1 July 2023 11:55 , Ben Fleming
The yellow flag has been waved by Christian Prudhomme and we are officially underway after the roll-out. What a first stage we’ll have in store with plenty of attacks no doubt in store right from the off.
3km till official start
Saturday 1 July 2023 11:50 , Ben Fleming
The roll-out is nearly done and we’ve got just over 3km till the official start of the race. Unlike previous years which have seen a gentle first stage, we’re straight into a punchy and hilly 182km route so expect drama from the outset.
Plenty in the crowd
Saturday 1 July 2023 11:40 , Ben Fleming
The Basque country last hosted the Grand Depart in 1992 and the cycling-mad region of Spain has certainly shown out en masse as the cyclists make their way through the city.
And we’re off!
Saturday 1 July 2023 11:34 , Ben Fleming
And just like that, we are underway for the 2023 Tour de France. An 11km roll-out to start for the riders.
Mark Cavendish will not allow emotions to get better of him in final Tour de France
Saturday 1 July 2023 11:29 , Ben Fleming
With the tough start to the Tour, for Britain’s Mark Cavendish, it will be a case of surviving and keeping himself in a condition to contest the sprint stages later into the opening week.
Cavendish is searching for a record-breaking 35th win to move him above the legendary Eddy Merckx for the most of all-time in the Tour.
But ahead of his last Tour before retirement, the 38-year-old maintains it will be business as usual.
Read more below:
Mark Cavendish will not allow emotions to get better of him in final Tour de France
Tour de France 2023 stage 1 route preview: Yellow jersey on the line at Grand Depart in Bilbao
Saturday 1 July 2023 11:12 , Ben Fleming
It’s a Grand Depart like few others before it. The peloton faces a 182km hilly route, with 3,000m of climbing featuring five categorised ascents, of which the final two are sharp and testing. It should favour the strong climbers which is a rarity for the first stage and, for that reason, the yellow jersey is up for grabs.
It won’t be won against the clock but in a fight on the road, and the route – punchy but not mountainous – is one that just about anyone could win, bar the pure sprinters and the pure climbers.
Check out the full preview of stage one below:
Stage 1 preview: Yellow jersey on the line as Tour de France rolls out in Bilbao
How does Tadej Pogacar beat Jonas Vingegaard to Tour de France crown? Attack from the start
Saturday 1 July 2023 11:03 , Ben Fleming
Another Tour de France, and another instalment of what is becoming one of the great rivalries of modern cycling: Jumbo-Visma vs UAE Emirates, Jonas Vingegaard vs Tadej Pogacar.
A 21-year-old Pogacar dramatically beat Jumbo’s Primoz Roglic in 2020, then finished ahead of Vingegaard in 2021. So they ganged up on him last year and Vingegaard took his crown. After back-to-back triumphs, Pogacar was deposed and finally, some weakness was exposed.
This year, Pogacar comes into the Tour undercooked. A wrist injury scuppered a significant portion of his season, and although he returned recently to win the Slovenian road race and time-trial titles, his preparation has been far from ideal.
It promises to be another great battle between two of cycling’s current stars.
Take a look at the full preview for this year’s Tour de France below:
How Tadej Pogacar can beat Jonas Vingegaard and take back Tour de France crown
Tour de France 2023 preview
Saturday 1 July 2023 10:55 , Ben Fleming
Ahead of the Grand Depart, there are plenty of talking points for what promises to be an enthralling month of cycling.
The Independent’s Lawrence Ostlere, who is in Bilbao for stage one, takes a look at the biggest questions heading into this year’s Tour de France.
Can Mark Cavendish burnish his Tour de France legacy? | You Ask The Questions
Tour de France 2023: How to watch
Saturday 1 July 2023 10:49 , Ben Fleming
We are just under an hour from the start of the Tour de France. A reminder for those looking to watch in the UK that the race will be shown live on Eurosport 1 and ITV4, with coverage starting at 11am.
You can also watch it online via Sky Go and ITVX.
Why is the Tour de France 2023 starting in Spain?
Saturday 1 July 2023 10:41 , Ben Fleming
Today’s Grand Depart takes place in the Basque city of Bilbao in northern Spain.
Despite the race’s French roots, however, the 2023 edition will not start inside the country with the first three stages set to take place in various points around northern Spain. Here’s everything you need to know:
Why is the Tour de France 2023 starting in Spain?
Jonas Vingegaard ignoring mind games ahead of Tour de France title defence
Saturday 1 July 2023 10:27 , Ben Fleming
Jonas Vingegaard is determined not to fall for any mind games coming from the camp of Tadej Pogacar as the Dane prepares to defend his Tour de France title.
The form of Pogacar, winner of the Tour in both 2020 and 2021, is largely unknown given he has raced only once – cruising to the Slovenian national title last weekend – since breaking his wrist at Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
On Wednesday, UAE Team Emirates Mauro Gianetti declared Lancastrian Adam Yates to be co-leader of the team alongside Pogacar due to the uncertainty. Pogacar followed up as he labelled Vingegaard the clear favourite for yellow.
The 24-year-old even seemed to add a hint of sarcasm as he said: “Jonas is the main guy for the Tour de France. He dominated in the (Criterium du) Dauphine and said he wasn’t in his best shape, so I can’t wait to see what he does in the Tour.”
Click below for the full story:
Jonas Vingegaard ignoring Tadej Pogacar’s ‘mind games’ ahead of Tour de France
Simon Yates happy to fly under the radar in Tour de France bid
Saturday 1 July 2023 10:19 , Ben Fleming
Simon Yates is happy to fly under the radar on the list of the contenders for yellow as he returns to the Tour de France this summer.
The 30-year-old is a former Grand Tour winner, victorious in the 2018 Vuelta a Espana, and has stood on the podium of the Giro d’Italia with third place in 2021, yet bookmakers are offering some pretty long odds on the Lancastrian challenging the likes of Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar in France.
And that is fine with Yates, who wants to put up a fight in the general classification as long as he can but is keeping his options open over the next three weeks.
“It can be an advantage but my mindset has not really changed from any other Grand Tour,” the Jayco-Alula rider said. “I’m still very focused, still coming in after a great period of preparation.
“If I fly under the radar maybe that’s better anyway, you guys can take some of the pressure off me and we’ll go from there.”
Yates said he was happy with his preparation despite being forced to pull out of the Tour de Romandie, his last competitive outing in April, through illness.
Tour de France riders will be cautious after Gino Mader’s death, says Pidcock
Saturday 1 July 2023 10:03 , Ben Fleming
Britain’s Tom Pidcock said Gino Mader’s death during a high-speed descent in Switzerland less than two weeks ago could result in riders being more cautious at the Tour de France.
Swiss rider Mader died aged 26 due to injuries suffered when he crashed into a ravine during the Tour de Suisse. Pidcock’s Ineos Grenadiers team mate Magnus Sheffield crashed separately at the same corner, suffering concussion and spending three days in hospital.
Descending is one of Pidcock’s strengths but the 23-year-old, who won an iconic Tour de France stage at L’Alpe d’Huez last year, said Mader’s death may have an impact on his style.
“I think especially for everyone who was at the race, that was pretty hard hitting,” Pidcock, who also competing in the eight-stage race, told reporters on Wednesday.
“I think I didn’t see a single rider take any risks on the last two stages after that incident. Personally, one of the things that hit me was it happened descending, which is something that I love.
“It showed me what the consequences can be when it goes wrong. I don’t take unnecessary risks but things can happen when we’re riding down a descent at 100kph in lycra.”
Organisers tackle safety in wake of Gino Mader’s death
Saturday 1 July 2023 09:55 , Lawrence Ostlere
Tour de France organisers will install padding on the trickiest section of the descent from the Col de la Loze on the 17th stage as part of a global effort to improve riders’ safety following the death of Gino Mader.
The decision to use padding was made before Swiss rider Mader died in a high-speed crash in a descent at the Tour de Suisse this month.
“We will install Alpine skiing padding in the descent from the Col de la Loze, on the trickiest part,” Tour director Christian Prudhomme told a news conference on Friday on the eve of the opening stage in Bilbao.
After his death, Tour organisers decided, in agreement with the rider’s family and his Bahrain Victorious team, to pull bib number 61 from a race that will be highly scrutinised.
On Friday, the International Cycling Union (UCI), the Association of race organisers, the riders’ union and the teams’ association announced the creation of a body designed to improve the riders’ safety.
The body, called ‘safeR’, will not be functional before 2025 and funding has yet to be set up but all participants hailed an unprecedented effort to “sit together at the same table and work together.”
Prudhomme added that some 130km of roads had been renovated in the Alpine local government department of Haute Savoie, 2.5 of them in the fast descent from the Col de Joux Plane.
“The Haute Savoie is rich, it’s not the case of all of them,” he said, adding Tour organisers had identified 5,300 potentially dangerous spots on the 3,400km of the route.
“Every six or seven years, the amount of road furniture doubles, it’s hard to adjust to that,” Prudhomme said.
Tour de France organisers ready to adapt amid riots
Saturday 1 July 2023 09:47 , Lawrence Ostlere
Tour de France organisers are ready to adjust to any situation amid the riots that have erupted in the country following the fatal shooting of a teenager by police, race director Christian Prudhomme said on Friday.
“We are in constant liaison with the State services and we are following the situation and how it has been evolving,” Prudhomme told reporters.
Law enforcement officers are designated to ensure security at the end of every stage and questions arose as to whether they could be pulled out of the race to be redeployed to anti-rioting duties.
“Depending on what happens we will adapt if needed,” said Prudhomme.
The Tour starts on Saturday from Bilbao and will enter France on Monday with a finish in Bayonne and a start from Dax for the fourth stage on Tuesday.
Stage-by-stage guide to the 2023 Tour de France
Saturday 1 July 2023 09:39 , Lawrence Ostlere
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 today, 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 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’s our full stage-by-stage guide:
Stage-by-stage guide to the 2023 Tour de France route
Stage 1 timings
Saturday 1 July 2023 09:31 , Lawrence Ostlere
The Grand Depart is set for around 12.30pm local time – 11.30am in the UK – with the winner expected to cross the line at around 5:30pm in Bilbao.
Stage one preview
Saturday 1 July 2023 09:28 , Lawrence Ostlere
The 2023 Tour de France begins with a Grand Depart in the Basque Country, starting beside Athletic Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium and the iconic Guggenheim Museum. From there the peloton faces a 182km hilly route, with 3,000m of climbing featuring five categorised ascents, of which the final two are sharp and testing.
So often in recent years the Tour has begun with an individual time trial which, for my money, is much more exciting on stage 20 (see the dramatic 2020 finale) than stage one, with little yet to play for. That’s why this day looks so intriguing: the yellow jersey is up for grabs and it won’t be won against the clock but in a fight on the road, and the route – punchy but not mountainous – is one that just about anyone could win, bar the pure sprinters and the pure climbers.
Full preview:
Stage 1 preview: Yellow jersey on the line as Tour de France rolls out in Bilbao
Tour de France 2023 LIVE
Friday 30 June 2023 21:56 , Lawrence Ostlere
Welcome along to live coverage of the 2023 Tour de France as it gets under way in Bilbao this morning.
