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.
