Tour de France 2023 Tour de France, Stage 1: Bilbao - Bilbao, 182 km (Spain, Saturday, July 1)

[Lequack]

Stage 1: Bilbao - Bilbao, 182 km

Saturday, July 1, 12:30 – 17:15 CEST

Commentary from Christian Prudhomme
The Basque Country doesn’t lack options when it comes to offering opportunities to the puncheurs. With 3,300 metres of vertical gain and a double springboard where gaps can be created in the final 30 kilometres in the shape of the Vivero and Pike climbs, discussion about the identity of the first Yellow Jersey holder will focus on attackers with real pedigree, those capable of taking allying their instinct to their power.

Video overview:

More about the region:

Heritage - Stage 1 - Lille Métropole > Lille Métropole - Tour de France 2025

All informations relating to the cities crossed by Tour de France.

www.letour.fr

The Climbs:

And 10km from the finish:

What to Expect:

Maybe some GC action, maybe a breakaway wanting the yellow jersey.

 

[Lequack]

Jumbo Visma promo

https://twitter.com/x/status/1673239781193531395

View: https://twitter.com/JumboVismaRoad/status/1673239781193531395?s=20

 

[Peyroteo94]

How can someone think MVP is the number one favourite here? If the peloton rides hard in Cote de Vivero, MVP will be dropped. This is a stage for pure climbers like Pogacar or Vingegaard.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Van Aert, Van der Poel and arguably also the current version of Alaphilippe are unlikely to crest Pike with the first 10 riders if someone like Pogacar wants to go for it, only way they win is if the front group doesn't push on after the climb.

1. Pogacar
2. Skjelmose
3. Vingegaard

 

[Ilmaestro99]

The stage is like 6 days away

 

[Devil's Elbow]

The climbs:
Lauro

Laukiz

Goitisolo

San Juan de Gaztelugatze

Intermediate sprint

(don't have a profile for the climb up to Nabarniz, it's 9.4k at 2.6% but quite irregular)

Morga

Vivero (as far as the junction to Lezama)

Pike

Final drag to the line

Final kilometres:

 

[QueenStagiaire]

All depends on if Pogačar feels good on that stage. Also, expect some crashes.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Can't wait!

 

[RedheadDane]

I know this just has been made a million times, but there is one guy, whose name is written on the route:

Spoiler

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I know this just has been made a million times, but there is one guy, whose name is written on the route:

Spoiler

This joke has been made so often that it doesn't even Pike my interest anymore.

I'll see myself out.

 

[theyoungest]

All depends on if Pogačar feels good on that stage. Also, expect some crashes.

Probably less than if the race had started with a sprint stage, which usually happens.

Also, I'm not sure if the lesson Pogi took from last year's Tour is that he'll have to spend huge amounts of energy in the first week already.

 

[danielovichdk2]

Rui Costa
G. Izagirre
Aranburu
Cort
Lutsenko
Leon Sanchez

One of these would be a good and different beginning.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Rui Costa
G. Izagirre
Aranburu
Cort
Lutsenko
Leon Sanchez

One of these would be a good and different beginning.

Is that the breakaway?

 

[danielovichdk2]

Is that the breakaway?

Merely hope it will not be a showdown between Wingyard and Pogamon.

Breakaway or not.

 

[Red Rick]

Pogacar vs Vingegaard on Pike. The question after that is if Van Aert comes back or not. I think he should be able to. Still Pog might just win this sprint.

I don't see MvdP surviving in the first 20 and I'd be surprised if he came back.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Pogacar vs Vingegaard on Pike. The question after that is if Van Aert comes back or not. I think he should be able to. Still Pog might just win this sprint.

I don't see MvdP surviving in the first 20 and I'd be surprised if he came back.

Feel like Van Aert is coming into this Tour slightly undercooked with the Worlds in mind, he will be his usual self in the second half of the race but I actually think Van der Poel may well outclimb him on Pike. Not by the extent of Mur de Bretagne two years ago obviously, but still.

 

[tobydawq]

Pogacar vs Vingegaard on Pike. The question after that is if Van Aert comes back or not. I think he should be able to. Still Pog might just win this sprint.

I don't see MvdP surviving in the first 20 and I'd be surprised if he came back.

An MvdP who says he has never been as well-prepared for any bike race?

I guess you have to be Dutch to be that pessimistic...

 

[Red Rick]

An MvdP who says he has never been as well-prepared for any bike race?

I guess you have to be Dutch to be that pessimistic...

Maybe I'm just an optimistic hater?

Maybe top 20 isn't that unlikely, but I have a hard time seeing him be close to the best climbers in the race on a ~5 minute climb this hard. Especially because I expect UAE to make it very, very hard on the climbs before.

 

[Poursuivant]

Simon Yates to take yellow all the way to Paris it is then.

 

[Lequack]

The stage is like 6 days away

It takes time to build hype.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1673367658765471744

View: https://twitter.com/O_Desmamilado/status/1673367658765471744

 

[ZamlinusYoutubeious]

I hope and pray that there is no "chute" in the final few kms. Esp if it takes out a contender.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I know this just has been made a million times, but there is one guy, whose name is written on the route:

Spoiler

Juanpe Lopez' also has his first name written on the route.

But a victory for Pello would be as big as Igor Antón's Vuelta stage win 12 years ago.

For the Basque fans, it's a shame Lazkano hasn't been selected.

 

[Lequack]

Why do people think MVDP and Wout will be dropped on these short climbs? Espcially the last 2km climb is just like the bergs in the classics.

 

[tobydawq]

Why do people think MVDP and Wout will be dropped on these short climbs? Espcially the last 2km climb is just like the bergs in the classics.

2 kms at 10%?

Which classic is that?

 

[QueenStagiaire]

2 kms at 10%?

Which classic is that?

That‘s close to LBL where neither Van der Poel nor Van Aert has been at the front in the past. Still, I guess there‘s a chance if Pogačar doesn‘t (or can‘t) go hard on the climb.