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

[Rackham]

sadly this is going to be a massive crashfest, as per usual nowadays in the tour. i cross my fingers everyone stays upright this time so we can have a spectacular final.

One of the conversations regarding the massive crashes early in the 2021 TdF was about le grand départ in Bretagne, namely the narrow, twisty roads & sketchy finales which might have contributed to making a stressed peloton with high stakes disintegrate in several major crashes. There was also the question of a lack of ITT prologue which means time differences aren't established as a 'deterrent', so we see everyone drilling it for glory in the first couple of stages.

Contrast that with last year when nothing much happened in Denmark (stage 3 had a big crash in the final km, I seem to remember). But yeah, judging by the recent history of this sport & the Tour in particular, I reckon Saturday & Sunday on these Basque roads will be carnage & some riders will lose their GC hopes right there & then.

 

[Izzyeviel]

When I was a kid watching the tour in the late 90's early 2000's. That conversation was being held then and still is now. Nothings changed.

 

[gunara]

I feel higher enthusiasm for a TdF than average of the last few years. Maybe it's Pog's mysterious wrist, maybe something else. Next year could be even higher.

 

[RobertCrawley]

It's also the first Tour in a long long time without any Italian name sponsor.

The explanation would probably require a dedicated thread, but generally speaking cycling is no longer a major sport in Italy. Most of the people who follow it are old.

Thanks!

 

[Berniece]

When I was a kid watching the tour in the late 90's early 2000's. That conversation was being held then and still is now. Nothings changed.

There's a new committee which they created in the past 3 years. They were going to announce it before the start of the TDF, but I haven't seen anything about it yet. Should be the real deal this time.

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

One of the conversations regarding the massive crashes early in the 2021 TdF was about le grand départ in Bretagne, namely the narrow, twisty roads & sketchy finales which might have contributed to making a stressed peloton with high stakes disintegrate in several major crashes. There was also the question of a lack of ITT prologue which means time differences aren't established as a 'deterrent', so we see everyone drilling it for glory in the first couple of stages.

Contrast that with last year when nothing much happened in Denmark (stage 3 had a big crash in the final km, I seem to remember). But yeah, judging by the recent history of this sport & the Tour in particular, I reckon Saturday & Sunday on these Basque roads will be carnage & some riders will lose their GC hopes right there & then.

Stage 3 had a couple of crashes, and stage 2 had one on the bridge. I would guess a couple of crashes are sure to happen on the uneven Basque roads.

 

[masking_agent]

wow? The Tour could be decided after stage 1 ???

 

[Lequack]

Dylan van Baarle's Dutch jersey. Even Jakobsen wants some of that.

 

[Lequack]

Team presentations start in 4 hours, behind the emblematic Guggenheim museum. Live on Eusorport (and probably GCN) from 18:30h CEST.

Live stream here:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgbIwEOAV_4

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Team presentations start in 4 hours, behind the emblematic Guggenheim museum

According to GCN+ it‘s already starting in two and a half hours.

wow? The Tour could be decided after stage 1 ???

Just like the Giro!

 

[Andre]

if this first stage turns out as good as it looks, then I wish they would include it in this year's Vuelta. Then we could see Remco burn them all off his wheel.

 

[Rackham]

Stage 3 had a couple of crashes, and stage 2 had one on the bridge. I would guess a couple of crashes are sure to happen on the uneven Basque roads.

A prologue spreads the field out a little, at least just enough to put the yellow jersey out of reach for most riders in the following sprint stages. And when I was a kid watching the TdF, there was always a prologue.

The start in Basque Country seems pretty similar to the Bretagne start 2 years ago. I mean there are always going to be crashes but some race designs increase the likelihood.

I believe that's the case this year.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Organisers removed the bonus to ensure the stage winner would claim the first yellow jersey, as is tradition.

Silly decision. 99% certain the stage winner would take yellow anyway. If not it would have been a historic first if someone took the first yellow without winning the stage.

 

[red_flanders]

Silly decision. 99% certain the stage winner would take yellow anyway. If not it would have been a historic first if someone took the first yellow without winning the stage.

Which would have been incredibly lame. IMO.

Not sure what the downside of this decision is for the race.

 

[Lui98]

Bjerg was trying to do his best Aru impression

 

[RedheadDane]

Silly decision. 99% certain the stage winner would take yellow anyway. If not it would have been a historic first if someone took the first yellow without winning the stage.

I actually think it could be quite cool to deliberately hand out boni seconds on the opening stage in such a way that if rider scored enough out on the stage, and got a good placement on the stage, he'd get the GC lead.

 

[DNP-Old]

Watching the presentation right now: Wright's jersey is godawful.

 

[RedheadDane]

I did not expect it to make me cry...

 

[glassmoon]

Watching the presentation right now: Wright's jersey is godawful.

yep... it's deep in the wtf territory

 

[wheresmybrakes]

I did not expect it to make me cry...

Wright's jersey made you cry? Is it that bad?

 

[Tim Cahill]

Mikel Landa will be 'going for the win from the very first day'

 

[glassmoon]

the coverage is kinda awkward

 

[RedheadDane]

Wright's jersey made you cry? Is it that bad?

No... notice how I didn't quote DNP.
There was a minute-of-silence.

Everyone gets cool hats!

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Victor Campenaerts channeling his inner Terry Thomas with a rather caddish moustache.

 

[DNP-Old]

My toes are hurting from all the curling. These interviews man...