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

[Lequack]

2 kms at 10%?

Which classic is that?

Eh, that's misleading. They can just cruise the first km from the speed of the peloton itself, and then it's just last km that is steep, which they can just power into with their cyclocross watts. I can't see MVDP being dropped here.

 

[Blanco]

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.

It's not like bergs, it's practically a Mur de Huy but harder. Pogacar definitelly would have an advantage here on both Wout and Mathieu, but I think he will ride a bit conservative. Vingegaard also, if he doesn't want to drag Pogacar with him, only to beat him in the sprint. So I guess then both Van Aert and Van der Poel have a chance.

 

[Lequack]

Meanwhile everyone is missing the real dangerman, Enric Mas.

 

[Lequack]

Meanwhile at EF: "How can we design something that looks like early 2000s web page?"

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Meanwhile at EF: "How can we design something that looks like early 2000s web page?"

On Monday? Already?

 

[Kaptain Kool]

It's not like bergs, it's practically a Mur de Huy but harder. Pogacar definitelly would have an advantage here on both Wout and Mathieu, but I think he will ride a bit conservative. Vingegaard also, if he doesn't want to drag Pogacar with him, only to beat him in the sprint. So I guess then both Van Aert and Van der Poel have a chance.

So if Pogacar and Vingegaard play coy, the 50 other riders who can climb this better than MVdP and BP won't bother, either?

 

[RedheadDane]

Meanwhile at EF: "How can we design something that looks like early 2000s web page?"

My eyes hurt just trying to read that!

 

[Blanco]

So if Pogacar and Vingegaard play coy, the 50 other riders who can climb this better than MVdP and BP won't bother, either?

I'm saying that only way Van Aert and Van der Poel drops out of contention is either Pogacar or Vingegaard with their teams goes full gas from the bottom of that climb.
If that's not the case, and I think that will happen, they will maybe drop by some guys who can climb this better than them (and their number certainly isn't 50), but not for good, cause there's still 10km till the finish line. If they come back, which is not unlikely at all, they will certainly be in contention for the stage win.

 

[Top Climber]

Last climb - Cote de Pike - minute 52:30

View: https://youtu.be/5Egy65dnKZk?t=3156

 

[EddyMazzoleni]

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.

They raced LBL one time each and finished 6th and 3rd, so they were close to the front. Now, i doubt they can hang on to Pogacar drilling it, but if they contain the gap to 15s thay can make it back.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Clearly ASO was anticipating Evenepoel to start the TDF, with an image of Fat Remco on the poster.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1673331280660819973

View: https://twitter.com/TeamCOFIDIS/status/1673331280660819973


Guillaume Martin is the size of a mountain, apparently.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

I have the impression Pogacar, WVA and MVDP all lack a little bit of shape. Only Vingegaard might be at 100%. I think none of the mentioned will win on Saturday however.

Biggest surprise of whole startlist is that Movistar chose Pedrero over Lazkano. I was sure that Lazkano would be selected for the Tour a hundred percent.

The Tour route for 2023 seems perfect, so lets hope for a nice Tour. It‘s all but certain that Vingegaard or Pogacar will win - I see serious chances for Hindley, or Adam and Simon Yates.

Great thing would be to see Girmay win a stage. I think it‘s possible…

 

[Nick2413]

If MVdP or Wout win they might as well go for GC. It’s a short enough climb I doubt Pog and Vinngegaard will be too worried about keeping their powder dry, so I expect a Pog win.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Just 5 days left till Grand Depart - can't wait to it! This stage is great for Pogacar and an in-form Alaphilippe (when it comes to the last climb). Obviously Vingegaard will be up there as he's shown to be elite on 2-3 km climbs. Those three can actually take off on Pike as it's likely too difficult for MVP or WVA (it's more difficult and longer than Mur de Huy) and other climbers may lack explosivity or w/kg there. The question is: what's next? Unfortunately Vinge won't be willing to cooperate with Pog (bonus seconds) so it depends who else can join and help (maybe Ala, maybe more cyclists). The chasing group can catch those guys and then the likes of WVA, MVP or Laporte have a good chance to win.

 

[Big Doopie]

The stage is like 6 days away

Trying to fill the Remco void.

Cycling makes no sense and is of no interest when he is not riding.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Trying to fill the Remco void.

Cycling makes no sense and is of no interest when he is not riding.

Remco should be there but apparently (following requests and $$$ from JV and UAE) he and the old man decided to give them one more Tour chance.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Are we gonna have a general Tour thread or is this one for all the discussions that pop up between now and the end of stage 1?

 

[Lequack]

Are we gonna have a general Tour thread or is this one for all the discussions that pop up between now and the end of stage 1?

Well there is also a thread for TDF route and stages, TDF green jersey, and the "Best of the Rest" thread. I guess it depends on the topic.

 

[Peyroteo94]

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

It is a good first stage to avoid crashes (of course a prologue is always better) because we have a lot of climbs to rip the peloton apart.

 

[Escarabajo]

Soudal hasn't decided the team, so what are they waiting for?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Well there is also a thread for TDF route and stages, TDF green jersey, and the "Best of the Rest" thread. I guess it depends on the topic.

Where should we post about Evenepoel not being in the Tour? Asking for a friend.

 

[Big Doopie]

Where should we post about Evenepoel not being in the Tour? Asking for a friend.

Other threads that are presently missing:

If Remco were there, would he have won the first stage?
If Remco were there, would he have won the second stage?
If Remco were there…(I think you can extrapolate).

And of course…

Would Remco have faked a mechanical in the last 3kms when Pog attacked?

 

[hfer07]

Alaphilippe could be in contention, but.....
I guess is going to be Pogacar going full thermonuclear since day 1

 

[RobertCrawley]

Cannot freakin' wait!