The 110th Tour de France runs from July 1 to 23, 2023 over 3404 kilometers from Bilbao to Paris. Especially the mountain specialists get their money’s worth.
The route of the 110th Tour de France includes only a short individual time trial over 22 kilometers and a total of four mountain climbs as the greatest difficulties for the top stars around the Danish title defender Jonas Vingegaard.
This time, the sprinters can look forward to eight flat finishes, including in Bordeaux and finally, as is traditional, on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Of the famous climbs, the Col du Tourmalet is part of the programme, but Alpe d’Huez or Mont Ventoux are not visited. This emerges from the route presentation by tour boss Christian Prudhomme on Thursday at the Palais de Congres in Paris.
Tour leads over five mountains
The preliminary decision should be made on the penultimate day with a mountain stage in the Vosges. That should bring back good memories for two-time Tour champion Tadej Pogacar, after all the Slovenian had unbuttoned the yellow jersey from his compatriot Primoz Roglic there in 2020 in his first Tour triumph in the last time trial.
The four mountain finishes await at Cauterets-Cambasque, the Grand Colombier, at Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc and on the Puy-de-Dome. The latter climb in particular is a highlight on the second Sunday (July 9th). Between 1952 and 1988, the volcano in the Massif Central was the scene of legendary Tour battles. In the three tough weeks, the peloton passes all five mountain ranges in the country.
Tour de Femmes starts on the last stage day
The Grand Départ takes place on July 1st in Bilbao, Spain, where a circuit awaits the drivers. The second stage also ends in San Sebastian in the Basque Country before heading to France. On the day of the last stage, the week-long women’s tour, which includes eight stages with a total of 956 km, starts in Clermont-Ferrand for the second time after returning last year. The women also have to conquer the Col du Tourmalet.