Tour de France 2023
Date | July 1 – July 23, 2023 |
Distance | 3,404 kilometres (2,115 miles) |
Start location | Bilbao, Spain |
Finish location | Paris |
Category | UCI WorldTour/Grand Tour |
Edition | 110th |
Previous edition | 2022 Tour de France |
Winner | Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma |
TOUR DE FRANCE 2023 RESULTS
Stage 21: Vingegaard Secures Second Consecutive Victory
Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) successfully defended his Tour de France title, finishing safely in the main field with his Jumbo-Visma teammates on the final stage in Paris. Jordi Meeus (Bora-Hansgrohe) narrowly edged out green jersey winner Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) in a sprint finish on the Champs-Elysées, claiming his first stage victory of the Tour. Vingegaard finished the Tour 7:29 ahead of Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) and 10:56 ahead of Pogačar’s teammate, Adam Yates.
Stage 20: Pogacar Rebounds, Vingegaard Seals Overall Victory
Despite a challenging stage 17 on the Col de la Loze, Tadej Pogačar rebounded to win the final mountain stage of the 2023 Tour de France. Jonas Vingegaard crossed the line in third, securing his overall victory with only the final stage in Paris remaining. Felix Gall (AG2R-Citroën) finished second on the stage, while a late attack by Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) on his home roads thrilled the crowds but ultimately fell short.
Stage 19: Mohoric Wins Sprint Finish
Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious) outdueled Kasper Asgreen (Soudal-QuickStep) in a sprint finish to claim victory on stage 19 of the Tour de France. The win marked Bahrain Victorious’ third stage win of the Tour, following victories by Pello Bilbao on stage 10 and Wout Poels on stage 15. The GC contenders all finished together, nearly 14 minutes behind the stage winner.
Stage 18: Asgreen Victorious from Breakaway
Kasper Asgreen (Soudal-QuickStep) emerged victorious from an all-day breakaway on stage 18 of the Tour de France, holding off his breakaway companions and a surging peloton in the closing sprint. Victor Campenaerts (Lotto Dstny), Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X), and Pascal Eenkhoorn (Lotto Dstny) were part of the breakaway, with Eenkhoorn finishing second and Abrahamsen third. There were no changes in the GC standings on the largely flat stage, with Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) maintaining his overall lead.
Stage 17: Vingegaard Crushes Pogacar’s Hopes
Felix Gall (AG2R Citroën) showcased his climbing prowess by attacking from a reduced front group with under 13km to go and holding on for a solo victory across the Col de la Loze on stage 17 of the Tour de France. However, the most significant development of the day was race leader Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) dropping his main rival, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), on the final climb. Pogačar finished the stage 7:37 down – 5:45 behind Vingegaard – leaving him still in second place overall but a massive 7:35 back of the Dane.
Stage 16: Vingegaard Dominates Time Trial Jonas Vingegaard removed all doubts about his leadership in the GC by crushing Tadej Pogačar in the stage 16 time trial in Combloux. Vingegaard won the stage by 1 minute 38 seconds over his rival, extending his lead in the GC to 1:48.
Stage 15: Poels Secures Solo Victory
On the third consecutive mountainous day at the Tour de France, the stalemate between Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) and Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) continued. Both riders marked each other’s attacks on the final climb to Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc and ultimately crossed the finish line together. However, the day belonged to Wout Poels (Bahrain Victorious), who attacked from the break and completed an 11km solo ride to claim his first Tour de France stage win.
Stage 14: Tactical Battle Ends in Rodríguez Victory
In a hard-fought battle between the two main contenders, Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) gained a second on Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) in an evenly matched duel on the Col de la Joux Plane during stage 14 of the Tour de France. Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos Grenadiers) exploited the situation, descending to Morzine to secure a victory and move up to third in the overall standings.
Stage 13: Kwiatkowski Breaks Free, Pogačar Narrows Gap
Michał Kwiatkowski (Ineos Grenadiers) emerged victorious from the breakaway on stage 13, featuring the race’s second hors-categorie summit finish on the Grand Colombier. Despite UAE Team Emirates’ efforts to set up Pogačar, Vingegaard remained vigilant, conceding just eight seconds and retaining the yellow jersey.
Stage 12: Izagirre Goes Solo, GC Remains Unchanged
Ion Izagirre (Cofidis) secured a solo victory on a chaotic stage 12 in Belleville-en-Beaujolais, attacking 30km from the finish to earn his second career Tour de France win. Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies) out-sprinted Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar) for second place, 58 seconds behind the winner. Despite the frenzied first half of the hilly 168.8km stage, featuring numerous attacks, including one from Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) that earned him the most combative rider award, the top GC leaders remained unchanged, with Vingegaard in yellow and Pogačar in second, donning the best young rider jersey.
Stage 11: Sprint King Reigns Supreme
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) showcased his exceptional sprinting prowess once again on Stage 11 to Moulins, securing his fourth sprint victory of the Tour de France, even without the aid of a lead-out from Mathieu van der Poel. Despite enduring a barrage of hate mail about his previous sprints, the Belgian executed a flawless sprint. Daniel Oss (TotalEnergies) was the lone breakaway rider of the day but was caught with 13km remaining. The general classification standings remained unchanged as all contenders finished within the peloton.
Stage 10: Breakaway Triumph
Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious) outpaced Georg Zimmerman (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) and Ben O’Connor (AG2R Citroën) in a sprint from the breakaway to clinch his first-ever stage victory on Stage 10 of the Tour de France. The Spaniard was part of a six-rider breakaway that entered Issoire with a 2:53 lead over a group containing race leader Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma), Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe), and Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers), ensuring the top four in the general classification remained unchanged.
Stage 9: Mythical Ascent Conquered
The Tour de France tackled the legendary ascent of Puy de Dôme on Stage 9, with Michael Woods (Israel Premier Tech) emerging victorious after being part of a sizable breakaway that established a 15-minute lead over the main general classification contenders. In the final 1.5km of the climb, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) launched a surge, gaining valuable seconds on Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma). Vingegaard’s lead over Pogačar in the battle for the yellow jersey was reduced to just 17 seconds.
Stage 8: A Dream Dashed, A Triumph Realized
Mark Cavendish had his eyes on a 35th career stage win at the Tour de France during Stage 8, but a crash 60km from the finish forced him to withdraw from the competition. The hilly run-in to Limoges was marred by a late-race crash involving Simon Yates (Jayco AlUla), but Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) emerged victorious in a tight sprint finish, edging out Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma). Jonas Vingegaard finished with the pack, preserving his lead in the overall standings as the race moved on to Stage 9, finishing at Puy de Dôme.
Stage 7: A Hat-trick Denied, A Hat-trick Completed
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) sprinted to victory in Bordeaux during Stage 7 of the Tour de France, narrowly beating Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) by one bike length. Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) claimed third place in the sprint. The win marked Philipsen’s third sprint stage victory in the first week of the 2023 race, as he overtook Cavendish in the final 50 meters, thwarting the Manxman’s bid for a record 35th Tour stage win.
Stage 6: A Deficit Overturned, A Lead Established
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) launched a ferocious attack in the final 2.7km of Stage 6, propelling him back into contention for the overall title. He finished 24 seconds ahead of Jonas Vingegaard at Cauterets, while the Jumbo-Visma rider claimed the overall lead and the yellow jersey from Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe), who finished 2:39 behind in sixth place.
Vingegaard secured a 25-second lead over rival Pogačar in the general classification, while Hindley dropped to third place, 1:34 behind, following the grueling 144.9km climb in the Pyrenees.
Stage 5: Tour de France: Jai Hindley wins stage 5
Stage 5 of the Tour de France was a game-changer, featuring the first of the Pyrenean stages with the potential to overhaul the general classification. Jai Hindley of Bora-Hansgrohe seized the opportunity, launching a day-long attack that culminated in victory in Laruns and the coveted yellow leader’s jersey.
Hindley’s triumph propelled him into the overall race lead, 47 seconds ahead of Jonas Vingegaard of Jumbo-Visma, and 1:03 ahead of Giulio Ciccone of Lidl-Trek. Meanwhile, Tadej Pogačar of UAE Emirates slipped to 6th place, trailing by 1:40.
Stage 4 Recap: Philipsen Dominates, Yates Retains Lead Amidst Chaos
In stage 4, there was no question about the victor as Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Deceuninck clinched his second consecutive sprint stage win in Nogaro. However, the sprinters’ day ended in chaos as multiple riders crashed on the motor speedway circuit hosting the finish.
Despite the tumult, the overall classification remained unchanged. Adam Yates of UAE Team Emirates finished with the pack at the end of the 181.8km stage, retaining the yellow leader’s jersey heading into stage 5.
Stage 3: Tour de France: Philipsen edges Cavendish in tight sprint to win stage 3 / As it happened
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) narrowly defeated Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) in a thrilling sprint finish to win stage 3 of the Tour de France. In a tense finale, Philipsen launched his sprint late but managed to edge past Cavendish just before the line to take his first win of the race. The win also marked Philipsen’s first career Tour de France stage victory. The overall standings remained unchanged, as the GC contenders all finished safely in the main peloton.
Stage 2: Tour de France: Pogacar dominates in uphill finish to take stage 2 victory / As it happened
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) showcased his climbing prowess by taking a commanding victory in the uphill finish of stage 2. The Slovenian attacked with just over a kilometer to go and quickly opened up a gap on his rivals, crossing the line alone to claim the stage win. The victory also earned Pogacar the yellow jersey as the overall leader of the race. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) finished second on the stage, with Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe) in third.
Stage 1: Tour de France: Van Aert sprints to victory in opening stage / As it happened
Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) claimed the first stage of the Tour de France with a powerful sprint finish in the opening stage. The Belgian rider outpaced his rivals in the final meters to take the win and the first yellow jersey of the race. Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) finished second, with Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) in third.
Overall, the 2023 Tour de France was marked by exciting battles between the GC contenders, numerous crashes, and breakout performances by up-and-coming riders. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) secured his second consecutive Tour de France victory, showcasing his strength and consistency throughout the three-week race. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), although not able to defend his title, still put up a strong fight and secured a podium finish. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) emerged as the top sprinter of the race, winning multiple stages and showcasing his speed and tactical acumen.
Tour de France 2023 Route Overview:
Start Location: The 2023 edition of the Tour de France will start in the Basque Country, marking the first time since 1992 that the race has commenced in this region.
Route Characteristics:
- The race will kick off with several hilly stages before crossing the Pyrenees into France.
- The route includes only 22 km of time trialing, all of which will occur during the hilly stage 16.
- Four summit finishes are featured, including a return to the Puy de Dôme for the first time in 35 years and a visit to the Grand Colombier in the Pyrenees.
Final Week:
- The final week of the race will be particularly challenging due to the mountainous terrain.
- The ultimate showdown will occur in the Vosges on stage 20, finishing at Le Markstein.
Tour de France 2023 Contenders Analysis:
The main rivals for the 2023 Tour de France are expected to be the 2022 champion, Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma), and two-time winner, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates).
- Jonas Vingegaard: The Danish rider, representing Jumbo-Visma, is the defending champion, having won the 2022 edition by overcoming Pogacar. He comes into the race with good form, having recently competed in the Critérium du Dauphiné.
- Tadej Pogacar: The Slovenian, riding for UAE Team Emirates, is a two-time winner of the Tour and will be looking to reclaim his title. He had a setback in April with a fractured wrist but has recovered and will be a strong contender.
Other Notable GC Contenders:
- David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ): A strong climber who has shown promise in previous Grand Tours.
- Enric Mas (Movistar): A consistent performer in Grand Tours, finishing in the top 10 multiple times.
- Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe): Showed his potential by finishing second in the 2020 Giro d’Italia.
- Ben O’Connor (AG2R Citroën): Won a stage and finished fourth overall in the 2021 Tour de France.
- Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost): Won the 2019 Giro d’Italia and has multiple Grand Tour podiums.
- Mikel Landa (Bahrain Victorious): A strong climber with multiple top-10 finishes in Grand Tours.
Overall, the 2023 Tour de France has a strong line-up of GC contenders, with Vingegaard and Pogacar being the top favorites. However, the race is unpredictable, and any of the other mentioned riders could also make a significant impact on the final standings.
The 2023 Tour de France teams include:
WorldTour Teams:
- AG2R Citroën Team
- Astana-Premier Tech
- Bahrain Victorious
- Bora-Hansgrohe
- Cofidis
- Deceuninck-Quick-Step
- EF Education-EasyPost
- Groupama-FDJ
- Ineos Grenadiers
- Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
- Israel-Premier Tech (Wild Card)
- Jumbo-Visma
- Lotto-Soudal
- Movistar Team
- Team DSM
- Team Qhubeka-Nexthash
- Trek-Segafredo
- UAE Team Emirates
ProTeams:
- TotalEnergies
- Uno-X Pro Cycling Team (Wild Card)
- Alpecin-Fenix
- B&B Hotels p/b KTM
These 22 teams will compete in the 2023 Tour de France. Each team will have its strategy and key riders to support throughout the race, whether it’s for stage wins, the general classification, or other jerseys (points, mountain, young rider).
TOUR DE FRANCE HISTORY
The Tour de France is the most prestigious cycling event in the world and has a rich history with many legendary champions and memorable moments. Here are some notable records and achievements in the Tour de France history:
Most Tour de France Wins:
- 5 wins: Jacques Anquetil (France), Eddy Merckx (Belgium), Bernard Hinault (France), Miguel Indurain (Spain)
Most Stage Wins:
- 34 wins: Eddy Merckx (Belgium)
Most Green Jerseys (Points Classification):
- 7 wins: Peter Sagan (Slovakia)
Most Polka Dot Jerseys (Mountain Classification):
- 7 wins: Richard Virenque (France)
Most White Jerseys (Young Rider Classification):
- 3 wins: Jan Ullrich (Germany), Andy Schleck (Luxembourg), Pierre Latour (France), Egan Bernal (Colombia), Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia)
Most Team Classification Wins:
- 17 wins: Movistar Team (Spain)
It’s also worth mentioning that only seven riders have won the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and Vuelta a España in their careers, a feat known as the Triple Crown of Cycling. These riders are Jacques Anquetil, Felice Gimondi, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Alberto Contador, Vincenzo Nibali, and Chris Froome.
Additionally, only two riders have won all three Grand Tours in a single year: Eddy Merckx in 1974 and Bernard Hinault in 1987.
The history of the Tour de France is filled with incredible achievements, dramatic moments, and inspiring stories that have captivated fans for over a century.