Key events
Increased calls for new safety measures
Jonathan Vaughters, manager of the EF Education Easy Post team, is the latest high-profile figure within cycling to advocate the use of safety netting on mountain descents.
The call for increased safety precautions comes less than a fortnight after Gino Mäder, of the Bahrain Victorious team, died after going over the edge during a high-speed mountain descent in June’s Tour of Switzerland.
Security tightened amid unrest concerns
The Tour de France has ramped up security as race organisers brace themselves for a double dose of disruption, both from climate change activists and the threat of civil unrest in France. Jeremy Whittle reports.
Vingegaard the man to beat in 2023
Jonas Vingegaard goes into this year’s Tour with a new authority and a lot more confidence than in 2022, and should benefit from the race’s many climbing stages. However, safety concerns linger after the Swiss cyclist’s Gino Mäder’s tragic death following a crash on a descent in the recent Tour of Switzerland. His Bahrain Victorious team-mates have withdrawn the race number 61 – their team’s leadership number – from this year’s Grand Boucle. Jeremy Whittle sets the scene from Bilbao.
Stage one: Bilbao to Bilbao (182km)
The Tour starts in Spain’s foremost cycling heartland, with a stage through the Basque Country hills which will give many the jitters, writes William Fotheringham. Four stiff ascents in the final 80km with the Côte de Pike less than 10km from the line means an initial sort-out of the field; at least one favourite could lose the race here. The finish is made for Julian Alaphilippe, so France will expect a win and yellow jersey. The riders roll out at 11.30am (BST).
Tour de France 2023
Starting with a three-day stint in the Basque country, this year’s Tour de France will feature 176 riders representing 22 different teams as they pedal their way along 3,406 kilometres of road. Plenty of them won’t make it to the finish line on the cobbles of the Champs Elysees in Paris in three weeks time but today, the contestants will set off on a 182km opening stage that begins and ends in Bilbao, the feeling in the bunch will be one of giddy excitement tinged with trepidation at the some of the almost superhuman challenges that lie ahead.
With Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard aiming to retain the title he won at his second attempt last year, Mark Cavendish attempting to break Eddie Merckx’s record for career stage wins, plenty of riders keen to nab the stage wins that are so important to their own and their team’s profiles and no shortage of other sub-plots, we’ll bring you all the action that’s fit to write up and plenty more that isn’t as the riders head off on today’s Grand Depart of the 110th Tour de France.
