Tour de France 2023 stage-by-stage information: Route maps and profiles for all 21 days

The 2023 Tour de France has all the substances of a traditional: two main protagonists able to tear lumps out of one another in reigning champion Jonas Vingegaard and the deposed Tadej Pogacar; entertaining multi-talented stage hunters Wout van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel, Julian Alaphilippe and Tom Pidcock; the good Mark Cavendish chasing a historic thirty fifth stage win; all going through a brutal route with 56,000m of climbing and 4 summit end.

The Tour started within the Spanish Basque nation on Saturday 1 July, the place Adam Yates edged twin brother Simon to win the opening stage, and these hilly routes will throw open the yellow jersey to a variety of contenders. The race crosses the French border for some flat phases and an early jaunt into the excessive Pyrenees, the place the Col du Tourmalet awaits. The peloton takes on the Puy de Dome volcano on its journey throughout France in direction of the Jura Mountains and the Alps, and it’s within the mountains that this Tour will in the end be determined. It all ends on the Champs-Elysees in Paris on Sunday 23 July.

Here is a stage-by-stage information to how the race will unfold.

Stage 1: Bilbao to Bilbao, 182km

The 2023 Tour de France begins exterior Bilbao’s iconic Guggenheim Museum, and winds north to the Bay of Biscay shoreline earlier than returning to town the place the stage winner will take the yellow jersey. This 182km opening stage is a hilly route with 3,000m of climbing that includes 5 categorised ascents, of which the ultimate two are sharp and testing: they’re robust sufficient to shake off the devoted sprinters and open up early glory for one of the best puncheurs – these riders with the legs to recover from quick climbs and the facility to surge away on the opposite aspect.

The profile of this stage is a good alternative by organisers because it may swimsuit nearly anybody, from the pace of Wout van Aert to the climbing energy Tom Pidcock or Simon Yates – even two-time champion Tadej Pogacar.

Stage 2: Vitoria Gastiez to Saint Sebastian, 209km

The peloton will head east from Bilbao, touching extra picturesque Basque shoreline earlier than arriving on the end in San Sebastian. At greater than 200km that is the longest stage of the 2023 Tour and, with the sizeable Jaizkibel climb (8.1km, 5.3% common gradient) shortly earlier than the end, that is much more robust on the legs than the primary day. Another puncheur with the climbing energy to recover from the steeper hills can capitalise, like two-time world champion Julian Alaphilippe.

Stage 3: Amorebieta to Bayonne, 187km

Stage three begins in Spain and ends in France, and the finale in Bayonne is ripe for a bunch dash. Mark Cavendish will get his first shot of this race at attempting to win a historic thirty fifth Tour de France stage, however he shall be up in opposition to a stacked subject together with former QuickStep teammate Fabio Jakobsen and the superior pace of Wout van Aert. It shall be fascinating to get a primary glimpse of how the facility riders stack up.

Stage 4: Dax to Nogaro, 182km

Another flat day and an excellent quicker end in retailer on the Circuit Paul Armagnac, a race observe in Nogaro. The 800m dwelling straight will virtually actually tee up a showdown between the Tour’s severe quick males.

Stage 5: Pau to Laruns, 163km

The first main mountains of the Tour come slightly sooner than normal, because the peloton heads up into the excessive Pyrenees on day 5. The Col de Soudet (15km, 7.2%) is among the hardest climbs of the race and rears up midway by means of this 163km route from Pau to Laruns. The class one Col de Marie Blanque (7.7km, 8.6%) guards the end 20km out, and holds bonus seconds for these first excessive to incentivise the foremost contenders to return to the fore and combat it out.

Stage 6: Tarbes to Cauterets, 145km

This has the potential to be an exciting day: the 145km route takes on the double hassle of the class one Col d’Aspin (12km, 6.5%) adopted by the monstrous hors categorie Tourmalet (17.1km, 7.3%), earlier than a quick ascent and a closing climb to the summit end at Cauterets (16km, 5.4%).

It is a day with a number of doable outcomes. The basic classification contenders may combat it out in a showdown to the summit. Then once more, a breakaway might be allowed to flee which might open up victory – and maybe the yellow jersey – to an outsider. The final time the Tour completed in Cauterets in 2015, breakaway specialist Rafal Majka surged away from his fellow escapers to win. Keep an eye fixed on Ineos’s Tom Pidcock, who may use the lengthy, quick descent from the Tourmalet summit to hurry to the entrance, as he did earlier than profitable atop Alpe d’Huez final yr.

Stage 7: Mont de Marsan to Bordeaux, 170km

The first week of racing finishes within the Tour’s second most visited metropolis, Bordeaux, and it’s a 3rd flat day for the sprinters to contest. Much will rely on who has finest preserved their legs by means of the excessive mountains after they come to this tight, technical end on the banks of the Garonne river within the metropolis centre.

Stage 8: Libourne to Limoges, 201km

A protracted, hilly day will see the peloton head 201km east from Libourne exterior Bordeaux to Limoges. The lumpy stage ought to swimsuit a puncheur however it’s not a very taxing set of climbs – solely three are categorised and the hardest of these is simply 2.8km at 5.2%. So may a decided staff carry their sprinter to the end and the stage win? Look out for Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel, superstars with the all-round expertise to beat the climbs and nonetheless end quick.

Stage 9: Saint-Leonard-de-Noblat to Puy de Dome, 184km

The closing stage earlier than the reduction of the primary relaxation day is comparatively flat and mild – till a brutal end atop the long-lasting Puy de Dome volcano, a 13.3km drag at a gruelling 7.7% common gradient that final appeared within the Tour in 1988. The summit end would require a severe climber’s legs to clinch the stage win, and the overall classification contenders could nicely let a breakaway get forward and combat for that prize.

Rest day: Clermont-Ferrand, Monday 10 July.

Stage 10: Parc Vulcania to Issoire, 167km

The race resumes within the centre of France from Vulcania – a volcano-themed amusement park – the place riders will embark on a hilly 167km route by means of the Volcans d’Auvergne regional park, ending down within the small city of Issiore. With 5 categorised climbs, together with the sizeable Col de Guery (7.8km at 5%) and the Croix Saint-Robert (6km at 6.3%), it is going to be a draining experience with nearly no sustained flat sections, and a protracted descent to the end city. It seems like an excellent day to plot one thing within the breakaway, as the massive GC contenders save their legs for greater challenges to return.

Stage 11: Clermont Ferrand to Moulins, 180km

The closing flat stage earlier than the arduous Alpine climbs will current a possibility for these quick males who managed to haul themselves by means of the Pyrenees to get right here – though there may be nonetheless some climbing to be accomplished together with three category-four leg-sappers alongside the 180km route. The day begins within the college metropolis of Clermont-Ferrand earlier than the riders wind north and then east to Moulins, a small city on the Allier river. Any breakaway is prone to be reeled by these groups with devoted sprinters eyeing their solely alternative for a stage win between the 2 relaxation days.

Stage 12: Roanne to Belleville-en-Beaujolais, 169km

The race caravan will shift east to begin stage 12 in Roanne within the Loire area, earlier than taking a 169km path to Belleville, located on the Saone river north of Lyon. This has been categorised as a hilly or medium mountain stage, nevertheless it may really feel more durable than that by the point the peloton reaches the foot of the fifth categorised climb of the day, the Col de la Croix Rosier (5.3km at 7.6%). That ought to be sufficient to place off one of the best puncheurs like Van der Poel and Van Aert, as a result of the stage winner will want sturdy climbing legs. The GC riders will need to preserve power, so count on a breakaway to remain clear and combat amongst themselves.

Stage 13: Chatillon-Sur-Chalaronne to Grand Colombier, 138km

The first of three brutal phases that would resolve the future of this yr’s yellow jersey is barely comparatively quick – 138km – however will present a stern sufficient check to disclose any weaknesses within the main contenders. The peloton will get pleasure from a comparatively flat and mild first 75km from Chatillon-sur-Chalaronne earlier than coming into the Jura Mountains. A brief climb and quick descent precedes the massive climax: all 17.4km (7.1%) of the Grand Colombier offering an epic summit end. This might be one other day for a breakaway away to get free, however the total contenders like Pogacar and Vingegaard may also fancy stage glory and the possibility to stamp their authority on the race.

Stage 14: Annemasse to Morzine, 152km

Part two of this triple header of mountain phases sees the peloton experience into the Alps with a 152km route from Annemasse to Morzine ski resort. Three robust class one climbs line the highway to the hors categorie Col de Joux Plane (11.6km at 8.5%), a brutally steep grind the place bonus seconds await the primary few excessive – and stage victory is the prize on the backside. This is one other potential spot for yellow jersey fireworks.

Stage 15: Les Gets to Saint Gervais, 180km

The final experience earlier than the ultimate relaxation day will take the peloton additional east into the Alps, in direction of the French border with Italy. The 179km day is sort of continually up and down, with a quick descent earlier than the ultimate two climbs, and the summit end atop Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc would require sturdy climbing legs as soon as extra.

Rest day: Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc, Monday 17 July.

Stage 16: Individual time trial from Passy to Combloux, 22km

This yr’s dwelling stretch begins with the one time trial of the race: a brief, comparatively flat 22km from Passy to Combloux within the shadow of Mont Blanc. The route consists of one categorised climb, the steep however quick Cote de Domancy (2.5km at 9.4%). This stage is unlikely to resolve the yellow jersey or podium spots, however there is a chance right here to make up essential seconds for those who want them.

Stage 17: Saint Gervais to Courchevel, 166km

Put Wednesday 19 July within the diary: this can absolutely be essentially the most brutal day of the complete Tour de France and it might be decisive. The 166km route options 4 huge climbs, the final of which gives up this yr’s Souvenir Henri Desgrange for the primary rider over the best level of the race. To get there the riders should endure a 28.1km slog averaging 6% gradient to the highest of the Col de la Loze, towering within the clouds 2,304m above sea degree. There are bonus factors seconds up right here too, earlier than a brief descent all the way down to the end at Courchevel.

A breakaway will most likely type, however can they final the space? Whatever occurs up the highway, the combat for the yellow jersey shall be fierce – solely the strongest handful of riders will be capable to stand the tempo and this can probably be the day that the 2023 winner is successfully topped.

Stage 18: Moutiers to Bourg en Bresse, 186km

After a doubtlessly explosive stage 17, stage 18 is assessed as “hilly” however is known as a comparatively sedate 185km which the sprinters are prone to contest if their groups can haul within the inevitable breakaway. The huge query is whether or not there shall be many sprinters left within the peloton after such a demanding set of phases within the Alps. For these quick males nonetheless within the race, the descent into Bourg-en-Bresse precedes a technical end, with roundabouts and a pointy nook earlier than a swinging right-hand activate to the house straight the place the stage shall be gained and misplaced.

Stage 19: Moirans-en-Montagne to Poligny, 173km

Another flat day offers an extra alternative for these sprinters left within the subject, because the peloton travels 173km from Moirans, close to Grenoble, north to Poligny. The basic classification contenders shall be joyful to relaxation their legs earlier than one closing push to Paris.

Stage 20: Belfort to Le Markstein, 133km

The closing aggressive stage of the Tour is a 133km experience from Belfort to Le Markstein ski resort within the Vosges mountains, and it gives simply sufficient for one closing assault to steal the yellow jersey, ought to the general win nonetheless be on the road. The final two climbs of the day are each steep class one ascents: first the Petit Ballon (9.3km, 8.1%) adopted by the Col du Platzerwasel (7.1km at 8.4%). Whoever is sporting yellow simply wants to hold on to the wheel of their fiercest rival right here, and that ought to be sufficient to see them dwelling.

Stage 21: Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines to Paris Champs-Elysees, 115km

As is custom, the peloton will switch to Paris and experience a truce to the Champs-Elysees. The stage will begin at France’s nationwide velodrome, dwelling of biking for the 2024 Paris Olympics. It will end with one closing dash: Cavendish has gained 4 occasions in Paris and it might be a becoming option to finish the race that has outlined his profession if he have been to repeat the feat one final time. And as soon as the race is finished, the winner of the 2023 Tour de France shall be topped.