The Grand Barnum of the Tour de France has settled in the Basque Country, land of cycling, to open the 2023 edition with a rugged route conducive to attacks, which could well hold a few surprises. Beware of ignition delays! There will be no observation rounds. The peloton will quickly leave the basin of Bilbao to tease the surrounding green slopes. There will still be 3300 meters of elevation on the program with an explosive Pike climb. “The final is going to be very tough, it’s going to be a big battle,” promises Benoît Cosnefroy (AG2R Citroën). All the teams meticulously recognized this climb on Friday in which the seven Basque riders will light a few wicks, carried by their public even if the weather will be gloomy. And there is plenty to blow the peloton into a thousand pieces: two kilometers at 10% with passages at 15.6%, all about ten kilometers from the finish. A spicy appetizer!
The actual start will be given at 12:55 p.m. and the arrival is scheduled for around 5:28 p.m. with an average speed of 40 km/h.
France 2 from 12:00 p.m. then France 3 at 12:55 p.m. and return to France 2 at 3:00 p.m.
“The scenery is hilly, winding and magnificent with quite a climb less than ten miles from the finish. I don’t see sprinters tipping over for a sprint. I rather see a puncher prevailing. I expect a race with a lot of movement. Wout van Art is so comfortable everywhere that he is able to get everyone to agree, but I also put a coin on Julian Alaphilippe. The route can smile on a fighter like him. And if that doesn’t work, his team could try to play the Jakobsen card behind. Watch out for Pogacar too! He can try anything. Basque runners at home? I don’t really believe it. It’s never easy to evolve in front of your public because you are eagerly awaited and above all you have a lot of pressure.
Nestled in a basin, the capital of Biscay is hosting the Tour de France for the first time in its history. San Sebastian had this privilege in the Basque Country, cycling country (23 stage victories for local riders), but that was more than 30 years ago, in 1992. The start will be given near the San Sebastian stadium Mamès, the home of Athletic Bilbao where Bixente Lizarazu briefly played (1996-1997). Nestled in lush greenery, Bilbao is home to the Guggenheim Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. Jeff Koons fans will be thrilled with the floral statue of Puppy, representing a dog. The Santiago Cathedral, dating from the 15th century, is remarkable. A walk in the Casco Viejo, the medieval quarter, is a must. Rock lovers will give it their all, go to the BBK Live festival from July 6 to 8.
Impossible to miss the Biscayan-style cod and the marmitako, a tuna stew. Squid in their anchor are also very popular on the terrace. We can’t recommend enough to try the carolina, a tower of meringue dipped in chocolate and egg yolk. A meal to accompany a white wine produced from green grapes, the txakoll.
It’s a bit of the obsession of viewers in their sofa dreaming of a great fight in the mountains: watching the ascent of a pass in front of their small screen with runners who “retract” the ascent. Nobody moves, no attack on the horizon, not even an acceleration.
Example: “Guys, I’m out of the question today about skipping Pike’s rib. We position ourselves and blast the peloton from the bottom of the climb, got it? »
