“There will be sports. I will give the maximum. I want to win, I worked hard for that”, assured Julian Alaphilippe, at the start of the first stage. On arrival, the double world champion, leader of the Soudal-Quick Step team, 25th at 33” from Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates), first winner of the Grande Boucle cuvée 2023 and therefore first leader, n could only see the damage.
In 2021, he had taken off on the coast from La Fosse aux Loups to Landerneau to propel himself towards a new yellow jersey after those worn in 2019 (14 days) and 2020 (3 days). In Bilbao, in the heart of the Basque passion that had invaded the Pike coast (2.1 km, with passages over 15%), the key passage of the first stage planted 10 km from the finish in Bilbao, well placed the puncher quickly disappeared. Outmoded. Swallowed. He did not have enough spring, not the legs to seize the opportunity, hang on to the hellish train led by Tadej Pogacar’s UAE Team Emirates team.
Like the Belgian Wout van Aert (11th at 12”) and the Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel (37th at 33”), the Frenchman was overwhelmed by the climbers, the players in the general classification. The bump was too steep, the percentages too demanding. Tadej Pogacar and the UAE Emirates team took advantage of the difficulties set up at the end of the first stage to land the first hooks on their rivals, mark minds and bodies, sink their teeth into the hearty menu. Like Alaphilippe, the artificers had to content themselves with observing. They will have other opportunities. Perhaps this Sunday with the second stage, which will have fun meandering, in particular, in the famous coast of Jaizkibel. To erase the disappointment born of the inaugural stage… or to confirm the limits, to reinforce the anxiety.
Julian Alaphilippe, ill and forced to retire during the French championships, six days before the start of the Tour, had perhaps not fully recovered. Like the other punchers, he will want to show another face, he who has only two victories this season (on the Ardèche Classic and the Critérium du Dauphiné). Fast. After a failed first. Significant, upsetting. Not yet worrying if pride, the scenario and the legs offer him to turn the page…
