The upcoming Tour de France is shaping up to be an exciting showdown between Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar. Vingegaard will be looking to consolidate his victory from last year, while Pogačar, after dominating in the 2020 and 2021 editions, will be looking to exact revenge and reclaim his lost crown. Both riders have had an excellent start to the season and are expected to offer fierce competition.
This year’s route will be extremely challenging, with 30 passes and a total of 56,000 meters of cumulative elevation gain. The race will start in Bilbao with a leg-breaking stage that is considered the most difficult in decades. The Pyrenees and the central massifs will offer additional challenges, while the Alps and the Vosges will complete the route.
In addition to the two main favorites, there are other riders who could surprise. Enric Mas, Mikel Landa, Daniel Felipe Martínez, Egan Bernal, and Richard Carapaz are among the podium contenders. The sprinters will also have opportunities on the eight flat stages, where Fabio Jakobsen, Jasper Philipsen, and Wout van Aert will be looking to impose their speed.
This year’s Tour de France will feature some notable absentees, such as Geraint Thomas, Remco Evenepoel, and Chris Froome. However, the excitement and competition will remain intense.
All in all, the 2023 Tour de France promises to be an epic battle between Vingegaard and Pogačar, with a challenging course and the presence of other contenders looking for the podium. Cycling fans can expect a race full of excitement, strategy, and action on the road.