Preview Tour de France 2023 | A.S.O. presents cycling fans with stunning course

Here we go, clear your calendar, it's time for the Tour de France! The world's biggest cycling race starts on July the 1st from Spain's Basque Country and heads - over a challenging course - toward Paris in 21 days. All the information you need about these 21 stages can be found below in the official preview of the Tour de France 2023.

Practical information Tour de France 2023

• Saturday, July 1st through Sunday, July 23rd, 2023
• Participants
  
• Classification: 2.UWT

In this article

• Latest winners
• Course, times and favorites
• TV information

Latest winners Tour de France

2022 Jonas Vingegaard
2021 Tadej Pogacar
2020 Tadej Pogacar
2019 Egan Bernal
2018 Geraint Thomas
2017 Chris Froome
2016 Chris Froome
2015 Chris Froome
2014 Vincenzo Nibali
2013 Chris Froome

Stage 1 - Saturday, July 1st, 2023: Bilbao - Bilbao (182.0 km)

The first day of the Tour promises to be a true spectacle. One thing is clear with the start in the Basque Country: it won't be flat anywhere. Around Bilbao, the riders will immediately encounter five categorized climbs, three of which are in the full finale. The Côte de Pike (10 percent average) will be rounded at thirteen kilometers from the end. Who will make war and who will win the stage and the yellow jersey at the uphill finish line?

Climbs
13.8 km: Côte de Laukiz (2.2 km at 6.9%)
67.8 km: Côte de San Juan de Gaztelugatxe (3.5 km at 7.6%)
140.9 km: Col de Morga (3.9 km at 4.1%)
154.9 km: Côte de Vivero (4.2 km at 7.3%)
172.4 km: Côte de Pike (2.0 km at 10.0%)

Times
Start: 12:55 p.m.
Finish: around 5:15 p.m.

Favorites
Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates)
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma)

Stage 2 - Sunday, July 2nd, 2023: Vitoria-Gasteiz - San Sebastián (208.9 km)

A day after the opening race, things get a little more intense on day two, with roads we know well from the Clasica San Sebastián. That means the Jaizkibel in the finale and a fast descent to the line. Once again, there are five categorized climbs along the way, although the average percentages are much less challenging than on day one. On the Jaizkibel, however, everything could break loose.

Climbs
81.3 km: Col d'Udana (4.5 km at 5.1%)
87.6 km: Côte d'Aztiria (2.7 km at 5.3%)
140.9 km: Côte d'Alkiza (4.2 km at 5.7%)
174.2 km: Côte de Gurutze (2.6 km at 4.7%)
192.4 km: Jaizkibel (8.1 km at 5.3%)

Times
Start: 12:25 p.m.
Finish: around 5:04 p.m.

Favorites
Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates)
Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo)
Tom Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers)

Stage 3 - Monday, July 3th, 2023: Amorebieta-Etxano - Bayonne (187.4 km)

The last of three days in the Basque Country is again hilly, but apparently more for the sprinters. A first bunch sprint in Bayonne should be possible, so the battle for the points classification can begin. The first blow is worth a dime: who will sprint straight to stage success?

Climbs
13.8 km: Côte de Trabakua (4.1 km at 5.4%)
32.8 km: Côte de Milloi (2.3 km at 4.5%)
70.9 km: Col d'Itziar (5.1 km at 4.6%)
102.0 km: Côte d'Orioko Benta (4.6 km at 6.3%)

Times
Start 1:15 p.m.
Finish: around 5:19 p.m.

Favorites
Fabio Jakobsen (Soudal-Quick Step)
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-AlUla)

Stage 4 - Tuesday, July 4th, 2023: Dax - Nogaro (181.8 km)

We are entering France! From the southwest, the riders start from Dax, for a fairly easy ride to Nogaro, further inland. Basically, a second bunch sprint in this Tour de France follows after 181.8 kilometers. Nervousness all around, who will strike this time with the best leadout?

Climbs
154.4 km: Côte de Dému (2.0 km at 3.5%)

Times
Start: 1:20 p.m.
Finish: around 5:12 p.m.

Favorites
Fabio Jakobsen (Soudal-Quick Step)
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-AlUla)

Stage 5 - Wednesday, July 5th, 2023: Pau - Laruns (162.7 km)

Pau, and already in the first week! The city in the south of France is invariably in the Tour, often as a starting or finishing point to or from the mountains. Having started in the Basque Country, organizers are getting there early this year. With the Col de Soudet, the Col d'Ichère and the Col de Marie Blanque along the way, a classification battle is in the offing, with the finish always downhill on a Pau stage. Or will the breakaway riders battle for the day's victory?

Climbs
87.5 km: Col de Soudet (15.2 km at 7.2%)
124.8 km: Col d'Ichère (4.2 km at 7.0%)
144.2 km: Col de Marie Blanque (7.7 km at 8.6%)

Times
Start: 1:25 p.m.
Finish: around 5:21 p.m.

Favorites
Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates)
Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma)
Simon Yates (Jayco-AlUla)

Stage 6 - Thursday, July 6th, 2023: Tarbes - Cauterets (144.9 km)

A second big, big mountain stage in the first week, what a treat! On the second Pyrenean day we tackle mythical cols from the Tour de France, including the Aspin and the Tourmalet. The finish is really uphill for the first time this Tour, although the percentages towards Cauterets and Cambasque are not very impressive. Who will dare? Or will the breakaway stay ahead?

Climbs
29.9 km: Côte de Capvern-les-Bains (5.6 km at 4.8%)
68.1 km: Col d'Aspin (12.0 km at 6.5%)
97.9 km: Col du Tourmalet (17.1 km at 7.3%)
144.9 km: Cauterets-Cambasque (16.0 km at 5.4%)

Times
Start: 1:25 p.m.
Finish: around 5:08 p.m.

Favorites
Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates)
Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma)
Jai Hindley (BORA-hansgrohe)

Stage 7 - Friday, July 7th, 2023: Mont-de-Marsan - Bordeaux (169.9 km)

After two solid days through the Pyrenees, it's time for a game of sprint in the streets of Bordeaux! Despite all the climbing, this is already the third chance for the fast men in this varied first week. Who has digested the mountains best and can still bang the maximum watts out of his thighs?

Climbs
131.0 km: Côte de Béguey (1.2 km at 4.4%)

Times
Start: 1:30 p.m.
Finish: around 5:07 p.m.

Favorites
Fabio Jakobsen (Soudal-Quick Step)
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-AlUla)

Stage 8 - Saturday, July 8th, 2023: Libourne - Limoges (200.7 km)

The second weekend in the Tour will be an interesting spectacle. In the first stage over 200 kilometers, the finale is one that could go either way. Two short climbs could still launch things. If not, we're headed for a fourth bunch sprint in this first week. After all, the finishing road in Limoges is flat.

Climbs
130.4 km: Côte de Champs-Romain (2.8 km at 5.2%)
184.7 km: Côte de Masmont (1.3 km at 5.5%)
191.4 km: Côte de Condat-sur-Vienne (1.2 km at 5.4%)

Times
Start: 12:45 p.m.
Finish: around 5:07 p.m.

Favorites
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo)
Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty)

Stage 9 - Sunday, July 9th, 2023: Saint-Leonard-de-Noblat - Puy de Dôme (182.4 km)

Arrival uphill, on the last day before the first rest day! We will climb the incredibly tricky Puy de Dôme, with three categorized climbs already in the lead-up. Who will end week one with a bang and who will get another sensitive tap on the nose?

Climbs
74.8 km: Côte de Felletin (2.1 km at 5.2%)
85.7 km: Côte de Pontcharraud (1.8 km at 4.6%)
126.2 km: Côte de Pontaumur (3.3 km at 5.3%)
182.4 km: Puy de Dôme (13.3 km at 7.7%, maximum 15.1%)

Times
Start: 1:45 p.m.
Finish: around 6:05 p.m.

Favorites
Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates)
Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma)
Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost)

Stage 10 - Tuesday, July 11th, 2023: Vulcania - Issoire (167.2 km)

We start the second week of the Tour with a nice transition stage. Controlling will be a hell of a job for the sprinters' teams, especially if the relationships between them are already a bit clear. More realistic is a nice battle between the attackers, where even the men with slightly lesser climbing legs can survive this day.

Climbs
7.0 km: Col de la Moréno (4.8 km at 4.7%)
27.3 km: Col de Guéry (7.8 km at 5.0%)
66.6 km: Col de la Croix Saint-Robert (6.0 km at 6.3%)
84.3 km: Côte de Saint-Victor-la-Rivière (3.0 km at 5.9%)
138.6 km: Côte de la Chapelle-Marcousse (6.5 km at 5.6%)

Times
Start: 1:20 p.m.
Finish: around 5:19 p.m.

Times
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Alberto Bettiol (EF Education-EasyPost)
Lilian Calmejane (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty)

Stage 11 - Wednesday, July 12, 2023: Clermont-Ferrand - Moulins (179.8 km)

Sprinters, report! Chance five is up for grabs, after already sprinting about three or four times in the first week. Who will put their hands in the air in Moulins? The three fourth category climbs should be no problem.

Climbs
31.8 km: Côte de Chaptuzat-Haut (1.9 km at 5.0%)
49.5 km: Côte du Mercurol (2.9 km at 4.6%)
118.5 km: Côte de la Croix Blanche (1.6 km at 5.4%)

Times
Start: 1:25 p.m.
Finish: around 5:19 p.m.

Favorites
Fabio Jakobsen (Soudal-Quick Step)
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-AlUla)

Stage 12 - Thursday, July 13th, 2023: Roanne - Belleville-en-Beaujolais (168.8 km)

As in stage 10, this is one for the attackers, with some better climbing legs required this time. Percentages shoot up to over 7.0 percent average along the way, with the Col de la Croix Rosier being the biggest obstacle of the day in the finale. The summit is 28.4 kilometers from the finish, so we don't expect anything crazy here in the classification.

Climbs
20.5 km: Côte de Thizy-les-Bourgs (4.3 km at 5.6%)
37.9 km: Col des Écorbans (2.1 km at 6.9%)
109.9 km: Col de la Casse Froide (5.2 km at 6.1%)
125.0 km: Col de la Croix Montmain (5.5 km at 6.1%)
140.4 km: Col de la Croix Rosier (5.3 km at 7.6%)

Times
Start: 1:20 p.m.
Finish: around 5:21 p.m.

Favorites
Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech)
Andrea Bagioli (Soudal-Quick Step)
Felix Gall (AG2R Citroën Team)

Stage 13 - Friday, July 14th, 2023: Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne - Col du Grand Colombier (137.8 km)

Arrival uphill, that was a while ago. After a leaden first week, the classification riders had a break so far, but that is over with the finish on top of the Grand Colombier. Everyone has to bare their bottoms again, with percentages of up to 15 percent!

Climbs
137.8 km: Grand Colombier (17.4 km at 7.1%)

Times
Start: 1:55 p.m.
Finish: around 5:12 p.m.

Favorites
Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates)
Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma)
Mattias Skjelmose (Trek-Segafredo)

Stage 14 - Saturday, July 15th, 2023: Annemasse - Morzine (151.8 km)

We shoot into the third weekend of the Tour with the French Alps on the menu. The organizers have chosen lesser-known, but no less interesting cols for this mountain stage. And with the finish at the bottom after the Col de Joux Plane, the finale promises to be a spectacle.

Climbs
18.7 km: Col de Saxel (4.2 km at 4.6%)
35.3 km: Col de Cou (7.0 km at 7.4%)
52.7 km: Col de Feu (5.8 km at 7.8%)
101.6 km: Col de la Ramaz (13.9 km at 7.1%)
139.8 km: Col de Joux Plane (11.6 km at 8.5%)

Times
Start: 1:20 p.m.
Finish: around 5:18 p.m.

Favorites
Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates)
Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma)
Carlos Rodriguez (INEOS Grenadiers)

Stage 15 - Sunday, July 16th, 2023: Les Gets - Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc (180 km)

Final stretch of the Alps, an unparalleled 179-kilometer mountain stage! Along the way it is purely up and down, with a total of five categorized climbs. Minutes can be thrown around here, if one starts early. Or will they keep their powder dry until the final climb to Mont Blanc?

Climbs
82.8 km: Col de la Forclaz de Montmin (7.2 km at 7.3%)
124.5 km: Col de la Croix Fry (11.3 km at 7.0%)
133.3 km: Col des Aravis (4.4 km at 5.8%)
170.6 km: Côte des Amerands (2.7 km at 10.9%)
179.0 km: Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc (7.0 km at 7.7%)

Times
Start: 1:20 p.m.
Finish: around 6 p.m.

Favorites
Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates)
Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma)
Mattias Skjelmose (Trek-Segafredo)

Stage 16 - Tuesday, July 18th, 2023: Passy - Combloux (22 km, time trial⏱)

The only time trial on this year's Tour de France course. Between Passy and Combloux, 22.4 kilometers must be completed against the clock, over a rolling course. In particular, the Côte de Domancy, 2.5 kilometers at an average gradient of 9.4 percent, is a tough one.

Climbs
18.9 km: Côte de Domancy (2.5 km a 9.4%)

Times
Start (first rider): 1:05 p.m.
Finish (last rider): 5:36 p.m.

Favorites
Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma)
Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates)
Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma)

Stage 17 - Wednesday, July 19th, 2023: Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc - Courchevel (166 km)

On the last Wednesday of the Tour, we will start from the same place we arrived on Sunday: Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc. Then you know what to expect: climbing, lots of climbing. With the top of the no less than 28 kilometer long Col de la Loze, we also reach the highest point of the Tour de France, which is on the menu as the fourth climb of the day. Poor sprinters!

Climbs
28.4 km: Col des Saisies (13.4 km a 5.1%)
66.7 km: Cormet de Roselend (19.9 km a 6%)
105.7 km: Cote de Longefoy (6.6 km a 7.5%)
159.1 km: Col de la Loze (28.1 km a 6%)

Times
Start: 12:20 p.m.
Finish: around 5:03 p.m.

Favorites
Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma)
Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates)
Ben O'Connor (AG2R Citroën)

Stage 18 - Thursday, July 20th, 2023: Moûtiers - Bourg-en-Bresse (186 km)

After all the scrambling of the past few days, it is time for a transitional stage three days before Paris. In the Chambéry region - home to AG2R Citroën Team - a flat 185-kilometer stage is on the cards, with a finish in Bourg-en-Bresse.

Climbs
62.1 km: Cote de Chambéry-le-Haut (1.6 km a 4.1%)
105.2 km: Cote de Boissieu (2.4 km a 7.4%)

Times
Start: 1:05 p.m.
Finish: around 5:31 p.m.

Favorites
Fabio Jakobsen (Soudal-Quick Step)
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-AlUla)

Stage 19 - Friday, July 21th, 2023: Moirans-en-Montagne - Poligny (173 km)

As on Thursday, a flat stage is scheduled for this final Friday, although in the third week of the Tour it is by no means a certainty that it will actually be a sprint then. It is up and down all day, while it is not completely flat even in the final meters.

Climbs
23.7 km: Cote du Bois de Lionge (1.9 km at 5.7%)
144.7 km: Cote d'Ivory (2.3 km at 5.9%)

Times
Start: 1:15 p.m.
Finish around 5:11 p.m.

Favorites
Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma)
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious)

Stage 20 - Saturday, July 22th, 2023: Belfort - Le Markstein (133 km)

Ambush!!! What a beautiful stage, kudos to A.S.O. One day before we head to Paris, the riders will have a short 133-kilometer stage to contend with, with no fewer than six categorized climbs. Those looking to turn the Tour upside down once again will find a perfect opportunity for that here.

Climbs
24.0 km: Ballon d'Alsace (11.5 km a 5.2%)
56.5 km: Col de la Croix des Moinats (5.2 km a 6%)
63.5 km: Col de Grosse Pierre (3.2 km a 8%)
79.4 km: Col de la Schlucht (4.3 km a 5.4%)
108.2 km: Petit Ballon (9.3 km a 8.1%)
125.3 km: Col du Platzerwasek (7.1 km a 8.4%)

Times
Start: 1:30 p.m.
Finish: around 4:54 p.m.

Favorites
Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma)
Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates)
David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ)

Stage 21 - Sunday, July 23th, 2023: Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines - Champs-Elysées (115 km)

Bonjour Paris. The traditional parade ride through the French capital is, of course, once again the backdrop for a final Tour de France stage, where the sprinters will want to seize their chance.

Climbs
42.8 km: Cote du Pavé des Gardes (1.3 km a 6.5%)

Times
Start: 4:30 p.m.
Finish: around 7:28 p.m.

Favorites
Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Dstny)
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-AlUla)

Tour de France 2023 on television

The world's biggest cycling race will, of course, be on all possible channels. The NOS will be there on NPO 1 and NPO 2, Sporza will be there on VRT and Canvas, and Eurosport will be there from start to finish every day on Eurosport 1 and on Eurosport.com, as it did in the Giro d'Italia. IDLProCycling.com will be there throughout the Tour de France, with a live blog and extensive coverage of each stage and interviews and all the latest news.