Will it be Jonas Vingegaard versus Tadej Pogacar again and therefore Jumbo-Visma versus UAE in the 2023 Tour? Both camps realize that the final week of the Tour is a tough one.
Tadej Pogacar described the route as “nice”. “The start in the Basque Country is great and then it quickly becomes difficult in the Pyrenees, but especially in the 3rd week the Tour will explode. Then we will see who will win.”
The 3rd week camping (just before and just after the last rest day) in the Alps. “There are more cols and there is only 1 time trial, but you have to be good in all aspects. So it will be a similar preparation as usual.”
“Who will be my rivals? The usual suspects, the best riders in the world. But I don’t know who will participate.”
There is of course no certainty about Remco Evenepoel either. “I definitely want to compete against him, but that’s not my decision, hey. I would like to see him in the Tour.”
Jumbo-Visma: “Tough final week, few time trial kilometers”
Jumbo-Visma was represented by general manager Richard Plugge. The Dutchman sighed deeply.
“It will be a very tough final week and unfortunately there are few time trial kilometers. The last week is really tough. The center of gravity is at the end. It is very tough.”
“That’s fine for us, but the rumor about a team time trial was wrong. It offers many opportunities for the same as this year.”
“Who are the candidates? Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar will have a lot of opportunities here. I don’t know if Remco Evenepoel will go. With Primoz Roglic we can play the same game.”
And will Wout van Aert go green again? “We have to analyze that. The relatively flat run-up offers opportunities, but we have to look at everything carefully, because little was leaked.”
Mark Cavendish: “Unfinished business? Always”
Mark Cavendish shares the record of stage victories with Eddy Merckx (34) and had to stay home this year.
He doesn’t have a team for next year, a deal with B&B is still hanging in the air because of sponsor problems.
“I hope to be there,” said the Brit. “There are a lot of nice rides, everyone will get their chance.”
“The start is tough. It will be hard work to get through the mountains to have a chance to sprint, but that goes for all sprinters.”
“Do I have unfinished business in the Tour? Always, no matter how much I have won. There is no limit to what I want to achieve.”
“The Tour is a goal for me every year. I don’t know my program for next season yet.”
Greg Van Avermaet: “First see that I am selected”
At AG2R-Citroën, Greg Van Avermaet received a “njet” this year. “There are a few stages that are within my means, but first I have to see that I am selected,” he said in Paris.
“My program still has to be made. This year I was not allowed to go to the Tour, next year I hope to be there again. The form will also play a role in that.”
“At least I’m still looking forward to 2023, otherwise I wouldn’t be here. I’m still motivated.”
“For me, that starts with the classics, of course, but I’ve also had very nice moments in the Tour. It would always be nice if that came back.”
| Tour de France 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| saturday july 1 | rit 1 | Bilbao – Bilbao | 182 km | hills |
| sunday july 2 | rit 2 | Vitoria-Gasteiz – San Sebastian | 209 km | hills |
| Monday July 3 | rit 3 | Amorebieta-Etxano – Bayonne | 185 km | shallow |
| tuesday 4 july | rit 4 | Dax-Nogaro | 182 km | shallow |
| wednesday july 5 | rit 5 | Pau – Laruns | 165 km | mountain ride |
| thursday july 6 | rit 6 | Tarbes – Cauterets-Cambasque | 145 km | arrival uphill |
| friday july 7 | rit 7 | Mont-de-Marsan – Bordeaux | 170 km | shallow |
| Saturday July 8 | rit 8 | Libourne – Limoges | 201 km | shallow |
| Sunday 9 July | rit 9 | Saint-Leonard-de-Noblat – Puy de Dome | 184 km | arrival uphill |
| Monday 10 July | rest day | (Clermont-Ferrand) | ||
| tuesday 11 july | rit 10 | Vulcania – Issoire | 167 km | hills |
| wednesday july 12 | rit 11 | Clermont-Ferrand – Windmills | 180 km | shallow |
| thursday 13 july | rit 12 | Roanne – Belleville-en-Beaujolais | 169 km | hills |
| friday 14 july | rit 13 | Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne – Col du Grand Colombier | 138 km | arrival uphill |
| Saturday 15 July | rit 14 | Annemasse-Morzine | 152 km | mountain ride |
| sunday july 16 | rit 15 | Les Gets – Saint Gervais Mont Blanc | 180 km | arrival uphill |
| Monday 17 July | rest day | (Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc) | ||
| tuesday july 18 | rit 16 | Passy-Combloux | 22 km | time trial |
| Wednesday 19 July | rit 17 | Saint Gervais Mont Blanc – Courchevel | 166 km | mountain ride |
| thursday 20 july | rit 18 | Moutiers – Bourg-en-Bresse | 186 km | shallow |
| Friday 21 July | rit 19 | Moirans-en-Montagne – Poligny | 173 km | shallow |
| Saturday 22 July | rit 20 | Belfort – Le Markstein | 133 km | mountain ride |
| Sunday 23 July | rit 21 | Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines – Champs-Elysees | 115 km | shallow |
