The runner from the UAE Emirates team offered himself the first stage of the Grande Boucle, which arrived in Bilbao on Saturday. He takes the first yellow jersey of this 2023 edition.
The 110th edition of the Tour de France set off in one of the most sacred lands of cycling, in the heart of the Spanish Basque Country. On an inaugural stage with a hilly and explosive course, 182 kilometers long, it was the Briton Adam Yates who got the better of his twin brother Simon to seize the first yellow jersey of the Grande Boucle, Saturday July 1st.
By taming the bumpy Bilbao track, the rider from the UAE team won his first victory in the Tour de France and put on the leader’s jersey as in 2020. Behind, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates) came out victorious in the sprint for third place, just ahead of Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ), best Frenchman at the finish. The leader of Groupama-FDJ David Gaudu is also among the top 10, like Victor Lafay (Cofidis), 6th.
Alaphilippe exceeded, first duel between Pogacar and Vingegaard
As expected, a significant skimming took place in the last 40 kilometers, with three major difficulties and especially the Pike coast (2 km at 10%, with the last 500 meters at 15.6%). In this climb as steep as expected, the teammates of Tadej Pogacar gave a big boost which eliminated many punchers in the race for stage victory, including Julian Alaphilippe, yet among the favorites at the start.
If this appetizer was reminiscent of that of 2021, when the Grande Boucle had given its starting signal between Brest and Landerneau, then won by the double French world champion, the Basque roads were not as favorable to the 31-year-old runner.
It didn’t take long to witness the first act of the great battle between the last two winners of the Tour de France, Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar. The two headliners of the Grande Boucle tested themselves in the Pike coast, attacking 10 kilometers from the finish. The Slovenian from the UAE team showed the best legs, winning in the sprint for third place, when the Dane settled for 9th place.
The double winner of the Tour in 2020 and 2021 took the first white jersey, awarded to the best young person in the Grand Boucle. The other coveted jersey, that of the best climber, went to the American Neilson Powless (EF-EasyPost), who took five points atop the Vivero Hill.
First retirement of an outsider
Victim of a fall with Richard Carapaz (EF-Easy Post) in the descent of the Vivero hill, Enric Mas (Movistar), outsider for the final podium, was forced to retire, visibly hit in the collarbone. Second in the last Vuelta, the Spaniard will not be among the list of riders entered in the second stage, which takes place on Sunday between Vitoria and San Sebastián.
For his part, the third of the Tour de France 2021 and another outsider of the Tour, Richard Carapaz, finished the race grimacing. The latter lost 15 minutes and 24 seconds and is already out of the race for the general classification.