Launched on dantesque bases, the Tour de France 2023 begins its third and final week on Tuesday. This 110th edition proves to be unique in the recent history of the event by its suspense that is significant on all fronts. A rarity in view of the latest editions, crushed for the most part by an armada and an untouchable champion. As well for the yellow jersey as for the polka dot jersey, the podium, or the top 10, the game promises to be tight, the outcome uncertain. Presentation of the challenges of this third week.
Yellow jersey: Pogacar and Vingegaard in a handkerchief
The proponents of the last three editions engulf the spotlight and the favors of filmmaking. At the same time, there are them and the others when the road rises. Even when the scenario does not invite them to fight, the two inseparable have pointed the tip of their noses, not hesitating to animate the beginning of certain stages, even if it means putting a large part of the peloton to torture. If Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates) and Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) never leave each other (ten seconds between the two men, the smallest gap between the first two since 2007), the individual time trial in Combloux will force the two leaders to reveal themselves.
Pogacar: “This climb was too easy for Vingegaard”
On a demanding course where the difficult Domancy coast will be enthroned (2.5 km at 9.4%), “Pogi” and “Vingo” should flirt with the same chronometric references, except in the event of failure of one of the two, a outcome not so improbable the day after the rest day. In the event that the clock does not propel one of the two phenomena into a comfortable leader, the battle should continue – or even conclude – on the vertiginous slopes of Loze on Wednesday.
Polka dot jersey: Ciccone versus Pogacar-Vingegaard
Giulio Ciccone (Lidl – Trek) may struggle on each peak, working on the sprint of each summit placed on his way, the Italian climber is a fragile leader in the mountain classification (58 pts). If Neilson Powless (58 points, EF Education-EasyPost) seems to be paying off for his efforts at the start of the Tour and is sucked into declining form, the danger will come mainly from Jonas Vingegaard (54 points) and Tadej Pogacar (48 points).
Fritsch: “The trend is very slightly favorable to Vingegaard”
With still 113 points to distribute in the third week, the classification remains open, and an upheaval of the hierarchy in favor of the big shots of the general classification is to be feared. The 40 points offered at the top of the Loze on Wednesday should not escape one of the two extraterrestrials, who, as in the last three editions, are on track to win a tunic that they never really aimed to bring back to Paris. If he wants to hope to keep his property, Ciccone will have to multiply the breakaways, and aim for a clear round in the Markstein stage on Saturday.
Podium: Rodriguez asserts himself, Hindley declines
Long favorite to occupy the last folding seat on the podium, Jai Hindley (BORA – hansgrohe) had two difficult last days in the Alps. Like Simon Yates (Jayco AlUla), the winner of the Giro last year has demoted in a changing hierarchy, where Carlos Rodriguez (INEOS Grenadiers) has carved out a place of choice. Winner in Morzine, the Spaniard finished less than 40 seconds behind the Pogacar-Vingegaard duo in Saint-Gervais.
Pogacar and Vingegaard masters of suspense, Poels king of adventurers: the film of the 15th stage
Prepared for a three-week effort, Hindley (5th, + 6’38”) is not ruled out. He is only 1’17” behind the Andalusian. Above all, Rodriguez (3rd, + 5’21”) has already experienced a similar situation in the Vuelta 2022, the last week of which he tackled in the top 5, not far from the podium, before cracking in the great widths the day before the finish (7th overall). The favorite may finally be elsewhere. Reduced to a role of last ramp for Pogacar, Adam Yates (4th , +5’40”, UAE Emirates) is gaining momentum and is only 19 seconds behind Rodriguez.
Top 10: the French against Gall and Pidcock
Ejected for a long time from the fierce fight for the podium, David Gaudu will not have the time to relax in the last third of the Grande Boucle. The Breton from Groupama-FDJ does not want to deviate from his line of conduct: the general as a priority. Gaudu would not shun a stage victory, but the Breton is followed like his shadow by Pello Bilbao (Bahrain – Victorious), who fears for his 7th place.
David Gaudu tried … but no exit voucher for him or for Bilbao
Often in difficulty at the start of the stage, the Frenchman (9th, + 14’07”) managed to limit the damage on the climb to Saint-Gervais. It will take more to avoid the returns of Felix Gall (11th, + 14’39 ”) and Thomas Pidcock (12th, + 16’53 ”), but Gaudu is used to the rise in power in the third week. Back in the top 10 thanks to the breakaways (10th, + 14’18”), Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) will find it difficult to regain ground. Unless he takes a splinter on the clock.