Tour de France 2023: Stage-by-stage guide

Jonas Vingegaard (middle) won the 2022 Tour de France from Tadej Pogacar (left) and Geraint Thomas (right)

The 110th variation of the Tour de France gets nether mode successful Bilbao, Spain connected Saturday, 1 July and finishes successful Paris connected Sunday, 24 July.

BBC Sport looks astatine each signifier of the gruelling three-week event, analysing wherever it could beryllium won and lost.

This leafage volition beryllium updated passim the Tour with the victor and a little study pursuing each stage.

Saturday, 1 July - signifier one: Bilbao - Bilbao, 182km

Bilbao is 1 of 12 caller locations to big stages of the Tour this year

A tough, hilly time skirting astir Bilbao gets this year's Tour nether way. The 182km route, which starts astatine the oculus catching Guggenheim Museum, includes implicit 3,000 metres of vertical summation connected a loop retired to the Bay of Biscay coastline.

The spiky Pike Bidea climb, 10km from the city-centre finish, is 1 of 5 categorised climbs connected a signifier that is apt to favour the puncheurs - riders who bask abbreviated but steep climbs.

Riders to watch: Wout van Aert, Julian Alaphilippe, Tom Pidcock, Tadej Pogacar

Sunday, 2 July - signifier two: Vitoria-Gasteiz to San Sebastian, 208.9km

San Sebastian hosted the Grand Depart of the Tour de France successful 1992 with a prologue won by Miguel Indurain

The longest signifier of the Tour arrives connected the 2nd time on with 5 much categorised climbs.

The Jaizkibel climb, celebrated from the San Sebastian Classic, is conscionable nether 20km from the extremity and is apt to person a bearing connected the result and perchance the aboriginal contention lead.

Riders to watch: Wout van Aert, Biniam Girmay

Monday, 3 July - signifier three: Amorebieta-Etxano - Bayonne, 187.4km

France's shot manager Didier Deschamps hails from Bayonne

The Tour heads into France connected a time erstwhile the sprint trains are expected to assemble for the archetypal conflict betwixt the Tour's accelerated men.

The aboriginal climbs are improbable to spot immoderate accent connected the peloton but the last gradient - the Cote de Saint-Pee-sur-Nivelle - could springiness the likes of Biniam Girmay, Mads Pedersen and Alexander Kristoff plentifulness of encouragement if the tempo upsets the axenic sprinters earlier the roadworthy heads downhill towards the finish.

Riders to watch: Biniam Girmay, Mads Pedersen

Tuesday, 4 July - signifier four: Dax - Nogaro, 181.8km

Dax hosted the Tour six times betwixt 1951-2006

For a 2nd time connected the trot the sprinters volition person thing to get excited about.

A comparatively level way appears to warrant a high-speed decorativeness with the last 3 kilometres of the signifier taking spot connected the Nogaro centrifugal racing circuit, besides known arsenic the Circuit Paul Armagnac.

An 800m consecutive tally to the enactment should spot riders jostle for presumption and sparks alert - could this beryllium the time for Mark Cavendish to interruption Eddy Merckx's grounds for astir signifier wins?

Riders to watch: Jasper Philipsen, Fabio Jakobsen, Mark Cavendish, Dylan Groenewegen

Wednesday, 5 July - signifier five: Pau - Laruns, 162.7km

Tadej Pogacar won his archetypal signifier astatine the Tour connected a akin tally from Pau to Laruns successful 2020

A travel into the Pyrenees comes aboriginal successful this year's Tour arsenic Pau, a municipality successful the foothills of the upland scope straddling the borderline of France and Spain, erstwhile again plays big to La Grande Boucle.

The archetypal hors categorie climb, the vigor sapping Col de Soudet, which is simply a 15.2km ascent astatine an mean gradient of 7.2%, comes into presumption midway done the tally to Laruns earlier the peloton hits the Col de Marie-Blanque, which ramps up to astir 14% successful places.

While this signifier volition spell down arsenic a breakaway accidental determination volition astir surely beryllium immoderate aboriginal indicators towards the wide classification battle.

Riders to watch: Matej Mohoric, Dylan Teuns, Magnus Cort

Thursday, 6 July - signifier six: Tarbes - Cauterets, 144.9km

The Tour has antecedently lone stopped erstwhile astatine the Cambasque plateau, successful 1989, erstwhile Miguel Indurain won the stage

The wide classification conflict volition astir surely travel into absorption connected the archetypal acme decorativeness successful this year's race.

The Col d'Aspin is followed by the iconic Col du Tourmalet, which takes riders 2,115m supra oversea level, and portion determination volition beryllium immoderate respite connected the agelong descent to follow, the last ascent into Cauterets could spot the contention illuminated by attacks successful the past 4 kilometres erstwhile the double-digit gradients footwear in.

Riders to watch: Tadej Pogacar, Tom Pidcock, Giulio Ciccone, Julian Alaphilippe, Wout van Aert

Friday, 7 July - signifier seven: Mont-de-Marsan - Bordeaux, 169.9km

Bordeaux has hosted the Tour 81 times, the astir of immoderate determination successful France aft Paris

The Tour heads backmost to Bordeaux for the archetypal clip since 2010, with a sprint decorativeness apt to beryllium connected the menu. The past victor successful the hub of the famed wine-growing portion was nary different than a definite Mark Cavendish.

Could helium repetition the feat immoderate 13 years on? And if helium hasn't already, assertion the outright grounds for signifier victories successful cycling's top race?

Riders to watch: Jasper Philipsen, Fabio Jakobsen, Mark Cavendish, Wout van Aert,

Saturday, 8 July - signifier eight: Libourne - Limoges, 200.7km

Limoges has hosted 13 Tour finishes

This transitional signifier is lone the 2nd successful this year's contention with a region successful excess of 200km.

While the parcours is comparatively level aboriginal on, the rolling terrain successful the concluding 50km could marque for an intriguing finale particularly if those much astatine location successful the one-day outpouring classics spell each successful for victory.

Riders to watch: Mathieu van der Poel, Dylan Van Baarle, Julian Alaphilippe, Wout van Aert

Sunday, 9 July - signifier nine: Saint-Leonard-de-Noblat - Puy de Dome, 182.4km

The last kilometres of this signifier are apt to beryllium closed to the nationalist and squad cars

The Puy de Dome returns to the contention for the archetypal clip since 1988, earlier the riders are granted a remainder day.

The ascent up the dormant volcano has delivered immoderate bonzer stories implicit the years including an epic duel betwixt Raymond Poulidor and five-time victor Jacques Anquetil successful 1964. It was besides the country of Eddy Merckx being punched by a instrumentality arsenic his hopes of a historical sixth Tour triumph deteriorated successful 1975.

With the last sections of the 13.3km ascent punching up from astir 7% to much than 12% gradients, a rima watering conflict betwixt two-time victor Tadej Pogacar and the rider who dethroned him past year, Jonas Vingegaard, is eagerly anticipated.

Riders to watch: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard

Tuesday, 11 July - signifier 10: Vulcania - Issoire, 162.7km

The lone erstwhile Tour de France decorativeness successful Issoire was successful 1983

Arriving instantly aft the archetypal remainder day, a signifier containing 5 categorised climbs looks cleanable for those looking to get successful the aboriginal breakaway.

With sprinters improbable to thrive connected the lumpy terrain and the wide classification riders having small to gain, the downhill decorativeness to Issoire should besides perchance favour immoderate escapees.

Riders to watch: Magnus Cort, Omar Fraile, Fred Wright

Wednesday, 12 July - signifier 11: Clermont-Ferrand - Moulins, 179.8km

Soudal Quick-Step rider Remi Cavanga hails from Clermont-Ferrand

After a fewer pugnacious days successful the saddle this should beryllium different signifier for the sprinters who are improbable to beryllium troubled by 3 humble categorised climbs arsenic the Tour heads to Moulins - successful the bosom of France - for the archetypal time.

Riders to watch: Fabio Jakobsen, Dylan Groenewegen, Jasper Philipsen, Mark Cavendish

Thursday, 13 July - signifier 12: Roanne - Belleville-en-Beaujolais, 168.8km

Belleville-en-Beaujolais hosts the decorativeness of a Tour de France signifier for the archetypal time

While Roanne is renowned for its bonzer fig of Michelin starred chefs, inspired chiefly by the Troisgros family, and the wider Beaujolais portion attracts vino lovers, signifier 12 is improbable to service up a mouth-watering wide classification battle.

Instead this should beryllium different time erstwhile the baroudeurs - breakaway specialists - excel connected the rolling hills betwixt the Loire and the Rhone. The predominantly downhill last fewer kilometres should let a tiny radical of riders to clasp disconnected immoderate precocious attempts by the peloton to reel them in.

Riders to watch: Neilson Powless, Mattias Skjelmose, Michal Kwiatkowski, Fred Wright

Friday, 14 July - signifier 13: Chatillon-Sur-Chalaronne - Grand Colombier, 137.8km

Thibaut Pinot was the past French rider to triumph connected Bastille time successful 2019

A short, brutal signifier awaits connected Bastille Day arsenic the contention enters the Jura mountains for a acme decorativeness connected the fearsome Grand Colombier.

Former champion Egan Bernal cracked present successful 2020 arsenic Tadej Pogacar claimed triumph connected the mode to the archetypal of his 2 Tour triumphs.

While a showdown betwixt the Slovenian and defending champion Jonas Vingegaard is to beryllium expected, Thibaut Pinot, successful his last play arsenic a professional, and respective different French riders volition purpose to delight location crowds connected their nationalist holiday.

Riders to watch: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, David Gaudu, Richard Carapaz, Thibaut Pinot

Saturday, 15 July - signifier 14: Annemasse - Morzine Les Portes du Soleil, 137.8km

The past signifier into Morzine successful 2016 was won by Ion Izagirre

Three class 1 climbs up the Col de Cou, Col du Feu and Col de Ramaz diagnostic connected a hearty upland signifier during which the peloton is improbable to walk excessively overmuch clip enjoying the views of Lake Geneva astatine the commencement of the stage, with astir 4,200m of climbing ahead.

The Col de Joux Plane could spot further fireworks successful the contention for the yellowish jersey, albeit the precocious velocity and method descent to the decorativeness successful Morzine whitethorn besides play a important role.

Riders to watch: Tom Pidcock, Simon Yates, Matej Mohoric, Giulio Ciccone

Sunday, 16 July - signifier 15: Les Gets les Portes du Soleil - Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc, 179km

Christopher Froome won the 2015 Criterium du Dauphine successful Saint-Gervais and went connected to triumph the Tour successful July

The Tour returns to the skis edifice successful the shadiness of Mont Blanc 7 years aft its past visit, with much play anticipated successful the Alps.

Two class 1 climbs and 2 much insignificant ones are the prelude to an unforgiving ascent to the enactment wherever Romain Bardet won successful 2016 to determination 2nd connected the wide classification down Chris Froome.

Riders to watch: Jonas Vingegaard, Tadej Pogacar, Romain Bardet

Tuesday, 18 July - signifier 16: Passy - Combloux, 22.4km

Combloux is known for being a stronghold for upland biking

The lone idiosyncratic clip proceedings of the Tour is hardly 1 for the purists successful that discipline.

With the steep Cote de Domancy taking the way uphill towards the decorativeness line, the people appears to favour the climbers and all-rounders who cognize however to propulsion a large cogwheel connected the flatter sections successful the valley.

Riders to watch: Wout van Aert, Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Daniel Martinez, Mikkel Bjerg

Wednesday, 19 July - signifier 17: Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc - Courchevel,165.7km

Richard Virenque, Marco Pantani and Alejandro Valverde are each erstwhile winners successful Courchevel

The contention takes successful much than 5,400m of climbing and hits its precocious constituent astatine an altitude of 2,304m connected the Col de Loze.

The gruelling Alpine climb, with ramps of much than 20% connected its astir punishing section, has lone featured erstwhile antecedently successful the Tour erstwhile Miguel Angel Lopez enactment 15 seconds into Primoz Roglic and 30 into Tadej Pogacar successful 2020.

From determination a constrictive way takes the riders towards the altiport astatine Courchevel, with the decorativeness an 18% ramp, bearing a striking resemblance to the crawl to the enactment astatine Peyragudes connected signifier 17 past year.

Riders to watch: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Alexey Lutsenko, Ben O'Connor, Michael Woods

Thursday, 20 July - signifier 18: Moutiers - Bourg-en-Bresse,184.9km

This volition beryllium the Tour's sixth sojourn to Bourg-en-Bresse, the location of French triple Olympic way cycling champion Daniel Morelon

After seemingly being faced with an endless succession of mountains, the sprinters remaining successful the contention volition oculus this signifier arsenic 1 to showcase their talents.

Riders to watch: Fabio Jakobsen, Dylan Groenewegen, Jasper Philipsen, Mark Cavendish

Friday, 20 July - signifier 19: Moirans-en-Montagne - Poligny, 172.8km

Soren Kragh Andersen won the adjacent signifier into Champagnole successful 2020

The peloton sweeps crossed the Jura Mountains without tackling immoderate large climbs.

And with the last consecutive measuring much than 8 kilometres successful length, the accelerated men volition beryllium fixed a hefty pb retired unless a breakaway has taken vantage of immoderate bushed legs successful the peloton.

Riders to watch: Matej Mohoric, Kasper Asgreen, Stefan Kung, Fabio Jakobsen, Dylan Groenewegen, Mark Cavendish

Saturday, 21 July - signifier 20: Belfort - Le Markstein Fellering 133.5km

The decorativeness connected signifier 20 borrows from the Le Tour Femmes finale successful 2022

A abbreviated but demanding upland signifier which crams six categorised climbs into astir 100km arsenic the contention dashes crossed the Vosges to the Le Markstein skis station.

This represents a past accidental for those with yellowish jersey ambitions and portion nary of the climbs would beryllium classified arsenic the astir challenging successful the race, the speedy succession of ascents and descents could marque for an intriguing finale.

Riders to watch: Egan Bernal, Richard Carapaz, Thibaut Pinot, Wout van Aert

Sunday, 22 July - signifier 21: Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines - Paris Champs-Elysees, 115.1km

The Tour de France volition not reason successful Paris successful 2024 owed to the Olympics

The Tour ends with its accepted processional last stage.

Expect to spot the wide victor and his team-mates sip champagne and thrust successful leisurely manner towards Paris, earlier 8 frenetic laps connected the Champs-Elysees circuit - which should spot Mark Cavendish allowed immoderate clip disconnected the beforehand of the peloton to people his achievements successful his past Tour de France (should helium marque it to the end) - earlier a chaotic sprint decorativeness connected the cobbles.

Riders to watch: Fabio Jakobsen, Dylan Groenewegen, Jasper Philipsen, Mark Cavendish, Wout van Aert