Hipódromo de la Zarzuela > Madrid. Paisaje de la Luz 101km The race hits Madrid for the final stage, a ceremonial bore of a day. Jumbo-Visma will get the Cava out, and then the sprinters will have one last chance of taking a win. Last year, Molano won this stage, despite trying to lead out Ackermann. Will he manage to double up? Weather Another day with a risk of rain throughout. Fingers crossed it stays dry; nobody wants a wet race in Madrid. Lap Circuit Wide roads, big 180s and a couple of fast turns. The final 180 comes at...

Manzanares El Real > Guadarrama 207km The penultimate stage of the race is a beauty, it’s such a shame the GC is already all over. You’ll hear this day described as a nod to Liège-Bastogne-Liège, thanks to a day full of short climbs. There isn’t anything harder than a cat 3 but the riders still have to tackle 4416m of climbing (the most in the whole race), it’s a brutal day in the saddle. Weather Cloudy with a small chance of rain. Key Points This section of road is done twice, it contains three cat 3 climbs, 8.4km at 4.1%,...

La Bañeza > Íscar 177km After a week full of excitement and many talking points, things can calm down as the riders approach a straightforward stage. If this was the Tour or Giro, I would expect the break to take this stage, but I’m not so sure in the Vuelta.  Weather There’s a chance of rain throughout the afternoon. The wind won’t be strong, which is slightly disappointing as most of the day is spent in wide open plains. Finale Just as easy as the stage. The final turn comes with 2.3km to go, that’s about it really. One more...

Pola de Allande > La Cruz de Linares 179km Just when I think I’ve seen everything professional cycling can throw at me, along comes a stage like today. Surely, I’ve seen it all now. Anyway, the race rolls on, and it’s time for another huge day in the mountains, this stage has 4156m of climbing for the riders to deal with.  Weather Beautiful sunshine, a belter of a day. Key Points The climbing properly starts after 33km of racing, the break is likely to form at some point during the section above. Puerto de San Lorenzo comes next, it’s a...

Ribadesella > Ribeseya-Altu de L’Angliru 124km I don’t often talk about what happened after the event, but I’ll make an exception today. The UAE tactics on the final climb are up there in terms of the worst ever in cycling, what the fuck were there playing at? Vingegaard goes, and they have Soler, Almeida, Fisher-Black and Ayuso in the group. A reminder that Vingegaard starting the day in 3rd place, just one ahead of Ayuso. The obvious tactic was for Fisher-Black to start pacing the group, followed by Almeida, which could have brought him back and allowed Ayuso to attack and...

Liencres Playa > Bejes 120km The final week begins with a hilltop finish, but with the current GC position, will we see another day for the breakaway? The final climb isn’t the hardest in the world, there won’t be big gaps on GC, but will a team like UAE control the break and go for the stage win? Just 120km in length, and if the break takes 40km before it goes, teams won’t have to use up too much energy to chase. Weather Cloudy, with a threat of rain throughout the whole stage. The Climb The race ends with a...

Montréal > Montréal 225km One of the hardest races on the calendar. We have 4843m of climbing over 225km, I can’t wait for the worlds here in 3 years. Last year, it was Pogačar beating Van Aert and co in a small sprint, and UAE arrive with a team to try and retain the title. Can anyone stop them? Weather Heavy rain is expected early in the day, but it should have cleared by the time the race starts. Just like on Friday, there’s a serious threat of rain throughout the whole day. The Circuit There are four climbs in...

Pamplona > Lekunberri 158km It’s the day before the second rest day and the race heads to the Basque Country, but this stage isn’t what most would have had in mind considering what we usually get in this part of the world. No wall climbs, but it does look too hard for the sprinters, which should mean another good day for the breakaway riders. If Wout Van Aert or Mads Pedersen were here, their teams would want to control for a sprint, but most of the quick men here will struggle to get over the final climb in the peloton,...

Sauveterre-de-Béarn > Larra-Belagua 156km Well, well, well, that was incredible. What Jumbo-Visma have done in the last few years is nothing short of remarkable, they deserve all the plaudits coming their way. They now sit 1-2-3 on GC, and it looks impossible to do anything about this, they are set to win all three grand tours and do something that was once thought impossible. In terms of the race, their dominance is great news for breakaway riders, which brings us nicely to this preview. Weather Another hot day with very little wind. The Climbs First up, after 47km of racing,...

Québec > Québec 204km One of my favourite races of the year, I promise it’s got nothing to do with it being a Friday night and I’ll be watching with a bottle of wine. 16 laps of the circuit in Québec, one that has enough about it for the attackers to put pressure on the sprinters. 2965m of climbing in 204km isn’t the hardest race in the world, that’s why a sprint is the most likely scenario, but the position of the climbs gives the puncheurs hope. Weather Looks like heavy rain this morning, but there’s a good chance it’s...

Formigal. Huesca la Magia > Col du Tourmalet 135km Without a shadow of doubt, this is the day where the red jersey will be won or lost. 135km and 4164m of climbing, it’s one of the hardest stages in the whole of 2023. With the GC finely balanced, and with three riders each from Jumbo-Visma and UAE in the top 10, things could get crazy. Weather Sunny and warm, even near the top of the mountains. There’s hardly any wind. Key Points Wake up legs, this is the start of the day. A long descent of 28km follows, where many...

Ólvega > Zaragoza 151km The only sprint in the second week, and potentially the last one until Madrid. Just two sprinters have won a stage in the race, that leaves a lot of fast men with one thing on their mind. Groves didn’t win last time round, he’s beatable, which will give many teams the hope they need to join the chase.  Weather Roasting hot, temperatures will nudge over 30 degrees. The wind is about 15km/h and will be headwind for most of the stage. There is a short crosswind section with 80km to go, but the wind would need...

Lerma > La Laguna Negra.Vinuesa 163km A very typical Vuelta stage, pan flat with a climb at the end. This is one of the easiest stages to control, but does anyone want to? After today’s TT, Kuss remains in red, and Remco is still surrounded by a gang of Jumbo-Visma and UAE riders. Do Jumbo want to chase for Roglič? QuickStep for Remco? UAE for Ayuso? Roglič is the favourite to win the stage, but it’s not a foregone conclusion he would beat Remco in a sprint, he’s already lost one to him. Weather A sunny day, it’s going to...

Valladolid > Valladolid 25.8km ITT A big day in the battle for the red jersey. 26km of time trail awaits the riders, this is a day where Remco Evenepoel will look to put big time into his rivals. Just one climb, 620m at 6.3%, it’s a day for the specialists. The opening 8km contains several corners, but these will be taken at speed as we’re in downtown Valladolid. After this, it’s long straights for the rest of the effort. 26km is long enough for gaps, but the climbers will hope to limit the damage. Weather Sunny and wind of around...

Cartagena > Caravaca de la Cruz 185km Another stage that looks great for the breakaway. The final climb isn’t hard enough for the GC riders to make significant gains, so there’s no real point in wasting the energy of domestiques. The breakaway riders will know this, the fight to make the move will likely go on for quite a while. Weather A bit rainy in the morning, but it should clear by the time the race starts. Finale One of the most irregular climbs I’ve seen for a long time. One second, it’s up at 10%, then it’s going downhill,...

Plouay > Plouay 258km The peloton head to north-west France for the 87th edition of GP Plouay. Just like previous years, the organisers have tinkered with the route, it’s totally different to last year, apart from the lap circuit. 258km and 4127m of climbing is a long day in the saddle, this should be a race for the strongmen of the bunch. Compared to last year the race has 700m more climbing. Weather 30 degrees, roasting hot for this part of the world. There’s a bit of wind around but nothing that should cause any problems. Key Points This is the...

Dénia > Xorret de Catí. Costa Blanca Interior 164km It’s stage 8 and the race continues to head south, this time down towards Alicante. FDJ are in the race lead, and they’ll be looking to stay in red for as long as they can. That means it’s very unlikely we’ll see another breakaway the size of the peloton, but it doesn’t mean it’s going to be a GC day. Last time the stage finished here, it was Julian Alaphilippe who took a wonderful win, who’ll be the lucky man this time round? Weather The current forecast is for rain, not...

Utiel > Oliva 201km I still don’t believe what I saw today, but time to shake that off and look ahead to tomorrow. FDJ are now in red, and it looks like another sprint stage, but after two dominant wins for Kaden Groves, is it time for other sprint teams to look for the break? Weather Temperatures will be over 30 degrees; it’s going to be roasting hot. Finale The easiest sprint so far. There’s only a couple of roundabouts in the final 5km, but I have no idea why there’s tight left-hand corner with just over 300m to go....

La Vall d’Uixó > Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre 183km Well then, time for some mountain fun. The race heads back to the scene of one of the unlikeliest grand tour wins in modern history, the day Ángel Madrazo won from a break of three, which featured his teammate Jetse Bol and José Herrada. When the break established, everyone expected someone to chase from behind, but no one did. Madrazo managed to take an incredible win, and the GC group exploded in the closing kilometres, with López the first home. What will happen this year? Weather Sunny and warm. There’s a...

Morella > Burriana 186km Another day where the riders head south, this time towards Valencia, for a bunch sprint. Just one categorised climb in the day, and it’s a very easy cat 2, this should be a sprint. Some will tell you the break has a chance as Groves is too dominant, these people are talking shite. We’ve had one stage, no way do the other sprint teams wave the white flag and admit defeat. Teams like EF, Trek, Lotto and UAE still have a much better chance of winning from the sprint than the break.  Okay, today it was...

Andorra la Vella > Tarragona 185km Over the course of the next 4 stages, there should be 3 sprints. This is the first chance to see which of the fast men are feeling good, and there’s a big opportunity for someone to take their first grand tour win. The sprinting level here isn’t the highest, and with non-existent sprint trains, the finale could be chaotic. By the way, this isn’t an easy finish either.  Weather  Sunshine and temperatures will get close to 30 degrees by the time the riders hit the finish. The wind starts light, but does increase to...

Súria > Arinsal 159km Hopefully, after two days severely impacted by rain, this is a much calmer day. The bunch head north to Andorra and despite it only being the third stage, we have our first mountaintop finish.   Weather  A day without rain! Temperatures will be around 20 degrees on the road up to Andorra but will dip to around 7 degrees at the top of the mountains. The wind will sit between 10 and 20km/h, and it’s a headwind for almost the whole stage.  The Climbs  Coll d’Ordino is the first of the day, it’s a well-known climb which...

Mataró > Barcelona 182km The first proper stage of the race, and what a finish it’s going to be. The stage starts in Mataró, which is just a little bit up the coast from Barcelona, it then heads out into the hills before coming back into Barcelona for a finish in the Montjuïc park area of town. You’ll know it, the final stage of Catalunya uses these roads, but it’s not exactly the same. The Vuelta used this finish back in 2012, here’s a look at that day.  Weather  70-80% chance of rain throughout the day. It doesn’t sound like...

Barcelona > Barcelona 14.9km TTT The race kicks off in beautiful Barcelona with a 14.9km TTT.  This is no normal TTT, I count 18 corners which must be navigated. The good news is that the streets of Barca are very wide, but it will slightly disrupt the flow of the chain gang.   Weather  There’s a risk of rain, not what the doctor ordered. The race doesn’t start until 1900 local time, at that point there’s a 60% chance of showers. Hopefully the forecast isn’t right.  Contenders

Aalter > Geraardsbergen 171km Hello, Muur – Kapelmuur. This year it’s only twice up this iconic climb, last time it was three times up. I think the stage has been made a little easier, but the riders will decide that.  Weather  A day with a threat of rain throughout.  Finale  The circuit contains the Muur – Kapelmuur, Bosberg, Onkerzele Berg and Denderoordstraat, before the finish on the Muur. Despite looking a little easier, it’s still a brilliant stage.  Tactics  Ineos are in the race lead, but Tarling is unlikely to survive this stage, which presents an interesting tactical position. It...

The Vuelta is here, and what a start list we’ve got. Only missing is Pogačar, but the rest of the GC riders are all ready to take the start in Barcelona. This year the race spends most of the three weeks in the north, the riders will be hoping to dodge the scorching heat, we’ll have to wait and see if that happens, today was the hottest day of the year in Spain. Roglič is hoping to win his fourth red jersey, Remco is looking to defend and take his second and then we have Vingegaard, the two-time winner of...

Sluis 13.6km ITT The second stage of the race is a 13.6km ITT. It’s going to have a massive impact on the GC fight, a big ride in this stage will give some riders hope going into Friday’s stage.   Route  One for the specialists. It takes place on narrow, exposed roads, but that’s not a problem in a TT.   Weather  It’s a very humid day, which means a chance of thunderstorms. These are not easy to predict with any certainty, but the forecast I’ve looked at thinks it rains in the morning and early afternoon, before stopping at 1600. The...

Blankenberge > Ardooie 182km The opening stage of the race will be a big sprint. The day ends with five laps of a circuit in Ardooie, a very popular finishing town used many times in recent years. The above graphic doesn’t show the position of the golden kilometre, it comes with 18km to go. Sometimes teams are reluctant to pull the break back before the three sprint points, preferring them to claim all the time and chase them down after. Please note, it’s now called the green kilometre, hopefully it doesn’t have the same consequences as being on the green...

The race with more names than Frank Abagnale Jr. Now rebranded as the Renewi Tour, it’s been cut down to five stages and looks a bit on the easy side for me.  The opening stage finishes in the popular town of Ardooie. With the weather looking good, this is a nailed-on sprint.  The second day and it’s a 13.6km ITT, which will likely determine the winner of the race. It’s disappointing, I don’t think the organisers have designed the route well.  The Muur stage, but it looks different compared to previous years. Two ascents of the Kapelmuur will hopefully cause...

I’ve decided to charge for my Vuelta previews. For £10 you’ll get access to all stage previews. Those who don’t pay will still be able to see the key points section, but everything else will be behind a paywall. I’ve thought long and hard about this, I feel the time is right, hopefully some of you agree.

Hamburg > Hamburg 205km This race was always one for the sprinters who could climb a little bit, that was until last year. Wout Van Aert turned up, romped up the Waseberg, and ripped up the history books. This year, he’s not here, but I wonder if others will look at what happened last year and try something similar. The sprinters will be a little worried, there’s no guarantee they get to fight for the win.  Weather  A lovely day for a bike race. Lots of sun and the temperature will be 25 degrees.  The Climb  The Waseberg is climbed...

Overijse > Overijse 185km The organisers have made some changes to the route this year, the main one being the removal of the Moskesstraat, which is good news for some. The circuit is still a tough one, but with only 2100m of climbing, sprinters will hope to be fighting for the win. It all depends on how the teams race the circuit, there’s plenty of opportunities to split the race up.  Weather  Sunny and warm, temperatures will hit 30 degrees. There’s a bit of wind around, but nothing by Belgian standards.  The Circuit  The circuit has four main climbs:   S-Bend...

Helsingør > Enkeltstart 16.1km ITT The race ends with an ITT, the correct place to put one in a stage race. The battle for the title is between two teammates, Mattias Skjelmose and Mads Pedersen, this is going to be fun!   Route  All about power. There’s hardly any corners and some long straights, it’s a route for the specialists.  Weather  Nice day, it should be similar conditions for all. There’s lovely tailwind going out, but a horrible headwind coming back.  Contenders Søren Wærenskjold – it’s a perfect route for the enormous Norwegian. He’s a TT specialist, a former under 23 world...

Kalundborg > Bagsværd 179km Just a standard sprint stage.   Weather  Grey, but it should hopefully stay dry.  Lap Circuit  Three full laps of this circuit to finish with. Inside the final kilometre there’s two turns, at 800m and 650m to go. Then it’s full gas to the finish, with the road rising at around 2% for the final 200m.  Tactics  This is the only opportunity for a big sprint, the break doesn’t stand a chance. Soudal – Quick Step have the man to beat, but other teams will also want to get involved in chasing the break and earning the...

Vejen > Vejle 209km A massive day in terms of the battle for the overall title. The circuit in Vejle is well known to those who watch this race, it always serves up an exciting battle between the best in the race. Yes, the TT will eventually decide the winner, but this stage will end the hopes of many. The circuit in Vejle is the same as usual, but this year the road in is a little different. I’m looking forward to seeing how Lidl – Trek approach the day, expect some bombs.  Weather  Cloudy sun, temperatures will be around...

Kjellerup > Silkeborg 164km The second stage is one that favours the sprinters more than the opening day. Okay, there’s another lap circuit which features a climb, but this is a day that most sprinters will expect to survive and fight out the win.  Weather  Cloudy sun, temperatures will be around 20 degrees. There’s more wind, but the majority of the route is well protected by trees.  The Climb  This is the hill the riders have to tackle three times in the final 15km of the stage, the final time up crests with just 3km to go. Despite that, as...

Aalborg > Aalborg 170km The opening stage of the Tour of Denmark is one which will test the climbing legs of the sprinters. Two short, steep climbs in the closing lap circuit will make it an interesting finale, and one that is hard to control.  Weather  Sunny and warm, temperatures will hit 25 degrees. There’s a bit of wind around, but it shouldn’t be an issue for the riders.  The Circuit  The lap is done three times, and you can see it includes two climbs. First up is, Skovbakkevej, which is 710m at 6.6% with a maximum of 15.3%. A...

Stirling > Stirling 47.9km ITT After the excitement of the road race, it’s time to focus on the time trial. It’s the longest route since 2019, one that is mainly flat, but with a sting in the tail. The riders start and finish in the city of Stirling, the finish is a beautiful one, the riders go up to the entrance to Stirling Castle. Stirling is a city with a rich history, the battle of Stirling Bridge was a significant moment in the First War of Scottish Independence back in 1297. If you’ve seen the film Braveheart, you’ll know that...

Zabrze > Krakow 166km The race ends in Kraków, a very popular finishing city for the Tour de Pologne. Pascal Ackermann has won here twice; I wonder if he can complete the hattrick.  Weather  Another cloudy day but it should stay dry.  Finale  The stage ends with three and a bit laps of this circuit, which is just over 5km in length. The final corner comes with 1.8km to go, this finish is all to do with timing. Knowing when to hit the front is an art form, but you also need the legs to be able to do it. ...

Katowice 16.6km ITT The big day in terms of the GC, the TT was always going to settle who’ll take the GC crown home. Despite the gaps being relatively small, only a handful of riders can challenge Mohorič.  Route  Quite flat, there’s only 131m of climbing. There are a few corners, but also long straights for the specialists to lay down the power.  Weather  Heavy rain in the morning, which should clear for the afternoon. With the world championships just around the corner, riders will not be advised to take risks if they are riding the ITT in Stirling.  Contenders...

Edinburgh > Glasgow 270km Welcome to Glasgow, you’ll be dizzy by the finish! The world championship road race is here. The day starts out in Edinburgh, then over the new Forth road bridge into Fife, before heading back over the Forth via the Kincardine Bridge, then it’s over to Glasgow, via the north of the city, before 10 laps of a crazy circuit in Glasgow. The race is 270km long and features 3667m of climbing, which means it’s a tough day in the saddle, especially considering the lack of any long climbs.  Glasgow is my city, I was born there,...

Pszczyna > Bielsko Biala 199km Ever since introducing this finish to the race in 2018, the organisers have continued to come back and use it time after time, apart from last year. We’ve had a mixed bag of winners over the years: Kwiatkowski, Mezgec, Carapaz and Arndt. It’s a very grippy finish, but this year the organisers have made the rest of the stage much harder, this is a big chance for some GC riders to make a difference before the time trial. Weather  Another cloudy day with a chance of rain.  Key Points  This is the 2nd cat 1 climb...

Strzelin > Opole 199km After a couple of GC days, things should have settled down a bit, but the weather forecast means the GC riders won’t be able to have an easy day.  Weather  Another day with a threat of rain throughout, but it’s the wind that’s the problem. We’re talking about 20km/h and gusts could hit 40km/h. The wind is coming from the south-west, which means crosswind all day long.  Possible Echelons  This part of the world isn’t as exposed as bits of northern Europe, but there’s still plenty of opportunities for teams to split the race if they...

Walbrzych > Duszniki Zdroj 162km The third stage of the race has a very hard start, perfect for attackers, and a worry for the GC teams. The break rolled off the front in the first two stages, I can’t see that happening again, this should be a good fight in the first hour.  Weather  Cloudy, but it should stay dry.  Key Points  This is the opening 50km, which features several climbs. It starts with some kickers, before hitting the two cat 2 climbs. Will we see any serious attacks from GC riders?  This is the cat 2 climb which crests...

Leszno > Karpacz 203km The second stage of the race is going to have a big impact on the fight for the overall title. It’s an easy day in the saddle, with a muro climb to finish. Just 2281m of climbing over 203km is a piece of cake for the pros, some sprinters would have seen those figures and hoped it was a day for them, but the finish is too long for them to survive.  Weather  Cloudy, there’s a threat of rain throughout most of the afternoon.  Key Points  With 25km to go, things start to get serious with...

Pau > Pau 22.6km ITT The race ends with a relatively flat ITT, just 209m of climbing over 22.6km.  Just about all the climbing comes in two lumps, 1.5km at 6.5% and 350m at 7%. This route would normally favour the TT specialists in the bunch but coming at the end of an eight-day race, and the day after the Tourmalet, some/one of the GC riders will sense a chance of going for the win.  Weather  It looks like rain in the morning and early afternoon, but it should stop for the later starters.  Contenders Demi Vollering – doesn’t have to go...

Poznan > Poznan 184km The opening stage of the race is one for the sprinters, but GC riders will also be looking at the early bonus sprint and thinking about sprinting for some time. Just 13km into the stage should mean a team tries to control the start and then let the break go after.   Weather  There’s a 40% chance of rain in the afternoon.  Finale  The stage ends with just over 1 full lap of this circuit on a racetrack. Hopefully it’s safer than the racetrack used in the Tour de France.  Contenders Olav Kooij – he’s enjoyed another fine...

Donostia/San Sebastian > Donostia/San Sebastian 230km Welcome to the Remco show! Two appearances and two wins for him in this wonderful race, can he complete the hattrick? With the world championship just one week away, this race has a slightly different feel to it, but you can guarantee that those hoping to win the rainbow jersey are at the top of their game. As usual, we have the same questions surrounding those who have just finished the Tour de France, what will they have left in their legs? The organisers have decided to go back to what the race looked...

Lannemezan / Col du Tourmalet 90km The big day is here, it’s time to see who’s going to win the yellow jersey.   Weather  Mid 20s in the valley, around 15 degrees up the mountains. There’s a bit of rain around, but it should stay dry for the race.  The Climbs  First up is Col d’Aspin.   The mighty Tourmalet. Not only do the riders have to deal with the severity of the climb, but there’s the altitude too, as they climb to over 2000m.  Tactics  The whole race has been billed as two horse race, let’s not pretend it’s any different....

It’s the 80th edition of the race and the organisers have decided to mix things up a bit. The route isn’t the hardest, just one proper GC day, a short TT, plus lots of bonus sprints. I think they’re hoping for small gaps, which should encourage attacking racing.   The opening stage is a standard sprint stage, but there’s a bonus sprint after just 13km, which could interest a fast GC rider. Scenario – bunch sprint on a race track.  This is the “big” GC day, but it’s not that big. There’s another bonus sprint early in the day, but all eyes...

Albi > Blagnac 122km With the eagerly anticipated Tourmalet stage on Saturday, there’s one last chance for the sprinters to take a win. The opening 30km is full of little kickers, and with Wiebes no longer in the race, some will hope the break will have a chance, but I don’t think so. This is a wonderful chance for another sprinter to now win a stage, expect a bunch sprint. Weather  Another hot one, temperatures will hit 30 degrees.  Finale  Much more technical than the other sprint finish. There’s a roundabout with 4.6km to go, both sides look the same...

Onet-le-Château > Albi 126km What the hell happened today? To see such a large group allowed a huge gap was bonkers, let’s see if something similar happens in this stage.  Weather  Much hotter than previous days, temperatures will hit 33 degrees.  The Climbs  The first categorised climb, Côte de Najac, starts after 73km of racing. The categorised section is 2.2km at 7.3%, but the graphic shows the nasty unclassified section that comes after, this is 550m at 10%.   Next up is Côte de Laguépie, which is another cat 3 effort. The opening kilometre of the climb averages 10.2%.  This is...

Cahors > Rodez 177km The fourth stage is another opportunity for the GC riders to have a look at each other before the big mountain stage later in the week. The final 40km of the stage features three categorised climbs and a steep ramp up to the finish. Not only that but this is the longest in the race, it’s likely to be the longest stage most of the peloton have ridden before, I’ve struggled to find a longer one. Weather  Sunshine and clouds, temperatures will be around 20 degrees.  The Climbs  Côte de Colombiès kicks off the finale, it’s...

Collonges-la-Rouge > Montignac-Lascaux 147km Another day with a lumpy first half, but will this end up as a day for the sprinters?  Weather  Cloudy sun, temperatures will reach 23 degrees. The wind will be around 20km/h, coming from the north-west.  Key Points  The opening half of the stage is full of short climbs, it’s constantly up and down without rest. The attitude of the bunch will be interesting, a strong break could form if the riders want to race.  There’s a chance of echelons, but the route isn’t as exposed as I would like. The first section heading south is...

Clermont-Ferrand > Mauriac 152km This day has more climbing in it than any other in the race, it might not have a big mountain, but 2675m of climbing over 152km is going to test the legs and should see some gaps on GC.   Weather  Headwind for almost the whole day, and the weather looks a bit dodgy. It’s going to be cloudy, but there’s a real chance of thunderstorms and heavy rain.  Key Points  This is the start; I’m hoping for fireworks. The opening 4km isn’t a classified climb, but it averages 7%, making it much harder than a lot...

Clermont-Ferrand > Clermont-Ferrand 124km The opening stage of the Tour de France Femmes isn’t going to be easy for the sprinters, but most will hope to survive and battle for the first yellow jersey of the race. As usual, all eyes will be on SD Worx, they start the stage with the top 3 riders who can win this stage, if you believe the bookmakers.  Weather  A bit cloudy, but it’s still going to be a warm day.  The Climb  The big moment in the stage. It might only be short, but the climb is steep, 1.6km at 7.6% is...

Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines > Paris 115km Another Tour de France comes to an end, and what a race it’s been. I thought it would be hard to follow up 2022, but the riders have again outdone themselves, I take my hat off to every single one of them. Of course, the winners will get all the headlines, but Adrien Petit deserves a special mention for hauling himself to the finish. He took a hard crash in stage 14, but instead of stepping off his bike, he’s gone to hell and back to get himself to Paris. Congratulations Adrien, you’ve made it.  Weather ...

Belfort > Le Markstein 133km The final proper stage of the race is an absolute beauty, it’s such a shame the battle for the yellow jersey is over. Just 133km in length, it contains 3518m of climbing and barely any flat.   Weather  Another lovely day with temperatures in the mid 20s.  The Climbs  Ballon d’Alsace starts after just 12km of racing, it’s quite a hard cat 2 climb.  Next up is Col de la Croix de Moinats, short and steep.  Then it’s Col de Grosse Pierre, another short and steep climb.  Petit Ballon is the start of the finale of...

After a brilliant first edition in 2022, everything points towards another showdown between van Vleuten and Vollering. ASO have decided to bring in a time trial, which will be well received by many riders, and the route looks a hard one to me. All but one day looks tough, which offers many opportunities for the puncheurs of the bunch and should make for excellent watching for those glued to their TVs.  We’ve got a cat 3 climb (1.7km at 7.5%) cresting with just over 9km to go, and an uphill finish, this will be a challenging day for sprinters who...

Moirans-en-Montagne > Poligny 173km This stage looks like a classic 3rd week breakaway stage to me. The opening 40km is lumpy, which means it’s hard to control and with most teams looking to go for the break, it should be too hard for sprint teams to stop a strong break from forming. All the sprint teams know that they’ll get another chance on Sunday, there’s really no need to chase this move, but it depends on which teams miss it.  Weather  Another nice day but temperatures will be lower than earlier in the week, which will be welcomed by most of...

Moûtiers > Bourg-en-Bresse 185km Hands up who still wants a sprint? Soudal – Quick Step, Lotto, Bahrain, and Astana are now without their sprinter, so that’s four teams who won’t be chasing, Alpecin already have an outrageous four stages, they don’t need to get involved until the end, so the responsibility will be on Jayco, DSM, Lidl – Trek and a few others. I would say there’s still just about enough interest to make it a bunch sprint, but it all depends on break management.  Weather  Sunny, temperatures will climb towards 30 degrees.  Finale  Without doubt, the nicest sprint finish...

Saint-Gervais > Courchevel 166km I bet you can’t believe the gap between the first and second is now 1:48, Jonas Vingegaard produced one of the best TT performances I’ve ever seen in my life, but I don’t think you can say the race is over. Pogačar managed to respond after losing over 1 minute on Marie Blanque, he cannot be written off, but today was a big psychological blow. Anyway, we’ve got the Queen stage of the race, get ready for some bombs. Weather Sunny, but there’s a real risk of thunderstorms, which isn’t great considering the amount of tricky...

Passy > Combloux 22.3km ITT A relatively short TT for the Tour de France, the only one in the whole race, but it’s still going to be a very hard effort for all the riders. 22km in length, with 647m of climbing, this is far too hard for the big TT specialists, it’s another stage for the GC riders, and Wout. Sunday’s stage has left us wanting more, Vingegaard and Pogačar are still only separated by 10 seconds, in what is becoming the closest Tour de France in many years.  Weather  Sunny, hot, and a risk of showers throughout the...

Les Gets > Saint-Gervais 179km The third consecutive mountain stage, and after what happened today, who’s got anything left? As usual, they’ll be a big fight for the break, there’s a good chance those in the move will fight for the stage win. Some of the big breakaway riders went very deep today, those who were saving energy will have an advantage in this stage.  Weather Another hot one, temperatures will peak at 28 degrees. Key Climbs  This is the climb the riders face right from the gun. If you want to make the break, you’ll need a good position...

Annemasse > Morzine 152km Welcome to ambush country. For me, this is the most important stage of the Tour de France, what happens in this stage will have a lasting impact on the fight for the yellow jersey. We’ve got an uphill start and then two cat 1 climbs in the first 50km of racing, this is a nervous day for most of the GC riders.  Weather  Sunny and warm, temperatures will peak at 32 degrees.  Key Points  What a brilliant opening 53km. Uphill from the gun, then it’s Col de Saxel (4.2km at 4.6%), Col de Cou (7km at...

Châtillon-Sur-Chalaronne > Grand Colombier 138km It’s feels like an age since we had a GC day, get ready for three of them. The race returns to the Grand Colombier, the last time it visited, Pogačar took the win from Roglič in 2020. Oh yeah, it’s also Bastille Day!  Weather  Sunny and pleasant, temperatures will peak around 26 degrees.  The Climb  It’s a long climb, and a tough one. Pinot won here in the Tour de l’Ain in 2019 and Tobias Johannessen was first across the line in the 2021 edition of Tour de l’Avenir. It’s a well-known climb, most of...

Roanne > Belleville-en-Beaujolais 169km Time for another bonkers breakaway stage. Tuesday’s stage was crazy, will this day follow a similar path?  Weather  Another sunny day with temperatures between 20-25 degrees.  Start  The opening 40km of the stage includes three climbs: 3.9km at 3.4%, 4.2km at 5.6% (Cat 3) and 4km at 5.3% (Cat 3). I’m not sure it’s hard enough for the utter chaos that ensued on Tuesday, but you just never know.  Finale  The final 50km is tough, very tough. First up is Col de la Croix Montmain, which is 5.6km at 6.1% (Cat 2) and this is quickly...

Clermont-Ferrand > Moulins 180km This is the only sprint stage in the second week, I don’t think the break stands a chance.  Weather  Cloudy, but it should be dry. There’s a cross/tailwind for the final 65km, but the strength of the wind will only be 15km/h. Will anyone try to cause some chaos? Finale  The first roundabout comes with 4.5km to go, both sides look fine to me. The next roundabout is with 3.2km to go, the left side looks marginally faster. Once through this point, the road widens for the first time in about 60km, this is when teams...

Vulcania > Issoire 167km It’s a classic Tour de France breakaway stage. The break should take some time to form, once it does, it will go all the way to the end. With 3151m of climbing, it should be a day for the classics riders in the bunch. Weather  Very hot and there’s a chance of a storm around 1600.  Key Points  The stage starts with a cat 3 climb, 6.8km at 4%, perfect for a furious start from the likes of Van Aert and van der Poel. After that’s been dealt with, there’s not long before the next cat...

Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat > Puy de Dôme 182km So far, we’ve had Pogačar on the deck after taking an uppercut from Vingegaard, then Vingegaard hit the deck after Pogačar connected with a big right. The Tour de France is starting to resemble Rocky, with Jonas playing the part of Apollo Creed and Tadej as Rocky Balboa, but which of the two fighters will be left standing after Puy de Dôme?  Weather  Sunny and hot. Temperatures will hit 30 degrees. The wind will be around 10-15km/h and will be a tailwind for most of the stage, but it’s going to be headwind on...

Libourne > Limoges 201km The Tour de France returns to Limoges for the first time since 2016. That day, Marcel Kittel won a grind of an uphill sprint, beating Bryan Coquard by a bawhair. This finish isn’t the same, but it’s also uphill, one for the strong sprinters.  Weather Another warm day with temperatures up at 32 degrees. There’s a 30% chance of rain in the final couple of hours. Finale The final 75km features lots of little kickers, including two cat 4 climbs which crest with 16km and 9.5km to go. It’s a lumpy finish, if a team decides...

Mont-de-Marsan > Bordeaux 170km After two days of carnage, everyone gets the chance to have a little rest as it should be a relatively straightforward sprint stage. There’s a bit of wind around, which means it won’t be without stress, but this should end in another big sprint. Weather Very warm, temperatures will hit 36 degrees. The wind will come from the south-east and will be under 20km/h. There could be gusts up to 30kmh, which would get the GC teams interested in echelons, but the potential sections are not long enough to cause carnage.  Finale This finish has a...

Tarbes > Cauterets-Cambasque 145km Well then, I didn’t see that coming. UAE allowed a huge break to get away, which was bound to include a threat on GC, that rider was Jai Hindley. That forced UAE into chasing all day, burning through their domestiques. On the steep section of the final climb, Jumbo-Visma came to the front and lifted the pace. Once Kuss had blown everyone apart from Pogačar away, Vingegaard hit the turbo button and immediately opened a big gap, and that was that. It’s back to the drawing board for all teams apart from Jumbo-Visma and Bora, we’ll...

Pau > Laruns 163km The fifth stage marks the start of the battle for yellow. We have a day with two big climbs, Col de Soudet and Col de Marie Blanque, before descending to Laruns for the finish, which is where Marc Hirschi had his heart broken by Tadej Pogačar back in 2020. The distance between the top of the final climb and the finish means we might not get a winner from the GC group, but as it’s the first mountain stage, the GC teams could well be keen on making a point. Weather Cloudy, 23 degrees.  The Climbs...

Dax > Nogaro 182km The fourth stage is another opportunity for the sprinters. It’s a day with just one categorised climb and only 1659m of climbing, perfect for the big lads of the bunch. Don’t expect much to happen, I doubt anyone will be keen on going in the breakaway. Weather Things are getting a warmer, temperatures will be up to 27 degrees. Finale The finale takes place on a motor racing circuit, hence all the sweeping bends. The bunch enter the circuit with 2.3km to go, then it’s all about trying to keep a good position, that won’t be...

Amorebieta-Etxano > Bayonne 193km The first of the big sprint opportunities. This is usually a nervous day in the bunch, but as we already have gaps on GC, I hope we’re in for a calm day without crashes. A small break will roll off the front, probably only two or three men, and the peloton will gradually bring them back and we’ll get a sprint.  Weather Cloudy with a chance of rain at the start, but it will brighten up throughout the day. Finale They love a roundabout in this part of the world. The riders approach town on a...

Vitoria-Gasteiz > San Sebastian-Donostia 209km When I first saw this stage, I thought it was one for the breakaway, but I’ve changed my mind. This is a day where the teams of climbing sprinters will control the morning attack and try to set up a reduced sprint. You might look at the Jaizkibel and think, they don’t stand a chance, but climbing sprinters continue to climb better than ever before.  Weather It looks like a bit of rain in the first half of the stage, but it should be dry for the finish. The Climb The mythical Jaizkibel, but not...

Bilbao > Bilbao 182km It’s time to get the 2023 Tour de France started. The peloton is in the Basque Country, a place where people are fanatical about their cycling. The crowds will be immense, the atmosphere electric, and the racing should match it. There’s no boring sprint or TT to start with, we’re straight into Basque Country climbs. The riders are faced with a hilly stage, with a wall climb near the finish, but will the GC men fight it out for the first yellow jersey? Weather Cloudy, but it should stay dry. Key Points Côte de Vivero marks...

The biggest race of the year is fast approaching. Last year, we were treated to one of the best Tours in living memory, hopefully it’s not too greedy to expect another. The organisers have done their bit, the route looks amazing, now it’s over to the riders to do their thing.  My God, I don’t recall ever seeing an opening stage like this in the Tour de France. The race kicks off in the Basque Country and we have a brilliant looking stage, full of typically Basque climbs. The final cat 2 climb is 4.2km at 7%, which is followed...

Cassel > Cassel 223km The organisers have come up with a beauty of a circuit for the French road race title. Over 220km in length and more than 4200m of climbing is a huge day out for the riders. The race features laps around Cassel, you should be familiar with the town from the Queen stage in 4 Days of Dunkirk, and the cobbled climb features heavily in this race too. Weather Roasting hot, which will make a very tough day seem even harder. Lap Circuit There are two climbs on the circuit, both of which are very hard. First...

San Lorenzo de El Escorial > San Lorenzo de El Escorial 189km 3177m of climbing over 189km means this falls into the easy category compared to some of the other road races this weekend. The riders head out for a big loop, before two laps of a smaller circuit.  Weather Roasting hot, temperatures will be around 35 degrees. Circuit The finishing circuit does contain some punchy climbs, 3km at 6.1%, 2.4km at 7.1% and the final kilometre averages 5.5%, with the final 450m at 8.7%. It’s not the hardest circuit, but the finish is a tough one. Tactics It’s the...

Roeselare > Roeselare 231km 231km is a long day in the saddle, but this is a race that should end in a sprint. Okay, they climb the Kemmelberg three times, but there’s 142km still to go from the top of the last ascent, and it’s the “easier” side of the Kemmel. Most teams arrive here with a sprinter, I can’t see anything stopping this from being a bunch sprint, apart from a late attack by Remco. Weather A boiling day in Belgium with temperatures going over 30 degrees. There’s a bit of wind around, but nothing that should cause any...

Saltburn > Saltburn 186km The British road race takes place in the north-east of England, not too far from Middlesbrough, on what is one of the most demanding circuits you’re going to see this weekend. 186km in length, with 4037m of climbing, this is going to be a very hard race.  Weather Cloudy sun and mild for this part of the world. The wind will be up at around 28km/h, but much of the route is protected from the wind. Circuit There are three main climbs, 1.84km at 6.4%, 700m at 7.1% and 300m at 12% which is the rise...

Ponte Arche > Ponte Arche 226km The Italian road race takes place close to Trento, up in the north of the country. The riders cover about 80km before hitting the lap circuit, and there’s eight times up the climb. 226km is a long race, and 4000m of climbing will test those who aren’t climbing well. This has the potential to be a cracking watch. Weather Sunny and temperatures will hit around 23 degrees. Lap Circuit The climb is 5.5km at 5.1%, it’s not the hardest in the world, but eight times up will test everyone. From the top of the...

St.Gallen / St.Gallen 26km ITT The race ends with a 26km ITT which has 401m of climbing.  By no means is it flat, the route is full of little kickers, which will make it hard for riders to settle into a rhythm. The GC is tight, Skjelmose leads Gall by 8 seconds, Ayuso is at 18s and Evenepoel at 46s. Gall has no chance of staying in the top 3, the others will all think they can win the race. Weather Very hot, which isn’t ideal for some of the riders.  Contenders Remco Evenepoel – he’ll have his eyes set on...

Tübach > Weinfelden 185km I’ve struggled to write this preview. Finding the right words to describe such a terrible tragedy is very difficult.  I knew Gino Mäder a little bit, we exchanged a few messages over the last couple of years. He messaged me just after being pipped on the line by Primož Roglič in Paris-Nice back in 2021,  “Maybe I make it into your previews soon as a breakaway hopeful;)” That day I foolishly didn’t include him in my preview, this was Gino’s cheeky way of pointing that out to me, I didn’t make that mistake again. Gino was...

La Punt > Oberwil 216km I write this preview with a heavy heart, Gino Mäder crashed hard today and needed to be resuscitated before being taken to hospital by helicopter. At this point, that is all I know, it’s a stark reminder of the dangers cyclists put themselves in for our entertainment. Gino is a lovely young man; I’m hoping to can pull through this and come out the other side. After today’s win for Ayuso, he’s right back in the GC picture, this stage does offer a small chance for GC riders to take some time, but it’s going...

Fiesch > La Punt 210km This is a race which is hard to predict. Felix Gall took his first professional win today, and he’s now in the race lead, but with a TT to come he knows he needs more time if he wants to win the GC. Skjelmose and Evenepoel are breathing down his neck and as this stage has over 4500m of climbing, the battle for the yellow jersey is still alive and kicking. Will this be another GC day, or one for the break? Weather Sunny, but not as warm as previous days. The Climbs The Furkapass...

Monthey > Leukerbad 153km After today’s brilliant win, Mattias Skjelmose is in the race lead, but Evenepoel and Ayuso aren’t too far behind. We now have big gaps on GC, some will be eyeing up a win from the break, will any of the GC teams chase from the peloton? Weather Sunny and fairly hot. Key Climbs After just a few weeks away, Crans-Montana is back, but from a different side. This is the start of the cat 1 climb, 8.1km at 7.9% is hard, but cresting with 15km to go could put riders off attacking. A short descent follows,...

Tafers > Villars 143km The first of three consecutive mountain stages and the bunch head for Villars-sur-Ollon. Those with a good memory will remember 2016 when Chris Froome was in his pomp, he won here in Tour de Romandie, but it was coming from a different side. Larry Warbasse won in 2017, this year it’s the same climb as that day. For those that don’t remember, it’s a very hard climb, it’s going to show who will be in contention for the yellow jersey. Weather Sunny and temperatures will be around 20 degrees, but cooler up the mountains. There’s a...

Beromünster > Nottwil 174km Given this year’s route, this stage could be the only one that ends in a bunch sprint, but will all the sprinters survive the final climb? All eyes will be on Tim Merlier, can the other teams either drop him or take something out of his sprint? Weather Hot and sunny. The Climb It doesn’t look much but the opening 1.2km averages 7%, before a flat section, then the final kilometre averages 5%. From the crest there’s 24km to go. Finale Straight! The road is two lanes wide; it’s not going to be easy to move...

Le Pont-de-Claix > La Bastille 153km The fight for the yellow jersey is over, not that it really got started, but everything is still to play for in the fight for the podium. The final stage looks like an excellent day for the breakaway, as Vingegaard is miles better than everyone else, and there’s a climb at the start of the stage. Of course, it needs the right mix to go all the way, we’ll have to see if anyone sitting too close on GC sparks a chase. Weather Sunny and temperatures will be around 20 degrees. Key Points Côte...

Einsiedeln > Einsiedeln 12.6km ITT The race begins with a relatively flat ITT.  There’s a little rise at the start and the finish, but nothing that should hurt the best riders. The circuit is a loop of a lake, get ready for some art shots! We have four of the biggest TT riders in the world here, it should be a brilliant battle, hopefully with only a handful of seconds between the best. Weather There’s a threat of rain throughout the early afternoon, forecasts suggest it should be dry for the later starters. Contenders Remco Evenepoel – the opening TT in...

Get ready for the hardest edition of the Tour de Suisse I can remember. It’s like the organisers have put together their greatest hits, the race has stage finishes in Villars, Leukerbad and La Punt, which makes three uphill/mountaintop finishes. Throw in two ITTs, a couple of stages over 200km (both of which start with a big mountain), and you can start to see why few Tour de France contenders are here, it’s far too hard. What it does mean is that we’re in for a week full of exciting racing. Stage 1 A flat 12.6km ITT around a lake....

Porte-de-Savoie > Col de la Croix de Fer 148km The weekend kicks off with a big day in the mountains. The riders must tackle 4018m of climbing in just 147km of racing, but if you remove the flat start it’s 3700m of climbing in the final 100km of the stage, that’s huge! This is a day where we’ll see big gaps on GC. Weather Sunshine and showers. The Climbs First up is the mighty Madeleine. Then it’s Coll du Mollard, which is the easiest of the three climbs, even though it’s a HC climb. The race ends with the Croix...

Nantua / Crest-Voland 170km After Vingegaard’s masterclass today, he now leads the GC by over 1 minute, a huge advantage considering we’ve not had a mountain yet. The battle for the other spots in the top 10 is still on, it might be the only excitement we get from now on. Weather There’s going to be a bit of rain in the afternoon. Key Points This is cat 2 climb, Col des Aravis. Not the hardest climb in the world, but the pace will be high near the crest as all the GC riders will want to be at the...

Cormoranche-sur-Saône > Salins-les-Bains 191km The race starts to transition away from the sprints to the mountains, but before we hit the high peaks there’s a couple of stages for puncheurs, and maybe a few GC guys.  Weather Another cracking day. The Climb Starts with a bang. Double digit gradients for most the opening 3km, then things start to level off near the crest. The KOM point is after 3.4km, but the climb cruelly contains on for another 2km. Tactics Normally, the GC teams would take one look at this stage and “give” it to the breakaway. The climb might be...

Cours > Belmont-de-la-Loire 31km ITT 31km is a long time trial in a one-week stage race, it’s going to have a significant impact on the fight for the yellow jersey. There was a similar stage last year, thankfully on that day the gaps were relatively small, I wonder what will happen this time round. With 440m of climbing, this isn’t a flat TT, it’s uphill or downhill for much of the route. The climbs aren’t difficult, the gradients rarely get above 5%, but it will feel like a grind. Weather Roasting hot. There’s not much wind but it will be...

Monistrol-sur-Loire > Le Coteau 194km The first, and last, bunch sprint of the week. We should have a calm day for the peloton, things won’t start to get interesting until the final 30km., which is a shame as the stage is almost 200km, the longest of the race. Weather Sunny and warm. The Climb This is the only worry for the quick men, a cat 4 climb which is long but not steep. The numbers are pulled down by the flat section, the final kilometre averages 5.4%, but all the sprinters should survive and be in the mix for the...

Brassac-les-Mines > La Chaise-Dieu 167km Stage 2 looks a lot like stage 1, the riders head out on a loop and come back to the finish town for a lap circuit, this time it’s twice round. This stage is 10km longer and has 150m less climbing, the numbers suggest it’s a little bit easier and I agree, but it’s still hard for the pure sprinters. The heavier sprinters will have to hang tough, especially on the cat 4 climb, this is a day they’ll hope to be at the finish, not a day they expect to. Weather Lots of sunshine...

Chambon-sur-Lac > Chambon-sur-Lac 158km Not that long ago you’d have taken one look at this profile and thought the sprinters don’t stand a chance, so it’s a nailed on breakaway day, but not anymore. Okay, for years we’ve had “sprinters” like Sagan who would have loved a stage like this, but in recent years we’ve seen more and more sprinters be able to cope with stages that have 3000m of elevation. The climbing sprinters are killing the breakaways. The presence of Laporte, Hayter and maybe even Vernon means we’ve got three teams happy to control the break and set up...

With the Giro now a distant memory the peloton head to France and the 75th edition of the Dauphiné, always a vital part of Tour de France preparation. All the GC riders are back from altitude training, the level will be very high. Stage 1 3000m of climbing in under 160km, this is a tough opening stage. It ends with three laps of a hilly circuit; this is a day with little flat. Sprinters will hope to survive, but that won’t be easy, and the breakaway riders will also sniff a chance of winning a stage and taking the yellow jersey....

Puget-Théniers > Valberg 167km As the Dauphiné approaches, some of the climbers take a little pit stop just outside Nice. With 4300m of climbing, it’s a huge day in the saddle, and one for the mountain experts. Last year, Jacob Fuglsang took the win, he’s back to try and defend his title. Weather Warm and mainly sunny. The Climbs La Colmiane is up first, but it’s just the starter. Col de la Couillole is the main course; it really is a tough mountain. From the crest there’s 41km to go. Valberg is for pudding. You’ll have anything left for seconds?...

Hasselt > Tongeren 204km The Giro might be over, but there’s no time for the usual post-Giro blues, the racing continues with Ronde van Limburg. Last year, Arnaud De Lie won the uphill sprint, this time round the organisers have decided to make things a little more complicated for the fast men, they’ve added two cobble sectors to the closing lap circuit, but will it make any difference? Weather Sunny and quite warm. The wind will be around 20km/h, it doesn’t sound strong enough to cause splits. Circuit The two cobble sectors are going to be important; the above image...

Roma > Roma 126km It’s the final stage of the race and we’ve got ourselves a sprint in Rome. The lap circuit is very similar to the one used in 2018, when Sam Bennett took the win from Elia Viviani. There’s a lot of wide roads, a few cobbles and a couple of kickers. In 2018, the GC riders were allowed to roll over the line at their pleasure, times were taken far out from the finish. I’m assuming this won’t happen again, but you never know in this race. This is a nervous day for Jumbo-Visma, the roads in...

Tarvisio > Monte Lussari 18.5km ITT Come on, let’s be honest, the Giro has been utter shite. Basically, some riders went home, and we had three TTs. That’s it. Pathetic. The worst grand tour in living memory. Yes, the weather was bad, but fuck me, it’s been horrendous to watch. Enough complaing, time for an exciting stage. We have 11.5km of flat, then 7km at 12.3%. With just 26 seconds between Thomas and Roglič, the battle for the pink jersey is still very much alive. Weather Sunny, warm, not much wind. The Climb What a terrible looking climb. The opening...

Longarone > Tre Cime di Lavaredo 183km Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve got a fucking race. With the top 3 separated by just 39 seconds, and Roglič looking better, it’s still a long way till Rome. Okay, this could be due to the negative racing in the opening weeks, but I’m not complaining now. With 5000m of climbing, there’s still lots of opportunities for riders to attack and shake up the GC, all eyes will be on Jumbo-Visma, especially after today. Can Roglič pull something out of the bag? We’ll see on the road, huh. Weather Another nice day. Key Points...

Oderzo > Zoldo Alto 161km On paper, this isn’t as hard as Tuesday’s stage, but I have a feeling it’s going to be just as hard in real life. The climbs aren’t anywhere near as long as Monte Bondone, but oh my God, one of them is incredibly steep. With Roglič starting to show weakness, Thomas and Almeida need to strike now to drive him out of the battle for the pink jersey. However, there’s still a chance Roglič recovers and is the rider dishing out the pain.  Weather Yet another sunny day, just as well after the first two...

Pergine Valsugana > Caorle 197km Hands up who wants a sprint? At this point in a grand tour, stages like this can often go the way of the breakaway, mainly due to domestiques being very tired, but also to do with other tactical decisions. With quite a few sprinters left in the race, it’s unlikely to be a day for the break, but you just never know, that’s the beauty of it. Weather Rain at the start, should be sunny later. There’s a light headwind for much of the stage. Finale It’s a technical finish. The roads are fairly narrow...

Sabbio Chiese / Monte Bondone 204km It might have taken 15 stages but we’re eventually going to get some GC action. A final week which is rammed full of mountains, it’s time for the big boys to come out to play. The final 140km of the stage contains 4806m of climbing, that’s huge! Weather Sunny and warm. Key Climbs Passo Santa Barbara is the first climb of the day, and this cat 1 effort is important in the fight for the blue jersey. Monte Bondone. The last time the Giro finished here was back in 2006 and Ivan Basso took...

Seregno > Bergamo 195km It’s been a long time since Il Lombardia regularly finished in Bergamo, this stage pays homage to that wonderful race. Pogačar won in Bergamo in 2021, that was the first time the race finished in Bergamo since 2016. At just “195km” in length, this stage can’t really be compared to Lombardia, but it’s still going to be a little belter of a day.  We’ve got a cat 1 climb early in the day, a couple of cat 2s in the middle of the stage and then a tough looking cat 2 which crests with 30km to...

Sierre > Cassano Magnago 196km A lot of people were complaining about today’s stage. First, it was shortened due to extreme weather, and then the GC teams decided to ride tempo up the final climb. At times like this some fans can become irrational and want to burn the riders at the stake, they need to take a breath and calm down. The change of route was due to a pretty horrific weather forecast which predicted freezing rain, I’m fine with the room changing on this occasion. The GC teams riding tempo is something else, it’s all to do with...

Borgofranco d’Ivrea > Crans-Montana 199km The first proper mountain stage of the race, it’s time to see who’ll be the main challengers for the pink jersey. This race has already seen many GC riders drop out of contention due to injury and crashes, it’s been one hell of a race. The first big mountaintop finish in a grand tour usually goes the way of the GC group, but with an ever-dwindling peloton, will that happen this time round? The change of route sees over 500m of climbing chopped off the race, it’s easier but still hard. Weather There’s a threat...

Bra > Rivoli 185km It’s stage 12 and the bunch head for Turin. Before the race started, I had this day down as one that Jayco would try to control and set up a Michael Matthews win, but now I’m not so sure. If everyone takes to the start tomorrow, they’ll only be 140 riders, and contained within are around 40 guys who are just here to make up the numbers (no offence lads). Bling still has 6 teammates, but can they control this stage? Weather Sunshine and maybe a couple of showers. Key Points The start isn’t flat, it’s...

Camaiore > Tortona 219km This is the only opportunity for a full bunch sprint in the second week, the sprint teams will be determined to ensure that’s exactly what we get. There are two further opportunities in the final week, but some of the fast men will have already checked out by that point, this will be the last chance for a few. Everyone will be tired after today; it was a long day in the saddle in very poor conditions. They’ll not be so happy about the prospect of the longest stage in the race waiting for them, most...

Scandiano > Viareggio 196km With a rest day on Monday, and hopefully no COVID positives, the peloton will be looking forward to kicking off the second week. Ahead of them is a mix of stages, and as legs start to tire, control starts to slip. I see one nailed-on sprint (Wednesday), one GC day (Friday) and one breakaway day (Sunday). Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday are up for grabs, it will be a fight between the break and the peloton, and as we’re in the second week of a grand tour, breakaways will now start to grow in size and strength....

Savignano sul Rubicone > Cesena 34.9km ITT 35km is a very long time trial, it’s going to have huge ramifications in terms of the fight for the pink jersey. With just 101m of climbing, those who don’t go well in this discipline could lose a huge amount of time to Evenepoel. Time lost here will be difficult to regain in the final week, if you want to challenge for the top 5 on GC you need a good time trial. At this point in a grand tour, domestiques would normally be told to go easy in this stage, but as...

Terni > Fossombrone 206km The weekend begins with a cracking looking stage. The bunch head north, and most of this stage is quite easy, but not the finale. We’ve got some steep walls in the final 50km, in what should be a day for the breakaway. GC riders will be wanting to save as much as possible for Sunday’s ITT, and as the climbs are short, it’s not a day for gaps between the best riders. Weather There’s a good chance of more rain, most in the bunch will be getting fed up with this by now. Not only that,...

Capua > Gran Sasso d’Italia (Campo Imperatore) 218km The first mountain stage of the race, and as there isn’t another one for a week, this is a little peak at what’s to come later on. The finish of Gran Sasso was last used back in 2018, when Simon Yates won a sprint from a small group. It’s a funny climb, the length of it can leave some without energy for the final 2km, but there are much harder mountains in the race. Gaps aren’t likely to be big between the top 10, will this stop teams from chasing the break?...

Naples > Naples 163km Well, what a mess that was. Evenepoel hit the deck twice, he’s a lucky boy that neither time resulted in serious injury. It’s amazing what a wee bit of rain does in this part of the world, the roads are like ice. Cavendish won the last sprint in Naples, all the way back in 2013, can he roll back the clock and take his 17th Giro stage win? Weather There should be a fair bit of sun, but there’s still a chance of rain. As you already know, that’s bad news for those wanting to stay on...

Atripalda > Salerno 171km Stage 4 was crazy, stage 5 promises to be a quieter affair. The opening half is lumpy, but this is a day that’s destined to end in a sprint, however, there’s a chance for the break. Weather A lot of rain is predicted, it looks like being a wet day on the bike for the peloton. Finale Very straight, the last corner comes with 7km to go. The lack of corners is good news as the roads will be wet, but as usual in a sprint like this, timing is everything. The finishing straight isn’t the...

Venosa > Lago Laceno 175km Strap yourself in, it’s the first of the breakaway days. Too hard for the sprinters, not hard enough for the GC riders, and Soudal – QuickStep want rid of the pink jersey. You know what this means, the break is going to take an age to go, predicting who makes it is almost impossible. Not only is the stage on offer, but a chance for someone to move into pink and stay there until the weekend. Wearing the leader’s jersey in a grand tour is huge, career defining for most. With so much on offer,...

Vasto > Melfi 213km The third stage sees the riders continue the drive south, and it’s a day for the climbing sprinters. It’s a long stage, and with only 1749m of climbing you’d be excused for thinking it was going to be a big sprint, but the positioning of the climbs makes it hard for those who don’t go well uphill. Weather Another warm day, but there’s a risk of showers in the afternoon. The Climbs Just inside the final 40km the bunch hit this cat 3 climb, this is where the pressure will be applied to the sprinters who...

Teramo > San Salvo 202km After the fun of the opening time trial, it’s time for the proper racing to start. The second stage sees the riders head down the coast, in what is a nailed-on sprint finish. This preview will take a close look at all the sprinters and their sprint trains. Weather Another cracking day with lots of sunshine. A headwind for much of the day will make life hard for the breakaway. The final sprint is also into a headwind. Finale It’s all about getting to the front nice and early, the final 10km is full of...

Fossacesia Marina > Ortona 19.6km ITT The battle for the pink jersey begins with a 19.6km ITT. Ganna won the opening TT in both 2020 and 2021, he’s back to see if he can do it again and be the first rider in pink in 2023. Weather A beautiful day, with lots of sunshine and warm temperatures, and hardly any wind. Route There’s 16.8km of straight, flat road, before the riders hit the climb. It doesn’t last long, but it will give the punchy climbers a chance of claiming back a few seconds. From the top there’s only 1.6km to...

It’s time for the first grand tour of the year. We head to Italy for what’s being billed as Roglič versus Evenepoel, I think we’re in for one hell of a fight for the pink jersey. No foreign start this year, the race begins on the east coast of Italy, not far from Pescara. The riders have a 19.6km ITT to get their teeth into. Nearly 17km of flat roads, then a few bumps to finish with. Who will be in pink at the end of the day? The first proper road stage and a day for the sprinters. It’s...

Eschborn > Frankfurt 203km The organisers have tried to make the race a little harder this year, increasing the climbing metres from 2731 to 3079. It used to be once up the big climb, then twice up the final climb, this year it’s twice up the big climb (the second time from a more challenging side) and once up the final climb, but will it make a difference to the outcome of the race? Most teams have arrived with the usual team they would take to a sprint race, but can anyone shake it up a bit? Weather Cloudy and...

Vufflens-la-Ville > Genève 170km The race ends with an interesting stage, one with a few possible scenarios. Weather Cloudy and a gentle tailwind throughout the day. The Climbs This is the cat 2 climb, the big moment for the sprinters. It’s tough enough to cause some serious damage. About 20km of descending follows, before bouncing into the next climb. 3.3km at 6% isn’t that hard, but for the riders who’ve already been dropped and are desperately trying to get back into the peloton, this is a disaster.  Finale The bunch will fly into town on a wide highway, and there’s...

Sion / Thyon 2000 162km The Queen stage is here, and it’s got a lot of climbing. After today’s TT, Ayuso is in the race lead, will he be able to hang on? Weather Another day with a threat of rain, we’ll have to see if it happens this time. This rain could turn into wintery showers on high ground. The Climbs First up is Anzère. The next cat 1 climb is Suen, the opening 10km is super steep. Thyon 2000, it’s a tough mountain. It’s a long climb and the gradient is relentless. We had huge gaps here last...

Châtel-Saint-Denis 18.7km ITT A nice TT, one that will interest the GC and TT riders. There’s 4km of flat, then a couple of little kickers before the proper climb starts. This crests with 6km to go, nearly all of it is downhill. Weather Not great. There’s quite a lot of rain around, it could get very heavy for the late starters. The downhill won’t be easy in wet conditions. The Climb For me, it’s not hard enough to bring all the GC riders into the equation, some of the TT specialists will still fancy their chances. Contenders Ethan Hayter – I...

Crissier > Vallée de Joux 170km Stage 1 is a day for the sprinters, it could be the only chance they get this week. The sprint teams will ensure an easy break goes up the road, no doubt featuring riders from the Swiss national team and Tudor. They’ll gradually bring it back together and set up a bunch sprint. Weather Cloudy, but it should stay dry. Finale The bunch stay on a straight road from 13km to go until 2.3km remaining. At this point they take a tight right-hand bend, and then it’s full gas to the finish. I’ve seen...

Le Bouveret 6.8km The race begins with a long prologue. With barely a corner in sight, it’s full gas for roughly 8 minutes, one for the specialists. Weather There’s a threat of showers until 3pm, then it should be dry. Probably a day to go out late, but the weather in this part of the world can change very quickly. Contenders Ethan Hayter – won the prologue last year, it’s a distance that suits him very well. The former track star will start as the favourite, he’s a very good TT rider. The early part of the season was frustrating for...

Why anyone would think a race with six stages needs two time trials is beyond me, but hey, it’s time for Tour de Romandie. It’s a race that used to be a big deal for those going to the Giro, but no more. Now it’s full of those who don’t go to the Giro, this year it doesn’t have the big GC superstars, the race is open and should be a good one to watch. It begins with a prologue, mainly so people get mixed up with calling stage 1, stage 2. This one is 6.8km in length and barely...

Liège > Liège 258km The classics draw to a close with the 109th edition of the old lady of cycling monuments. It’s a race that’s rarely won by an outsider, the distance and difficulty of the day ensures the winner is a brilliant cyclist. Evenepoel is the defending champion, and he’s back from altitude camp to see if he can defend the title and stop Tadej Pogačar from being the first man to win all three Ardennes races since Philippe Gilbert in 2011. The race is being set up as a battle between the two of them, and I’m not going...

Cavalese > Bruneck 145km Stage 4 ended up as one for the breakaway, which means there’s one more chance to change the GC, I can’t see the teams passing this one up. The day starts with a tough climb, and the final one is very hard too, get ready for grenades. Weather Light rain, but temperatures aren’t too bad. The Climbs Passo Lavazé is climbed straight from the gun, and it’s the second hardest climb in the whole race. This is the final climb of the stage, don’t be fooled by its cat 2 classification, I think it’s the hardest...

Rovereto / Predazzo 153km After a season with very little for breakaway riders, could this be the day? It ticks a few boxes: there’s a climb at the start, the final climb isn’t too hard and it’s a flat finish. Those down on GC, who can climb, will be getting a little excited. However, given the GC situation, this isn’t a nailed on breakaway day. Weather Lots of rain, which will make things much harder. The Climbs After 5km of flat, the riders face Passo Sommo, all 15.6km at 7.3% of it. A long descent follows on wet roads, the...

Ritten > Brentonico San Valentino 162km The Queen stage. We start with an extremely fast downhill, we’ll see some splits in the bunch, but it will all come back together again. Once the break goes, everyone can settle in and wait for San Valentino. After two punchy finishes, it’s time for a proper mountain, which will be an excellent yardstick with the Giro just over 2 weeks away. Weather A beautiful day for the bunch as they head into the mountains. The Climbs Lago di Cei is the first climb of the day, and it’s not to be sniffed at....

Herve > Mur de Huy 194km Pogačar continues his pursuit of world domination, can anyone find his kryptonite? There’s been a bit of talk about how he’s making cycling boring, I’m not there yet, I think his performances are still exciting. We approach this race the same as Amstel Gold, is it possible to stop him? The good news for those wanting to try is that his record in this race isn’t great, some crumbs of comfort for his rivals. Weather Cloudy, no rain, not too cold. The Climbs Côte de Cherave, it’s not that hard. The mighty Mur de...

Reith im Alpbachtal > Ritten 165km Today’s stage has given us a clear hierarchy in terms of the GC fight, as expected, Ineos are in control and that’s a position they like. Bora were happy to help them chase down the break, I’m not sure they’ll be so keen to lend a hand in this stage. That could be good news for the break, but the bad news is this is an easy stage to control, something Ineos will no doubt be keen to do. Weather Another grey day with only a small chance of rain. Finale The final 18km...

Rattenberg > Alpbach 127.4km The first stage of the race has a brilliant finish, we’re straight into a big GC day. The stage is a short one, just 127km in length, but the final 50km is incredibly difficult. We’ll have a good idea who’ll be fighting for the race win after this day is done. Weather Grey and quite cold. There’s some rain around in the morning, but it should clear by the time the riders roll out of town. The Climbs The final categorised climb of the day is Kerschbaumer Sattel, which looks horrific if you ask me. It...

This race has become very popular for those looking to get some Giro preparation in the legs, and this year is no different with many riders who’ll be hoping to fight for the pink jersey in May. Looking at the route, I’d say it’s one of the hardest editions I can remember. The race starts with a bang. The final categorised climb of the day is the mighty, Kerschbaumer Sattel, which is 5km at 10.5%. It might be the first stage, but this is a big day in the GC battle. Scenario – GC day. Easier than the first stage,...

Morteau > Pontarlier – Le Larmont 201km It’s the final race of the mini-series of one-day races in France, this one is the easiest of the three, but it still has a tough finish. Cofidis took the spoils on Friday, Arkéa did the business today, AG2R and FDJ will be a little frustrated without a win. The finish is different compared to last year, this time it’s at the top of the hill, last year it was at the bottom of the descent. Also, the final hill is climbed from a different side this time round. Weather Cold and there...

Poligny > Mont Poupet 166km Tour du Jura is the second event in a three-race series over in France. It’s a relatively new race, this is just the 6th edition, and this year the organisers have decided to give it a new route. The race is a tough one with over 2800m of climbing and four demanding climbs, including a hilltop finish. Weather Filthy! There’s going to be a lot of rain around, and it’s going to feel cold.  The Climbs The proper climbing kicks off with Côte de Thésy. Next up is Côte de Chaux Champagny. The penultimate climb is...

Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto > Giarre 215.9km Are you ready for a GC battle? It’s the big day in the fight for the overall title, and with 4113m of climbing, it’s a huge day in the saddle. Can UAE use their numbers to win the day? Weather Another nice day but not as warm as earlier in the week. The Climbs They climb Etna from the north. At 17.2km, it’s a very long climb, but it is relatively steady. From the crest there’s 66km to go. This is the final climb of the day, it’s a tough one. 8.6km at...

Besançon > Montfaucon 170km Just the third running of this new race, and the organisers have stuck mainly to the same route used last year. That means twice up Montfaucon, a proper hilltop finish. Last year, Cofidis dominated with Jesús Herrada winning from his teammate Victor Lafay, can they successfully defend their title? Weather Grey and not very warm, but the rain should hold off. The Climb I’d put this in the punchy category. It starts with a bang, gets a little easier, then kicks up again towards the finish. Tactics First time up the climb they’ll be a selection...

Maastricht > Berg en Terblijt 253km One week full of all Ardennes joy. This is the 57th edition of the race, one that is always challenging for the riders. With a massive 33 climbs on the menu, and 3465m of climbing, this is a tough day in the saddle. We always see a selective race; this year will be no different.  Weather Grey, not very warm and a chance of rain. Key Points This is the final 45km of the race, where the riders face the following climbs: Gulperbergweg – 1000m at 5.1%, max 17.9%. Super steep at the foot. Positioning is...

Enna > Termini Imerese 150.3km Despite the presence of a few hills in the opening 30km, I think we’ll see a similar start to the previous stages. The world tour teams will ensure a relatively weak break gets away, then everyone can rest up and wait for the finale. The finish to the stage is a tough one, but some of the sprinters will back themselves to take the win, but so will the puncheurs. Weather Warm and sunny, but there is a threat of rain. Finale The climb is about 1km at 6%, and then it flattens out for...

Leuven > Overijse 205.1km A few years ago, the organisers changed the route by removing the final climb (Schavei), I think this might have been due to roadworks, but I can’t remember. It also meant they introduced the Moskesstraat before it was used in the 2021 world championships. This will be the third year of this “new” route, and the previous two editions have been very selective, both won by Ineos riders. This was a race which gave the fast men some hope, with fewer of them deciding to come, I think the route is now too hard for them,...

Canicatti > Vittoria 193.3km Should be a straightforward sprint stage. We have a handful of quick men at this race, it should be a good fight for the win. Will Cavendish get his first for Astana? Weather Lots of sun and temperatures will get up to 20 degrees. The wind will increase throughout the stage and eventually get to 20km/h. It shouldn’t cause too many problems. Finale The road surface isn’t the best, but fairly common in this part of the world. There are three roundabouts in quick succession (3.5km, 2.8km and 1.8km to go), each one only has one...

Magnanville > Livarot-Pays-d’Auge 211km A punchy day in the north of France. The route is very different to last year, it looks quite hard to me, despite only having 2117m of climbing.  Weather A bit cloudy but it should stay dry. The wind is around 20km/h, but the route is protected by a lot of trees. Key Points This section starts with around 40km to go and finishes with just 9km remaining. You can see it starts and ends with a steep climb and has lots of little bumps in-between. Not only that, but the roads are narrow, making it...

Marsala > Agrigento 159.2km The opening stage of the race sees the bunch head down the coast towards Agrigento. The big teams should control the morning break and set up a “sprint” finish.  Weather Sunny and temperatures will get close to 20 degrees. The wind is blowing around 20km/h, and there’s going to be a lot of tailwind throughout the stage.  Finale Not an easy finish. The average gradient is reduced by a couple of flat sections, it’s harder than the numbers suggest. Some of you might think this looks familiar, and you’d be right, it’s the same finish which was...

Sandwiched in-between Roubaix and Amstel is the Giro di Sicilia. This 2.1 race isn’t a massive deal, but it does act as important preparation for those going to the Giro d’Italia/Ardennes. We have four stages, and something for everyone is contained within.  The opening stage finishes with 3km at 5.6%, so we’ll see the puncheurs fighting against the explosive climbers. The second stage is one for the sprinters. The third stage ends with another uphill sprint, but one that some sprinters will hope to survive. It’s around 1km at 6%, so right on the limit for some of the fast...

Eibar > Eibar 137.4km Well, well, well, what do we have here. I’m back my holidays and couldn’t resist the chance of previewing this beautiful stage. It’s like the final stage in 2021, but not identical. That day started with 2km at 9%, this day doesn’t. Then follows the same climbs: Azurki, Gorla, Krabelin and Trabakua. In 2021 the riders then headed for the famous Arrate climb, which finished the stage, this year the riders climb the mighty Izua, before a relatively easy finish. 3340m of climbing in just 137km, absolute carnage. Weather A glorious day to finish the race....

Compiègne > Roubaix 256.2km For many people it’s the best race in the year, I’d say second best, but let’s not fall out about it. Paris-Roubaix is a brut of a race, one for the warriors in the peloton, it never lets us down. This year we arrive with van der Poel looking incredibly strong, and a few of his main rivals are showing some weakness, but this race can turn the form book on its head. Weather A nice day, with a little bit of sun and not much wind. The Sectors Midweek rain left the cobbles muddy just...

It’s time for the 62nd edition of this beautiful race, a place where the fans live and breathe cycling. They’re also partial to breathing something else, just ask Philippe Gilbert about it. The race doesn’t contain a TT, which is good news for many, and it includes lots of steep climbs. The good news for the riders is that the weather looks good, not something that always happens in this part of the world. First stage and a rare sprint opportunity. The nature of the race means that teams don’t arrive with sprinters, this is a great chance for someone to...

Eijsden > Eijsden 193.5km The Limburg Classic is one of those races that some riders hate, in fact, quite a lot of riders hate. Constantly up and down, narrow roads, horrible weather, I can understand why most don’t want to be here. The good news is that it’s much better for the watching fans, it usually serves up an exciting and unpredictable day. Weather Lots of rain, lots of wind, and it’ll feel quite cold. Key Points Once inside the final 100km, the race can explode at any point. You can see all the little climbs, and when you factor...

Estella > Estella 203.8km The bunch roll into town looking to get some racing in the legs before Itzulia starts on Monday. The route remains almost the same as the last couple of years, lots of little climbs to sap the strength before the steep climb and fast descent to the finishing line. Warren Barguil won last year, unfortunately he’s not back to defend his title. Weather A little grey, with a threat of rain throughout. Key Points This climb crests with just 10km to go. It’s not hard enough to drop the top riders, but it does slim down...

Brugge > Oudenaarde 273.3km The big one is here, the best race in the calendar. 282km, if you include the neutral section, and it’s rammed full of cobbles, climbs and cobbled climbs. This is everything I want from a bike race, and it’s in the home of cycling. Sit back, grab a beer, and enjoy my preview. Weather Dry and quite cold. Key Points After 216km of racing in the legs, the riders face 9 climbs in the space of 45km. We have Kwaremont, Paterberg, Koppenberg, Steenbeekdries, Oude Kruisberg, Hotond and then back round for another crack at the Kwaremont...

Roeselare > Waregem 183.4km Dwars door Vlaanderen is a race that offers the sprinters a lot of hope, but it rarely ends in a sprint. In fact, just once in the last ten editions has it been one for the fast men, that was all the way back in 2016 when Jens Debusschere took the win. Compared to last year, the organisers have made a few tweaks to the finale, adding in more cobbles to make the race harder, but we still have several of the best sprinters in the world on the start line. Will we eventually get another...

Barcelona (Montjuïc) 135.7km There’s a change compared to previous years; the organisers have inserted a harder climb at the beginning of the day. Good news for climbers looking to get in the break. Weather Another beautiful day with temperatures edging above 20 degrees. Early Climb 6.6km at 5.4% is an interesting climb, it’s a good chance for a strong break to form and get up the road. Lap Circuit It’s beautiful! 6 laps, each one containing the nasty climb up to the cable car station, which is 800m at 11%. The climb is important, but the descents are also crucial...

Ypres > Wevelgem 260.8km Sitting between E3 and Flanders is Gent-Wevelgem, a race that offers so much to so many, but it often leads to disappointment. This is the one the sprinters think they can win, and it is possible, but it’s funny how this race always seems to throw obstacles in their way. Weather Lots and lots of rain. The cobbles on the Kemmel are going to be a nightmare. The wind will gradually strengthen throughout the day, but won’t have as much of an impact compared to usual. The Hills Monteberg, Kemmelberg, Baneberg and back to the Kemmelberg,...

Martorell > Molins de Rei 173.9km Just a couple of days ago the organisers had to change the finale of this stage, removing the final climb and descent. The image above is the old stage, below is the new one. That climb was a tough one, meaning it was a nailed-on breakaway day, the new stage offers a climbing sprinter more hope. Weather Another lovely day in Catalunya. There’s a bit of wind around, but there’s a lot of trees to protect the riders. The Climb Alt de la Creu d’Aragall is a cat 2 climb, and it’s far too...

Tortosa / Lo Port 176.6km Another big GC day and the return of Lo Port, which was used as a finish back in 2017. Valverde was the winner that day, in front of Contador and Froome, in what was one of his best climbing performances, in my eyes at least. It’s a proper mountain, one that wouldn’t look out of place in a grand tour. The best rider in the race should really be winning this one. Weather Quite windy at the start of the day, and there is a chance of crosswinds, but that is pretty rare in this...

Harelbeke > Harelbeke 202.1km After the fun of Milano-Sanremo, we head to Belgium for a race that never disappoints. Just 200km in length, but full of cobbles, hills, cobbled hills, narrow roads, and crosswinds. Not only that, but we get the second round of van der Poel v Van Aert v Pogačar v Pedersen v Alaphilippe v everyone else. I can’t wait! Weather The wind will be around 30km/h for the whole day, which will obviously make the race very hard. You can see there’s lots of crosswinds, but there’s also a substantial amount of headwind, especially as the bunch...

Llívia > Sabadell 188.0km A classic game of cat versus mouse, but who will win? Weather Another cracking day in Catalunya, it better stay like this for another week, as I’m heading there on Monday. The bad news for the break is the headwind for most of the day, it gives the bunch a fighting chance. The Climb Soon after the start of the stage the bunch are faced with this long climb. It’s a cat 1 effort, but not as hard as that classification makes it sound. This is where the breakaway riders will hope to form a large...

Olost > La Molina 180.2km With just over 4000m of climbing, this is a tough day in the saddle. The race finishes with La Molina, a climb that rarely causes gaps between the best riders, but it all depends on how the climb is ridden. Weather A lovely day. The Climbs This is Coll de la Creuta, it’s the only HC climb in the stage. It’s not the hardest climb in the world, but it is long. La Molina is a climb that’s always used in this race, almost all the riders in the bunch will know it. The opening...

Brugge > De Panne 211.8km One of those days where you’d much rather be watching on TV rather than being in the race. It’s a race that’s for the sprinters, but it won’t be a big sprint this year. Weather Lots of wind and a bit of rain too. The wind is coming from the south-west and will mainly be around 30km/h for the whole day, which is more than enough to cause serious splits. Echelons The organisers have seen sense and reversed the direction of the lap circuit, which means a lovely cross/tailwind as the bunch fly through De...

Mataró > Vallter 165.4km The first of the big GC days. Roglič and Evenepoel finished one and two in today’s sprint finish, what’s the chances of a repeat? Weather Another nice day for the riders and there’s a gentle tailwind on the climb. The Climb Vallter 2000 is a climb most of this bunch know well. Officially it’s 22.2km at 5.3%, but the final 9.3km averages 7.3%. This is a tough climb and finishing at 2120m above sea level makes it even harder. Last time we were here, Adam Yates won solo, the time before he won a sprint from...

Sant Feliu de Guíxols > Sant Feliu de Guíxols 164.6km The opening stage is just about the same as last year, it should be a big sprint, but one that tests everyone to the limit. Weather A sunny start to the week. The Climb This is the final categorised climb of the day. It starts with 30km to go and is a relatively steady 6.8km at 4.2%.  Finale If you’ve seen the finishes here in 2019 and 2022, you’ll remember just how hard it is. The riders race along the beachfront and then cut inland. Everyone who’s been to Spain...

It’s the 102nd edition of this beautiful race, and it’s the hardest route I can remember. Instead of the usual two mountaintop finishes, this year we’ve got three, I am a happy boy. The opening stage is basically the same as last year when Michael Matthews beat Sonny Colbrelli in a gruelling uphill sprint. You’ll remember that Colbrelli suffered a cardiac arrest just after the stage, thankfully the medical people were able to save his life, but I do miss watching him race.  Scenario – sprint, but a very tough one, the final kilometre seems to go on forever. It’s just...

Abbiategrasso > Sanremo 293.5km The same finish as usual, the same gruelling test of stamina, it can only be Milano-Sanremo. Weather Not too hot, not too cold, not too windy. A good racing day. Crucially, there’a lot of tailwind on both the Cipressa and Poggio. Key Points The Cipressa. Hold onto your hats, time to hit the accelerator. The Poggio. The hardest 3.6km of the season. The Poggio descent, fast and technical. How Can Pogačar Win? (Formerly known as the tactics section) Last year UAE arrived looking to win the race with Pogačar, and boy did everyone else know about...

San Benedetto del Tronto > San Benedetto del Tronto 155.9km The final stage is normally one for the sprinters, but the organisers have made the opening half harder this year, which will give some hope for the breakaway riders. The problem is the 80km of flat to finish the day, you’ll need some big engines in the break to hold off a charging peloton. Weather A sunny end to the week and not too much wind. First Half It’s a tricky start, one with plenty of chances for a strong break to form, but will this happen with so many...

Nice > Nice 117.1km Time for one of my favourite stages of the year, it really is a thing of beauty. I’m going to attempt to write a preview to match. Weather A beautiful day to finish the race off. Expect lots of people to remind you this is the race to the sun. Just smile and let them think they’re being smart, don’t get mad. Key Points The climbing starts after just 15km of the stage with Côte de Levens. 6.2km at 5.9% will get the legs going. Next up is Côte de Châteauneuf (du pape), it’s the easiest...

Osimo Stazione > Osimo 193.3km Every year the organisers treat us to a muro stage, this year we’re in Osimo, scene of a fantastic Simon Yates win in the 2018 Giro before it all started to go wrong for him. I like the route, but there’s a little bit inside me that wishes it was even harder.  Weather Nice and warm again. The wind starts at around 20km/h and weakens throughout the day. The section before the riders hit the lap circuit will see the bunch a little on the nervous side, the roads are exposed and the wind is...

Nice > Col de la Couillole 142.6km It was meant to be the big GC day, but it seems like we’ve already had one of those. Col de la Couillole was used back in 2017, when Richie Porte destroyed the rest of the field and took a very impressive win for BMC. It’s a tough climb. Weather Sunny and the wind is still up, but nothing like today. Up on the climb the wind will be 17km/h and another fucking headwind. My soul weeps. The Climb 15.2km at 7.3% and there’s plenty of sections that are 8% and over. Back...

Tourves > La Colle-sur-Lou 197.1km A stage that many will look at and think breakaway, but there are a few fast men who’ll hope that it all comes back together. Technically speaking, 2674m of climbing is within the capabilities of many fast men, but will they cope with the finale? Weather Blowing a gale! At points, the wind could well go over 50km/h. Most of the route is well protected by trees, but the wind speed will make for a nervous bunch. There’s a lot of cross/tailwind throughout the day, it will make the break hard to catch. Hopefully the...

Morro d’Oro > Sarnano-Sassotetto 167.6km After today’s punchy climb, it’s time for a proper mountaintop finish, one that will go a long way to settling the GC battle. Weather It starts off quite warm and with little wind, but it doesn’t stay like that. By the end of the stage, it’s going to be just about freezing at the top of the mountain and the wind will be close to 30km/h. The bad news for watching fans is that it’s a roaring headwind on the climb. The Climb A proper mountain at this time of year. It’s quite a steady...

Greccio > Tortoreto 218.7km Strap yourself in, it’s the first time this year we’ll see Van Aert, van der Poel, Pidcock Alaphilippe and Girmay going head-to-head. The stage ends with a lap circuit, and it contains a tough little climb which is done three and a bit times. As the stage ends with the hill, it’s going to be a fascinating fight between some of the best classics riders in the world. Weather Getting warmer with temperatures edging up to 20 degrees. The Climb Harder than the numbers suggest. The average might be 7% but the climb has a significant...

Saint-Symphorien-sur-Coise > Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux 212.2km After today’s GC fun, it’s another day to interest the sprinters, in all likelihood it’s their final shot at glory in this race. They’ll grovel round this weekend, or head home for a beer and Dominos, or is that my weekend? Weather There could be a little bit of rain around and there’s going to be a nagging headwind for the whole day. Final Climb 5.9km at 4.3% isn’t much, but if some teams want to push the pace on, it could put a few sprinters into difficulty. The crest comes with 30km to go. Finale...

Saint-Amand-Montrond > La Loge des Gardes 164.5km It’s day 4 and the wind has decided to join the party. Weather A bit grey, a bit rainy and very windy. If forecasts are to be believed, the first half of the stage could see the wind gust up to 50km/h, with a constant around 30km/h. Echelons The roads aren’t as exposed as in the opening two stages, but there are enough sections to get the echelon police ready for action. The first 80km of the stage is where splits can happen, then the bunch head into the trees and the wind...

Follinica > Foligno 216.5km The bunch head east in what should be another sprint finish. Weather The wind is coming from the south-west, so it’s crosswind the whole day, but with the wind under 20km/h, it’s unlikely to do much damage. Finale This 4km stretch from 11km to 7km to go is an interesting point. There’s a relatively strong cross/tailwind, and the road is narrow. I doubt there will be splits, but a good early position is very important. The final 2.5km is very technical, so much more interesting than an arrow straight road. There’s a narrow left-hand turn with...

Camaiore > Follonica 209.7km The second stage is the first opportunity for the fast men with a sprint finish in Follonica. Ineos are in control of the leader’s jersey, they’ll do much of the chasing of the break, but they’ll also get help from the sprint teams, we have three big ones here. Weather Cloudy sun and temperatures will edge towards 15 degrees. The start of the stage will see wind of around 30km/h, but it’s to significantly decrease throughout the day, so echelons are unlikely. Teams will have to watchful in the opening half of the stage as there...

Dampierre-en-Burly > Dampierre-en-Burly 32.1km TTT It’s time trial day. Weather Grey, cold, but it should stay dry. The wind should be consistent for all as there’s only 1h3m between the first and last team setting off. Route Very few corners to deal with, that makes life so much easier for the riders. Tactics Much has been made of the change of rules for this TTT, but I don’t think it will change how most teams go about the race. The team gets the time of the first rider across the line, but all riders will get their own time, in...

Lido di Camaiore > Lido di Camaiore 11.5km The race starts with an 11.5km ITT, one that should be familiar to you. It’s a little shorter than last year, but it’s on the same road that’s used every year.  Start, turn right, down to the bottom of the road, U-turn, back to the finish.  Weather It looks a bit on the rainy side, and quite windy too, not ideal for a time trial. We’ll see if the weather will be consistent for all, but wet roads shouldn’t be too much of an issue with only two corners. The wind looks...

Bazainville > Fontainebleau 163.5km One of those Paris-Nice stages where everyone is nervously checking the weather forecast. If the wind blows, it will be in pieces, but if not then we’re in for a big sprint. Weather Cold and the wind will be a steady 17km/h, which might not be strong enough for proper chaos. It’s going to be another cold day; the sun will be well hidden behind grey clouds. Echelons The direction of the wind is perfect, and we have exposed roads, but the wind could do with being a little stronger. Now, in this part of the...

With Paris-Nice getting lots of attention, you’d be forgiven about missing Tirreno-Adriatico, but not by me! The top two GC riders in the world might be in France, but there’s plenty of talent at this race, and it now looks wide open. The route contains no surprises, it’s a classic Tirreno route. Please note, the organisers have classified one climb as HC, the rest are all cat 1s. This does not mean they are all cat 1 difficulty, it’s just a nice way of giving a rider from a smaller team a chance of winning the KOM jersey. The opening...

La Verrière > La Verrière 169.3km The opening stage of the race falls into the “interesting” category. There’s a wall climb with 20km to go, and a little kicker with just 7km to go, which has 6, 4 and 2 seconds for the first three over the crest. In a race where bonus seconds could play a big role, the organisers are hoping to tease out an attack from some of the GC men. It’s a stage the sprinters will hope to win, but there is hope that a late attack could take the day. Weather Grey. There could be...

When deciding on the route for this year’s Paris-Nice, the organisers went a wee walk down the local park. One of them brought the carry oot (alcohol), another some weed, and they even managed to find some magic mushrooms along the way. After a very long night, they decided on a 32km TTT, but the team’s time is taken on the first rider across the line, and each individual rider gets their own time on crossing the line. Far out man! This stage will hopefully see some whacky tactics, some could get it very wrong, at least that’s what I...

Siena > Siena 183.7km The white roads of Siena are calling. Unfortunately, what was meant to be the first big showdown between Pogačar, Van Aert, van der Poel and Alaphilippe isn’t going to happen, Pogačar’s off to Paris-Nice and Van Aert is waiting for Tirreno before starting his season. I can’t help but be disappointed, but we’ve still got van der Poel, Alaphilippe and Pidcock. Fingers crossed, it’s an epic day. Weather Sunny and temperatures will be around 12 degrees. There’s not much wind either. Perfect conditions for the race. Key Points The route remains the same as usual, there...

Laigueglia > Laigueglia 201.0km The period of cold and windy conditions in most of Europe continues, this is going to be a “different” edition of Trofeo Laigueglia. Weather Freezing cold, maybe some snow and very strong wind. Lots of riders will take one look out of the window and hope the race gets shortened! Lap Circuit The main event of the lap is the Colla Micheri climb which is 2km at 7.8%. Given the weather conditions, the descent will be just as important, it’s normally a fast one. Saying that, there’s a tricky descent before the bunch hit the lap...

Quaregnon > Dour 206.6km With the excitement of the opening weekend still sitting in my brain, the riders bounce straight into another cobbled race, it’s the 55th edition of Le Samyn. Okay, it’s not as prestigious as Omloop or Kuurne, but this one is for the hipsters. The route is very similar to last year, just a couple of tiny adjustments that most won’t even notice.  Weather Another Baltic day for the riders to endure. The wind will be around 20km/h, coming from the north-east means lots of crosswind sections for the bunch to deal with. Lap Circuit Rue de Vert...

Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium > Jebel Hafeet 153.4km The final stage is here, thank God for that. Each year this race is a grind, the organisers really must start thinking about changing things up. We’ve got sprints with barely a corner in the final 10km, and two mountain stages with just one climb at the end of an easy day. The good weather and fancy hotels will always attract the riders to this part of the world, but from a viewing spectacle, the organisers must do better. Rant over, on with the preview. Weather Roasting hot, even up the climb....

Kuurne > Kuurne 191.3km Freezing cold conditions, a strong wind, this is going to be a long day for some. After removing the Kwaremont last year, the organisers have stuck with the new route. I love the Kwaremont, so I’m always disappointed when it’s not in the race, but there’s still enough to keep everyone entertained. The route change didn’t really have an impact on the race, it was still a big game of cat and mouse, with the break getting caught agonisingly close to the line. Who’ll win this time round, the cat or the mouse? Weather Baltic! The...

Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi > Abu Dhabi Breakwater 165.6km The last chance for the sprinters. Another boring day lies ahead, thank God Omloop is also on. This finish has been used before, but the road in to the final 1.5km is different.  Weather Hot and sunny. There’s not much wind around, but the sprint is headwind, yet again. Finale We’re back on wide roads for the finale of the stage, until the final 500m or so. There’s a gentle curve in the final 150m, being on the left is the best place to be. Tactics Stage 4 was chaos...

Al Marjan Island > Umm al Quwain 170.3km Another boring day ahead. It should be a sprint and everyone will spend the day just waiting for the final 5km. Weather Another hot one with temperatures close to 30 degrees. There is a lot of crosswind throughout the stage, and exposed roads, but with the wind only hitting 17km/h, it’s unlikely to split.  Finale The final straight is basically 5km long, with just a couple of roundabouts to negotiate. The big difference compared to stage 4 is the width of the road, it is much narrower. This will bring more order...

Ghent > Ninove 207.3km The opening weekend is here, hallelujah! The races so far have given a big hint at form, but as we have several riders racing for the first time in 2023, there’s still a lot of unknowns. The organisers have seen the error of their ways and brought back the Molenberg. Weather Cold and windy. Temperatures will barely get above 3 degrees and the wind will hit around 25km/h, coming from the north. That’s plenty to split the race. Route I’ve decided to break the race up into a few parts, mainly to show the wind and...

Al Shindagha / Dubai Harbour 173.9km The first of the big sprint battles. Most of the stage will be boring, but the finale will be fun. Weather Not as hot as previous days, but still hot by Scottish standards. There shouldn’t be too much wind around. Finale Wide road, arrow straight, final bend with 700m to go. Headwind sprint. Tactics QuickStep are in control of the race, and even though they’ve won two out of three stages, they’ll want more. They’ll take control of what’s likely to be a weak break, before getting some help from the other sprint teams....

Umbrella Beach Al Fujairah > Jebel Jais 184.9km The first of the mountain stages, but don’t get too excited, it’s Jebel Jais. Not the best climb in the world for those watching, the steady gradient normally means we get a sprint finish. Weather Another day with lots of sunshine. The wind starts around 20km/h but decreases in strength throughout the stage. Echelons are unlikely. Finale It’s a long climb, but the wide road, nice surface and gradient make it straightforward for the best climbers.  Tactics Will we see a different climb to previous years? That is very unlikely, as quite...

Khalifa Port > Khalifa Port 17.3km TTT We have a team time trial but are lacking the usual big engines. Yes, we have a few TT specialists here, but not that many. The route is a standard out and back effort, but with the wind blowing it could be a tricky one. 17.3km is quite short for a TTT, expect to see most teams try to keep all their riders together until the end.  Weather A bit cloudy and the wind could cause a few problems as the TT is basically in the sea.  Contenders Joining us for tonight’s preview...