Author: cyclingmole

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...