Nat Bromhead
Welcome to Bicycling Australia’s day-by-day coverage of the cycling event of the year, the Tour de France. Check this pinned post daily for the latest stage results and at the end of the tour you’ll be able to scroll back to see how the race unfolded. A big thanks to Rouvy who are supporting our coverage – you can check out their impressive augmented reality training platform at www.Rouvy.com
Stage 7 – Mont-de-Marsan – Bordeaux
Jasper Philipsen has made it three from three at the Tour de France, the standout sprinter of the race winning again in Bordeaux today.
But veteran fast man Mark Cavendish came agonisingly close to taking his 35th TDF stage win, he was leading the sprint and in sight of the line only to have Philipsen come around him and win by a bike length.
Cavendish also suffered bad luck, the 38yo having his gears jump several times while he was zeroing in on the line.
“I kicked a little earlier than I’d like, but actually, still about the same time as I did in 2010,” recounted Cav, referring to his previous Tour de France sprint victory in Bordeaux 13 years ago.
“Once I kicked, I started, the gears jumped from the 11 to the 12, I had to sit down. Cadence just whacks up. Then it goes back to the 11th, I tried to stand up. I needed to sit down. There was nothing you could do except, like, kind of hope. I’m bitterly disappointed there. I’m really disappointed, but we keep on trying,” he added.
Philipsen wished Cavendish well and also said he’d like to see him take the record, and also thanked his Alpecin Deceuninck teammates and in particular his #1 leadout man Matthieu van der Poel.
“If you told me three stage wins one week ago I’d think you were crazy,” he said. “So far it’s a dream Tour for us and hopefully we can add another one.
“Cavendish was really strong. I would also have loved to see him win, I think everybody would, but I’m sure he will keep on trying. He’s up there, in good condition, and it will be hard.”
Although Philipsen did win, they’re was conjecture over how he won with two teams lodging complaints after alleging he deviated from his line. A penalty would have resulted in Cavendish being awarded the win, and therefore his elusive 35th Tour de France stage victory.
The race continues tomorrow with the 200km Stage 8 from Libourne to Limoges.
STAGE 6 – TARBES – CAUTERETS-CAMBASQUE 149km
The past two stages of the Tour de France have had more ups, downs, highs and lows than a month on the stockmarket! A casual viewer tuning in today could well have thought they were watching stage 19 or 20, the battle was that intense. But still we are in the first week of what’s becoming an absolute thriller of a Tour de France.
Tadej Pogacar either had a bad day yesterday, with Aussie Jai Hindley victoriously pouncing and taking Stage 5 and the Yellow Jersey, or he was bluffing.
But today both Pogacar and key rival (and defending champion ) Jonas Vingegaard were on a completely different level. Stage 6 was less than 150km, but it showcased some of the most thrilling man-on-man racing of the past decade, and viewers witnessed one of the strongest attacks in recent memory.
The action started on the Tourmalet and continued through the afternoon. The crescendo come as Jonas & Pogacar fought tooth and nail from around 5km to go.
Launching from around 2km to go, Pogacar’s pivotal move was basically 3-2-1… lift off. He accelerated away from Vingegaard in a manner we haven’t seen in years. Staying clear, Pogacar went on to win the stage and climb to second overall on GC.
Hindley Hands The Jersey To Jonas
Vingegaard now leads the race, with Aussie Jai Hindley relinquishing the famed jersey after just 24hrs of temporary ownership.
“I wanted to win the stage, but Pogacar was very strong at the end of the last climb,” said Jonas after donning the yellow jersey for the first time in 2023.
“Just like yesterday, we made the race hard. The goal was to test Pogacar early again. We did that on the Tourmalet, but we couldn’t release him.”
Vingegaard gained over two minutes on (former) yellow jersey wearer Jai Hindley
“I’m thrilled about it, it’s a huge honour,” said the 26yo Dane.
“The yellow jersey is the most iconic in cycling. I am where I want to be now, but the Tour de France is far from over”, he added.
Top 3 GC After Stage 6
1: Jonas Vingegaard 26h 10m 44s
2: Tadej Pogacar +25s
3: Jai Hindley +1m34s
Stage 6 – Tarbes to Cauterets-Cambasque – 144.9km
Today’s Stage 6 is set to be another high-mountain thriller. Again, it will be fascinating to see how the top GC contenders play it, particularly after Jai Hindley took so much time and went into Yellow yesterday.
Stage 6 is the race’s second part of the passage through the Pyrenees and includes the mighty Tourmalet plus a stage finish at Cauterets-Cambasque. There are 3817 meters of climbing in the 144.9km route.
The final 16km climb has only been used once in Tour de France history (in 1989), and is set to be a real test test for the lead contenders.
Climbs of the day include –
Côte de Capvern-les-Bains / 5,6km à 4,8%
Col d’Aspin / 12km à 6,5%
Col du Tourmalet / 17,1km à 7,3%
Cauterets-Cambasque / 16km à 5,4%
Stage 5 – Pau to Laruns 162.7km
West Australian Jai Hindley has claimed the first mountain stage of the 2023 Tour de France and well and truly taken the Yellow Jersey after a stellar Stage 5 performance.
Getting to the breakaway of the day, he attacked on Col de Marie Blanc and held off attacks by big name rivals to sit well ahead of rivals.
Well aware it’s still only very early days, Jai said the stage victory was “really incredible …I have no words.”
“The guys in the radio were just screaming at me to ride to the line,” he recounted. “I couldn’t really hear so much what was happening. I just wanted to take as much time as possible – and also the stage win – and, yeah, found myself in the yellow jersey, so that’s pretty cool.”
The 2022 Giro d’Italia winner said being his first Tour de France, he didn’t know what to expect from the race thus far.
“It’s my first Tour and it’s hard to come here with massive ambitions. But for sure I wanted to come and be competitive and have some form of success – and I’ve just won a stage of the Tour.”
Jonas Vingegaard is 47 seconds behind Hindley and sits second overall. Vingegaard left fellow overall favourite Tadej Pogacar on the day’s penultimate climb, the ‘The Pog’ finishing the stage 1 minute and 40 seconds behind Hindley.
Top 10 Overall After Stage 5
- Jai Hindley (AUS, Bora-Hansgrohe) 22hr 15’12”
- Jonas Vingegaard (DEN, Jumbo-Visma) +47″
- Giulio Ciccone (ITA, Lidl – Trek) +1:03″
- Emanuel Buchmann (GER, BORA – hansgrohe) +1:11″
- Adam Yates (GBR, UAE Team Emirates) +1:34″
- Tadej Pogacar (SLO, UAE Team Emirates) +1:40″
- Simon Yates (Team Jayco AlUla) +1:40″
- Mattias Skjelmose (DEN, Lidl – Trek) +1:56″
- Carlos Rodriguez Cano (ESP, Ineos Grenadiers) +1:56″
- David Gaudu (Groupama – FDJ) +1:56″
Stage 4 – Dax to Nogaro – 181km
Jasper Philipsen has made it two in a row, the Alpecin-Deceuninck sprinter winning yesterday’s Stage 3 and today’s Stage 4 of the Tour de France.
But much more importantly in our completely unbiased opinion, Caleb Ewan finished 2nd to Philipsen today, on the back of his 3rd place yesterday.
“I have the speed to win, but for that all the puzzle pieces have to fit together,” Caleb said after the thrilling finish on the Nogaro Racetrack south of Bordeaux.
“Even though it is a sour second place, it is nice to compete for the stage victory. At least I’m getting closer and I’ll keep trying.”
A super close finish, the final kilometres of the stage was hectic with two seperate high-speed crashes, one that saw Fabio Jacobsen crash heavily, but fortunately getting back on his bike to cross the line.
Easy Stage, Fast Finish
“It was a really easy stage,” said Jasper Philipsen after claiming his 4th Tour de France stage win.
“I think everybody wanted to save their legs for the Pyrenees tomorrow and the day after. In the final kilometres entering the circuit there were some crashes so I hope everybody is OK and safe.
“It was a hectic final with the turns in the end and I lost my team as well, but in the final straight I found Mathieu and he did an amazing pull to get me to victory. My legs were cramping and Caleb was coming close.”
Mark Cavendish was again in the mix, the soon-to-retire ‘Manx Missile’ dodging, weaving and doing his best to match it with Philipsen and Ewan. But as the top two sprinters of this year’s Tour were throwing their bikes over the line, Cav was still sprinting for fifth.
The race heads into the Pyrenees for Stage 5, with a 15km climb to the summit of Col de Soudet being one of the highlights of the day. Cavendish, Ewan and Philipsen will have to wait until a fast finish into Bordeaux on Friday for their next opportunity to shine.
Stage 4 Top 10
1. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 4hrs 25mins 28sec
2. Caleb Ewan (Lotto Dstny) Same time
3. Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious)
4. Bryan Coquard (Cofidis)
5. Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan)
6. Danny van Poppel (Bora-Hansgrohe)
7. Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Pro Cycling)
8. Luka Mezgec (Team Jayco-AlUla)
9. Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma)
10. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
General Classification After Stage 4
1. Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) 18hrs 18mins 1sec
2. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) +6sec
3. Simon Yates (Team Jayco-AlUla) +6sec
4. Victor Lafay (Cofidis) +12sec
5. Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) +16sec
6. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) +17sec
7. Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe) +22sec
8. Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech) +22sec
9. Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) +22sec
10. Carlos Rodriguez Cano (Ineos Grenadiers) +22sec
Stage 3 – Amorebieta-Etxano to Bayonne, 193.5km
Jasper Philipsen has set the benchmark at the 2023 Tour de France, the Belgian making the first all-in sprint finish look easy in Bayonne on Monday afternoon. But it may not have been as easy as Philipsen portrayed, the Alpecin-Deceuninck fast-man was led out by lightening-quick teammate Mathieu van der Poel with Philipsen later saying “It’s not easy to stay on Mathieu’s wheel.”
From an Australian perspective, the highlight was definitely seeing Caleb Ewan cross the line third, just behind Phil Bauhaus in second. A ‘23 Tour de France stage podium will be comforting for Caleb who’s had a bad run over the past few months and is desperately seeking the kick and speed he’s renowned for.
The other notable sprinter in the race, Mark Cavendish – who is seeking just one more Tour de France stage win to take the all-time record from Eddy Merckx – was there in the mix finishing sixth.
The first all-in sprint finish of this year’s Tour wasn’t without conjecture with Wout van Aert initially appearing to be boxed in when trying to pass Philipsen on the inside of the final bend. Race commissaries viewed video of the finish for several minutes prior to confirming had indeed won.
Tuesday’s Stage 4 of the Tour will present another opportunity for the sprinters, with Mark Cavendish hinting the Nogaro finish is one he’s got in his sights.
Stage 3 Top 10
- Jasper Philipsen (BEL, Alpecin-Deceuninck) 4hr 43’15”
- Phil Bauhaus (GER, Bahrain – Victorious) +0″
- Caleb Ewan (AUS, Lotto Dstny) +0″
- Fabio Jakobsen (NED, Soudal – Quick Step) +0″
- Wout van Aert (BEL, Jumbo-Visma) +0″
- Mark Cavendish (GBR, Astana Qazaqstan Team) +0″
- Jordi Meeus (BEL, BORA – hansgrohe) +0″
- Dylan Groenewegen (NED, Team Jayco AlUla) +0
- Mads Pedersen (DEN, Lidl – Trek) +0″
- 10.Bryan Coquard (FRA, Cofidis) +0″
Stage 2 – 210km from Vitoria-Gasteiz to San Sebastián
15-years after their last Tour de France stage win, but less than 24-hours after saying Victor Lafay ‘has the form and motivation to take stage victories’, the 27yo Cofidis rider won Stage 2 of the 2023 Tour.
Perfectly timing a jump within 800m of the San Sebastian finish line, Lafay went solo and held off 25 of the world’s fastest bike riders including Wout van Aert who finished second.
After proving he was at his best yesterday, and seemingly matching the duelling Pogacar and Vingegaard over the day’s toughest climb, Lafay said being able to ride at the same tempo as the overall favourites “was incredible.”
“I told my teammates that I felt really good,” he said. “When I passed in front, Pogacar immediately took my wheel and behind him he had a teammate to take advantage of the situation. In times like these, you have to be able to trust yourself.”
It was during the stage to seaside San Sebastián just 24 hours later, on a steep and technical course made all the more difficult by light rain, that he executed his magic and broke the deeply-French team’s TDF drought that started way back in 2008.
Understating his abilities, Lafay said “I am in good condition so it allows to be optimistic for the future.”
After the team’s drought-breaking victory Lafay said “we came into this Tour determined not to finish empty handed. This victory is going to do a lot of good to all of us.”
Stage 1 winner Adam Yates retains the Yellow Jersey with two-time overall winner Tadej Pogacar six seconds behind him. Simon Yates is another six seconds back in third.
Two stages into the Tour and the overriding theme is that the pace has well and truly been on since the start flag dropped just a day ago. Today’s racing was incredibly fast, reactive and aggressive. Cycling fans are certainly in for a thrilling three weeks, the 2023 Tour de France looks set to be on for the ages.
Top 10 Overall After Stage 2
1: Adam Yates 9h09m18s
2: Tadej Pogacar +6s
3: Simon Yates +6s
4: Victor Lafay +12s
5: Wout van Aert +16s
6: Jonas Vingegaard +17s
7: Michael Woods +22s
8: Mattias Skjelmose +22s
9: Jai Hindley +22s
10: Michel Landa +22s
Stage 1 – 182km Bilbao circuit
Adam Yates will be the first to race in the famed Yellow Jersey after beating his twin brother Simon to the line at Stage 1 of the 2023 Tour de France.
His first Tour with UAE Team Emirates, team mate and two-time TDF winner Tadej Pogacar finished third on the opening stage of the 110th ‘Grande Boucle.’
Speaking after the stage, Adam said the Yates 1-2 was a particularly poignant occasion, with mama and papa Yates also in the crowd watching.
Twin brothers and close friends, after the stage Adam said the two get on famously and catch up daily.
“He lives just five minutes away,” Adam said.
“I saw him this morning before the start and he asked what my plans were. Obviously I couldn’t tell him,” continued Adam.
“I’m sure he’ll be a pain in the ass for me somewhere later along the road though,” he added.
Simon agreed, saying the two have a solid relationship and he was thrilled to see Adam in Yellow.
“But I’ll stick it to him in a couple of days,” added the Team Jayco-AlUla rider.
Stage 2 kicks of just after 12 noon local time (GMT +2), and will be raced over 210 hilly kilometres from Vitoria-Gasteiz to Donostia San Sebastián.
Stage 1 Top 10 (Same as overall GC)
1. Adam Yates (GB/UAE Team Emirates) 4hrs 22mins 49secs
2. Simon Yates (GB/Team Jayco-AlUla) +4secs
3. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) +12secs
4. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/Groupama-FDJ) Same time
5. Michael Woods (Can/Israel-Premier Tech)
6. Victor Lafay (Fra/Cofidis)
7. Jai Hindley (Aus/Bora-hansgrohe)
8. Mattias Skjlemose (Den/Lidl-Trek)
9. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Jumbo-Visma)
10. David Gaudu (Fra/Groupama-FDJ)
A big thanks to Rouvy who are supporting our 2023 TDF coverage – you can check out their impressive augmented reality training platform at www.ROUVY.com
