Christian Prudhomme confirmed on Wednesday January 26 that the Tour de France 2023 will start from Bilbao and that the first three stages will take place in the Spanish Basque Country. He said nothing about his passage on the French side
The Tour de France 2023 will start from Bilbao on Saturday July 1. The boss of the Great Loop announced it on Wednesday January 26, in Vitoria-Gasteiz, the administrative capital of the Spanish Basque Country. Three stages will cross Biscay, Alava and Guipuzcoa, and will stop in Bilbao, Vitoria and San Sebastián. Before arriving in France. From where ? “It’s a very good question, laughs Christian Prudhomme. I can only tell you that it will be after Irùn, and that we will not take the helicopter to reach our arrival in France. To date, there are several applications to welcome the arrival of this third stage. I’ll give you an appointment on October 27 to discover it “.
We know that Bayonne is in the running, but on the official side, nothing more will filter. Bilbao will be the tenth Spanish city to host a big start of the Tour de France. The last dates back to San Sebastian in 1992.
For the “Punchers”
It promises a first stage “for the punchers”, on a loop of 185 kilometers from Bilbao to Bilbao, 3,300 meters of elevation gain an average slope of 9% over the last two kilometers.