2023 Tour de France: 1 - 23 July, 2023
Also visit our: (1) All Time Hardest Tour de France Climbs, (2) Most Legendary and Famous Climbs of the Tour de France, and, (3) 10 Highest Climbs in Tour de France History pages for more Tour de France inside information.
2023 TOUR DE FRANCE INFORMATION AND CLIMB DETAILS
Official Map of le Tour de France
2023 TdF Stage Statistics
This should be a year for a true climber to bring home the Polka Dots. The past few years, the KOM competition has been dominated by the GC contenders, with the past three Yellow Jersey winners also earning the Polka Dot jersey. This year, because of an unusually high amount of Category 2 and 3 climbs in the early stages, it is going to be tough for a GC rider to catch up with the KOM leaders during the second half of the tour, when winning mountain stages is crucial.
Compared to most years, there aren’t too many HC climbs included, with the tour skipping iconic alpine locations like Briançon (Galibier), St. Jean de Maurienne (Croix de Fer, Télégraphe), and Alpe d’ Huez.
Even more in favor of the climbers, the only time trial in this year’s tour is a double hill climb, containing 640 meters of ascent in a mere 22 kilometers with both climbs topping 11%. Unless the tour awards a hefty amount of bonus KOM points to climbs like the Tourmalet, Grand Colombiere, Col de la Loze, or the Cormet de Roselend, we predict this is finally a year for Simon Geschke, Wout, or even American favorite, Sepp Kuss!
Col du Tourmalet -- Stage 6: July 6, 2023
Since 1910 - 89 appearances in the TdF - more than any other climb.
KOM Corner
Official post-race summary for Stage 21 (July 23) - Letour.fr - Stage 21
JORDI MEEUS TAKES THE FINAL STAGE
TOUR DE FRANCE 2023 | STAGE 21 | SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES > PARIS CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES
Jordi Meeus (Bora-Hansgrohe) won the conclusive stage of the 110th Tour de France in Paris/Champs-Elysées in a bunch gallop that saw Jasper Philipsen and Dylan Groenewegen rounding out the podium in a very tight finish. Jonas Vingegaard became the 14th twice winner of the Tour de France, the first to achieve the Critérium du Dauphiné-Tour de France double since Geraint Thomas in 2018. Tadej Pogacar attacked on the Champs-Elysées but remained second overall. The same two riders finishing first and second two years in a row didn’t happen since Bernard Hinault and Joop Zoetemelk in 1978-79. The same two riders in the first two places at the end three years running is a first in the history of the race.
CAMPENAERTS AND CICCONE CELEBRATE THEIR ACHIEVEMENT
The start proper of stage 21 was given to 150 riders at 16.38. Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) attacked from the gun with the consent of the peloton to celebrate his super combative award but he sat up quickly this time! After the traditional toasts and pictures, Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) crested the côte du pavé des Gardes (cat. 4), the only categorized climb of the day, in first position, cheered up by his team-mates Mads Pedersen and Mattias Skjelmose.
POGACAR ON THE ATTACK
In the real race, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) attacked with 49km remaining. It forced Nathan van Hooydonck (Jumbo-Visma) to catch him and Alpecin-Deceuninck to chase them down. The Slovenian won the intermediate sprint. A group of ten riders came across but it was all together again 33km before the end. Simon Clarke (Israel-Premier Tech), Nelson Oliveira (Movistar) and Frederik Frison (Lotto-Dstny) rode away with 30km to go. They got a maximum advantage of 20’’ with 20km remaining. It was bunched up again 10km before the end. The times were taken one lap before the finish as it started raining in Paris.
MEEUS, A PIECE FOR A MUSEEUM
Uno-X brought former Champs-Elysées winner Alexander Kristoff to the front. Cofidis also showed up in the first positions for Bryan Coquard with 3km to go. Alex Kirsch (Lidl-Trek) took the lead for Mads Pedersen. They were followed by Bora-Hansgrohe setting up the sprint for Jordi Meeus. Pogacar didn’t have enough racing as he passed the red flame of the last kilometre in first position while Vingegaard let himself distanced to celebrate with his team-mates as the times had been taken at bell lap due to the rain. Jonas Rickaert took the lead to pilot Philipsen to a second win in a row on the Champs-Elysées and a fifth on this Tour de France but his compatriot pipped him on the line in a tight finish that required watching the photo. Meeus was chosen by Bora-Hansgrohe to substitute Sam Bennett, the winner in Paris in 2020. He waited for his time to come. 6th in Bordeaux was his best result so far. This is his first Grand Tour victory in his first participation in the Tour de France.
Photo - finish Stage 21 letour.fr
Jonas Vingegaard is the individual winner of the 2023 Tour de France (yellow jersey)
Jasper Philpsen is points winner (green); Giulio Ciccone KOM (polka dots) and Tadej Pogacar is best young rider (white)
STANDINGS AFTER STAGE 21 (July 23) | ||||
Individual standings | Rider | Time | gap | Team |
1 | J. Vingegaard | 82h 05'42" | - | Jumbo Visma |
2 | T. Pogacar | 82h 16'38" | 07'29" | UAE Emirates |
3 | A. Yates | 82h 18'59" | 12'23" | UAE Emirates |
KOM Standing | Rider | KOM Points | Country | Team |
1 | G. Ciccone | 106 | ITA | Lidl-Trek |
2 | F. Gall | 92 | AUT | Ag2R Citroen |
3 | J. Vingaard | 89 | DEN | Jumbo-Visma |
TOP 10 MOST FREQUENT CLIMBS OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE
(AND 10 FAMOUS ONES AFTER THAT)
Climb name | Mountain Range | Times Featured in Tour de France | Most recent | First included |
Pyrenees | 89 | 2023 | 1910 | |
Pyrenees | 74 | 2023 | 1910 | |
Pyrenees | 73 | 2022 | 1910 | |
Pyrenees | 68 | 2021 | 1910 | |
Alps | 63 | 2022 | 1911 | |
Pyrenees | 58 | 2021 | 1910 | |
Alps | 42 | 2023 | 1911 | |
Alps | 36 | 2019 | 1922 | |
Alps | 35 | 2019 | 1922 | |
Alps | 34 | 2015 | 1911 | |
Alps | 32 | 2022 | 1952 | |
Alps | 31 | 2022 | 1911 | |
Alps | 29 | 2020 | 1969 | |
Alps | 21 | 2022 | 1947 | |
Alps | 18 | 1921 | 1951 | |
Pyrenees | 16 | 2019 | 1912 | |
Alps | 14 | 2015 | 1947 | |
Massif Central | 13 | 2023 | 1952 | |
Pyrenees | 9 | 2021 | 1985 | |
Alps | 8 | 2019 | 1938 |
©PJAMMCycing.com
Interesting 2023 TdF Facts
1. Col du Tourmalet (16.9 km at 7.4%)
2. Col de Joux Plane (11.5 km at 8.4%)
3. Col du Grand Colombier (16.1 km at 7.1%)
4. Puy Dome (13.8 km at 7.6%)
5. Col de Soudet (15 km at 7.2%);
HC Climbs | Previous Tour Appearances - including 2023 | Distance (kilometers & miles | Elevation Gain (meter & feet) | Peak (meters & feet) | Average Grade |
Col de Soudet (Bonus) | 9 | 15/9.4 | 1,080m/3,543 | 1,533/5,031 | 7.2% |
Col du Tourmalet - Campan | 89 | 16.9/10.5 | 1,261/4,138 | 2,108/4,871 | 7.4% |
Puy De Dôme | 14 | 13.8/8.6 | 1,048/3,437 | 1,441/4,727 | 7.6% |
Col du Grand Colombiere | 5 | 16.1/10 | 1,149/1,729 | 1,369//4,488 | 7.1% |
Col de Joux Plane (Bonus) | 13 | 11.5/7.2 | 965/3,165 | 1,713/5,621 | 6.9% |
Col de la Loze (Bonus) | 2 | 28.4/17.7 | 1,805/5,922 | 2,277/7,742 | 6% |
Historical Tour de France Facts of Interest
From Campan: 16.9 km gaining 1267m at 7.5% average grade.
From Luz Saint Sauveur: 18.7 km gaining 1319m at 7.1%.
Cime de la Bonette is the highest point ever reached by the Tour de France.
2,802 meters - Stage 18 1962 (passed again in 1964, 1993 and 2008).
© Climb name | Elevation (meters) | Times highest point of TdF (as of 2022) | Mountain Range | Times Featured in Tour de France | Most recent | First included |
2,802m | 4 | Alps | 4 | 2008 | 1962 | |
2,770m | 8 | Alps | 8 | 2019 | 1938 | |
2,744m | 1 | Alps | 2 | 2011 | 2008 | |
2,642m | 50 | Alps | 63 | 2022 | 1911 | |
Col du Granon | 2,413m | 0 | Alps | 2 | 2022 | 1986 |
Five highest points the Tour de France has ever reached.
Also see Top 10 Highest Points of the TdF
Circle of Death
Tourmalet was the highest point the tour had ever reached as of 1910 (2115m)
Previous high point had been Col de Porte (1326m).
Frenchmen have been in the maillot jaune (yellow jersey) far more than any other country.
“Symbol of the mountains, of a rider pushing beyond their limits and of courage, the red polka dot jersey, which is sponsored by Carrefour, is awarded to the Tour de France’s leader of the best climber classification. Although this classification was introduced in 1933, its symbol, the polka dot jersey, appeared in 1975, which was also the year the Tour first finished on the Champs-Élysées and was won by Bernard Thévenet. It owes its appearance to track racing specialist Henri Lemoine, who competed between the 1930s and 1950s, and that Félix Lévitan, co-director of the Tour with Jacques Goddetwhich, had particularly noticed. While Belgium’s Lucien Van Impe was its first winner and claimed the mountains classification six times, just like his illustrious predecessor, Spain’s Federico Bahamontes, the so-called “Eagle of Toledo”, Frenchman Richard Virenque holds the record for victories with seven titles” (Tour de France, Polka Dot Jersey).
King of the Mountains is designated by the red polka dot jersey.
THE BIG MOUNTAIN STAGES OF THE 2023 TOUR DE FRANCE
COL D’ASPIN - COL DU TOURMALET - CAUTERETS CAMBASQUE
2023 TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 6: Mountain Stage #2 (Summit Finish; Pyrenees)
145 km (90 mi) / 3,778m (12,395’’)
TARBES > CAUTERETS-CAMBASQUE (JULY 6)
Tourmalet is the second hardest climb of the 2023 TdF
COL DU GRAND COLOMBIER (4th hardest climb of the Tour)
2023 TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 13: Mountain Stage 4
152 km (94 mi) / 2371 m (7,779’)
This stage features Col du Grand Colombier - the 4th hardest climb of the 2023 Tour.
16 kilometers gaining 1,149 meters at 7.1% average grade.
COL DE JOUX PLANE (3rd hardest climb of the 2023 Tour)
2023 TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 14: Mountain Stage #5
152 km (94 mi) / 4093 m (13,428’)
COL DE LA LOZE - The hardest climb of the 2023 Tour de France
2023 TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 17: Mountain Stage #7
166 km (103 mi) / 5012 m (16,444’)
SAINT-GERVAIS MONT-BLANC>COURCHEVEL
Col de la Loze 2023 TdF route:
28.4 kilometers gaining 1,805 meters at 6% average grade (7.1% climb only).
EXPLANATION OF KING OF MOUNTAIN, KOM POINTS, AND BONUS POINTS
FOR THE 2023 TOUR DE FRANCE
KOM DEFINED: Climb-related points are accumulated during the race. The rider with the most accumulated points at the beginning of the stage wears the red polka dot jersey that day, and the rider with the most points at the end of the race is crowned that year’s Tour de France King of the Mountains.
“Category”: When the mountain classification (King of the Mountains) was introduced in 1933, there were points given to the first 10 riders over the summit (10 for first, 1 for tenth). In 1947, the Tour introduced two climb “categories” with a certain amount of points for the second category and twice as many as for the first category. Over the years “categories” were added, in addition to an “Above” category (Hors or HC) and since 1979 there have been a HC (hardest), Category 1 (second hardest) on down to Category 4 (least difficult climb).
The category of the climb is significant for two reasons:
KOM HISTORY:
POINTS: KOM points are awarded in three ways on the Tour de France:
TDF POINTS FORMULA: Wikipedia has the best summary and graph we’ve seen for TdF KOM points distribution:
The points gained by consecutive riders reaching a mountain top are distributed according to the following classification:
Wikipedia - Mountains Classification - Tour de France
BONUS POINTS: These points go towards the King of the Mountain designation and are awarded to the first (8 points), second (5 points), and third (2 points) riders reaching designated summits in the race.
MONEY PRIZES FOR KING OF THE MOUNTAINS
The maximum amount the KOM winner could earn if he won every stage and wore the jersey from Stage 2 to the finish is $60,300 Euros (62,773 USD)
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