2023 Tour de FranceJul 1 - 23

2023 Tour de France - 2023 Tour de France - PJAMM Cycling Grand Tour Page
2023 Tour de France - 2023 Tour de France - PJAMM Cycling Grand Tour Page

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(1,2,3) 2023 Tour de France: The Grand Départ
Spain, France
16 ROUTES
2 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
359.6
mi
DISTANCE
26,313
ft
ELEV. GAIN
(13,14,15,16,17,18) 2023 Tour de France: The Alps
France, Switzerland
32 ROUTES
3 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
525.7
mi
DISTANCE
56,233
ft
ELEV. GAIN
(19,20) 2023 Tour de France: The Jura Mountains
France, Switzerland
9 ROUTES
2 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
192.6
mi
DISTANCE
17,443
ft
ELEV. GAIN
(21) 2023 Tour de France: Finale
France
1 ROUTES
1 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
73.4
mi
DISTANCE
2,145
ft
ELEV. GAIN
(4,7,8) 2023 Tour de France: The Sprinter's Stages
France
4 ROUTES
1 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
344.3
mi
DISTANCE
12,417
ft
ELEV. GAIN
(5,6) 2023 Tour de France: The Grand Pyrenees
France
8 ROUTES
1 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
193.7
mi
DISTANCE
23,064
ft
ELEV. GAIN
(9,10,11,12) 2023 Tour de France: Central Massif Mountains
France
22 ROUTES
3 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
436.9
mi
DISTANCE
36,477
ft
ELEV. GAIN
2023 Tour de France (Entire Tour)
France, Spain
21 ROUTES
0 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
2126.1
mi
DISTANCE
174,092
ft
ELEV. GAIN

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FULL SUMMARY

Tour de France 2023 - photo collage, PJAMM bike and jersey leaning against post in front of Arc de Triomphe, Paris; riders in the Tour de France ride past the Arc de Triompth 

2023 Tour de France: 1 July to 23 July, 2023

The map above will show you the hardest, steepest, and most legendary climbs in this year’s Tour. Scroll down to read about all the climbing the pros will be doing in the Alps, Grand Pyrenees, and all throughout France.

During the Tour, our KOM Corner will have updates on the King of the Mountain competition, such as who is wearing the Polka Dot Jersey, how much power they maintained during the climb, and just how fast he rode to the summit.

Our dynamic list allows you to organize the climbs by stage number, difficulty, altitude gained, highest finish, distance, steepest, and more. Click on a climb or stage to go to a detailed page with additional information. Check out our Tour de France Tutorial Video for more on using the tools on this page.

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 TdF History pages.

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 back 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 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!

Tour de France 2019 - Col du Tourmalet - Summit - Geant, cyclists, col sign

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 1 (July 1):

Tbd

Letour.fr - Stage 21

STANDINGS AFTER STAGE 21 (July 24)

Individual standings

Rider

Time

gap

Team

KOM Standing

Rider

KOM Points

Country

Team

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

Col du Tourmalet

Pyrenees

89

2023

1910

Col d'Aspin

Pyrenees

74

2023

1910

Col d'Aubisque

Pyrenees

73

2022

1910

Col de Peyresourde

Pyrenees

68

2021

1910

Col du Galibier

Alps

63

2022

1911

Col de Portet d'Aspet

Pyrenees

58

2021

1910

Col des Aravis

Alps

42

2023

1911

Col d'Izoard

Alps

36

2019

1922

Col de Vars

Alps

35

2019

1922

Col d'Allos

Alps

34

2015

1911

Alpe d'Huez

Alps

32

2022

1952

Col du Télégraphe

Alps

31

2022

1911

Col de la Madeleine

Alps

29

2020

1969

Col de la Croix de Fer

Alps

21

2022

1947

Mont Ventoux

Alps

18

1921

1951

Col du Soulor

Pyrenees

16

2019

1912

Col du Glandon

Alps

14

2015

1947

Puy de Dome

Massif Central

13

2023

1952

Luz Ardiden

Pyrenees

9

2021

1985

Col de l'Iseran

Alps

8

2019

1938

©  PJAMMCycing.com

Interesting 2023 TdF Facts

  • This is the 110th Tour de France.
  • Start:  Bilbao, Spain July 1
  • Finish - Champs-Élysées, Paris, 23 July
  • 18 teams
  • Only two countries are included in the 2023 TdF:  Spain (Basque Country, Stages 1-3), and France.
  • The tour nears Switzerland on Stages 14 and 15 just south of Lake Geneva, but never crosses the border.
  • All five mountain ranges of France are included in the 2023 TdF: the Alps, Pyrenees, Vosges, Jura, and Massif Central.
  • There are 30 Category 2 and above climbs.  
  • Col du Tourmalet returns for the 89th time, far more than any other climb.  
  • Other notable climbs appearances:
  • Col d’Aspin (74 appearances - second all-time; Pyrenees)
  • Col des Aravis (42 - seventh all-time; Alps)
  • Ballon d’Alsace (27 - 17th overall; Vosges)
  • Col de Marie Blanque (14; Pyrenees)
  • Puy Dome (13; Central Massif); first appearance since 1988)
  • Col de la Forclaz and Col de Joux Plane (12; Alps)
  • Col du Grand Colombier (5; Jura Mountains)
  • The official tour release implies that Grand Colombier and Col de la Loze will get more attention in the future:
  • “The return to this legendary climb [Puy Dome] will be accompanied by the rise in importance of sites that will mark the Tours of the future, such as the Grand Colombier or the Col de la Loze.”
  • Distance: 3,350 kilometers (2,079 miles) - the longest tour was in 1926 at 5,745 kilometers (3,570 miles).
  • Longest stage: Stage 2 (Vitoria-Gasteiz > Saint-Sebastien  209 km / 113 miles).
  • Total Elevation gained: 55,086 m / 180,728’(well above 2022: 47,861m / 157,024’)
  • Most elevation gained on a stage: Stage 17 (5,012 m / 16,444’; includes Cormet Roselend and Col de la Loze).
  • Most elevation gained on a climb:  Col de la Loze - 1,805 meters / 5,922’
  • Highest point on the 2023 TdF is Col de la Loze (Stage 17) at 2304 meters (7,559’)
  • Steepest climb:  Cote des Amerands 9.5% 2.9 km (Stage 15)
  • Steepest segments: (you can filter yourself using the sorting tool in to the left of the map, above).
  • 1 kilometer: Cote de Pike - 14.5% (Puy Dome #2 at 14.4%)
  • 2 kilometers: Col de Marie Blanque - 13.2% (Puy Dome #2 at 12.3%)
  • 5 kilometers:  Puy Dome - 11.3% (Col de Marie Blanque #2 at 10.6%)
  • 10 kilometers: Col du Tourmalet - 8.9% (Col de la Loze #2 at 8.5%)
  • 1 mile:  Col de Marie Blanque - 13.6%
  • 5 miles:  Col de la Loze - 9%.
  • This is the 110th Tour de France since its first edition in 1903:
  • No TdF 1915-1918 (WWI)
  • No TdF 1940-1946 (WWII)
  • TdF postponed from 27 June 2020, to 29 August 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Stages:
  • 8 mountain stages;
  • 6 hilly stages;
  • 6 flat stages;
  • 1 individual time trial
  • One travel day between Denmark (Stage 3) and France (Stage 4);
  • Two rest days (one after Stage 9 and one after Stage 15).
  • There are four summit finishes:
  • Cauterets-Cambasque (Stage 6 - Pyrenees)
  • Puy de Dôme (Stage 9; Central Massif)
  • Grand Colombier (Stage 13 Jura Mountains)
  • Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc (Stage 15 - Alps)
  • Puy Dome is featured for the first time in 35 years.
  • The hardest road bike climb in France is Col de la Loze (Meribel).  Col de la Loze (TdF 2023) from a slightly less difficult approach is featured on Stage 17.
  • The five hardest climbs of the 2023 Tour de France are:

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%)

  •  First timers to the TdF:  
  • Côte de Vivero (Basque Country; 4.4 km at 7.1%);
  • Col de la Croix Rosier (Massif Central; 5.4 km, 7.5%); and
  • Col du Feu (Alps; 6.1 km, 7.5%).
  • Bonuses:
  • Time bonuses will be awarded at the finish of each stage: 10 seconds (first), 6 seconds (second), and 4 seconds (third).
  • There will also be bonus seconds that will be located on climbs at strategic points: 8, 5, and 2 seconds for first through third riders past those points.
  • No cobbles on this year’s Tour.
  • Passes of the 2022 TdF:  
  • Vosges (1)
  • Alps (12)
  • Massif Central (1)
  • Pyrenees (9)
  • HC & Category Climb: TBD

HC Climbs

Previous Tour

Appearances - including 2022

Distance

(kilometers & miles

Elevation Gain

(meter & feet)

Peak

(meters & feet)

Average

 Grade

TBD

TBD

TBD

TBD

TBD

TBD

Historical Tour de France Facts of Interest

  • Climb most often featured in the Tour: Tourmalet - 89 times as of 2023 with Col d’Aspin second as of 74.

Cycling Col du Tourmalet

From Campan: 16.9 km gaining 1267m at 7.5% average grade.

From Luz Saint Sauveur: 18.7 km gaining 1319m at 7.1%.

  • Highest Point ever reached in the Tour de France: Cime de la Bonette, at 2,802 meters

Cime de la Bonette, highest point on Tour de France

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

Cime de la Bonette

2,802m

4

Alps

4

2008

1962

Col de l'Iseran

2,770m

8

Alps

8

2019

1938

Col Agnel

2,744m

1

Alps

2

2011

2008

Col du Galibier

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

  • Highest point of first (1903) TdF:  Col de la République (1,161m).

  • Most TdF wins:
  • Yellow Jersey - overall winner:
  • Merckx has the most Grand Tour wins of anyone (11 - 5 TdF, 5 Giro, 1 Vuelta)
  • Has the second most Grand Tour wins (10 - 5 TdF, 3 Giro, 2 Vuelta)
  • Polka Dot (King of the Mountains - since 1933):
  • Green Jersey (most points; since 1953)
  • Most days wearing the yellow jersey:
  • 111 Eddy Merckx
  • 79 Bernard Hinault
  • 60 Miguel Indurain
  • Most days wearing yellow jersey in a single TdF:
  • 21: Jacques Anquetil 1961 - held the yellow jersey from day one.
  • Most stage wins:  
  • Most stage wins in a single tour:  
  • Most times atop the podium (top three TdF finish):
  • First mountain stage and climbs in the Tour:
  • Stage 10 July 21, 1910: Luchon to Bayonne
  • 326 kilometers
  • Circle of Death: Col de Peyresourde, Col d’Aspin, Col du Tourmalet and Col d’Aubisque
  • On arriving at the top of Col d’Aubisque Octave Lapize (TdF 1910 winner) yelled to tour organizers what is variously reported as “murderers,” “assassins,” or “criminals.”  He also said he would quit the tour after descending to Laruns, but he rallied to complete the stage and go on to win the 1910 Tour de France.

PJAMM Cyclists ride the "Circle of Death" - Col d'Aspin, Col du Tourmalet

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).

  • First mountain-top stage finish:  Alpe d’Huez (Dutch Mountain/The Alpe) was the first mountain-top finish in the history of the Tour de France in 1952, Stage 10.
  • Country wearing the yellow jersey most:  
  • France (709)
  • Belgium (434)

 

Frenchmen have been in the maillot jaune far more than any other country.

 

  • Winning TdF in first appearance:
  • Youngest winner of the Tour:  
  • Henri Cornet: France, age 19 (1904)
  • Tadej Pogačar: Slovenia, age 21 (2020)
  • Oldest TdF winner:
  • Firmin Lambot: Belgium, age 36 (1922)
  • Most TdF appearances:
  • King of the Mountains: Mountain Classification victories (first recognized in 1933; jersey introduced 1975)

letour.fr

“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).

  • TdF:

cyclist rides by large polka dot jersey sign on rock wall, Alpe d'Huez

King of the Mountains is designated by the red polka dot jersey.

  • Most green jerseys (total points):
  • Most white jerseys (best young rider):
  • Least finishers:  
  • 10 in 1919
  • Shortest margin of victory:  
  • 8 seconds: Greg Lemond over Laurent Fignon in 1989 (Lemond overcame 50 seconds in the final time trial using aero bars for the first time in the TdF).
  • Greatest margin of victory:
  • Country with most wins:
  • France (36)
  • Belgium (18)
  • Spain (12)
  • Italy (10)
  • Britain (6)
  • Luxembourg (5)
  • USA (3)
  • Hardest climb ever in the Tour de France:  Col de la Loze (Meribel).

THE BIG MOUNTAIN STAGES OF THE 2023 TOUR DE FRANCE

STAGE 6 

COL D’ASPIN - COL DU TOURMALET - CAUTERETS CAMBASQUE

PJAMM Cycling profile tools shows route overview and elevation gained on Stage 6 of 2023 Tour de France

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

STAGE 13

COL DU GRAND COLOMBIER (4th hardest climb of the Tour)

PJAMM Cycling profile tool shows climb profile for Tour de France Stage 13 2023

TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 13:  Mountain Stage 4

152 km (94 mi)  / 2371 m (7,779’)

photo collage shows KOM bike statue, sign for col du Grand Colombier

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.

STAGE 14

COL DE JOUX PLANE (3rd hardest climb of the 2023 Tour)

PJAMM Cycling Profile Tool shows route overview of Tour de France 2023 stage 14

TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 14: Mountain Stage #5

152 km (94 mi) / 4093 m (13,428’)

STAGE 17

COL DE LA LOZE - The hardest climb of the 2023 Tour de France

PJAMM Cycling's route overview shows elevation gained in TdF Stage 17

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:

  • The points awarded for the TdF KOM for each climb is based upon the category of climb - thus, “category” is the basis for the points that are used to determine each year’s King of the Mountains.
  • Most cycling fans, particularly Grand Tour fans, are very interested in the climb “category” because that tells them how hard each climb on a stage is, where the riders will struggle more, and the point in a stage where that day, or even the entire tour, will be won or lost.

KOM HISTORY:  

  • King of the Mountains: Mountain Classification victories (first recognized in 1933; jersey introduced 1975)
  • TdF:
  • 2020 & 2021 King of the Mountains:  Tadej Pogačar, Slovenia (also won the TdF and the Young Rider classification)

POINTS:  KOM points are awarded in three ways on the Tour de France:

  •  To riders first over the summit of categorized climbs (in descending order HC, 1-4).  
  • The higher the category the more riders receive points (HC points are awarded to eight riders, while CAT 4 points are awarded to only one rider).
  • Bonus point (see below).
  • Points for altitude finishes.

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.  

  • There are no KOM bonuses in the 2022 Tour de France.  

MONEY PRIZES FOR KING OF THE MOUNTAINS

  • Prize for first to eighth place:
  • Winner = €25,000
  • 2nd = €15,000
  • 3rd = €10,000
  • 4th = €4,000
  • 5th = €3,500
  • 6th = €3,000
  • 7th = €2,500
  • 8th = €2,000
  • Daily prize for wearing the Polka Dot jersey = €6,000
  • Per category climb:
  • HC
  • 1st = €800
  • 2nd = €450
  • 3rd = €300
  • Cat 1
  • 1st = €650
  • 2nd = €400
  • 3rd = €150
  • Cat 2
  • 1st = €500
  • 2nd = €250
  • Cat 3
  • 1st = €300
  • Cat 4
  • 1st = €200

  • Souvenir Henri Desgrange €5000 first to Col du Galibier pass Stage 11.

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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