The tour site remains the main hub alongside health centers, and masks stay in place. When a cyclist appears on the horizon, an alert sounds and riders are reminded to cover their mouths and noses with a cloth or mask kept in a pocket. Covid concerns linger, even more after a Giro incident where a leading rider contracted the virus while wearing a pink swimsuit, forcing his withdrawal from the Tour de France.
In Bilbao, the scene feels almost surreal: dozens of informants watching Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar approach a police station, both wearing masks. The Bilbao Exhibition Center serves as the Tour’s administrative base in Bilbao, the same Biscayan capital that welcomed the race under rainy skies on Thursday. Vingegaard and Pogacar, like the other riders, rode through damp streets as the event began in Bilbao on a Saturday, their wheels turning through wet pavements as preparations intensified.
They ride with a clear purpose, chasing the dream of victory. ✨Jonas Vingegaard✨ @WoutvanAert ✨ @DylanvanBaarle ✨ @TiesjBenoot✨ @LAPORTEChristop ✨ @seppkuss ✨ @W1lcokelderman ✨ @NVHooydonck
The sound rises as the narrative is carried by the riders themselves. #rideyourdreams #tdf2023 pic.twitter.com/uaaPKbJEYZ
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling —
All eyes turn toward two imaginative and aggressive riders who form the symbolic core of a six-rider cohort. They are Basque in heritage, European in reach, and global in ambition, with Vingegaard and Pogacar joined by Primoz Roglic, Remco Evenepoel, Mathieu van der Poel, and Wout van Aert. Beyond them lies a field where a handful of riders stand out, yet many could still rise to the occasion.
The bike is ready to debut in 2023 at the birth of Tour activity around the San Mamés stadium. Basque institutions invested 12 million euros to host the world’s premier cycling spectacle. Just like in any art form, there are headline stars and supporting players who fill the frame. When athletes face off with or without masks, the spotlight sharpens while other elements fade into the background.
Motivation
The Tour kicks off with the understanding that, barring a crash or a serious tactical misstep, Vingegaard or Pogacar will wear the yellow jersey on the decisive day, July 23, along the Champs-Élysées in Paris. “I arrive focused and ready to win,” one rider states. If doubts about whether the ankle fracture from Liège-Bastogne-Liège has healed persisted, last week’s results in Slovenia offered clarity, where a rider claimed both road race and time trial titles, facing limited opposition. The country has already tallied a dozen victories this season, including wins in Paris-Nice and the Belgian stage race.
Here comes the roster for the Tour: the lineup for the event includes several notable riders ready to compete on the world stage. Note: this paragraph outlines expectations and does not change existing facts.
What happens in the spring can never fully predict the Tour. One rider speaks of entering with less pressure and renewed determination to win after a challenging prior season. While another rider notes a high level of success this year, the Tour still presents its own unique challenges. If the race continues along its unpredictable path, the narrative could become a defining moment in the Slovenian cycling story. [Attribution: race reports and press briefings, 2023 season coverage]
Action from day one
The opening stages grip from the very start on the Basque roads. If Biscay serves as a trap, it will reveal itself quickly with early climbs and sprint points leading toward the Pyrenees. The route moves from Marie-Blanque into Tourmalet and beyond, culminating in the Alps after a mountainous first week featuring major climbs and a decisive time trial. The day ends with a dramatic ascent into the French Alps and a finish on the high roads.
During the opening ceremonies, anticipation builds as the teams present themselves to the public, signaling the start of what many expect to be the defining duel of the year. The historical parallels celebrate the sport’s greats—the heavyweights who left an imprint on cycling’s grand stories—and the new generation eager to write their own chapters.
As the teams roll forward, the atmosphere swells with loud cheers and festive energy, reflecting a shared passion for the sport and a collective sense that this Tour will be remembered for on-track battles and the personalities in the saddle.