Tour de France 2023: today’s stage and the route

SAINT LEONARD DE NOBLAT – The first week of Tour de France ends with a mythical climb: the Puy de Dome returns after 35 years and it is impossible not to imagine an epic battle between Vingegaard And Pogacar on a mountain that really made the history of the Tour but which for various reasons, political and logistical, was unable to return to the route. At the time of the presentation there was a big round of applause and the show that is expected to repay a wait that lasted too long.

The stage not only has the final climb, but it’s all very complicated. It starts from Saint Leonard de Noblatthe town where he lived, died and is buried Raymond Poulidor, one of the greats who also linked their name to the Puy de Dôme. The first official climb will come after about seventy kilometers when the runners will have to face the Cote de Felletin (2.1 km at 5.2%), followed shortly after by Côte de Pontcharraud (1.8km at 4.6%). Then again the Côte de Pontaumur (3.3 km at 5.3%). At 56km to the finish and, before the final ascent, the peloton will have to climb again towards the unclassified Col de la Nugére. After a long descent the runners will arrive at Clermont Ferrand and then at the foot of the final ascent, which measures a total of 13.3 km with an average gradient of 7.7%. For the first 5 km the gradient is just over 7%, for 3 km it levels out and drops slightly. But 5 km from the finish line the slope will always be higher than 11%. The last part will take place without the presence of the public: the road is little more than a path and the transit of any means, even bicycles, is generally prohibited. From the top of Puy de Dome the winner will start seeing a piece of the Eiffel Tower. All that remains is to wait for the fateful hour: around 5 pm it will be pure and simple entertainment. Something memorable.

Departure: 1.45pm
TV and streaming: 2.45pm-6pm Rai2; 13.00-19.15 Eurosport 1 / Eurosport, Discovery+, GCN