Why You Really Should Be Watching The Final Week Of The 2023 Tour de France

Oftentimes, the Tour de France is already over by the time it reaches the second rest day of the three week tour.

Lance Armstrong took five out of his Tour de France victories by over five minutes, with another having a four minute and 40 second gap.

And lest you think that’s just the doping making the difference, Team UAE Emirates’ Tadej Pogacar won the 2021 tour by five minutes and 20 seconds, including a five minute and 18 second gap at the second rest day.

But this year is different. Much, much different.

Pogacar, who won in 2020 and 2021, is trying to dethrone reigning champion Jonas Vingegaard of Team Jumbo-Visma.

Vingegaard did what many believed was unthinkable in 2022 when he knocked Pogacar from his perch.

This year, he struck an early blow on stage five when took nearly a minute on Pogacar, who is recovering from a broken wrist.

Slowly but surely, however, Pogacar has clawed his way back and is now just 10 seconds behind two-thirds of the tour completed.

In fact, the two are so closely match that the crossed the finish line of Sunday’s 14th stage nearly hand in hand.

Monday is a rest day for the rider prior to a pivotal and deciding third week. So here’s what to watch for in that final week.

Stage 15 Time Trial

Cycling is often a team-reliant sport, with teammates doing everything they can to help their leader. But Tuesday’s 15th stage will be mano a mano showdown in a 22 kilometer (13.7 miles) time trial from Passy to Combloux.

Normally, Pogacar would have the slight edge in a time trial due to his heavier weight and ability to produce more power.

But the route has two climbs which may aid Vingegaard. The first is a short 1.3 kilometer (.8) rise before 6.3 kilometer (3.9) climb to finish. Both have ramps of over eight percent of slope.

Pogacar may well be the favorite to take the yellow jersey on stage 15, but if Vingegaard can remain close he’ll likely be satisfied…

Stage 16 Ascent Of Col de la Loze

…That’s because of what follows it on Wednesday’s 16th stage. The rider will make the mythical climb to Col de la Loze. The 166 kilometer (103) stage features three massive climbs to start the day that will test the riders’ fitness.

But it’s the final ascent that will likely be the difference makes and could very well decide the 2023 Tour de France.

The Col de la Loze is 28.3 kilometer (17.6) climb at an average of six percent steepness. But that doesn’t tell the whole story.

The climb has a small descent about halfway through before a final 10.1 kilometer (6.3) ramp with an average gradient of 8.6 percent. Within that is a 2.5 kilometer (1.5) section that averages over an 11 percent gradient.

Oh, and just to top it off, the climb ends at 2,300 meters (7,545 feet) of altitude, meaning the riders will have more difficulty breathing.

Pogacar lost 15 seconds to eventual runner-up Primoz Roglic when the race finished atop the climb in 2020 and Vingegaard is considered the favorite for the stage.

Following Wednesday’s climb up Col de la Loze, there are two relatively tame stages to close out the week before an up-and-down 20th stage on Saturday that features two large climbs at the end and could offer Vingegaard or Pogacar one final chance to take yellow off their rival.

The race finishes Sunday with its traditional course around the Champs-Elysees is Paris.

Additional Talking Points

While Vingegaard and Pogacar have stolen the show, there is more to watch, especially for Americans.

The highest-placed American currently is Sepp Kuss in 6th. Kuss, a teammate of Vingegaard, is well back of the leader, but could realistically move up as high as fifth if there are no crashes of the riders above him. It would be the 28-year-old’s best ever grand tour finish.

Another American, Neilson Powless, is currently tied for the lead in the King of the Mountains competition. The competition offers points to riders who the first to cross the numerous mountains throughout the three-week tour. Larger mountains offer more points.

Powless’ 58 points is tied with Italian Giulio Ciccone, who is ahead only a tiebreaker. Ciccone is a favorite to win the competition. But Powless is very much in the fight.

Elsewhere, Wout van Aert is still looking for a stage victory. Van Aert, another teammates of Vingegaard, has won a stage in every Tour de France he’s raced in (2019-2022).

There’s also a tense battle for the final spot on the podium. Carlos Rodriguez of Team Ineos Grenadiers currently holds third, five minutes and 21 seconds behind Vingegaard. But Pogacar’s teammate Adam Yates sits just 19 seconds behind him.

With just six stages left, the 2023 Tour de France is shaping up to be one for the history books.