Fans, as is customary, are looking forward with eagerness to the beginning of the race on July 1, 2023, which will mark the beginning of the 2023 Tour de France. The journey, which will take place over a period of three weeks and cover a total distance of 3,404 kilometers, promises to be amazing. The cyclists will compete in a total of 21 stages, one of which is a time trial, while seven stages will be sprints. On the other hand, everyone’s talking about who will come out on top and claim the coveted yellow jersey. Let’s have a look at the contenders that are likely to win the Tour de France in 2023.

Pogačar vs. Vingegaard

According to the latest odds from GSB, Tadej Pogačar is the big favorite to win the race. The Slovenian of Team UAE Emirates had an excellent 2022 season, and his 2023 season is bordering on perfection. Pogačar has achieved twelve victories in just eighteen days of racing, winning prestigious races such as Paris-Nice, the Tour of Flanders, the Amstel Gold Race, and the Freccia Wallonne. He is the big favorite for the scheduled Liège-Bastogne-Liège on April 23rd. Pogačar has the ability to go strong on all terrains, and year after year, he is proving that he can get close to the legend Eddy Merckx.

On the other hand, Jonas Vingegaard, the winner of the 2022 Tour de France, is following a preparation path studied in every detail in order to be able to replicate last year’s feat. He won the tough Tour of the Basque Country in early April, and with his team, Jumbo-Visma, he is confident that he can win the yellow jersey again. His teammate, Primoz Roglic, will compete in the Giro d’Italia as captain and will be at the start of the Grande Boucle as Vingegaard’s main standard-bearer, as will Wout Van Aert, ready to showcase his unlimited talent. The supporters will be fundamental in trying to undermine Pogačar’s resistance, which, at least from the start, seems difficult to beat. It must be said that this year the two have already crossed paths at Paris-Nice, clearly won by Pogacar, but in July the values in the field could change.

Can Remco Evenepoel Win?

According to GSB, Remco Evenepoel, the road world champion and the winner of the Vuelta a España 2023, is the third favorite. The Belgian rider with Soudal-QuickStep is yet another of the great talents that have emerged from cycling’s golden generation. However, it is uncertain whether he will compete in the Tour de France in 2023; it is more likely that he will concentrate on the Giro d’Italia  instead. Fans are anxiously anticipating a battle between him, Pogacar, and Vingegaard, but it is likely that they will have to wait until next year to see it.

Alternative Favorites

There is a possibility that Enric Mas, the captain of the Movistar Team, will play the role of the primary outsider. This season, he has been in good shape, and with his experience and endurance, he might be a serious contender for the yellow jersey. Jai Hindley, who rides for the BORA-hansgrohe team, is another racer you should keep an eye on. In the early part of the season, he has been displaying some excellent form, and going into the Tour de France, he will be eager to build on this success and continue his strong performance.