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Mads Pedersen wins Stage 8 of the Tour de France

Mads scored a HUGE victory for Lidl-Trek, with the help of pitch-perfect teamwork

Mads Pedersen scored a massive victory for the brand new Lidl-Trek era on Saturday, sprinting from a long way to win Stage 8 of the 2023 Tour de France. The win was not just a showcase of Pedersen’s strength, but an impressive display of all-in teamwork on a day when seemingly the entire peloton was targeting the stage win. 

“It means everything to finally have a stage win,” Pedersen said. “It means everything to me to win and especially with the new sponsor on the jersey, it’s a nice way to start this relationship.”

Lidl-Trek took over the front of the peloton with just over five kilometers to the finish. Danish champion Mattias Skjelmose led the tempo increase with Tony Gallopin, Jasper Stuyven, Alex Kirsch and, of course, Pedersen on his wheel. The teams of Alpecin-Deceuninck, Jumbo-Visma and Soudal-Quick Step couldn’t come over the top.

Mads charging to the line. | Photo: Kei Tsuji/SprintCyclingAgency©2023

Skjelmose gave way to Gallopin, who gave way to Kirsch, who gave way to Stuyven. Just inside 500 meters to the finish line in Limoges, Pedersen was the last man standing for Lidl-Trek, left in perfect position to begin an early sprint along the barriers on the right side of the course. Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Deceuninck, already a three-time stage winner at this year’s Tour, couldn’t make up the gap to a hard-charging Pedersen, who beat the Belgian rider by roughly half a bike length.

“When we crossed the line, I knew I had won, but oh man, it was a long sprint and this uphill kick was really painful,” Pedersen said after the stage. “I was so close to sitting down with 50 meters to go and I think Jasper [Philipsen] had to do a pretty good sprint to come from behind and make it that close as well.”

Other major contributors to the effort included Juan Pedro Lopez and Giulio Ciccone, Lidl-Trek’s two ace climbers, who helped pull the team through the second-longest stage of this year’s Tour at 201 kilometers, as well as over three categorized climbs. The team has been gunning for a stage win throughout the Tour thus far, and it was clear they badly wanted to win today.

Mads letting that winning feeling sink in | Photo: Luca Bettini POOL/SprintCyclingAgency©2023

Mads and Alex Kirsch hugging out a job well done | Photo: Luca Bettini POOL/SprintCyclingAgency©2023

“The team did really good today. All the way from Juanpe and Cicco pulling, to this moment at the end,” Pedersen said. “I know this morning I said I missed a little bit of speed but this final was more about power and that’s definitely there and I showed that today. I am just happy I could give the boys the victory after some mistakes on my side the last couple of days. It’s nice to be on the top.”

The almost Classics-like parcours made for a fascinating tactical battle in the peloton. Lidl-Trek was prepared to win the stage in a number of different ways, however. And there’s no question that Pedersen was the best rider for the job.

“We didn’t know this morning if it would be a breakaway or a sprint, but it really looked like that sprinters’ teams didn’t want it to be a breakaway day so we stayed calm and the boys did a perfect lead-out today,” Pedersen said. “Even with the long sprint, I still had the legs to finish it off. I tried a few times early in the stage, but I realized that they wouldn’t let us go, so after that I just hung on and tried to save some energy.”

Mattias Skjelmose driving the final leadout into Limoges | Photo: Luca Bettini/SprintCyclingAgency©2023

Mads celebrating his well-earned flowers. | Photo: Luca Bettini/SprintCyclingAgency©2023

In the end, Pedersen scored his second Tour de France stage win after winning Stage 13 in 2022, and has now won six Grand Tour stages in his career. Most importantly, he spearheaded a win that echoes everything Lidl-Trek stands for , from the contribution of team-developed young riders like Skjelmose, to the trust and cohesion represented by a perfect leadout. Oh, and he did it on cycling’s biggest stage. 

“Tough one but it doesn’t matter if you win by two meters or one centimeter, that’s the beauty of the Tour de France.”

There was no stopping Mads on Saturday. | Photo: Luca Bettini POOL/SprintCyclingAgency©2023

Juanpe doing some impressive bidon work. | Photo: Luca Bettini/SprintCyclingAgency©2023

In his words: Mads' breakdown of the stage

“The team did really good today. All the way from Juanpe and Cicco pulling to this moment at the end, it was a really really good day for us. I know this morning I said I missed a little bit of speed but this final was more about power and that’s definitely there and I showed that today. I am just happy I could give the boys the victory after some mistakes on my side the last couple of days. It’s nice to be on the top. 

“I’m not a normal sprinter. We saw that on the previous stages that I can’t compete with these guys in the high speed sprints and if it’s not timed to perfection for me, in those kind of sprints, I can’t do it. But, in a sprint like this, where it’s a bit more about power instead of speed I have a fair chance and we saw that today. Even though Jasper was coming with speed from behind, he had a hard time passing me. 

More scenes from Stage 8, courtesy Sprint Cycling.

“It was tough, the last five kilometers. Mattias was pulling for, I don’t know how long, but it was really impressive and then Tony took over. They were riding really smart and using the road to perfection and, the lengths of the pulls they were doing were also really impressive today and then, with the last kick up here, Jasper delivered me perfectly and I just had the wheel of other guys who can do a long sprint. Jasper [Philipsen] came pretty fast from behind but luckily I had enough to hold on. 

“It means everything to finally have a stage win here now. It’s really hard for me to compete in these high speed sprints and we have to do it to perfection to win them but here, it’s more than speed, it’s also about power and I know I have that to win sprints. It’s also a bit easier to time right with the uphill here so it means everything to me to win and especially with the new sponsor on the jersey, it’s a nice way to start this relationship.”

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Are Lidl-Trek's bikes the prettiest at the Tour de France?

Each rider of the women's and men's teams will be racing aboard a one-of-a-kind Project One ICON Trek Émonda or Madone

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When the 2023 Tour de France gets underway on Saturday, July 1, each rider of the Lidl-Trek squad (formerly knowns as Trek-Segafredo) will be rolling through France on a one-of-a-kind Project One Icon bicycle.

Trek today unveiled eight all-new Project One ICON paint schemes, made especially for the bike brand's professional men’s and women’s road teams but available for consumers worldwide. 

Trek says that each paint scheme is handcrafted using individualized paint processes that create organic designs and patterns that cannot be replicated. Therefore, no two Project One ICON frames are exactly the same. 

These new paint colors are available, made to order, on Trek’s Émonda SLR and Madone SLR framesets. 

All Project One ICON bikes are painted in-house at Trek's Wisconsin headquarters by the brand's "most experienced Project One artists."

"These bespoke designs are about more than colors that stand out: they're filled with texture, depth and mood," says Trek. 

Trek did not yet say which rider will be aboard what color; I guess we'll just have to tune in to the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift later in the month to find out.

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| Also read: Tour de France 2023 special kits rated

The all-new schemes:

Chroma Ultra-Iridescent (limited edition) 

Chroma Ultra-iridescent comes from years of trial, error, and combined artistic brainpower from Project One’s most sought-after master painters. It takes a certain level of skill and know-how to create a paint so radiant.

Chroma Diamond Flake (limited edition)

Millions upon millions of microscopic chrome flakes create a stunning scheme worthy of every display. No two diamonds are the same and with this limited-edition colorway, riders will have a dream bike that shines differently in every light. 

Real Smoke (Cerulean Mist, Red Smolder, and White Ash) 

Real Smoke is a hazy, hand-crafted paint scheme that uses fire as the main ingredient. Each frame catches smoke within its base paint layers for a design that never cools.

Crystalline (Blue Prismatic and Viper Frost)

These one-of-a-kind paint schemes are created organically by fusing together thousands of tiny crystals into lattices that sparkle in any light. Just like the natural phenomena they replicate, Crystalline bikes are like snowflakes — each one as unique as the next.

Team Tie Dye

This unique paint scheme in pro team colors complements the six additional Tie Dye options currently available through Project One that launched earlier this year.

Trek aren't the only bike brands unveiling special bikes at this year's Tour de France - so far we've also seen Lapierre's AI designed Xelius SL for Groupama-FDJ and Mark Cavendish's personalised Wilier Filante SLR.

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Cycling Weekly 's North American Editor, Anne-Marije Rook is old school. She holds a degree in journalism and started out as a newspaper reporter — in print! She can even be seen bringing a pen and notepad to the press conference.

Originally from The Netherlands, she grew up a bike commuter and didn't find bike racing until her early twenties when living in Seattle, Washington. Strengthened by the many miles spent darting around Seattle's hilly streets on a steel single speed, Rook's progression in the sport was a quick one. As she competed at the elite level, her journalism career followed, and soon she became a full-time cycling journalist. She's now been a cycling journalist for 11 years. 

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The 22 teams

The peloton of the 110th edition of the Tour de France will include 22 teams at the start in the Basque country on 1st July 2023 . 18 UCI WorldTeams and 4 UCI ProTeams , with one unprecedented participation.

Details of the selection:

18 teams UCI WorldTeams: 

• AG2R Citroën Team (Fra)
• Alpecin Deceuninck (Bel)
• Astana Qazaqstan Team (Kaz)
• Bora-Hansgrohe (Ger)
• EF Education-Easypost (Usa)
• Groupama-FDJ (Fra)
• Ineos Grenadiers (Gbr)
• Intermarché-Circus-Wanty (Bel)
• Jumbo-Visma (Ned)
• Movistar Team (Esp)
• Soudal Quick-Step (Bel)
• Team Arkea-Samsic (Fra)
• Team Bahrain Victorious (Brn)
• Team Cofidis (Fra)
• Team DSM (Ned)
• Team Jayco AlUla (Aus)
• Trek-Segafredo (Usa)
• UAE Team Emirates (Uae)

4 teams UCI Proteams:

The two teams qualified by right:

• Lotto dstny (Bel)
• TotalEnergies (Fra)

  The two teams invited by the organiser:

• Israel-Premier Tech (Isr)
• Uno-X Pro Cycling Team (Nor)

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2023 Tour de France Teams: How They Got There

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The Tour de France is the crown jewel of cycling’s Grand Tours. It pits riders against some of the most difficult terrain on the planet, offering only a couple of days spread throughout the race for riders to rest their utterly exhausted bodies.

Even achieving the honor of riding on a 2023 Tour de France team is a lifelong dream for many cyclists, and only those at the top of the sport — and in the right place at the right time — get the opportunity.

The field of nearly 200 racers is composed of 22 teams that gain entry into the race either by right as a Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) WorldTeams-licensed team, by qualification through the UCI ProTeam season, or through a special invitation from the organizers of the race, Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO).

No individual cyclists can enter the race, and even if they did, they’d have no chance of winning or even doing well. With that in mind, it’s important for world-class riders who hope to compete in the 2023 Tour de France to have earned a spot on a team that has a good chance to participate.

Here is a rundown of how teams qualify for the 2023 Tour de France.

UCI WorldTeams

The most clearcut way to ensure a spot in the Tour de France is to rank among the 18 current UCI WorldTeams. The vast majority of teams in the Tour de France and other UCI WorldTour events come from this category.

For 2023, those teams include:

• AG2R Citroën Team (FRA)
• Alpecin Deceuninck (BEL)
• Astana Qazaqstan Team (KAZ)
• Bora-Hansgrohe (GER)
• EF Education-Easypost (USA)
• Groupama-FDJ (FRA)
• Ineos Grenadiers (GBR)
• Intermarché-Circus-Wanty (BEL)
• Jumbo-Visma (NED)
• Movistar Team (ESP)
• Soudal Quick-Step (BEL)
• Team Arkea-Samsic (FRA)
• Team Bahrain Victorious (BRN)
• Team Cofidis (FRA)
• Team DSM (NED)
• Team Jayco AlUla (AUS)
• Trek-Segafredo (USA)
• UAE Team Emirates (UAE)

These teams represent the cream of the crop in global cycling; they all feature superstars, national champions in various disciplines, and a host of extremely strong riders who can work together to help their teammates win the race.

UCI rules only allow 18 teams to compete in the WorldTeams category, which is the highest category in professional cycling. Teams earn a spot in the WorldTeams field by collecting points in pro races throughout 3 years of racing.

Different types of races come with different point values, and the top 10 riders for each team, and the top eight for women’s teams , have the opportunity to compete in races to bolster overall team stats to get more points. At the end of the years-long cycle of racing, the UCI tallies points and awards WorldTeams licenses for those at the top.

The teams listed above earned their spots in the WorldTeams category in December 2022, so they can rest somewhat easy knowing they all have an assured spot in the Tour de France through 2025.

The Tour de France Femmes uses the same format for its selection. All 15 of the women’s WorldTeams groups are automatically in the race .

The 2023 selection includes:

• Canyon / / SRAM Racing (GER) 
• EF Education-Tibco-SVB (USA) 
• FDJ-Suez (FRA)
• Fenix Deceuninck (BEL)
• Human Powered Health (USA)
• Israel Premier Tech Roland (SUI) 
• Liv Racing Teqfind (NED) 
• Movistar Team Women (ESP) 
• Team DSM (NED) 
• Team Jayco Alula (AUS)
• Jumbo-Visma (NED) 
• Team SD Worx (NED)
• Trek-Segafredo (USA) 
• UAE Team ADQ (UAE) 
• Uno-X Pro Cycling Team (NOR)

For those who do not make the cut, all is not lost.

UCI ProTeams in the Tour de France

The second-highest category in cycling is the ProTeams category. As a complement to the 18 WorldTeams in the 2023 Tour de France, the race also offers spots to four ProTeams.

Those teams include:

• Lotto Dstny (BEL)
• TotalEnergies (FRA)
• Israel-Premier Tech (ISR)

The pathway for these teams to earn a spot in the 2023 Tour de France is not as clear cut. Lotto Dstny earned a spot in all WorldTour races, including the Tour de France, by finishing the latest season with the highest number of points among the ProTeams field, as did TotalEnergies.

Israel-Premier Tech and Uno-X Pro Cycling Team received invitations to compete from race organizer Amaury Sport Organization.

The 2023 Tour de France Femmes offers a few more spots for teams on the bubble.

The two top teams in the UCI Continental ranking in 2022 qualified for the race by right. These include:

• Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team (BEL)
• Lifeplus Wahoo (GBR)

Five additional teams earned invitations from the race organizers, including:

• AG Insurance – Soudal Quick-Step Team (BEL)
• Arkéa-Samsic Pro Cycling Team (FRA)
• Cofidis Women’s Team (FRA)
• St Michel Mavic-Auber93 (FRA)
• Team Coop-Hitec Products (NOR)

For these organizations, being a 2023 Tour de France team offers one of the biggest chances to rack up points that could lead to them promoting back into the WorldTeams category.

This year’s race takes on a particular bit of importance on the women’s side, as these teams will undergo the same selection process that solidified WorldTeams licenses for the men in 2022. For many teams, a strong performance in 2023 could mean the difference between remaining in the WorldTeams category or relegation.

Because only WorldTeam and ProTeam licensees are allowed to compete in World Tour Races, ending up in one of these places is the only way into the 2023 Tour de France. Everyone else will have to settle for spectating, which may be a lot more fun anyway.

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Mark Wilson is a freelance journalist for GearJunkie and BikeRumor. Mark has been writing about cycling, climbing, outdoor events and gear for more than a year. Before that, he spent more than a decade as a journalist at major daily newspapers in Texas covering crime, public safety and local government. Mark spent every free moment during that time carving up singletrack and gravel, or climbing with friends and family in Texas, Colorado and Mexico. Based in Texas, Mark is always looking for new trails, crags and gear to help navigate the outdoors. As a new dad, he is particularly interested in learning how to share his love of the outdoors with his son.

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• AEBERSOLD Nils

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Tour de France bikes 2023: who’s riding what?

All the bikes and tech on display at the 2023 Tour De France

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Paul Norman

The 2023 Tour de France covers 3,404km (2,115 miles) over its 21 stages. That’s 54km more than last year’s Tour.

However, the bigger news is that time trial kilometres are down from two time trials totalling 53km last year (including the Prologue) to just one at 22.4km this year. It finishes at 974m in altitude and has a 2.5km Cat 2 climb to the finish, with an average 9.4 per cent gradient.

For several years, there's been an individual time trial on the penultimate stage, but this year, it’s on the Tuesday of the final week.

Given how a time trial can upset the final result, as in the 2023 Giro d’Italia, or cement it, as in last year’s Tour, it’s a surprising move.

That means the teams’ road bikes are increasingly to the fore. As usual, there’s some very flashy tech on show and we can expect more to be announced in the run-up to the Grand Départ and probably to be unearthed by the sharp-eyed as the race proceeds.

Read on for a complete list of the bikes in this year’s Tour de France, along with the kit they’re fitted with, and our pick of some of the new bikes and tech to keep an eye out for at the 2023 Tour de France .

Also check out our guide to prize money in this year's race, our explainer on leaders jerseys , a comprehensive Tour de France jargon buster and our round-up of how to watch the Tour , wherever you are in the world.

Tour de France 2023 bike brands

The 2023 Tour de France peloton is made up of 22 teams of eight, 176 riders in total. The 18 WorldTour squads receive an automatic invitation to compete, while four second-tier Pro Continental teams get a wildcard invitation. Between them, 19 bike brands are represented.

That’s two up on last year’s Tour, although the majority of brands are the same as in last year’s race. Even Ridley and Factor, who saw their teams demoted to the UCI’s second division, are back this year thanks to wildcard invitations for Lotto-Dstny and Israel-Premier Tech respectively.

New bike brands this year are Bianchi, Look and Dare, while out this year is De Rosa. Specialized continues to sponsor three teams, as in 2022, but Canyon is down from three to two.

Bianchi was absent last year, but is back with Arkéa-Samsic. It had its first race win back in 1899 and its bikes were ridden by Fausto Coppi, Felice Gimondi and Marco Pantani as well as a who’s who of other top-drawer racers, so it’s a prestigious return for the brand. On the other hand, De Rosa is an equally famous name from cycling’s past that has departed the Tour.

Bike brands represented at the 2023 Tour de France:

• Bianchi : Team Arkéa-Samsic
• BMC : AG2R Citroën Team
• Cannondale : EF Education-EasyPost
• Canyon : Alpecin-Deceuninck, Movistar Team
• Cervélo : Jumbo-Visma
• Colnago : UAE Team Emirates
• Cube : Intermarché-Circus-Wanty
• Dare : Uno-X Pro Cycling
• Factor : Israel-Premier Tech
• Giant : Team Jayco-AlUla
• Lapierre : Groupama-FDJ
• Look : Cofidis
• Merida : Bahrain Victorious
• Pinarello : Ineos Grenadiers
• Ridley : Lotto-Dstny
• Scott : Team DSM-Firmenich
• Specialized : Bora-Hansgrohe, Soudal-QuickStep, TotalEnergies
• Trek : Lidl-Trek
• Wilier Triestina : Astana-Qazaqstan

Read on for more details of each team’s bikes, wheels and other kit.

What’s new in Tour de France tech?

New bike launches.

Since last year’s Tour, the Colnago Prototipo ridden to second place by Tadej Pogačar has finally become the Colnago V4Rs and been released for us to review – and anyone with deep enough pockets to buy.

Rather like the Colnago, the new Look 795 Blade RS ridden by Team Cofidis has been in plain sight for months, but was only officially launched earlier in June.

Its profile is similar to many other pro bikes with front-end integration, aero tubes and dropped seatstays, but is a departure from Look’s previous pro-level race bikes.

As per the usual playbook, Look says the new bike is stiffer and more aero.

There are more subtle changes to the Canyon Aeroad . Canyon has yet to announce details, but there are slight changes to the tube profiles and the seatpost clamp has moved from the rear of the seat tube to the top of the top tube.

The changes to the Cannondale SuperSix EVO are equally small but significant, with the fourth generation of the bike lighter and more aero – and in LAB71 format significantly more expensive.

Other new bikes bubbling under include an update to the Factor O2 VAM , BMC's new aero road bike and a new Ridley bike , also aero.

One thing all these bikes have in common is there's not a cable or brake hose in sight. In part, that's down to all the groupsets ridden now having wireless connections between the shifters and the derailleurs.

It's also due to the brake hoses running exclusively internally. Since they're invariably hydraulic, there's no loss of braking efficiency, however sharp the bends and no matter how convoluted the routing becomes.

Tubeless wheels and tyres have mostly taken over

Almost all teams are now running tubeless tyres in place of the pros’ favourite tubulars. There are good reasons for this beyond the lack of potentially carcinogenic and addictive solvents in the tub cement (more of an issue for the team mechanics than the riders).

Matej Mohorič of Bahrain Victorious has claimed tubeless tech can lower rolling resistance by up to 15 watts per tyre. Paired with the latest aero wheel designs, that’s a huge margin.

You’re also less likely to need a wheel swap at a crucial point in the race, with sealant helping to cope with punctures, although unlike tubs you can’t ride a flat tyre to the finish or while waiting for the team car to give you a wheel swap.

28mm tyres are also increasingly taking over from 25mm, even on the smooth tarmac generally enjoyed on the Tour. Riders often sub in time trial tyres for road tyres, due to their lighter weight, although they in general offer less puncture protection than the best road bike tyres .

One team that has remained on tubs is Astana-Qazaqstan, although it’s in the process of swapping from Corima wheels that don’t offer a tubeless rim, to HED which does.

Component choices

As in previous years, Shimano dominates the teams’ drivetrain choices, with just three teams on SRAM (Jumbo-Visma, Movistar, Lidl-Trek) and one (AG2R-Citroën) on Campagnolo – one down on 2022 with the defection of UAE Team Emirates to Shimano at the beginning of 2023.

There's more on Campagnolo Super Record below, but an unlaunched update to SRAM Red AXS has been spotted. With SRAM focusing on the launch of its updated Force AXS groupset earlier in 2023, it seems likely that a new version of Red AXS will be announced sooner rather than later.

We've seen an increasing acceptance of single chainrings in races earlier in the season, such as Paris-Roubaix , and that may extend to flatter stages in the Tour, when the small chainring is little used.

Expect 2x setups to take over in the mountains again though, yet even there Primož Roglič showed that a single ring with a wide-range cassette was a winning option.

There’s more variation in wheels than drivetrains, with the aforementioned Corima and HED, as well as Reserve, Vision, DT Swiss, Roval, Newmen, Black Inc, ENVE, Bontrager, Zipp and Cadex all represented.

Campagnolo goes wireless

Campagnolo is providing its Super Record groupset to just one team this year, AG2R Citroën. However, it has dispensed with wires, with the recent launch of the new Super Record Wireless groupset.

As with SRAM Red AXS , the consumer version of Super Record Wireless uses smaller chainrings paired to cassettes starting with a 10-tooth sprocket and rising to just 29 teeth as the largest sprocket option. However, the pros are likely to stick to closer ratios for all but the toughest stages.

There are a couple of interesting things to watch out for here: first, are all the riders using the latest Wireless groupset?

When Shimano Dura-Ace went 12-speed last year, there were still teams using the older 11-speed Dura-Ace long after the official launch, due in large part to the new groupset’s scarcity.

Will Campagnolo have got its manufacturing and distribution ducks in a row better than Shimano?

Second, with SRAM Red AXS, there are a series of chainring options designed specifically for the pros, which are larger than the chainrings on the complete cranksets available for consumer purchase.

That’s partly because pros like to push larger gears at their elevated riding speeds (winner Jonas Vingegaard averaged over 42kph throughout the entire Tour last year).

It’s also because the chainline and the degree of curvature of the chain as it passes over the jockey wheels and cassette make small, but significant, differences in drivetrain friction. Therefore, riding in a larger sprocket nearer the middle of the cassette is an easy marginal gain. It’s also the reason why OSPW systems are used by the pros.

Will we see AG2R Citroën riders using larger chainrings, perhaps borrowed from the previous generation of Super Record, with Campagnolo Super Record Wireless at the Tour?

Tour de France 2023 bikes

All 18 WorldTour teams ride the Tour de France and every one of them gets the pick of the best bikes from their sponsors’ ranges. That includes all teams using 12-speed wireless/semi-wireless electronic groupsets on their road bikes and a choice of top-spec carbon wheels.

The invited Pro Continental teams (Israel-Premier Tech, Lotto-Dstny, TotalEnergies, Uno X) too are on top-spec bikes and equipment – there’s no second best here.

Read on for a breakdown of who’s riding what.

AG2R Citroën Team (ACT)

• Framesets: BMC Teammachine SLR01/Timemachine Road/Timemachine (TT)
• Drivetrain: Campagnolo Super Record Wireless
• Wheels: Campagnolo Bora WTO/WTO Ultra
• Finishing kit: BMC, Power2Max, Look, Pirelli, Fizik, Elite, Wahoo

Alpecin-Deceuninck (ADC)

• Bikes: Canyon Ultimate CFR/Aeroad CFR/ Speedmax CFR Disc (TT)
• Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace
• Wheels: Shimano
• Finishing kit: Canyon, Shimano, Vittoria, Selle Italia, Elite, Wahoo

Astana-Qazaqstan (AST)

• Bikes: Wilier Triestina Filante SLR/0 SLR/Turbine (TT)
• Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace/SLF Motion jockey wheels and bottom bracket
• Wheels: Corima/HED
• Finishing kit: Wilier, Look, Vittoria, Prologo, Tacx, Garmin

Bahrain Victorious (TBV)

• Bikes: Merida Scultura Disc Team/Reacto Disc Team/Time Warp (TT)
• Wheels: Vision Metron
• Finishing kit: FSA/Vision, Continental, Prologo, Elite

Bora-Hansgrohe (BOH)

• Bikes: Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7/Shiv (TT)
• Wheels: Roval
• Finishing kit: Roval, Specialized, Wahoo

Cofidis (COF)

• Bikes: Look 795 Blade RS/796 Monoblade RS (TT)
• Wheels: Corima
• Finishing kit: Look, SRM, Michelin, Selle Italia, Elite, Wahoo

EF Education-EasyPost (EFE)

• Bikes: Cannondale SuperSix EVO/SystemSix/SuperSlice (TT)
• Finishing kit: FSA/Vision, Wahoo Speedplay, Vittoria, Prologo, FSA, Tacx, Wahoo

Groupama-FDJ (GFC)

• Bikes: Lapierre Xelius SL 10.0/Aircode DRS/Aérostorm DRS (TT)
• Wheels: Shimano Dura-Ace / PRO
• Finishing kit: PRO, Continental, Prologo, Elite, Garmin

Ineos Grenadiers (IGD)

• Bikes: Pinarello Dogma F/Bolide (TT)
• Wheels: Shimano Dura-Ace/Princeton Carbonworks
• Finishing kit: MOST, Continental, Fizik, Elite, Garmin

Intermarché-Circus-Wanty (ICW)

• Bikes: Cube Litening C:68X Pro/Aerium (TT)
• Wheels: Newmen Advanced SL
• Finishing kit: Cube, Look, Continental, Prologo, Elite, CeramicSpeed, Bryton

Israel-Premier Tech (IPT)

• Bikes: Factor Ostro VAM / O2 VAM / Hanzo (TT)
• Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace/FSA chainset
• Wheels: Black Inc
• Finishing kit: Black Inc, Rotor, Maxxis, Selle Italia, CeramicSpeed, SwissStop, Elite, Hammerhead

Jumbo-Visma (TJV)

• Bikes: Cervélo R5 Disc/S5/P5 (TT)
• Groupset: SRAM Red eTap AXS
• Wheels: Reserve 52/63
• Finishing kit: Cervélo, Wahoo Speedplay, Vittoria, Fizik, Tacx, Garmin

Lidl-Trek (LTK)

• Bikes: Trek Émonda SLR/Madone SLR/Speed Concept (TT)
• Wheels: Bontrager Aeolus
• Finishing kit: Bontrager, Time, Pirelli, Wahoo

Lotto-Dstny (LTD)

• Bikes: Ridley Noah Fast Disc/Helium SLX Disc/Dean Fast (TT)
• Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace/Cema bearings
• Wheels: DT Swiss
• Finishing kit: Deda, 4iiii, Vittoria, Selle Italia, Tacx, Garmin

Movistar Team (MOV)

• Bikes: Canyon Aeroad CFR/Speedmax CF SLX (TT)
• Wheels: Zipp
• Finishing kit: Canyon, Look, Continental, Fizik, Lizard Skins, Garmin

Soudal-QuickStep (SOQ)

• Bikes: Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7/Roubaix/Shiv (TT)
• Finishing kit: Roval, Specialized, CeramicSpeed, Tacx, Supercaz, Garmin

Team Arkéa-Samsic (ARK)

• Bikes: Bianchi Specialissima/Oltre RC/Aquila (TT)
• Finishing kit: Bianchi, Continental, Selle Italia, Elite, Wahoo

Team DSM-Firmenich (DSM)

• Bikes: Scott Foil RC/Plasma 5 (TT)
• Wheels: Shimano Dura-Ace
• Finishing kit: Syncros, Vittoria, Elite, Wahoo

Team Jayco-AlUla (JAY)

• Bikes: Giant Propel Advanced Disc/TCR Advanced SL Disc/Trinity Advanced Pro (TT)
• Wheels: Cadex 36, 42, 65
• Finishing kit: Cadex, Giant

TotalEnergies (TEN)

• Finishing kit: Roval, Specialized, Tacx, Garmin

UAE Team Emirates (UAD)

• Bikes: Colnago V4Rs/K.one (TT)
• Wheels: ENVE
• Finishing kit: Colnago, Look, Continental, Prologo, Elite, Wahoo

Uno-X Pro Cycling (UXT)

• Bikes : Dare VSRu/TSRf (TT)
• Finishing kit: Dare, Schwalbe, Pro, CeramicSpeed, Elite, Garmin

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Top 5 Most Anticipated Moments of the 2023 Tour de France

As an Official Tour Operator of the Tour de France and exclusive partner of Team Lidl-Trek, we are thrilled to share the top five most anticipated moments of this year’s tour. From the remarkable start in Bilbao to exclusive VIP access, breathtaking mountain stages, Parisian finales, and the groundbreaking Tour de France Femmes, we invite you to join us on an unforgettable journey. Let’s delve into the highlights that will make the 2023 Tour de France truly exceptional.

1. Finale Viewing in Paris

To celebrate another incredible year of the Tour de France, we’ll indulge in a luxurious finale viewing experience at the Automobile Club de France. Savor the astounding views from the heart of Paris, just a few hundred meters from the finish line on the Champs-Élysées. Sip champagne with lavish hors d’oeuvres and witness the peloton’s final laps of honor as they catapult another Tour de France winner towards the finish line.

2. VIP team access

As an official tour operator and partner, we offer an exclusive opportunity to engage behind the scenes with the esteemed Lidl-Trek team. Our guests will have the privilege of participating in a Q&A cocktail hour, touring the team bus, and witnessing firsthand the meticulous preparation of the pros’ ultimate Trek bikes. This unique experience promises unparalleled insights into the world of professional cycling that you won’t find anywhere else.

3. The Mountain Stages

The mountain stages of the Tour de France have always been a true test of cyclists’ climbing ability and endurance. In 2023, Trek Travel guests will face the same challenging mountain roads as the pros’, including legendary climbs like the Col des Saisies, Col des Aravis and Col du Platzerwasel with VIP passes in hand just a few hours before the peloton. These battles among the contenders for the yellow jersey will unfold against breathtaking backdrops, combining awe-inspiring scenery with the relentless pursuit of victory. The mountain stages are a pinnacle of excitement in the Tour de France.

4. The Grand Depart in Bilbao, Spain

The 2023 Tour de France will kick off in the picturesque city of Bilbao, nestled in the heart of the Basque Country. Guests will be treated to front row seats for the Grand Depart followed by a remarkable viewing experience aboard an official VIP luxury open-top bus at the finish line of the opening stage. With an open bar, large-screen TVs, and an elevated vantage point, our guests won’t miss a minute of the action. Bilbao’s stunning backdrop sets the stage for an exciting start to this iconic race.

5. Tour de France Femmes

Trek Travel is thrilled to be a part of the Tour de France Femmes, offering an extraordinary Pro Race Experience. This package grants VIP access to key mountain stages, live race viewings, and an opportunity to witness the intensity and passion of this groundbreaking event up close. Starting in the heart of the Pyrenees, participants will tackle breathtaking climbs, revel in stunning views, and witness the thrilling final mountain stages. From the epic Col du Tourmalet to the time trial finish in Pau, the Tour de France Femmes promises captivating moments as the coveted yellow jersey is contested. The 2023 Tour de France is poised to be a thrilling and unforgettable journey for cycling enthusiasts. With our expertise as an Official Tour Operator and exclusive partner, you can immerse yourself in the grandeur of the race. From the remarkable start in Bilbao to VIP team access, breathtaking mountain stages, Parisian finales, and the groundbreaking Tour de France Femmes, these anticipated moments guarantee an unparalleled experience. Feeling inspired? Place a fully-refundable deposit for our 2024 Tour de France Pro Race Tours, and you’ll get a chance to secure your spot early for next year’s tour.

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Tour de France pro bikes you can buy yourself — from Trek, Giant, Canyon, Merida, Bianchi, Pinarello, Colnago + Wilier

First Published Jul 2, 2023

The Tour de France is underway and here are some of the team bikes that you can buy yourself – as long as you’re willing and able to drop a whole lot of money on it. 

Bike brands often sell more affordable versions of models that sponsored teams ride, with spec downgrades to make price points, but that's not what we're covering here. No, these bikes are either virtually identical to those ridden in the Tour or have just a few differences. Essentially, they're of a similar level.

Sometimes there will be differences in components. A race team might have a deal with a certain manufacturer, for example, while the bike brand has commercial reasons for speccing product from a different company. Mainly, though, the components shown here are the same as you'll see used in the Tour

To keep things manageable, we’ve stuck with bikes that are finished in team livery or at least the same colours as the relevant team. If team colours don’t interest you, all of the framesets shown here come in other finishes too. 

Check out all of the bikes being raced in the 2023 Tour de France

Every frameset that you see in the Tour de France is commercially available, or it will be soon – that's one of the UCI's rules. Even if a bike brand doesn't offer a complete bike built up with the same components used by a particular team, you could put together a copy of anything ridden by the pros... as long as you're prepared to throw enough money at it. 

Here are bikes you can get your hands on that are the closest to those ridden by the pros at the Tour de France.

Alpecin-Deceuninck: Canyon Aeroad CFR Disc Di2 £8,799

Canyon offers its Aeroad CFR Disc Di2 in an Alpecin-Deceuninck finish. As the name suggests, it’s built up with a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset, which is what the team riders use.

The bike you can buy is specced with DT Swiss wheels and a Rotor ALDHU24 crankset and INspider power meter, whereas the pros are on Shimano all the way.

Canyon-SRAM:  Canyon Aeroad CFR eTap £9,999

Canyon also offers its Aeroad CFR in a Canyon-SRAM replica. As a UCI Women’s World Tour team, Canyon-SRAM will be racing the Tour de France Femmes which starts on 23rd July 2023. 

Canyon-SRAM riders use SRAM Red eTap AXS groupset components, including power meters, and Zipp wheels, all of which are found on this bike. The team uses Schwalbe tyres while you get Continental GP 5000s here, but the build is extremely close to what you’ll see the pros using.

Astana Qazaqstan Team: Wilier Filante SLR €11,300  and Wilier 0 SLR €11,300

The Wilier Filante SLR aero road bike (above) and the lightweight Wilier 0 SLR (below) are each available in gorgeous Astana Qazaqstan Team finishes, as well as various other paint jobs. They’re both available in several different component specs with prices starting at €8,400. 

Check out our Wilier Filante SLR review

A build including Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 – the groupset used by Astana Qazaqstan – will set you back €11,300.

> Check out Mark Cavendish’s Wilier Filante SLR

The spec also includes a Prologo saddle and Vittoria tyres, which is what the Astana boys use, although you’ll get Wilier’s own wheels, made with Miche, whereas the team bikes are fitted with Corima (or in some cases HED). That aside, this setup is close to the one you’ll see ridden in the Tour de France.

Bahrain Victorious: Merida Reacto Team £8,500  and Merida Scultura Team £8,000  

Although Bahrain Victorious riders are using Pearl White bikes for the Tour de France, you can buy both Merida Reacto aero road bike (above) and Scultura lightweight road bike (below) in standard team finishes. 

Read our review of the Merida Reacto Team-E 2021  

The Reacto and the Scultura frames are each available in a top-level CF5 version, as used by the pros, and in a cheaper and slightly heavier CF3 build. Both of the bikes above are CF5.

The component specs are extremely close to those used by the pros too, with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupsets, Vision wheels, Continental tyres, and Prologo saddles. 

Check out our Merida Reacto 6000 review

The Scultura Team comes with a Merida handlebar and stem whereas Bahrain Victorious use FSA/Vision products, but that’s about the only significant deviation.

Lidl-Trek:  Trek Madone SLR 9 eTap Project One Icon £16,150  and Trek Emonda SLR 9 eTap Project One Icon £14,600  

Trek-Segafredo has just changed its name to Lidl-Trek and riders will race the Tour de France on bikes that feature Trek’s eight new Project One Icon paint schemes – Project One being Trek’s custom programme.

Former world champion Mads Pedersen, for instance, has a bike with a Chroma Ultra-iridescent finish, for example. That paint job is priced at £3,850… and then you have to factor in the price of the bike that goes underneath it. Even the least expensive Project One Icon finish is £1,650.

Trek’s Madone (above), which the US brand bills as its “fastest road race bike ever”, features IsoFlow technology – a huge hole in the seat tube, essentially – that’s said to provide an aerodynamic benefit and save weight.

Trek releases radical Madone SLR, its “fastest road race bike ever” 

Lidl-Trek uses SRAM Red eTap AXS groupsets and Bontrager wheels which you can choose through Project One, although you have to spec Bontrager tyres rather than the team’s Pirellis.

The Trek Emonda SLR AXS (above) – the lightweight road bike in the range – is also available in the new Project One Icon finishes.

If you’re happy to go without the super-posh finish, Trek Madone SLR 9 eTaps start at £14,500 through Project One and Trek Emonda SLR 9 eTaps cost from £12,950.

Ineos Grenadiers: Pinarello Dogma F Dura Ace Di2 Team Replica £12,400

If you’re a fan of Ineos Grenadiers, you can buy a Pinarello Dogma F in team colours… as long as you have a big stack of cash to throw at it.

Read our review of the Pinarello Dogma F Super Record EPS 2023

The bike is specced with a sponsor-correct Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset. Although Ineos Grenadiers occasionally stray from Shimano for race wheels, this build comes with frequently used Dura-Ace C50s.

The saddle is a departure, though. Although that looks like a £400 Fizik Antares Versus Evo Adaptive 00 pictured, you’ll actually get one from Pinarello’s Most brand. The official spec shows Pirelli P Zero Race rather than Conti tyres too.

Arkea Samsic: Bianchi Oltre RC €13,849 

This one is a bit of a cheat because it’s not a team edition, it’s just that Arkea Samsic happens to use the Oltre RC in this colour scheme and with almost the same build: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupsets and wheels.

Okay, the pros use Continental tyres and Selle Italia saddles rather than the Pirelli and Bianchi options fitted here, but aside from the team logos, those are the only real differences.

Arkea Samsic will be riding the final stage of this year's race on the Bianchi Oltre RC Tour de France Limited Edition  (above).

> Bianchi introduces Tour de France Oltre RC road bike

Just 176 of these are available, that figure chosen because it's the number of riders starting this year's Tour. The price of these is €15,500 (around £13,280) + VAT.

Team DSM: Scott Foil RC Pro £10,499

Again, we’re bending the rules with this one. Rather than being a true team edition bike in a special finish, Team DSM just happens to go with standard Scott paintwork and a similar component spec. 

With a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset and wheels, Vittoria Corsa tyres, and pretty much everything else from the Scott-owned Syncros brand, the build on this stock model is almost exactly the same as the pros use. The only real difference is the lack of a Shimano Dura-Ace power meter, but you could always get that upgraded.

UAE Team Emirates: Colnago V4Rs frameset £4,999.95

Colnago offers its top-level V4Rs in a UAE Team Emirates finish. It’s not the most eye-catching finish ever – it’s pretty low key, to be honest – but you get a UAE flag on the seat tube, and red fork lowers with UAE Emirates logos.

Check out our review of the Colnago V4Rs 

Team Jayco Alula: Giant TCR Advanced SL Disc Team Frameset £2,999

You can’t buy a complete bike in a Team Jayco Alula finish in the UK, but you get the TCR Advanced SL Disc frameset – which is exactly the same as the pros use.

Getting it built up with a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset, Cadex wheels and Vittoria tyres would be easy enough with the usual proviso: you'll need a hefty wodge of cash to cover it.

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Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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Unfortunately with almost all of these you'll be obliged to buy them with handlebars about 10cm wider than the pros are running and no option to swap them for something narrower!

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Right, then you buy the bike and the team changes sponsor, colors or folds.. Then it's either dated or collectable just how you look at it..

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If your taxes are going towards its upkeep then you have the right to use it no matter what these elites say and there is nothing they can do about...

Careless driving. Didn't even amount to dangerous....

Please stop putting words in all caps. This isn't the Daily Mail.

Rosie Holt (Tory MP) has tweeted "It was today I learned that immigrants are CLOGGING UP THE ROADS #bbcdebate" Finally, it's not cyclists!

I don't have huge arms, but I don't have cyclist arms, so maybe ten to thirty seconds? I've never tried....

Apparently Ribble have sourced & sent a bunch of replacement bikes to them

This appears to be a reprint of a review I read some months ago. Wot, no fresh content?

...you shall have an extra like for that!

That Dekker is a bit of a character though. Thijs Zonneveld had some interesting things to say about him a while back.

Did you bother reading the comments below, hence my post.

The (Other) Winners of the 2024 Giro d’Italia

Sure, Tadej Pogačar put together a legendary performance at the Giro—but who and what else stood out?

The 107th Giro d’Italia wrapped up on Sunday in Rome with Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) taking home the maglia rosa (“pink jersey”) as the overall winner of the Italian grand tour.

Pogačar started the final week with a sizable lead: 6:41 ahead of Great Britain’s Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers) and 6:56 ahead of Colombia’s Daniel Martínez (BORA-hansgrohe). But the Slovenian left nothing to chance, winning Stages 16 and 20 to extend his lead even further.

By the time the dust had settled, the two-time Tour de France champion had won the General Classification by almost 10 minutes. Martínez ended the race in second-place overall, 9:56 behind Pogačar; and Thomas, who finished second overall in last year’s Giro, ended the race in third, 10:24 behind the Slovenian. To put things into perspective, Pogačar’s winning margin was the largest since 1965.

Pogačar and his UAE Team Emirates squad dominated the race from start to finish–perhaps even more emphatically than most expected. The Slovenian wore the maglia rosa for 20 days, falling one day short of taking the Giro’s first wire-to-wire victory since 1990. He won six stages, the most by anyone since Alessandro Petacchi won nine sprint stages in 2004 and the most ever by an overall winner. Even Belgian legend Eddy Merckx–who won the race five times–never won more than five stages in a single Giro. And with five of his six stage wins coming in the mountains, it comes as no surprise that Pogačar also won the maglia azzurra (“blue jersey”) as the Giro’s King of the Mountains.

Simply put: this was the greatest Giro performance by a single rider in the modern era– and maybe ever. The 25-year-old was far and away the best rider in this year’s race, and there was nothing anyone could do to stop him.

Now the Slovenian has his sights set on the Tour de France, where he will most likely enter the race as the top contender. His goal in winning a third Tour de France is to become the first rider since 1998 to win the Giro and the Tour in the same season. And after his Giro performance–and given the fact that the Tour’s two-time defending champion, Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), might not be healthy enough to start the Tour–we’re not betting against him.

Here’s a look at some of the other “ winners” from the 107th Giro d’Italia:

Daniel Martínez (BORA-hansgrohe)

Thanks to Pogačar, the Giro quickly became a race for second, and credit goes to Martínez for scoring his first podium finish in a grand tour. The Colombian–who came to BORA from INEOS during the off-season–rode a near-flawless race after climbing into the top-3 on Stage 2 and then never leaving it.

Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers)

Thomas–who turned 38 on Saturday–finished second to Roglič last year after losing the maglia rosa in a mountain time trial on the penultimate day. Like Martínez, the Welshman raced into the top-3 on the General Classification on Stage 2 and then never left it; his dogfight with the Colombian was one of the race’s more interesting storylines once Pogačar had pulled away from the field.

A podium finish in a grand tour is a career achievement at any age, but at 38, it’s really something special. Then again, for Thomas–who’s probably the most consistent stage racer in the sport–it’s just another day at the office.

Thomas is retiring at the end of the season, but first he’s joining Pogačar and Martínez at the Tour de France, a race he won back in 2018. He’s not expected to lead the team, though. Instead he’ll join Spain’s Carlos Rodriguez and Colombia’s Egan Bernal as some sort of three-headed GC-monster that will attempt to use its strength and experience to try and upset the Tour’s more favored contenders.

Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)

For the second year in a row, Italy’s Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) won the maglia ciclamino (“cyclamen jersey”) as the winner of the Giro’s Points Classification. While not quite as impressive as Pogačar, the 23-year-old won four stages–and finished second in four others–to run away with the competition for the second year in a row.

We’re not sure if the statuesque Italian (he’s about 6’3”) will be riding the Tour de France this summer. But if he does, he could give Belgium’s Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)–who won four stages and the Points Classification in last year’s Tour–a run for his money.

Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain-Victorious)

Prior to this year’s Giro d’Italia, Tiberi was known more for something he did off the bike–and it wasn’t very good. In early 2023, the Italian killed his neighbor’s cat with an air rifle and was subsequently fired by Trek-Segafredo, the team he was riding for at the time. After some time passed, Bahrain-Victorious signed the then-21-year-old and gave him a chance to resume his career and re-shape his image.

Well, in finishing fifth overall and taking home the maglia bianca (“white jersey”) as the Giro’s Best Young Rider, Tiberi has put himself squarely on the radar of his nation’s rabid fans. A gifted climber, he’s possesses two additional traits that might make him a future Giro champion: he’s a talented time trialist–he finished sixth in both ITTs in this year’s race; and he’s got a bit of swagger–Pogačar complimented Tiberi for being the only one willing to attack the Slovenian during the first week.

The 22-year-old is heading straight to France’s Critérium du Dauphiné–which starts this weekend–where he’ll see if he has enough form left to challenge some of the Tour’s top pre-race contenders. Then he’ll rest before tackling the Vuelta a España in late-August. If everything goes as planned, Tiberi will enter next year’s Giro as a top contender, a rider who could possibly win the host nation its first maglia rosa since 2016.

Italian Tifosi

Italian cycling tifosi or “fans” haven’t had much to cheer about in the past few years, as the nation’s been experiencing a bit of a dry spell when it comes to producing riders capable of winning grand tours like the Giro d’Italia or Monuments like Milan-San Remo. But if this year’s Giro is any indication, that could be changing soon.

Obviously, Milan–a future world class sprinter–and Tiberi–a potential pink jersey contender–lead the way, but Italians also loved the gutsy ride from Giulio Pellizzari, a 20-year-old who rides for the small VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè team, one of a few squads to receive wild card invitations to this year’s race.

The youngest rider in the race, Pellizzari attacked relentlessly in the mountains, coming close to winning a stage on more than one occasion and even impressing Pogačar, who gifted the Italian his sunglasses and his maglia rosa after the Slovenian defeated the Italian to win Stage 16.

He ended the race as the runner-up in the Giro’s King of the Mountains competition, which meant he earned the right to wear the maglia azzurra into Rome–because Pogačar couldn’t wear two leaders’ jerseys at once. And even better, Pellizzari’s performance caught the eye of several WorldTour squads, with rumors swirling as to which team will sign the talented young climber to a big contract this off-season.

Soudal-Quick Step

The Belgian WorldTour squad had a terrible spring, coming up short in cobbled Classics like the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, events that the team once dominated. To make matters worse, the team’s marquee rider, Remco Evenepoel, crashed out of the Tour of the Basque Country, which prevented the Belgian superstar from going for a third-straight win in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, a victory that would have salvaged the team’s spring campaign.

But the team rebounded at the Giro, winning four stages. Belgium’s Tim Merlier led the way with three sprint victories–including the final stage into Rome.

But Julian Alaphilippe’s Stage 12 victory was easily the team’s most popular victory. The one-time “galactico” has had a rough couple of seasons and has since fallen out with his team’s outspoken General Manager, Patrick Lefevere . But after spending three weeks as one of the Giro’s most aggressive riders, Alaphilippe seems to have regained the swashbuckling spirit that won the French puncheur back-to-back world championships in 2020 and 2021.

Alaphilippe wasn’t slated to ride the Tour de France, but there are rumors that his Giro performance might help him make the team. And if it didn’t, it at least helped his asking price: with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, there are several French teams looking to sign him.

Colnago bicycles have been ridden by some of cycling’s most famous champions. But the iconic Italian brand hasn’t stood on the top step of the Giro’s podium since Russia’s Denis Menchov (Rabobank) won the race back in 2009. Well, that’s all changed thanks to Pogačar, who ended the brand’s 15-year Giro drought with his victory.

The company might want to sign Pogačar to a lifetime contract , as the Slovenian seems to be a lucky talisman for the legendary brand. His 2020 Tour de France victory was Colnago’s first–a bit of a surprise for a company that once supplied bikes to Merckx. Then again, maybe it’s time to get used to Pogačar doing things that even Merckx–who’s widely considered to be the greatest men’s cyclist of all time–could not.

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Giro d’Italia 2024 Stage-by-Stage Recap & Results

Tadej Pogačar Keeps Getting Flagged on Strava

Stage 16 of the Giro d’Italia Cut Short for Snow

2024 Giro d’Italia: Rest Day Wrap-Up #2

Giro d’Italia Abandons Claim Key Riders

The Stelvio May Not Be Part of Giro’s Stage 16

Bernard Hinault: “He’s Like Me and Merckx”

Geraint Thomas Calls Stage 9 of Giro "Carnage"

2024 Giro d’Italia: Rest Day Wrap-Up #1

Lefevere Takes on New Role as Waterboy in Giro

The Kings and Queens of Cycling’s Iconic Climbs

Roglic le plus avancé, Evenepoel coince

Merckx : «J'étais persuadé de pouvoir en gagner un sixième»

Roglic prend le pouvoir

— le classement de la 6e étape, — le classement général.

«C'était comme une scène de bataille»

— la 5e étape neutralisée après une grosse chute.

Evenepoel, le jaune lui va si bien

Vainqueur du chrono, Evenepoel prend la tête du général

Romain Grégoire frustré

— le classement de la 3e étape.

Gee fait coup double

Cort Nielsen nouveau leader

Pedersen, le coureur qui vous fait aimer le vélo

Godon, le romantique que «vous devriez tous aimer»

A la découverte du parcours 2024

Van Baarle et Kruijswijk blessés à trois semaines du Tour

Vlasov prolonge son contrat

Verhaeren, de la natation française à Visma-Lease a bike

— «je ne comprends pas grand-chose au vélo».

Les trois lieux de stage préférés des favoris du Tour

Une équipe «qui fait peur», même pour son leader Pogacar

Ferrand-Prévôt et Koretzky aux Gets

Ferrand-Prévôt, Lecomte, Koretzky et Sarrou aux Jeux

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Remco Evenepoel: 'Best rider in the world' Tadej Pogacar is the one man who can complete Giro and Tour de France double

Updated 02/06/2024 at 07:44 GMT

Soudal-Quick-Step rider Remco Evenepoel believes Giro d'Italia champion Tadej Pogacar is the favourite at the Tour de France, and expects a strong challenge from back-to-back winner Jonas Vingegaard. Going further, he declared that Pogacar is the only man in the world who is currently able to do the double of both the Giro and Tour de France Grand Tours.

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Pogacar lifts Endless Trophy in Giro d'Italia celebrations

Stage 21 highlights: Pogacar seals pink as Merlier thrives in Rome sprint chaos

How to watch Stage 21 of the Giro d'Italia for Pogacar coronation in Rome

25/05/2024 at 19:31

'It was to please my legs!' - Giro leader Pogacar on his reason for attack ahead of Stage 20

How to watch stage 20 of the giro d'italia as pogacar looks for sixth win.

24/05/2024 at 21:32

• Associated Press ,

Trending Teams

How to stream the 2024 criterium du dauphine on peacock: highlights, race times, stages, and more.

• Mary Omatiga ,
• Mary Omatiga

Cycling’s best racers are back in action. The 2024 Criterium du Dauphine kicks off on Sunday, June 2, and runs through Sunday, June 9. The 8-day race will unfold amidst the picturesque landscapes of southeastern France and as usual, you can watch all of the excitement on Peacock. See below for everything you need to know about the 2024 Criterium du Dauphine as well as additional information for how to stream the event on Peacock and highlights for each stage as the race progresses.

How to watch the 2024 Criterium du Dauphine:

• When: Sunday, June 2 through Sunday, June 9
• Where: The Rhône-Alpes region of south-central France
• Live Stream: Peacock

Where is the Criterium du Dauphine held?

The 2024 Criterium du Dauphine will take place over the course of 8 days in southeastern France. The race begins in the commune of Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule on June 2 and will end in Plateau des Glières.

2024 Criterium du Dauphine Schedule:

*All times are listed as ET and all races will be streaming on Peacock.

Stage 1 - June 2 at 9:00 AM l HIGHLIGHTS

Stage 2 - june 3 at 9:10 am l highlights, stage 3 - june 4 at 9:10 am | highlights, stage 4 - june 5 at 9:10 am | highlights.

• Stage 5 - June 6 at 6:45 AM| HIGHLIGHTS

Stage 6 - June 7 at 9:25 AM

Stage 7 - june 8 at 7:05 am, stage 8 - june 9 at 7:05 am, 2024 criterium du dauphine route:.

The 2024 Criterium du Dauphine route is 1,187.6 kilometers (approximately 738 miles) and features 2 mountain stages, 3 hilly stages, 1 individual time trial, and 2 flat stages (one of which will include an uphill finale).

Criterium du Dauphine

Who won the 2023 Criterium du Dauphine?

COL DE LA CROIX DE FER, FRANCE - JUNE 10: Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark and Team Jumbo-Visma - Yellow Leader Jersey celebrates at finish line as stage winner during the 75th Criterium du Dauphine 2023, Stage 7 a 147.9km stage from Porte-de-Savoie to Col de la Croix de Fer 2067m / #UCIWT / on June 10, 2023 in Col de la Croix de Fer, France. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard won the 2023 Criterium du Dauphine and then went on to win his second straight Tour de France title last year. Relive the defining moments of the 2023 Tour de France below:

RELATED: Jonas Vingegaard not on Denmark Olympic road cycling team

When is the 2024 Tour de France?

The 2024 Tour de France begins on Saturday, June 29, and runs through Sunday, July 21 beginning in Florence, Italy, and finishing in Nice, France. Because the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be taking place in Paris, this will mark the very first year that the Tour de France will not end in the “City of Light”.

RELATED: Tadej Pogacar wins Giro d’Italia by historic margin, now eyes rare Tour de France double

How do I watch cycling on Peacock ?

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2024 Tour de Suisse – Analysing the contenders

T he Critérium du Dauphiné may have attracted some of the big names this year, like Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quickstep) and Primož Roglič (Bora-Hansgrohe) but that doesn't mean the Tour de Suisse is foregoing its role as an important hit out before the Tour de France .

For some, those final preparations before attention turns to the Grand Tour are the all-important factor but for others who aren't lining up in Florence – or are doing it in support of another – getting the best result they can over the eight days in Switzerland is the key aim. 

Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) took an emotional overall victory last year, with the racing coming second to the human tragedy given Gino Mäder crashed on stage 5 and died.

Skjelmose again lines up to try and defend his title at the race – which begins with a 4.8km time trial in Vaduz on Sunday, June 9 and covers 950km with almost 19,000 metres in altitude gain. There, however, are plenty of rivals, including two more former winners.

Here at Cyclingnews , we've run a rule over the preliminary start list – so lineup changes are still a possibility – to pick out some of the riders who could be fighting for the top spots as the race unfolds.

Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek)

Returning as defending champion after winning an emotional 2023 edition of the Tour de Suisse, the Danish rider won't be using the race as a tune-up for the Tour de France, with the eight-stage tour instead marking his return to racing as he builds toward the Olympic Games and the  Vuelta a España .

The 23-year-old hasn't pinned on a number since Liège-Bastogne-Liège but his results in the early part of the season deliver promise that Skjelmose could deliver a solid result at the race he won last year. However, there will be some serious headwinds to overcome, given the rivals he'll be lining up against.

Still, with a third at Itzulia Basque Country in April, where he was leading the race into the final stage, Skjelmose again confirmed his promise and made clear that last year's Tour de Suisse win was a sign of things to come. The Lidl-Trek rider also came fourth at Paris-Nice, winning a stage along the way. 

João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates)

It will be the first Tour de Suisse for João Almeida before he also heads toward a Tour de France debut. The 25-year-old will, of course, be riding in support of Tadej Pogačar in the Grand Tour, so Switzerland offers the rider a chance to carve out his own results.

Almeida was regularly among the best in the longer stage races last year, stepping up onto the overall podium at Tirreno-Adriatico, Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de Pologne.

This year is yet to deliver the same results, with Almeida in a support role at both his stage races so far this year. At the Volta a Catalunya he came ninth while Pogačar claimed victory, while he took 11th at Paris-Nice as Brandon McNulty stepped onto the podium for the team.

The Tour de Suisse, however, could offer a chance for Almeida, though given Finn Fisher-Black and the rising start of Isaac Del Toro are also in the team he definitely isn't the only option for a strong overall result.

Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost)

Richard Carapaz hasn't lined up at the Tour de Suisse since he won it in 2021, but he'll be using it as preparation for the Tour de France and hoping it delivers the same result, with the title in Switzerland then followed by a spot on the overall podium in Paris.

There's no chance of a complete repeat, though, as the Olympic Games road race winner in Tokyo has missed selection for the team this time around.

That may add even more fire for the upcoming battles, with the Ecuadorian road champion's strong season start at the National Championships and Tour Colombia, where he came second overall, not then initially carrying through to Europe. There was a pickup at the Tour de Romandie, where Carapaz finished seventh overall and also picked up a stage victory. It's perhaps the sign of a building momentum which could make him a real threat in Switzerland.

Enric Mas (Movistar)

For Enric Mas, the Tour de Suisse is a lead-in race for a GC charge at the Tour de France, where his best overall result so far was fifth overall in 2020. Mas hasn't raced Suisse since 2019, when he came ninth following on from a fourth in 2018, having used the Critérium du Dauphiné as his lead-in to the French Grand Tour during the intervening years. 

The change this year, after a couple of Tour de France appearances that haven't run to plan, could provide the Spanish rider to work his way up the results table, both at the event and from his GC run so far this year. 

Mas has raced just three events this year, honing in on Tirreno-Adriatico where he came 12th overall, before a fifth at Volta Ciclista a Catalunya and sixth at the Tour de Romandie. The 29-year-old is the picture of consistency, with seven top-six finishes among the nine Grand Tours he has finished, so it's a good bet that we will also see him near the top of the results table at the Tour de Suisse, too.

Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) 

The Ineos Grenadiers rider has won the Tour de Suisse before, back in 2019 when he then went on to win the Tour de France. Much has changed through the intervening seasons but there have been promising signs in the early months of 2024 that the Colombian is on an upward trajectory.

Last year, his first full season since his horrible training crash at the start of 2022, he was on the build and managed to secure a couple of top 10s overall. This year the podium places are beginning to come through, with third overall at both O Gran Camiño and Volta a Catalunya. Perhaps the Tour de Suisse is a chance for another.

Tom Pidcock will also present another card for the team to play, with the Amstel Gold Race winner lining up in Vaduz to take on the Swiss race from June 9-16 before staying on in the nation for the UCI MTB World Cup round in Crans Montana on June 23 and then heading to off to start the Tour de France in Florence on June 29.

Lenny Martinez (Groupama-FDJ)

Groupama-FDJ have been given plenty of reason to celebrate their developing talent so far this season, with 21-year-old Laurence Pithie opening their win tally for the year at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and Lenny Martinez being the team's most prolific contributor, having already collected five wins this season.

The 20-year-old may be showing the signs of potential that mark him one of the most prized creatures in cycling – a home nation contender for a top overall result at the Tour de France. However, that is a thought best saved for the years ahead. 

For Martinez, the Tour de Suisse this year is one of the building blocks toward a return appearance at the Vuelta a España, and while he may not be a top favourite for the eight-stage race his shows of increasing strength also make him a rider that is hard to ignore.

The rider, who was born in Cannes, started the season with a win at Classic Var and then a second overall at O Gran Camiño, there were then four more one-day race victories along the way and top ten results at both Volta a Catalunya and Tour de Romandie.

Cian Uijtdebroeks (Visma-Lease a Bike)

The Giro d'Italia had been a main focus of the season for Cian Uijtdebroeks but while he ended the tenth stage in a strong fifth overall, he didn't start stage 11 as the 21-year-old was unwell with a fever. Walking away when the goal of a top-10 finish overall looked within reach was a tough outcome for the rider at their first Italian Grand Tour but the Tour de Suisse could provide some consolation.

Uijtdebroeks, then racing with Bora-Hansgrohe, came seventh at the race last year and has rarely fallen out of the top ten in any stage race he has completed since the start of last season.

This season, his results include fifth at O Gran Camiño and seventh at Tirreno-Adriatico. It seems just a matter of time until Uijtdebroeks hits his first overall podium at a WorldTour race, and the Tour de Suisse presents an opportunity to take another step in that direction.

Jonas Vingegaard 'the big favourite' for the Tour de France says UAE team manager

Visma-Lease a Bike leader with the advantage due to altitude training, Tadej Pogačar 'tired after the Giro' says Joxean Matxin

With an inaugural Giro d’Italia victory less than a week in the rear view mirror and Tadej Pogačar now switching focus to a third Tour de France win, UAE Team Emirates team manager Joxean Matxin has labelled rival Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) as the favourite to win the Yellow Jersey in July. 

The Danish two-time Tour winner is on the path to recovery after a major crash at the Tour of the Basque Country in April left him with a lung injury and several broken bones. 

Matxin reflected on the 2023 season, when Pogačar had been the one to have a severe spring crash, breaking his wrist at Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

"That Vingegaard crashed heavily in the Tour of the Basque Country? Last year, Tadej crashed 3 weeks further in April and was in Vingegaard's slipstream until the Tour time trial (stage 16)," Matxin said, as reported by Sporza .

"Vingegaard has been training at altitude for weeks, he is the big favourite," he added.

The Spaniard seemed keen to take the pressure off Pogačar during his historic Giro-Tour double attempt, pointing out the energy the Slovenian expended during his triumph in Italy.

“Of course Tadej was also tired after the Giro…Tadej has had days when he burned 8,000 calories, his wattages were also very high."

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Although Pogačar won the race by almost ten minutes ahead of Bora-Hansgrohe’s Daniel Martinez, Matxin assured that tactically the aim in Italy was to race as “economically” as possible with one eye on July.

"He didn't pull off an 80km solo like he did in Strade Bianche. And Tadej never had to fight for his position in the peloton thanks to the perfect work of his teammates," Matxin said.

Having beaten Pogačar in the last two Tours de France, Vingegaard is the opponent that UAE Team Emirates appear most concerned about, but Matxin also named Remco Evenepoel (Soudal - Quick-Step), Primoz Roglic and Alexandr Vlasov (both Bora-Hansgrohe) as leading favourites for the Tour de France. 

All three are set to compete in the Critérium du Dauphiné as preparation for the Tour, with Evenepoel and Roglic on their own comeback trails after falling victim to the same crash as Vingegaard in April. Meanwhile Pogačar is resting before heading to an altitude camp in the French Alps to fine tune his form.

Vingegaard has already been training at altitude but will not be on the start line to race the Dauphiné. Visma - Lease a Bike have taken a flexible and conservative approach to the reigning Tour de France champion’s recovery.

Vingegaard’s coach, Tim Heemskerk, told the Radio Cycling podcast that “the plan for the next four weeks is decided on a day-by-day process. What he’s doing today will make tomorrow’s training. If I see he’s improving, he can do a bit more tomorrow, respecting the recovery of course. We are not forcing anything.”

Grand Tour Treble

If Tadej Pogačar were to win the Tour de France in seven weeks’ time, he would become the first rider to complete the Giro-Tour double since Marco Pantani in 1998.

The World Championships in Switzerland later on in the season is another big ambition of Pogačar's, bit for a rider with a seemingly endless appetite for winning the temptation would surely be too much to prevent him from going for an unprecedented grand tour treble. No rider has ever won the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a España in the same season.

Although this achievement would eclipse everything that has preceded it in Pogačar’s  illustrious career so far, Matxin denied the possibility.

"Winning the three Grand Tours in the same year is great for the history books, but that is not the case this year…the Vuelta was never on Pogačar's schedule."

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