A stage-by-stage look at the 2023 Tour de France route with profiles, previews and estimated start and finish times (all times Eastern)... Stage 1/July 1: Bilbao-Bilbao (113 miles) Hilly Neutralized Start: 6:30 a.m. Estimated Finish: 11:15 a.m.

STAGE 1, JULY 1: BILBAO – BILBAO (182KM, HILLS) There’s no prologue or rudimentary bunch sprint for the first day of this Tour. Instead, a hilly opener to and from Bilbao features 3,300m of vertical gain and includes the spiky Pike Bidea climb 10km from the finish, with an average gradient of 10% over 2km.

Saturday 1 July - La Grande Boucle sets off with a hilly race in the Basque country. The 182 kilometres stage takes in five climbs, the last of which rises at 10% before dropping down to Bilbao. The last kilometre rises at 4.6% to the line. Actually, the route takes in more than five climbs along the way, but only five are classified.