Adam Yates takes opening stage victory as 2023 Tour de France opens with a bang

Adam Yates has won the opening stage of the 2023 Tour de France after an enthralling day of racing that saw the biggest race of the year open with a bang.

The 2023 Tour de France starts on one of cycling's sacred lands, the Basque Country. The opening day is 183 kilometres in length and suits the puncheurs, and of course the climbers. It will be a day when the overall classification battle could be commenced, a different scenario for a Tour de France Grand Depart.

The pace was high right from the flag drop. A strong, five-rider breakaway rode clear that included Lilian Calmejane (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty), Simon Guglielmi (Team Arkéa Samsic), Pascal Eenkhoorn (Lotto Dstny), Jonas Gregaard (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team) and Valentin Ferron (TotalEnergies).

The break was never allowed off the leash though, with the gap never extended to more than two minutes.

At the intermediate sprint, the breakaway took the first five positions. Behind though, those riders keen on taking the Green Jersey in Paris began to make themselves known. Mads Pedersen and Peter Sagan taking the first two places from the peloton at the intermediate sprint.

With just over 50km and three categorised climbs to go, the breakaway was caught by the raging peloton.

The pace at the front of the peloton remained incredibly high as multiple teams tried their hardest to get to the ideal position.

Mikkel Bjerg was setting an infernal pace for UAE Team Emirates at the front as they ascended the Côte de Vivero with Tadej Pogacar looking to send an early message to his rivals as plenty of riders began to struggle at the back of the bunch.

Among those dangling at the back were Alexey Lutsenko and Pello Bilbao, two rather surprising names to be struggling so early.

On the descent two further riders were then seemingly ruled out of GC contention as a crash brought down both Enric Mas and Richard Carapaz. Mas sadly being forced to abandon.

Then on the final categorised climb of the day, the race ignited. Adam Yates setting up an attack from Tadej Pogacar. Unsurprisingly, Jonas Vingegaard was glued to his wheel. More surprisingly perhaps, Victor Lafay was the only other rider alongside them.

As they entered the final 3km, there was a leading duo of both Adam Yates and Simon Yates with a lead of around 16 seconds ahead of a small group of favourites including Pogacar and Vingegaard.

Onto the final, brutal, kick up to the line and Adam was leading with Simon unable to hold his wheel. Victory it was for the UAE Team Emirates rider, living up to his billing as joint leader of the team with Tadej Pogacar.

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