"Eyes will be on Pogacar and Vingegaard" - Michal Kwiatkowski predicts GC battle to light up on opening stage at the Tour de France

Michal Kwiatkowski has been doing some recon for the opening stage of the 2023 Tour de France. His verdict? The finale is so hard the GC battle could light up immediately.

"I was very curious about the start. If you look at the final, it could be a final for the best climbers of this Tour," the 33-year-old Pole tells In de Leiderstrui. “On those two climbs we will immediately see how things stand. If you can win the Tour de France, you can also win this stage if you go full on the last hills. I am curious whether Jumbo-Visma and UAE-Team Emirates will take control for the entire day and if not, what will happen."

Although the likes of Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert and Kwiatkowski's INEOS Grenadiers teammate Tom Pidcock are all expected to be in the mix for the stage win. After doing the reconnaissance however, Kwiatkowski feels Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard could be more likely winners.

"Right from the start we already have two climbs and if there is going to be racing there, it will be one of the toughest days of this Tour de France. It's really up to the favorites for this Tour: Pogacar and Vingegaard," he explains. "If you look at paper: Mathieu van der Poel and co can also handle that last kilometer towards the finish and then it looks like an open final, but the stage as a whole is really difficult. I think we only have a few favorites for this ride."

"Tom is one of the guys who should be able to do this. We know how much talent he has, but eyes will be on Pogacar and Vingegaard," concludes Kwiatkowski. "Many men are already thinking about the second and third week, but it may well be that men will be surprised here. It's full on climbing, you have to be there immediately."