"More opportunities to go in the breakaways" - Greg van Avermaet's thoughts on Tour de France route

During the Tour de France presentation for 2023, some new changes to the route were revealed. As compared to previous editions, the mountainous stage starts earlier this year. The new route was well received by AG2R Citroen climber Greg Van Avermaet.

"You have to change once in a while," he told WielerFlits. He continues, "It's a very difficult course. There are a lot of altimeters. It's a lot of climbing, and the middle mountains are also in there. They actually do a little bit of everything. It's already a very tough start in the Basque Country, where you already have two tough stages, and then they're also pulling over all the mountains. That means it's going to be a very tough Tour."

"I think the first week is a little less stressful. Often we riders are very stressed in the first week because classification riders don't want to lose a lot of time. That creates pressure on flat roads anyway. With a start, that's going to be pretty fair, the classification is already going to be made. Then it will be just a little bit calmer."

For climbers, this is especially beneficial since they can start the tour with some big time difference, and there will be little pressure to attack in the last stages, since they will only have to defend. "Maybe it also gives more opportunities to go in the breakaways. Then we'll see how the race goes, but I'm in favor of changing tack," said Avermaet.

If Avermaet doesn't participate, it won't matter much. Van Avermaet raced consecutively in tour from 2014, but he wasn't allowed to ride this year. "It's never no fun to miss it of course. But it is especially important to be in good shape, then we are going to be allowed to join. If you're not in shape, it's not always a gift to ride the Tour. I realized that last summer in the seat," concluded the Belgian rider.