The Tour de France, one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world of cycling, has once again captured the attention of Spanish viewers this year. With an average audience of 940,200 viewers in the first 15 stages broadcast by TVE, it has achieved the best figure since the 2017 Tour de France, the last one in which the iconic cyclist Alberto Contador participated.
This increase in viewership is largely attributed to the exciting duel between the talented riders Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar, as well as the outstanding performance of Spanish cyclist Carlos Rodriguez. In addition, the fact that the race started in the Basque Country may have had a positive influence on the interest generated among the Spanish public.
The duel between Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar has been one of the main attractions of this Tour de France. Both riders have shown an exceptional level in the stages contested so far, maintaining a fierce competition for the leadership of the general classification;
The battle of these two talented riders has kept Spanish audiences on tenterhooks, who have found in the Tour de France 2023 a reason to get excited again after Alberto Contador's retirement. The last time TVE's audience registered such high figures was in 2017, when Contador took part in his last Tour before hanging up his bike. The legacy left by this iconic Spanish cyclist has left an indelible mark on cycling fans in Spain, and now they have found in Vingegaard and Pogacar two new protagonists capable of awakening that passion.
The excellent performance of the young Spanish cyclist Carlos Rodríguez, who has excelled in several stages of the Tour de France, cannot be overlooked. At 21 years of age, Rodríguez has positioned himself as one of the brightest promises of Spanish cycling. His courage and skills in the mountains have allowed him to rub shoulders with the best riders in the peloton and obtain good results. Rodríguez's performance has been key in capturing the attention of the Spanish public and increasing the excitement in each stage.
In addition to the exciting duels and the performance of the cyclists, we cannot ignore the importance of the Tour de France 2023 having started in the Basque Country. This Spanish region, renowned for its fervor and passion for cycling, has enthusiastically welcomed the start of the race. The festive atmosphere, the beauty of the Basque landscapes and the fervor of the local fans have contributed to create a unique atmosphere that has transcended the television screens and has infected the interest of spectators from all over the country.