The 110th edition of the Tour de France, the world’s biggest bike race, will take place from 1 July 23 to July 2023. The race will start over the border in Spain, with the Basque Country hosting the Grand Départ and opening three stages. The race will finish in Paris after 21 stages and two rest days.

The full route of the 2023 Tour de France will feature a mix of flat, hilly and mountainous stages, as well as two individual time trials and one team time trial. The race will cross the Pyrenees, the Massif Central, the Alps and the Jura mountains, offering plenty of opportunities for the climbers to shine. The race will also visit some iconic locations such as Mont Ventoux, Alpe d’Huez, Col du Galibier and Col du Tourmalet.

The 2023 Tour de France will be a battle of sprinters and climbers, as some of the best riders in the world will compete for the coveted yellow jersey. Here are some of the star sprinters and climbers to watch out for when picking your £1,000 Fantasy Fanteam Tour de France team.

Sprinters

Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma): The Belgian superstar won three stages in the 2022 Tour de France, including two sprint finishes and one mountain stage. He also finished second overall behind his teammate Jonas Vingegaard. Van Aert is one of the most versatile riders in the peloton, capable of winning on any terrain. He will be a threat in the flat stages, the time trials and the hilly stages.

Caleb Ewan (Lotto Dstny): The Australian sprinter had a disappointing 2022 Tour de France, as he crashed out on stage 3 with a broken collarbone. He will be eager to bounce back in 2023 and add to his five stage wins in the Tour de France. Ewan is one of the fastest sprinters in the world, with a low and aerodynamic position on the bike. He will be aiming for the green jersey, which he narrowly missed in 2019.

Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jayco AlUla): The Dutch sprinter returned to racing in 2021 after serving a nine-month ban for causing a crash that left Fabio Jakobsen with serious injuries in the 2020 Tour de Pologne. Groenewegen has won four stages in the Tour de France, and has shown signs of regaining his form and confidence in 2022. He will be looking to redeem himself in 2023 and prove that he is still one of the best sprinters in the world.

Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan Team): The British legend made history in 2022 by equalling Eddy Merckx’s record of 34 stage wins in the Tour de France. Cavendish defied the odds and won four stages at the age of 36, after being a last-minute replacement for Sam Bennett. Cavendish will have another chance to break Merckx’s record in 2023, as he signed a one-year contract with Astana Qazaqstan Team. He will have a strong lead-out train with Cees Bol and Yevgeniy Fedorov.

Climbers

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates): The Slovenian sensation won his second consecutive Tour de France in 2022, dominating the race from start to finish. Pogacar won three stages, including both time trials and one mountain stage. He also won the mountains classification and the young rider classification. Pogacar is only 23 years old, and has already established himself as one of the greatest riders of his generation. He will be aiming for a third straight Tour de France victory in 2023.

Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers): The Colombian climber won his first Tour de France in 2019, becoming the youngest winner of the race since 1909. Bernal struggled with injuries and form in 2020 and 2021, but bounced back in 2022 by winning his second Giro d’Italia title. Bernal is a pure climber, who excels on steep gradients and high altitudes. He will be leading a strong INEOS Grenadiers team in 2023, with the support of riders like Richard Carapaz, Thomas Pidcock and Daniel Martinez.

Thibaut Pinot (Groupama – FDJ): The French hope has had a rollercoaster career, with moments of brilliance and heartbreak. Pinot was on course to win the 2019 Tour de France, until he had to abandon on stage 19 due to a thigh injury. He missed the 2020 and 2021 editions due to back problems, but returned to form in 2022 by winning the Vuelta a España. Pinot is a passionate and aggressive rider, who can attack on any climb. He will be hoping to end his Tour de France curse in 2023 and give France its first winner since 1985.

Mikel Landa (Bahrain – Victorious): The Spanish climber has been one of the most consistent performers in the Grand Tours, finishing in the top 10 six times. However, he has never been able to challenge for the overall victory, due to bad luck, crashes or team tactics. Landa was forced to abandon the 2021 and 2022 Tour de France after crashing on stage 3 and stage 5 respectively. He will be looking for redemption in 2023, as he will have the sole leadership of Bahrain – Victorious.

The Tour de France 2023 promises to be an exciting and unpredictable race, with many sprinters and climbers vying for glory. Who will win the yellow jersey? Who will break records? Who will surprise us? We will have to wait and see and in the meantime discuss it on FISO’s Fantasy Cycling forum or our dedicated Fanteam Fantasy Tour de France topic.