Tour de France 2023

What’s to come and what has been 

The race will be a tough one right from the start. Even the first two stages are extremely hilly and have the potential to instantly set riders apart. Stages five and six cross the Pyrenees before the course heads towards the Massif Central, where one of the true highlights of this year’s ‘Grand Boucle’ awaits with the summit finish on the history-steeped Puy de Dôme volcano. After several more rather undulating stages, the riders will hit the Alps where the queen stage awaits on 19 July with 5,400 metres of climbing and the highest point of this year’s race, the Col de la Loze with an altitude of 2,264 metres. Even after the Alps, the Tour is still not over. The final mountain stage is played out in the Vosges on the second to last day, with the course incessantly going up and down. It is here that the winner of the Tour de France 2023 will be decided. He will be able to celebrate in the yellow jersey in Paris the following day. 

The inaugural Tour de France took place back in 1903 as part of a promotional campaign by the magazine ‘L’Auto’, the predecessor to today’s ‘L’Equipe’. Riders had to complete six stages, spanning a total of 2,428 km, in 19 days. Since 1919, the overall leader has worn the yellow jersey. The then race director Henri Desgranges introduced this rule to make this rider particularly easy to identify. The ‘Souvenir Henri Desgranges’ special award is still presented in his honour today. This goes to the first rider to cross the highest point in the race. The mountains classification was created in 1933, and the best climbers have been awarded the polka dot jersey since 1975. The green jersey for the leader in the points classification was introduced in 1953. The newest of the jerseys is the white jersey, which is awarded to the best-placed rider under 26 years of age in the overall standings. 

The BORA – hansgrohe line-up 

30 professional cyclists from 15 different countries in one team. After all, teamwork makes the dream work in cycling. Even though only one rider can be the first over the finish line, winning is a success for the whole team because you can’t win in cycling without domestiques who provide slipstreams, grab water bottles, keep the competition at bay and lead out the sprinters in the sprint. 

Solidarity is a top priority in the BORA – hansgrohe team. This is how the Band of Brothers constantly develop, improve and become more successful. The team started in the third division in 2010, still under the NetApp team name, and was promoted to the first division in 2017. Just two years later and with a total of 47 victories under its belt, the team advanced to the second-best team in the WorldTour division. In the 2022 season, when appointing newcomers and determining its race tactics, BORA – hansgrohe focused on stage races and consequently on general classification specialists. What was initially conceived as a lengthy process already led to success in the first Grand Tour, the Giro d’Italia. Jai Hindley not only clinched the first Grand Tour podium for BORA – hansgrohe, he also triumphed across the board and got to don the prestigious maglia rosa in the Arena di Verona. It’s hard to celebrate success, but it’s even harder to confirm achievements. The team’s motto for the 2023 season is therefore ‘to confirm its achievements’ – and it has its sights set on another Grand Tour podium. At the same time, it aims to further establish its up-and-coming talents in world-class racing. 

This year, 22 teams with 8 riders each will start at the Tour de France. There are sprinting specialists, strong climbers and great all-rounders. Jai Hindley will be on the start line for the overall classification. For the sprints, we are counting on Sam Bennett. Our line-up also features other strong riders, such as Maximilian Schachmann, Nils Politt and Patrick Konrad, who have already proven that they can snatch stage wins at the highest level. 

The Band of Brothers is celebrating its tenth Tour de France with a special, limited edition jersey for 2023 in a design that commemorates all ten races: the attractive jersey in a lighter green than previous models immortalises all those who have ridden for BORA – hansgrohe in the Tour over the last ten years. It also honours the Tour de France itself with a print on the collar. The team will don this special jersey from the start of the Tour. 

Emanuel Buchmann   

Emanuel Buchmann turned pro at BORA – hansgrohe. He usually doesn’t say much; he prefers to let his actions do the talking and show just what he’s capable of on the bike. In the 2019 Tour de France, he was only a few seconds off making the podium in Paris thanks to his tremendous consistency over 21 stages. In 2023, he will be on the Tour de France start line for the seventh time and will primarily act as a domestique for Jai Hindley on the mountain stages. 

Marco Haller 

This likeable cyclist from the Austrian state of Carinthia joined the team in 2022 and is an all-rounder in the Band of Brothers. Whether during sprint finishes or tough classics, Marco puts on an impressive and selfless performance in almost every terrain. He was absolutely delighted to claim his first victory in seven years at the Tour of Norway in May 2022! With his open and inspiring nature, his dedication and passion for cycling and his numerous other interests (ice hockey, football, golf, cuisine, dogs, music, travelling) he fits in perfectly with the Band of Brothers. 

Jai Hindley 

Jai Hindley joined the team in the 2022 season. Right from the off the Australian proved his mettle, showing his impressive skills as a tour cycling captain and as a pacemaker for his teammates on mountain climbs in his first races. In May 2022, Jai headed out as leader of a fast and furious team and started by winning a difficult mountain stage before topping the general classification at the Giro d’Italia. This marked the first Grand Tour win for BORA – hansgrohe! At the Tour he is now heading for the start line as the sole captain, and we can’t wait to see whether this lover of Italian cuisine will continue to sparkle and outshine everyone once again. 

Bob Jungels 

This repeated road bike and time trial champion from Luxembourg joined the team in 2023. What he appreciates most about the Band of Brothers is the focused approach to nutrition and technology, and the familiar atmosphere within the team. Bob Jungels is a true all-rounder. On a bike, he is able to impress in major tours, winning demanding mountain stages, classics and time trials. But aside from cycling, he also has many talents and interests. He speaks seven languages, knows his way around the kitchen, owns a dachshund and is a fan of fine wine and fast cars. 

Patrick Konrad 

Born in Lower Austria, Patrick joined BORA – hansgrohe’s predecessors as a stagiaire (‘test rider’) in August 2014. He’s come on in leaps and bounds since then and consistently snatches a top ten spot in the Tours. His invaluable climbing skills have been brought into action at four Tours de France to date. But the keen amateur chef with a love of Austrian cuisine has shown that he can do more by coming 7th, 8th and 16th in the general classification at the Giro d’Italia and by soloing to victory on stage 16 of the Tour de France in 2021. This should be Koni’s declared goal once again this year, as well as supporting team captain Jai Hindley. 

Jordi Meeus      

The 24-year-old Belgian sprinter joined the team in 2021, and he put on an impressive performance straight away. After achieving a strong fourth place at Nokere Koerse, he then clinched a stage win and earned a day in the yellow jersey at the Tour de Hongrie. He narrowly missed a podium finish at the Belgian National Road Race Championships, however, coming in fourth in a peloton of excellent riders. Standing tall at 190 cm, the Flemish rider particularly likes the family atmosphere at BORA – hansgrohe in combination with the team’s scientific approach. In 2023 he will première at the Tour de France and endeavour to be right up with the leaders during the sprint finishes. 

Nils Politt 

Nils joined the team in the 2021 season and above all specialises in the hard spring classics. The 29-year-old from Cologne, who previously finished in second and seventh place on the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix, is a powerful force on the pedals and, with the exception of hill climber, can take on many different roles. The 2023 edition of the ‘Big Loop’ will be his seventh Tour de France in a row. At 192 cm tall and known as ‘Giraffe’ in the training group because of his long legs, Politt will ride into the wind for BORA – hansgrohe, but might also try his luck in the breakaway groups.

Danny van Poppel 

As designated lead-out man for Sam Bennett in 2022, this Dutchman whose parents were also professional cyclists and who competes in the WorldTour just like his brother and cousin, is picking up exactly where he left off in 2021. Whether leading out a sprint or carrying out one of his own, Danny has secured countless top-ten positions in sprints and classic races. This Australophile who constantly takes on new challenges, including in the kitchen, first competed in the Tour de France at the tender age of 19, and this will be his fifth ‘Big Loop’. 

Watch our video to find out how our boys have prepped themselves for the Tour de France with food: