Reigning champion Jonas Vingegaard and two-time winner Tadej Pogacar cranked up the Tour de France mind games with a tennis match of exchanges worthy of Wimbledon.
But nobody is falling for their psychological tap-dancing – they will be the men to beat over the next three weeks.
Pogacar's UAE Team Emirates principal Mauro Gianetti declared Britain's Adam Yates as co-leader of their squad because the Slovenian's form is unknown after breaking his wrist two months ago. But Pogacar's pre-race prediction that Danish powerhouse Vingegaard is clear favourite to win back-to-back Yellow Jerseys appeared to be laced with sarcasm.
"Jonas is the main guy for the Tour de France,” said Pogacar, who won the fabled maillot jaune in 2020 and 2021.
“He dominated in the (Criterium du) Dauphine and said he wasn't in his best shape, so I can't wait to see what he does in the Tour."
But Vingegaard, who defended the leader's jersey from stage 11 – where Pogacar cracked on the Col du Granon – all the way to Paris 12 months ago, isn't buying his rival's flattery.
"It is quite easy," said the 26-year-old the Jumbo-Visma rider. “I am where I want to be. I am happy with my shape. I don't think it matters to say who is the big favourite. I could also say that he is the favourite.
"On one side I am the hunted but I am also still hunting the victory.
"Of course things change when you win the Tour de France, that's how it is. But I didn't change and that's how it should be."
The Tour in Numbers
- 176 – riders (22 teams of eight)
- 2,116 – Miles en route from Bilbao to Paris
- 7,559 – Feet in altitude at the highest point of Tour (Col de la Loze)
- 28,000 – Police, gendarmes and firefighters deployed
- 5,500 – Road signs to mark turnings and hazards
- 190 – Countries showing TV coverage
- 5 – Mountain ranges (Pyrenees, Massif Central, Jura, Alps, Vosges)
- 21 – Stages (eight mountainous, eight flat, four hills and one time trial)
Mark Cavendish's record hopes - Where could he claim No.35?
Three flat finishes in the first week of racing could offer Mark Cavendish his best chances of winning a record 35th Tour de France stage – before the mountain purgatory kicks in. Here are the Manx missile's likeliest dates with destiny:
Stage 3 - July 3 - Amorebieta-Etxano to Bayonne – 116.4 miles
The peloton crosses onto French soil, but much of the route along Basque Country coastline makes crosswinds a potential hazard.
Stage 4 - July 4 - Dax to Nogaro – 113.1 miles
The sprinters will fancy their chances on the Nogaro motor racing circuit – but only if their teams rein in any breakaways.
Stage 7 - July 7 - Mont-de-Marsan to Bordeaux – 105.6 miles
Flat as a pancake, almost a guaranteed bunch sprint. Will Cavendish be toasting the record with a nice drop of Bordeaux claret?
Stage 18 - July 20 - Moutiers to Bourg-en-Bresse – 114.9 miles
Which sprinters have survived the Alps? The final battle will take place on a straight final 1,000 yards.
Stage 21 - July 23 – Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines to Paris – 71.4 miles
A year before the Paris 2024 Games forces Le Tour to finish outside the capital for the first time in its history, the final stage in 2023 starts by the Olympic velodrome. Cavendish won on the Champs Elysees four years in a row from 2009-12... could he unfurl a fairytale finish?
