Tour de France 2023: The beauty and brutality of the world's most prestigious cycling event

Cheered on by huge, partying, younger crowds this year, the Tour de France that began in Bilbao, Spain, on July 1, covered a spectacular 3,404-kilometre route, ending in Paris, France, on Sunday. During the race, the riders tackled eight gruelling mountain stages and individual time trials on trips to the Pyrenees and Alps and treacherous conditions exacerbated by rain that epitomised the unpredictable and captivating nature of one of the world's most prestigious cycling events. Defending champion Jonas Vingegaard from Team Jumbo-Visma was crowned the winner for a second year