22 June 2023

All eyes should be on Tadej Pogačar from Slovenia and Jonas Vingegaard from Denmark battling for the yellow jersey according to the team that will follow the race for S4C.

Flying the flag for Wales at the race will be Owain Doull as part of EF Education-EasyPost team.

The Tour will start this year in Bilbao on Saturday 1st of July, with the riders competing for over three weeks before crossing the finish line in Paris.

All stages of the race will be shown live on S4C with highlights programmes every night.

The S4C commentary team includes the professional cyclist Eluned King, Awen Roberts who competed in the world junior cycling championship last year and brothers Peredur and Rheinallt ap Gwynedd.

According to Peredur ap Gwynedd this year's race will be a battle between Pogačar and Vingegaard:

"They are both great friends – there's a bromance between the two, these are definitely the favourites.

"But accidents can happen. If one or two happen to have an accident who knows who will win.

"Other riders have the same strength and skills. But on paper, one of these two should win."

S4C will broadcast every stage of the race with expert analysis by their commentary team.

Eluned King is a professional cyclist and a member of the British academy, while Awen Roberts joins the commentary team for the first time ever at the age of 18.

Eluned King said:

"This is one of the most difficult sports in the world.

"Cycling is special as we see the human side of the athletes, they have to overcome the challenges in a much more real way and there isn't a barrier between the fans and the cyclists.

"I'm looking forward to seeing Julian Alaphilippe return after his injuries.

"He'll have the support of the home fans. It's good to have characters like this in the sport."

Awen Roberts who regularly competes internationally on the track and on the road says:

"I'm looking forward to the race and because I race professionally, I have a good idea of how they feel.

"I'll be able to discuss the kinds of things the cyclists will think about during the race and the tactics the team managers will use - it's a more tactical sport than people think."

The brothers Peredur and Rheinallt ap Gwynedd are back this year as part of the S4C commentary team.

Rheinallt said:

"I feel so lucky to be able to comment on one of the world's biggest sporting events in Welsh on S4C.

"With Wales stars in the men's and women's peloton and interest in the sport booming because of it, it makes sense that the nation can enjoy the biggest race of the world with Welsh language commentary.

"It's a golden opportunity to show the cycling world that the language is alive and well."

Around 180 cyclists will compete for the yellow jersey this year.

Awen's dream is to compete in the Tour de France femmes for the women and says:

"Nothing is certain in the race. I would like to see Mark Cavendish win another stage so that he can beat Eddy Merckx's record for the most stage wins in the Tour de France - they have both won 34 stages each.

"But there's so much excitement and it is important to be able to commentate in Welsh - this is very special."

Also joining as part of the S4C commentary team are Wyn Gruffydd, Gareth Rhys Owen, Dewi Owen, Robyn Davies, John Hardy and Gruff Lewis.

Peredur ap Gwynedd - one of S4C's Tour de France presenters - on his bike