Tour de France 2023: Pello Bilbao takes sensational win on Stage 10 to move into top five on GC

The yellow and white jerseys in an early breakaway; a misfiring French hope battling off the back; a stellar move with a former double world champion in the mix; old friends Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel joining forces in a vain pursuit; a plucky escapee almost going the distance; and an eventual winner riding in the memory of a fallen team-mate… Stage 10 of the Tour de France had a bit of everything – and then some. “Glorious,” said Carlton Kirby.

“Sensational,” matched Rob Hatch. But the superlatives were not enough when Basque climber Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious) pulled off the most clinical of finishes to take his first ever Tour stage win while commemorating the late Gino Mader.

Ad Before the Tour started, Bilbao announced that he would donate one euro to a reforestation charity – a cause close to his late team-mate Mader’s heart – for every person who finishes behind him in a stage. The Spaniard also clarified that he could double his donations in the event of a stage win – and throw the final GC into the mix, too.

Tour de FrancePogacar 'ready for anything' in fight for yellow with VingegaardA DAY AGO On Tuesday’s rolling Stage 10 through the Massif Central, Bilbao fulfilled his destiny of paying two euro for everyone in the peloton except himself with a textbook win from a solid 14-man breakaway that animated the race over five leg-sapping climbs and in sweltering temperatures well over 30 degrees. He also surged up to fifth place in the overall standings as his donations rose to €1,307 and counting.