The Basque region of Northern Spain, and Bilbao, the venue of the Grand Depart of the 2023 Tour de France, is also where Nottingham’s James Shaw, and his EF Education-EasyPost Pro Cycling team are for the three week extravaganza.
A total of 21 stages begins in Bilbao, this weekend, before heading to Vitoria-Gastiez-San Sebastian for Sunday’s Stage Two, and for Shaw, he’s more than happy to be a part of the occasion, although still a little shocked to be there.
One of eight, EF Education riders, alongside Richard Carapaz, Rigoberto Uran, Neilson Powless, Alberto Bettiol, Magnus Cort, Andrey Amador, and Esteban Chaves, the Nottingham cyclist, who turned 27 at the start of June, recently said: “I am a bit nervous. I am a bit scared.
“It is obvious from the guys who are going that I am there to be the best teammate I can. We have got a hell of a roster. Starting on that start line is going to be incredible.”
Emotions that are more than understandable considering he’s about to embark on the biggest three weeks of his professional cycling career.
“I love it here, with EF,” James told the Nottingham Sport from Bilbao ahead of the Grand Depart.
“It’s a bit different being in a pro set-up, and last year, it was a good one for me, and I felt like a young, professional rider again.”
Seemingly building towards moments like the one he’s about to both endure, and enjoy, are what any cyclists career is about; last year would see Shaw in the Vuelta a Espana, following up this year in the Settimana Internazionale de Coppi e Bartali, and the Criterium du Dauphine, the former of which would see the Notts rider finish second overall, behind Swiss rider, Mauro Schmid.
That Coppi e Bartali finish would see Shaw finish ahead of team-mates Ben Healy and Mark Padun, EF Education taking three of the top four spots; the TdF however, now that’s a completely different kettle of fish.
“I’m aiming to stay injury free and healthy for the three weeks, now that’s hard,” continued Shaw.
“We have a stacked, staller team here, and we’re looking forward to putting on a good showing, especially for Carapaz and Powless, and know I gave everything for the team.
“I think we’ll be really disappointed if we don’t do well but, you have to back yourself a little bit, whilst slipping under the radar.”
Shaw, and a few other, British riders, like Fred Wright (Bahrain – Victorious), are perhaps helped in the ‘slipping under the radar,’ by the presence of other Brits, including the Yates brothers, Adam with UAE Team Emirates, and Simon at Team Jayco Alula, as well as a certain, Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan Team).
“Cav, what he’s here to do is to make history, which will be great to see,” admitted Shaw.
“Myself however, although the Basque area should be a lot nicer (weather-wise) than this, if I can how I did in the Dauphine, then I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.
“All the focus, it’s been on right here, right now, the next three weeks, and afterwards, that’ll depend on how mentally scarred I am for this really,” he joked, “then we’ll see as to what happens next.”
EF Education-EasyPost, along with James Shaw and his seven team-mates, will ride out in the 2023 Tour de France, at the Grand Depart, Bilbao, at around 11:30am on Saturday 1 July, the first of 21 stages.
With rest days on the 10, and 17 July, riders will be hoping to make it all the way to Stage 21, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines to Paris (Champs-Elysees), on Sunday 23 July.
Keep up-to-date with all things EF Education via their socials, Facebook and Twitter and via their website here; whilst you can follow James Shaw on Facebook here and Twitter here.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @EFProCycling the EF Education EasyPost Pro cycling team (Ashley & Jered Gruber / Gruber Images).
