Stage 17 of the Tour de France is a very short day, however with quite a lot of climbing making up to it.
The second day in the Pyrenees, with some of the classics back on the route. In store will be only 130 kilometers, with the first 50 being pan-flat meaning that very early on in the day the riders will approach the final set of climbs that will decide the outcome of the stage, and quite possibly change the appearance of the general classification.
The general classification can be shaped or decided on this day, but at the same time the climbers may be evenly matched, ahead of yet another high mountain stage.
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In those last 75 kilometers there are over 3000 meters of climbing. First comes the Col d’Aspin (12Km; 6.5%; 65Km to go) which may see some riders go up the road, although that’s an unlikely scenario. It will get everyone ready for the following ascents. Shortly after the riders will go up the easier vertent of the Hourquette d’Ancizan (8.6Km; 5.1%; 49Km to go).
A tricky descent will very quickly see the riders go over another famous climb, the Col de Val Louron-Azet (8.5Km; 7.7%; 21Km to go). Will this climb see much action? Unlikely due to the final climb, however the very technical descent may stimulate some move, or get some pressure being put on some riders, perhaps strategical racing with riders from the breakaway dropping back.
The final climb though should be the decisive feature. Instead of riding towards the summit of the Col de Peyresourde, this year the peloton will head into Peyragudes, with the finale positioned in the Altiport - the third of it’s kind throughout the race. It’s not a brutal climb, largely similar to the ones tackled beforehand with 8.1Km at 7.2% average gradient. What makes the difference is the altiport section in the final meters of the stage, in which the riders go deep into double-digit gradients in a grueling dash to the line.
CyclingUpToDate prediction:
**** Tadej Pogacar
*** Jonas Vingegaard, Geraint Thomas
** Romain Bardet, David Gaudu, Nairo Quintana
* Enric Mas, Adam Yates, Tom Pidcock, Louis Meintjes
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