The Tour de France enters the final days, with Stage 17 the first of those coming in the alps. Four big climbs await the peloton, including the highest point of the race, with Chris Froome looking to hang onto yellow. Join The Roar for live coverage and updates from 8:10pm (AEST).
The famous Col du Galibier, last climbed in 2011, headlines today’s route. The mammoth climb, peaking at 2,642 metres above sea level and rising for 17.7km at seven per cent has had some of the more famous battles in Tour history.
The 2011 race saw Andy Schleck win the stage while Australia’s Cadel Evans famously dragged everyone up the mountain to effectively win the Tour ahead of the following day’s time trial.
It’s a climb with history, tradition and, when you think of the Tour, it’s one of the main climbs that come to mind. Think the Alpe d’Huez, the Mont Ventoux and the Galibier.
Anyway, focus back on today’s stage. The peloton will roll out of La Mure at just after midday local time, with 176.5km separating them and the finish in Serre Chevalier.
The first 15 kilometres are more or less flat, before the first Category 2 climb of the day hits – being the Col d’Ornon – which is 5.1 kilometres at a 6.7 per cent gradient.
Ordinarily, this would have no bearing on the race, but watch for Sunweb to set a high tempo and try to get Michael Matthews into the breakaway. He is now only 29 points behind Marcel Kittel’s green jersey, so another 20 at the intermediate sprint could prove crucial in the race for green.
Once the intermediate sprint is reached 47.5 kilometres into the stage at Allemont, it’ll be onto the Col de la Croix de Fer, which in itself is a beast of a climb. Standing 2,067 metres above sea level, it’s an irregular climb that will burn the legs and suit attackers.
It’s a long way from the finish line, but with three plateaus and descents on the climb, there is room for attacking.
After that, it’ll be a descent to the base of the Col du Telegraphe, so often used as a launching pad for the neighbouring Alpe d’Huez. It’s a Category 1 climb, ranking 11.9 kilometres at 7.1 per cent.
The testing part about this is that the descent over the top lasts for approximately five kilometres before the riders line up for the Galibier.
It’s a succession of climbs that make the legs sore just thinking about it, and the sprinters might struggle to make the time cut today.
The General Classification battle is close as well and it’s going to make for some enthralling racing. Chris Froome might be holding yellow, but he has been vulnerable in the mountains, and there are three riders within half a minute.
Fabio Aru, Romain Bardet and Rigoberto Uran trail by 18, 23 and 29 seconds respectively, with Mikel Landa – Froome’s teammate – in fifth at 1:17. Landa could be a key man for Froome, launching a one-two punch, but it’s never been a go-to move for Sky. Bardet and Aru will be pushing their teams to make the race explode on the Telegraph, setting up an every man for himself situation on the Galibier.
It then comes down to a 21-kilometre race downhill to the finish line.
Prediction
It’s an incredibly tough stage to call. The breakaway should pick up the stage victory, and I’d expect another change at the top, with Bardet using his descending skills to drive home an advantage and slip into yellow.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of Stage 17 from 8:10pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment below.
James
Guest
Froome always looks like that.
Scott Pryde
Expert
That'll do it here on The Roar for our live coverage of Stage 17 at the Tour de France. Hopefully you enjoyed the call this evening and into the early hours of the morning. Sam Brown will be without tomorrow night for Stage 18 up the Col d'Izoard, and I'll be live for Stages 19, 20 and 21 to close out the race. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
General Classification 1. Chris Froome (Sky) @ 73:27:26 2. Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale) + 0:27 3. Romain Bardet (Ag2r) + 0:27 4. Fabio Aru (Astana) + 0:54 5. Mikel Landa (Sky) + 1:24 6. Daniel Martin (Quick Step) + 2:37 7. Simon Yates (Orica-Scott) + 4:07 8. Louis Meintjes (UAE) + 6:35 9. Alberto Contador (Trek) + 7:45 10. Warren Barguil (Sunweb) + 8:52
Scott Pryde
Expert
Top 10 1. Primoz Roglic (Lotto-Jumbo) @ 5:07:41 2. Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale) + 1:13 3. Chris Froome (Sky) + 1:13 4. Romain Bardet (Ag2r) + 1:13 5. Warren Barguil (Sunweb) + 1:13 6. Mikel Landa (Sky) + 1:16 7. Daniel Martin (Quick Step) + 1:43 8. Alberto Contador (Trek) + 1:44 9. Louis Meintjes (UAE) + 1:44 10. Fabio Aru (Astana) + 1:44
Scott Pryde
Expert
Full results to come.
Scott Pryde
Expert
If my maths is right, the time cut for the sprinters is going to be 35 minutes.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yates still on his way in and he has lost a chunk of time to Meintjes who came over the line in the Aru group. Yates has lost over a minute, but had 3:58 coming into the stage. Tough day for Yates. He couldn't even hold the wheel of Pauwels coming up to the line and the time loss is closer to 90 seconds than 60.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Now the GC riders will sprint for second place and a six second time bonus. Froome and Landa on the front, but Bardet takes the wheel of Landa's wheel. Landa goes to the front now with Foome setting at the back. Bardet opens up and Froome comes around the outside. Uran up the inside and he will take second, with Froome third. Bardet fourth, Landa fifth. The clock ticking for the Aru group and Martin opens a gap. They will probably timed a few seconds differently. Aru almost a half minute behind.
Scott Pryde
Expert
PRIMOZ ROGLIC WINS STAGE 17
Scott Pryde
Expert
Roglic inside of 1km to go.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Aru looks to have linked up with Martin and Meintjes among others, so that group have lost plenty of time. The white jersey will be an interesting one from here on out as well, with Yates likely to lose over a minute and being a very ordinary time trialist.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Aru group is being timed at 40 seconds behind the Froome group. Roglic inside 3km to go with a gap of 1:20.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The Aru group has swelled to six or seven riders by the looks of things, but they have lost a lot of time here. The only positive, from a race standpoint is that the equation for Aru (if his legs are any good) must attack, attack and attack again.
Scott Pryde
Expert
5km to go for Roglic as he comes into town, riding in a full time trial position.
Scott Pryde
Expert
It does appear that all five riders in the yellow jersey group are swapping off turns on the way to the finish, but they still can't take any time out of Roglic. He has 1:30 again with 6km to go.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Aru is now starting to lose big time on these wide open stretches. Less corners and it's he and Meintjes versus five, so it's hardly a surprise to him drop away to over half a minute behind.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Roglic now just 10km from the finish line. He has lost about ten seconds to the group of Froome, Bardet, Uran, Barguil and Landa but if he stays upright, it's hard to see him losing from here.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Aru still pushing across this gap, and it would now appear it's down to no more than 8 or 9 seconds. Getting a time check on Simon Yates as well - he is about 40 seconds behind.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Mikel Landa has again bridged the gap to the Froome group. That's just an amazing performance.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Aru appears to be making some ground, but still not coming back. Roglic inside 20km to go and he still has 1:30. Not giving a single second away here.