First Col de la Forclaz, a steady 13 kilometres climb at 7.9%, before the drag up to Finhaut-Emosson comes with a more erratic profile. At 10.4 kilometres, the average gradient of this climb is 8.4%, yet the section under the top introduces double digits. The last full kilometre is 10%, while the final 400 metres to the line are marked by a grade at over 12%.
With stage 14 an important quartet of races begins – three mountain stages and one mountainous ITT. We can safely assume the GC men to detonate the fireworks. Being down on Froome, there is only one way to go if they want the threaten the yellow jersey: attack!
Obviously, a race within a race is a likely scenario. We can safely assume KOM-contenders De Gendt and Majka will be up to something, too.
Favourites 17th stage Tour de France 2016:
*** Chris Froome, Nairo Quintana, Bauke Mollema
** Richie Porte, Fabio Aru, Rafal Majka, Adam Yates, Thomas De Gendt
* Tejay van Garderen, Romain Bardet, Daniel Martin, Serge Pauwels, Wilco Kelderman
Tour de France 2016 stage 17: Route maps, height profiles, etc.
Click on the images to zoom.
