Tour de France 2017 Favourites stage 11: Sprinters or escapees in transition stage

The favourites to win the 11th stage in the Tour de France are first of all riders with an attacking spirit. The ride goes to Pau, so it will be a transition stage. When the sprint teams are alert it could also come down to a bunch sprint. (Slideshow route/profile)

In the arrival place of the 11th stage, Pau, the peloton is knocking on the door to the Pyrenees. It’s the 68th time the town is hosting the Tour de France. The transition stage could boil down to a bunch sprint, but it might be more likely we’ll see a joint effort of escapees turning into a clash of the same riders in the finale. The last time La Grande Boucle visited Pau – in 2012 – it was Pierrick Fédrigo who brought an early break home, while the peloton finished 12 minutes in arrears.

Will we see another escapee being cheered on in Pau? We are halfway through the Tour, and it would not be the first the time the peloton can’t muster the energy to chase down the attackers. Although, as said, the route is perfect for a bunch sprint, too. But the only team who might go to great lengths to reel in the break is probably going to be Kittel’s QuickStep.

Favourites 11th stage 2017 Tour de France

*** Tim Wellens, Greg Van Avermaet, Stephen Cummings, Lilian Calmejane, Marcel Kittel
** Taylor Phinney, Tony Martin, Michael Matthews, Diego Ulissi, Fabio Felline
* John Degenkolb, André Greipel, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Dylan Groenewegen, Philippe Gilbert