Tour de France 2017 Favourites stage 12: Clash of GC contenders
Following stage 5's arrival on La Planche des Belles Filles this is merely the second summit finish in the 2017 Tour de France. The race concludes with a steep double-barrelled ascent, which is perfect for the GC contenders to go head-to-head. Especially since the tough Port de Balès precedes double-barrelled finale. (Slideshow route/profile)
Expect the overall battle to ignite in stage 12 of the 2017 Tour de France. Yes, there have seen a number of mountain stages, but none of these ran to such a challenging finale as the stage to Peyragudes. So stage 12 is perfect to put pressure on your opponents.
The riders face four intermediate climbs – Côte de Capvern, Col des Ares, Col de Menté and Port de Balès – before they hit the foot of the two-stage ascent to the finish line at kilometre 200. Still 14 kilometres to go. For starters the Col de Peyresourde, which is a 9.7 kilometres toil at 7.8%, and after a short drop the climb to Peyragudes kicks in: 2,4 kilometer à 8,4%.
If the GC guys keep their powder dry the stage could give a chance for a rehabilitation of Contador, who saw his GC ambitions turn sour in stage 9. Or are going to see a first glimpse of Chaves in his first Tour de France?
So, by all means, we should expect a thrilling finale.
Favourites 12th stage 2017 Tour de France
*** Chris Froome, Romain Bardet, Fabio Aru, Rigoberto Uran, Jakob Fuglsang
** Thibaut Pinot, Esteban Chaves, Alberto Contador, Bauke Mollema, Daniel Martin
* Warren Barguil, Louis Meintjes. Nairo Quintana, Thomas De Gendt, Simon Yates
Tour de France 2017 stage 12: Route maps, height profiles, and more
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