Tour de France 2017 Favourites stage 17: To strike on Galibier descent

In the 17th stage of the Tour de France the riders race from one iconic col to the next. After cresting the Galibier, the finish lies at the end of a 28 kilometres descent in Serre Chevalier. Who are favourite to win this potentially legendary mountain stage? (Slideshow route/profile)

The route of the 17th stage in the Tour de France takes in climbs up the Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Télégraphe and Col du Galibier. To stretch the legs before hitting these iconic giants Col d’Ornon is crested at kilometre 30.

To be able to win stage 17 you have to be a hors catégorie climber, that’s for sure. Col de la Croix de Fer is 24 kilometres at 5.2%, Col du Télégraphe is 11.9 kilometres at 7.1% and following a drop of merely 4.5 kilometres Col du Galibier lays waiting. The Galibier amounts to 17.7 kilometres, while the climb is averaging 6.9%. A nosedive from the summit takes the riders in 28 kilometres to the finish line in Serre Chevalier.

The route is similar to last year’s 8th stage, when Chris Froome attacked on the descent of the Peyresourde to power to the stage win and the yellow jersey. Depending on GC, the Briton might try to do it again. After all, we all know he is good descender after last year’s bravery and in the 6th stage of the Dauphiné he was unstoppable on the descent of the Mont du Chat, too. Only difference is that it won’t be a surprise attack anymore. His rivals will be alert.

Romain Bardet and Dan Martin were strong of the last downhill of the 9th stage – the one over the Mont du Chat in which Porte crashed and took down Martin. The Irishman had to changes bikes twice, still he managed to limit his losses. Meanwhile, Bardet attacked to put half a minute into his opponents on the descent.

Favourites to win the stage in Serre Chevalier are strong climbers with perfect descending abilities. A duo-attack by Pantano and Trek-leader Contador – why not?

Favourites 17th stage 2017 Tour de France

*** Alberto Contador, Chris Froome, Romain Bardet, Daniel Martin
** Warren Barguil, Mikel Landa, Rigoberto Uran
* Fabio Aru, Jarlinson Pantano, Simon Yates, Bauke Mollema, Tony Gallopin