So, that sounds like an explosive race. But it’s even worse than that – – or better, depending on your perspective. All vertical metres are crammed together is the second part of the race. In fact, more than half of the last 76 kilometres go uphill.
In the last 76 kilometres the riders are to conquer the Col d’Aspin (12 kilometres at 6.5%), Hourquette d’Anzican (8.2 kilometres at 5.1%) and Col de Val-Louron-Azet (10.7 kilometres at 6.8%) before descending to Loudenvielle. Moments later the Grande Finale begins.
The finish climb to Peyragudes amounts to 8 kilometres and the average gradient sits at 7.8%.
The race is set to finish on the runway of the airport of Peyragudes. The altiport in the Pyrenees hosted a Tour de France stage in 2012 and 2017, yet earlier fame befell the place in 1997 with a scene in the James Bond-movie Tomorrow never Dies.
The full finish climb is not the same as on the two previous occasions, although the last 2.4 kilometers are. It’s a slog at 8.4% to the ‘James Bond Airport’, while the last 500 metres are HC-category intimidating. This section goes up at 13%.
The winner in Peyragudes succeeds Romain Bardet (2017) and Alejando Valverde (2012).
The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds.
Ride the route yourself? Download GPX stage 17 Tour de France.
Another interesting read: results 17th stage 2022 Tour de France.
Tour de France 2022 stage 17: routes, profiles, more
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