Cycling: Tomorrow the Tour de France dares an experiment. On the 17th stage only 65 kilometers have to be covered. The drivers start in the order of the overall ranking. In our Tour de France preview, we only see what many consider a revolutionary idea as a publicity stunt. Nevertheless, the stage will be exciting - and could turn things upside down.
The shortest mass start stage in Tour de France history
It's the day the sprinters and the injured fear. The fact that two mountains in the first category and one mountain in the highest category have to be climbed is not the only decisive factor. Because from Bagnères-de-Luchon it passes only 65,0 kilometers to Saint-Lary-Soulan. While this section is a real highlight for the spectators, many riders at the start at 15:15 p.m. will hope to still be part of the Tour de France in three hours at the latest. Since the stage is extremely short, namely the Waiting period - especially for the sprinters - a real obstacle. Right from the start, the first meters of altitude have to be conquered. In general, it goes over the entire stage only up and down until you reach one of the largest ski areas in the Pyrenees in your destination.
Tour de France preview: The mountain classifications of the 17th stage
50,0km to go: Montee de Peyragudes (1rd category / 14,9 km at 6,7%)
28,0km to go: Col de Val Louron Azet (1rd category / 7,4 km at 8,3%)
Final climb/arrival: Col du Portet (highest category / 16,0 km at 8,7%)
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The starting grid will have no effect
From the organization of Tour de France the route maps and stage profiles were published months ago. As a revolutionary innovation, the fans were sold the short section with a Starting grid like in Formula 1. In reality, the brevity will create excitement and drama, but the line-up of the drivers according to the overall classification should hardly be noticeable. While the first 20 professionals are at the front, the remaining starters line up behind them in a corridor of 70 meters. The hope is that the classification riders at the beginning of the climb without helpers standing there In reality, however, the Sky professionals will put a short sprint on the asphalt, and then the famous one sky train start. Attacks will certainly be launched right at the kick-off – even from the top 20 in the overall standings – but the whole situation can still be brought under control quickly for a strong team.
Velomotion prognosis: The Col du Portet is the preliminary decision
Since there is only 65 kilometers to drive, you don't have to be a clairvoyant: the stage is driven at full throttle! Especially the strong climbers, who are between #10 and #20 in the overall ranking, sense their last chance tomorrow. Straight up to Montee de Peyragudes will split the field into many groups. No later than the Col de Val Louron Azet we see attacks from favorites. A preliminary decision of the Tour de France 2018 then provides us with the Col du Portet. The extremely long and extremely steep final ascent is made for a turning point. If someone has bad legs tomorrow, the Tour de France is over for them. Team Sky has proven over the past few years that such showdown stages are to their liking. We expect a defensive Geraint Thomas and an offensive one Chris Froome Because the competition – apart from Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) and Primois Roglic (LottoNL-Jumbo) - weakens, we assume a victory by last year's winner.
***Chris Froome
**Primoz Roglic, Tom Dumoulin
* Geraint Thomas, Mikel Landa, Romain Bardet
