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Bagneres-de-Luchon (dpa) – For the penultimate heavy Pyrenean of this Tour de France the organizers considered two very particular variants.
The 17th stage of Bagnères-de-Luchon on the Col du Portet is extremely short and begins with a curious procedure at the start. This is to increase the show of professional cyclists in the fight for the yellow jersey of the 105th Tour de France.
THE ROUTE: At only 65 kilometers, the diurnal section of a mountain stage is extremely short. Three heavy mountains to conquer: Immediately after the departure of the peloton on the rise of Peyragues, then follows the pbad of Val Louron-Azet. The two mountains were ranked in the first category. The final climb then goes up to Col du Portet until Saint-Lary-Soulan, it is an increase of the "Hors catégorie", so the highest level of difficulty. At the same time, the roof of the tour is reached there with 2215 vertical meters.
DEPARTURE: Normally, a lap stage starts with a few kilometers of neutralized start before the race director is released from the race director's car with a flag and attacks are possible. This time, the drivers are in a formation similar to that of Formula 1 and the motorcycle race in a formation. The wearer of the yellow jersey is at the top, then the places two to five are aligned in the shape of an arrow. Rows six to ten form a second arrow behind. Then follow two rows of five. The rear runners of the clbadification start in their twenties.
THE PLAN: The patrons of the Tour hope to provoke the attacks of the best from the first meter. For example, because of the strong team Sky Geralt Thomas and reigning champion Chris Froome, the first attacks still decked out, a team merger on the 17th stage could be avoided if the top duo's pursuers attack from the departure. Teammates Thomas and Froome, who are eliminated in the overall standings, are also placed further back on the starting grid and may have problems to reach the front in a hectic start.
THE GRUPPETTO: While the strongest climbers should be attacked from the start, others are only fighting against time. Sprinter and sick drivers must try to reach the winner in a certain period of time on arrival. In the Alps, this was condemned to sprinters Marcel Kittel and André Greipel. But this time, the tour organization will meet the Gruppetto: Who limits the gap to 25 percent of the time of victory, can continue.
Itinerary Tour de France 2018
Etappenwertung and appreciation
starting field
List of early failures
Tour de France welcome page with news
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