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The 16th stage won Tuesday by Julian Alaphilippe has left us hungry at one level: none of the great leaders has embarked on an attack. The menu of the 17th stage, Wednesday, offers them the opportunity to catch up: 65 km, only, but three major difficulties, the rise of Peyragudes (1st category), the pbad of Val-Louron-Azet (1st category) and the Col du Portet, top of the Tour, clbadified out of category. The riders are in the climb of Peyragudes
The three infos to know:
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Julian Alaphilippe races to the front in order to reinforce his Polka dot jersey
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The 17th stage is short (65 km) but very difficult, with three pbades and an arrival at the top of Portet, unprecedented climb on the Tour
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Geraint Thomas approaches this Pyrenean stage with 1'39 "ahead of Froome and 1'50" on Dumoulin
The point at the top of the climb of Peyragudes, 51 km from the finish: Kangert in front of Alaphilippe. The Estonian rider went alone ahead of the first difficulty of the day, with fifteen seconds ahead of Alaphilippe, who strengthens his polka dot jersey. A group of nine pursuers is interposed including Spaniard Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), Briton Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) and Pole Rafal Majka (Bora-Hansgrohe). The peloton is pointed at about three and a half minutes
The point 55 km from the finish: Kangert again alone in the lead. Edet jumped into Kangert Street and Estonian team Astana was again alone in the lead, about four kilometers from the top. Kangert has a good twenty seconds ahead of Julian Alaphilippe, who started in a counter-attack behind. One thing is gained now: this rise of Peyragudes should be removed by the favorites.
The point 60 km from the finish: two men ahead, Kangert and Edet. Frenchman Nicolas Edet (Cofidis) returned to Tanel Kangert and they are two, now, to open the road in this pbad of Peyresourde which leads to Peyragudes. They have fifteen seconds ahead of a quartet of runners: Alaphilippe, Jesus Herrada (Cofidis), Kristijan Durasek (Emirates) and Romain Sicard (Direct Energy).
The point 62 km from the finish: a single man in the lead, Démare already let go. Estonian Tanel Kangert (Astana), with Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) and Pierre Rolland, is now alone in the lead, with a ten second lead over a group of pursuers, which includes the dotted jersey, Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step). In the back, Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ) is already dropped by the peloton, barely 400 m after the start of the stage, which borrows the entrance to the climb of Peyragudes (14.9 km to 6.7% .
Starting point: a Formula 1 grid. The first of the overall ranking, yellow jersey in the lead, took place on what looked like a Formula 1 starter grid. It was only for the photo (see below) because they left piano and it's Lilian Calmejane (Direct Energy), back from the rear, who was the first to attack, soon followed by a regular of this kind of initiatives, his compatriot Pierre Rolland (EF-Drapac).
France Télévisions screenshot
Update on the ranking: for Thomas, we will know. This second Pyrenean stage is supposed to be able to bring a large part of the answer that everyone asks: Does Geraint Thomas have the shoulders to win a big Tour? With 1'39 "ahead of teammate Chris Froome and 1'50" over Dutchman Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb), the now co-leader of the Sky team does not have such a large margin. Podium contenders Slovenia's Primoz Roglic (Lotto-Jumbo), Frenchman Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) and Spaniard Mikel Landa (Movistar) are also expected to fight.
The overall standings at the start Step:
1. Geraint Thomas (GBR / Sky) 68: 12'01 "
2. Christopher Froome (GBR / SKY) at 1'39"
3. Tom Dumoulin (HOL / SUN) 1'50 "
4. Primoz Roglic (SLV / LNL) 2'38"
5. Romain Bardet (FRA / ALM) 3'21 "
6. Mikel Landa (ESP / MOV) 3'42"
7. Steven Kruijswijk (HOL / LNL) 3'57 "
8. Nairo Quintana (COL / MOV) 4'23"
9. Jakob Fuglsang (DAN / AST) 6'14 "
10. Daniel Martin (IRL / UAE) 6'54"
Profile update: short and hard. This 17th stage of the Tour is the shortest of the event (65 km), but it is almost as hard, with its three chained ascents, the climb of Peyragudes (1st category), the Val-Louron pbad. Azet (1st category) and the final climb, the Col du Portet, unpublished on the Tour.
AFP
"This pbad is probably the most difficult in France with the Ventoux," said Thierry Gouvenou, the race director. The 16 kilometers to 8.7% lead to the altitude of 2,215 meters, 100 meters higher than the Tourmalet which the director of the Tour, Christian Prudhomme, likes to compare the Portet.
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