Start of the grid for a very short and very steep 17th stage on the Tour de France | sport

There were short stages in the Tour de France before but not as critical as the Bagnères-de-Luchon 65 km mountain stage at the top of the Col de Portet in the Hautes-Pyrénées. But why is this stage, the 17th of the 2018 Tour, so different from the usual Alpine and Pyrenean stages?

First, the distance. This very fast route, the shortest of the modern era of the Tour, has been likened by some in the race convoy to a "team time trial" or to a "criterium in the mountains". The criterias are the circuit races of the city center mounted throughout France, generally at high speed and without quarter given.

The difference here is the field, which includes a starting line at the foot of the abrupt climb of the Col de Peyresourde. The second is the absence of any neutralized area, or rolling start. This means that the riders will start from the starting line, unlike all other races where there is a fictitious start or a false start, and a few kilometers of neutralized road before the flag is dropped actual start – the real start

Third, the F1 style grid, located at the foot of the first climb, in which the yellow jersey will start in pole position and the 19 riders closest to the event. 39; together. The standings will align in the order behind him. The rest of the peloton will be held in cyclo-cross style kennels and will start after the top 20 riders.

But most teams, while welcoming the initiative, do not see it as radically changing. how the scene is run. "It's going to be a very, very fast stage," said Team Sky's sports director Nicolas Portal. "It's as much because of the distance as anything, we can ride an hour in the morning and then do a very long warm-up before the stage."

"Some will need of a warm-up longer than others, "said Adam Yates Sports Director Matt White. "Half of the peloton will hate the start tomorrow, especially the over 65kg.This is a really difficult start for non-climbers."

"Everyone will be on the home trainer, as usual for those hill starts, "said White." If you had told me 10 years ago that we would see professionals on the home trainer before the start of each leg of the Tour, I would have laughed. "

" We have never had such steps before and I think that's great idea. They are trying new ideas and I think it's good to mix them up. The sport is changing. "

Tom Southam, from the Education First team, was waiting for attacks from the main contenders from the start." I think this step will be decided quite quickly, " he said. "It will be like a team time trial. With Rigoberto Urán gone, we have no global competitor. So our only hopes are breakaways, but given the nature of this step, there is no hope of that. "

" I do not think that will change things much, "said Vincenzo Nibali's coach, Paolo Slongo's" grid start innovation, "but if a leader was attacking and had some teammates close to them, so they might have some kind of advantage. Team Sky will undoubtedly have a strong team and could therefore benefit from it.

Team Sky will have two riders in the top 20, Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome, while the Movistar team will have three, Mikel Landa, Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde, and the Lotto Jumbo team NL, two – Primoz Roglic and Steven Kruisjwijk

This weight of numbers can see a very volatile opening on the stage and a group of selected candidates move clearly. If this is the case, then the stage, and perhaps the Tour itself, could be played out on the steep slopes of the last ascent of this stage, the Col du Portet, which climbs to 2,215 meters.