A daunting program for a dream that is just as daunting. On the route of the 17th stage of the Tour de France between Saint-Gervais (Haute-Savoie) and Courchevel (Savoie), no less than two 1st category passes, before the “roof” of the Tour, the Col de la Loze, 28 km of ascent, classified out of category, which will take the runners to an altitude of 2,300 meters. All eyes are on, this Wednesday, July 19, Tadej Pogacar. After a fall at the start of the stage, the Slovenian intends to recover, after having given up in 20 km of time trial on Tuesday, ten times longer than in two weeks of mano to mano with his rival, Jonas Vingegaard . It is in any case one of his last chances to steal the yellow jersey from the Dane from here to the Champs-Elysées. Follow our live.
The Col de la Loze, a real scarecrow. This is only the second time that the Grande Boucle will take this “Galibier of the 21st century”, made passable since the last seven kilometers from the altiport of Méribel were tarred a few months before the first passage of the Tour in 2020 The last five kilometers average more than 10% on an irregular slope, with peaks at 24%. This infernal sequence of bumps and small flat areas arrives after 150 km of racing. In total, the stage displays 5,100 meters of elevation gain.
Penultimate chance to upset the general classification. For the yellow jersey as for the runners-up, there are two stages left, that of Wednesday and that of Markstein, in Alsace, on the eve of the finish, to get things moving. We can imagine that the riders who have lost big in the time trial, or who want to reach the top 5 or the top 10, will let go. Either on the last pass, or in a major offensive from further away. In addition, the fight for the polka dot jersey (the points are notably doubled at the top of the Col de la Loze) will encourage the formation of a breakaway from the start.