Preview: What you need to know about stage 17 of the 2022 Tour de France
Preview: What you need to know about stage 17 of the 2022 Tour de France
Date: Wednesday July 20
Start: Saint-Gaudens
Finish: Peyragudes
Distance: 130 km
A short one at only 130 km, and the first 50 km are flat. Let’s hope, then, that we see a proper race over four categorised climbs packed into 80 km.
First up is the Col d’Aspin, 12 km at 6.5%, immediately followed by the second-category Hourquette d’Ancizan, 8.2 km at 5.1%. Then there’s a dip down into the valley before the final two first-category climbs. The Col de Val Louron-Azet is 10.7 km long with an average gradient of 6.8%. Finally, it’s the summit finish of Peyragudes, 8 km long at 7.8%.
Who will win stage 17?
Who won the last two times Peyragudes featured in the race? Romain Bardet in 2017 and Alejandro Valverde in 2012. While both riders are still active, and only one of them at this year’s Tour, the yellow jerseys on those stages are not: Fabio Aru and Bradley Wiggins. Peyragudes is also the third altiport to feature in the 2022 Tour.
The GC riders are running out of opportunities to make gains, so there’s a high chance it’ll be yet another battle between the two strongest men in the race (so far), Tadej Pogačar and undroppable race leader Jonas Vingegaard. However, teammates are getting thin on the ground for the top two, so it might be in their favour to let a big breakaway fight over the stage so there’s a little less to control. Thibaut Pinot has often enjoyed success in the Pyrenees, so maybe it’s finally his day?
