Stage 17: A Day for Breakaways
The Tour de France stage 17, stretching 174.7 km from Chambéry to Voiron, is anticipated to be a significant day for riders seeking to break away from the main peloton. Unlike previous stages dominated by high mountain climbs or mass sprints, this medium mountain stage offers an opportunity for those without general classification aspirations to secure a stage victory. The route features a total ascent of approximately 2,400 meters.
The early part of the stage, particularly the first 50 kilometers, is expected to be a battleground for forming the day’s decisive breakaway. After an initial flat section, the road quickly transitions into a series of climbs. While the profile becomes more favorable towards the end, the early intensity is likely to shape the composition of the leading groups.
Key Riders and Race Dynamics
Several riders are identified as strong contenders for a stage win from a breakaway. Among them are Mathieu van der Poel and Mads Pedersen, both considered prominent figures for the day. Tom Pidcock is also highlighted as a dangerous rider if he successfully joins a breakaway group. Other riders with suitable characteristics for this unpredictable stage include Michael Matthews, Mauro Schmid, Jasper Stuyven, Filippo Ganna, Victor Campenaerts, Jonas Abrahamsen, and Mathias Vacek.
The general classification is becoming increasingly defined, and with several high mountain stages still to come, many teams without a chance for the yellow jersey are focusing on stage victories. The withdrawal of Jonas Vingegaard has also altered the strategy for Visma Lease a Bike, potentially giving them more freedom to pursue partial wins. This dynamic suggests that a breakaway scenario is the most probable outcome for stage 17.
During the race, Mads Pedersen was seen leading a charge, bringing along riders such as Ben Healy, Jasper Stuyven, Felix Engelhardt, Jens Planckaert, and Michał Kwiatkowski. At one point, a group of 24 chasers was positioned between them and Jasper Philipsen’s group, which was about a minute behind. Earlier, Mads Pedersen, who had been separated from the peloton, launched an effort to catch the leaders, reducing their gap to the main bunch to 30 seconds.
The leading group has seen various compositions throughout the stage. At one point, Egan Bernal and Josh Tarling (Ineos), Pablo Castrillo and Einer Rubio (Movistar), Guillaume Martin Guyonnet and Clément Braz Afonso (FDJ), Tiesj Benoot (Decathlon), Jai Hindley (Red Bull), Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek), Alex Baudin (EF), Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin), Jasper Stuyven (Soudal), Rick Pluimers (Tudor), Matej Mohoric (Bahrain), Felix Engelhardt (Jayco), and Per Strand Hagenes (Visma) were identified as breakaway riders.
Race Developments and Challenges
The stage saw early attempts at breakaways. Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X) and Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto) made an initial move, but struggled to maintain their lead. Later, Kévin Vauqelin (Ineos) also initiated a move, with his sports director, Daryl Impey, indicating a strong commitment to the day’s efforts. An early crash involved Tom Pidcock and Fred Wright, both of whom appeared able to continue and worked to rejoin the peloton.
The route included several climbs, such as the Col des Près, a 3.5km climb with a 6.8% gradient, and the Côte de Rossillon. Richard Carapaz claimed the solitary King of the Mountains point on the Côte de Rossillon. Valentin Paret-Peintre, wearing the polka-dot jersey, took a KOM point on the first climb, though he remains behind Tadej Pogačar in the standings.
Team strategies are playing a crucial role. Decathlon’s sports director, Luke Rowe, expressed concerns about the numerous subplots potentially preventing a breakaway from succeeding, as some teams are working for their sprinters while others focus on the team race or protecting top 10 general classification positions. Despite this, Decathlon’s aim remains to bring everyone back together and set up Olav Kooij for a sprint victory.
Away from the current stage, Jonas Vingegaard underwent successful surgery in Denmark for a fractured collarbone. The two-time former Tour winner sustained the injury in a crash on Sunday, leading to his withdrawal from the race. Visma-Lease a Bike’s sports director, Marc Reef, confirmed that the operation went well and was not overly complicated.
The stage is scheduled to finish between 17:18 and 17:39 CEST.
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Source: theguardian.com
