Tour de France 2022 stage 17 preview - Pyrenean showdown

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Where is stage 17: Saint-Gaudens to Peyragudes

When is stage 17: July 20, 2022

How far is stage 17: 129.7km

What is the start time: 13:15 - 16:50 CEST

Stage type: Mountain

Stage 17 sees the second of a trio of Pyrenean showdowns among the overall contenders, with the summit finish sure to deliver an exciting duel between leader Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) and defending Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates).

Vingegaard has a 2:22 lead over the Slovenian but on the climbs of stage 16, Pogačar delivered on his promise to not go down without a fight. He attacked numerous times but each time he was easily marked by the Dane.

Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) opened up a 92-second lead over the next-placed rider Nairo Quintana (Arkéa-Samisc) after Romain Bardet (Team DSM) collapsed and dropped to 9th.

However, the Welshman showed some weakness amid Pogačar's attacks. Adam Yates and Tom Pidcock sacrificed some time to haul him back in and lost time, so Ineos are putting all their money on Thomas. It's going to be a vicious stage.

This is the shortest mountain stage of the Tour, but four hard climbs make it a crucial one in the GC fight. The first 53km are flat before the first-category Col d'Aspin begins. Climbing 785 metres over 12km, the hardest part at 9.5% comes after seven kilometres.

A fast eight-kilometre downhill takes the peloton to the foot of the second-category Hourquette d'Ancizan. This irregular 8.2-kilometre climb begins with 4km at 7.5%, but the gradient is often steeper than that. A descent and false flat precede the final ramp at between 6 and 7.4%.

10km of descending and seven kilometres of flat road bring riders to the first category, 10.7-kilometre Col de Val Louron-Azet. Starting with the three easiest kilometres at 5.1, 2.5, and 6.2%, the climb then only dips below 7.1% once (a kilometre from the top), with the gradient often between 8 and 9%.

7km of descending are followed by a five-kilometre flat section before the first-category climb to the finish in Peyragudes begins. Eight kilometres in length, it starts easy with a kilometre at 4.5% before kicking up to between 7.9 and 8.7% for the next four kilometres. Then there is a brief respite at six% followed by a 9% ramp and another kilometre at six%. The final kilometre is the hardest at 13% with a brief section reaching 16%.

The GC contenders will probably save their attacks for the final climb, meaning that a strong breakaway could go all the way.