Tour de France - Stage 17 guide: 'Fatally dangerous'

Wed, 20 Jul 01:08:00 2011

Tour de France contenders Frank and Andy Schleck have described the final descent of Wednesday's 179km 17th stage to Pinerolo as "fatally dangerous".

Tour de France - Stage 17 guide

Stage 17 – Wednesday, 20 July – Gap-Pinerolo - 179km

Type: Mountains

Difficulty: ***

Details: Just the one first category climb today, although it's important to add the caveat that this climb is Sestrieres – plus it's sandwiched between a cluster of lower-category ascents. The stage starts easily enough, with around 65km of largely flat roads. But then there are two small climbs in quick succession before the Cat.2 Col de Montgenevre, a mere amuse-bouche to the main course slog to Sestrieres. A long descent will bring the riders to the foot of the punchy Cat.2 Cote de Pra'Martino before an 8km ride down into Italy and the finish in Pinerolo, described by Andy Schleck thus: "The final descent from the Pramartino pass is ridiculous. It's nothing but a track across a wood. The Pinerolo finish is ominous. I rode down this hill three times in training and I already found it too risky. It is fatally dangerous. It if rains, several riders will again end up in hospital." Interestingly, this quick jaunt over the border is the Tour's only incursion into territory outside France in this year's race.

Watch out for: The Pra'Martino climb may well be a mere 7km long, but it's pretty steep and comes after more than 45km of downhill so could well be the site of a bonk or two.

Prediction: This could well be a stage for one of the initial race favourites who may have slipped down in the standings to rescue his Tour. Levi Leipheimer could well fit into this category. RadioShack are without a win, and the American has been very quiet. Expect fireworks amongst the favourites, at least one or two of whom will lose precious time. The finish in Italy may also be the cue for an Italian rider to have a pop – and Damiano Cunego may fancy his chances.

History: Sestrieres may have been the site of Fausto Coppi's famous win in 1952 and also the mountain on which Lance Armstrong secured his first Tour triumph in 1999, but it will perhaps be best remembered by Claudio Chiappucci's battling win in 1992, when the Italian broke clear on the first climb of the day and managed to hold off the chase led by Miguel Indurain and Gianni Bungo to reach the summit of Sestriere in pole position, overtaking his motorbike escort in the process. It was arguably one of the Tour's most famous stage wins in history. Pinerolo is famous for its fortress, in which was jailed the Man in the Iron Mask in 1669.

Eurosport / Reuters

Comment 1 - 17 of 17

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  1. Bunch of whining byatches

    From Zarko, on Wed 20 Jul 20:06

  2. I really hope that there will be no more crash until­ race finish in Paris and the best man win the Tour.

    From Firhat, on Wed 20 Jul 19:06

  3. It's fatally dangerous if you go too fast, you have­ to descend within your own capabilities, that's­ what competitive sport is all about. Some riders­ don't have the nerve for a shoulder to shoulder­ bunch sprint at 60kph + and they quite rightly keep­ well out of the way, if Andy and Frank want to put the­ brakes on their descent they are free to do so but the­ skilled descenders must be allowed to take advantage of­ their skills. What goes up, must come down, some go up­ slow and come down quick, Frank and Andy go up quick­ (but hesitantly) and come down slow. They should come­ down to earth (quickly) and stop dreaming of perfect­ scenarios.

    From Unchained malady, on Wed 20 Jul 19:05

  4. All downhills on these routes are potentially leathal,­ the steepness of the road, and the banks on the side­ could make something as simple as a puncture (I know­ they use tubs not clinchers) fatal. It is a risk they­ take which every few years unfortunately causes death. ­ But there is no way round for this type of event. ­ Anyway I thought the brothers liked the hills?

    From Neil, on Wed 20 Jul 18:58

  5. If Andy Schleck doesn't like the route he has the­ option to stay at home or abandon Le Tour and leave it­ to the real men.

    From mwd.huitson, on Wed 20 Jul 18:44

  6. The difficulty of this years Tour has been greatly­ exaggerated.

    From Sabcarrera, on Wed 20 Jul 18:30

  7. What a great year for watching pro cycling: ­
    '
    The Giro was super tough, this Tour is wide open­ and with a fascinating finale... and the Vuelta will­ have Menchov, Sastre, Wiggins and a host of other top­ riders such as the "Radioshack 4" all trying­ to salvage a big GC result.

    From p, on Wed 20 Jul 17:55

  8. The Schlecks want the Tour to be designed in their­ favour. Who do they think they are, Hinault?­ They're not even French! :D

    From Mick Jones, on Wed 20 Jul 17:44

  9. There is nothing wrong with this decent, which I've­ done myself. Andy Schleck should try the Monte Crostis­ decent..there are many, mant more dangerous decents­ than Pramartino pass. I've said many times on this­ forum, Italian roads are more technical than the­ Frecnh, they are short and sharp, long and sharp. I­ fancy Cunego today. What does Andy want, everything­ 6-8% both ways, great tarmac, with easy non-technical­ decents. As a spectator we want to the decent from the­ Pramartino pass.

    From axalp10, on Wed 20 Jul 17:22

  10. The Tour De France organisers .... in light of the very­ dangerous conditions in yesterday's stage and­ taking heed of Leotard Schtrek comments following the­ stage.... Has announced that when Andy and Frank­ Schleck reach the top of the Col de Galibier, they will­ be escorted to a waiting ski lift and will be­ transported in a safe manner to the bottom of the­ valley, where they will then be allowed to re mount­ their bicycles and proceed in a safe manner to their­ destination .... Alpe D'Huez. The organisers wish­ to stress that in no way is this to be taken as an­ unfair advantage to the other riders, because by the­ time the ski lift gets to the bottom, the peloton would­ have already passed by

    From Colin A, on Wed 20 Jul 16:39

  11. Last chance for FDJ & Sandy Casar. Also expect­ somebody from AG2R & Katusha to join him in the­ break (these two teams are near the top of­ team-standings and would certainly like to win that­ competition).

    From Maksa Beograd, on Wed 20 Jul 16:37

  12. Why is there a picture of the col du lautaret?! save­ that picture for tomorrow ;)

    From Will W, on Wed 20 Jul 16:36

  13. Basso should attack on the Sestriere because he will­ probably lose more time on the final descent if he­ simply tries to follow everyone. But can he do it? Now­ Contador's main goal must be to gain time on Evans,­ he already has enough time on the Schlecks. But gaining­ time on Evans on todays stage will be difficult because­ of the decents. This could prompt AC to attack on the­ last climb. I hope that Sanches will have good day­ again. Evans may lose time on the climbs but he would­ attack on the decants. So I think that in top 4 would­ be Chavanel Sanchez Contador and Evans .

    From David, on Wed 20 Jul 16:18

  14. Given that Leopard-Trek have not won a stage and might­ at best take 3rd on the podium, perhaps Cancellara­ should not assist the Schlecks up the bottom 1/3 of the­ cols and instead save his energy for winning the ITT on­ Saturday.

    From p, on Wed 20 Jul 15:47

  15. I can only give virtual love I'm afraid, Jenny. I­ suggest you jump in front of a train while I try to­ figure this thing out

    From Ed, on Wed 20 Jul 15:45

  16. yes jenny, nice to see that you are interested in­ cycling ! too bad you can't write, even if you are­ a computer.

    From Martin Scheffer, on Wed 20 Jul 15:39

  17. Jenny - great to see you. Where have you been for so­ long?

    From Teal, on Wed 20 Jul 14:29
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