road.cc Fantasy Cycling: Tour de France stage 17 preview

The Tour de France heads into Italy today as it helps its transalpine neighbour celebrate its 150th birthday, and there’s an added significance in the fact that Gap and Pinerolo are twinned with one another. In terms of the GC, any moves are likely to come on the final, short climb of the Cote de Pramartino ahead of the descent into Pinerolo, although with two tough Alpine stages ahead it could be a day for a breakaway.

Thought for the Day

With the Tour making a diversion into Italy, it’s a chance for that country’s riders to get themselves into the spotlight and if the likes of Ivan Basso or Damiano Cunego aren’t seen as a threat in the overall standings, they could well be allowed to go.

GT’s tips

We rode this stage on our training camp and I think it will be a good day for Edvald, that type of rider, or Thor Hushovd if he's within reach of the green jersey and perhaps needs to gain a few points on Cav if he's up there. The last climb's not too hard, but the descent¹s the tricky bit, it¹s quite technical, narrow and pretty twisty. So for a breakaway, the winning move could be on the descent, but if it comes back together after Sestriere, someone like Edvald or Hushovd, that type of rider, could be in with a shout. A lot could happen today.