AG2R-Citroën’s Felix Gall won the seventeenth stage of the Tour de France on Wednesday. During the 28-kilometer final climb on the Col de la Loze, with an average gradient of 6 percent and peaks of 24 percent, the 25-year-old Austrian remained in the lead, while more and more riders had to drop out. Close to the finish, Simon Yates managed to get very close, but Gall, who is riding his first Tour, eventually crossed the line first with a difference of 34 seconds. He also earns 40 mountain points.
Yellow jersey wearer Jonas Vingegaard of Jumbo-Visma finished fourth and was able to bend the Tour even more to his will. Thanks to a super performance in the time trial on Tuesday, the Dane already had a lead of one minute and 48 seconds over his direct competitor Tadej Pogacar, second in the standings. Because the Slovenian had to release from the group with Vingegaard 14 kilometers from the finish, the battle for the Tour win seems to be over. With four days to go, making up a difference of 7 minutes and 35 seconds is an almost impossible task for Pogacar.
The queen stage led from Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc to Courchevel, over a distance of 165.7 kilometers. With 5,399 altimeters, more than in any other stage, this last Alpine stage was a very tough stage. In addition to the tough final climb, the riders also braved the Col des Saisies (13.4 kilometers at 5.1%), the Cormet de Roselend (19.9 kilometers at 6.0%), and Tour debutant the Côte de Longefoy (6. 7 kilometers at 7.5%).
The finish finally followed after a descent of 6.6 kilometers. There was a lot of criticism about this beforehand: why did the organization opt for a dangerous descent at high speed in one of the toughest stages of the Tour? For safety reasons, five large air cushions were placed in one of the most dangerous corners.
Also read this analysis: Jonas Vingegaard deals a blow in time trial, thanks to his performance manager