2011 Tour de France, Stage 12 to Stage 21#Stage 17

(41,6 km / h)

Rubén Pérez (EUS )

The 17th stage of the Tour de France 2011 on July 20, led about 179 km from Gap to Pinerolo in Italy. It was the only foreign visit this Tour de France. On this high mountain stage, there was a sprint and a total of five climbs, including one of the first and two each of the 2nd and 3rd category. As on the previous day were still 170 of the 198 registered riders at the start.

Race course

A few kilometers after the start drew Sandy Casar it. He was succeeded by Linus Gerdemann, Luis León Sánchez, Rémy Di Gregorio, Rui Costa, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Geraint Thomas, Danilo Hondo, Tejay van Garderen and Thomas De Gendt. Thor Hushovd and Nicolas Roche followed them, but were recaptured from the field. The same thing happened the top group 41 km after the start. The first hour of the race was also obsessed with 51.3 km / h again very quickly. There were other attacks, where the field was torn apart in the short term. Later was formed from three smaller groups, a 14-strong leading group, among whom were again again found Casar and Boasson Hagen. Also for Rubén Pérez, it was already the fourth stage, when he was in a breakaway group. At this time Paolo Tiralongo gave up the race.

The group quickly built their lead to over five minutes and later reached a maximum lead of over seven minutes. The intermediate sprint decided Casar for himself and Mark Cavendish won out of the field the last yet to be assigned point. The first three climbs won Sylvain Chavanel. On the road to Sestriere Roche attacked, Johnny Hoogerland and Kevin De Weert followed. Slowly they approached the top. In the top group Pérez grabbed his colleagues to, secured the fourth and highest climb of the day and drove the long descent down alone. Chavanel was over a minute behind runner-up at the mountain, the field was led by Thomas Voeckler on the mountaintop. In the chase group Hoogerland briefly lost the connection.

In increase to the last mountain stage Dmitri Fofonow attacked from the first chase group, but was caught again. This was followed by an attack of Chavanel, who caught up with the leaders, but was then in its turn and overtaken by Boasson Hagen. He was succeeded by Jonathan Hivert. Also in the field is now increased the pace, after which the projection of the leading group fell again. Philippe Gilbert could not follow the pace. At the top Chavanel tried something later an attack. As on the previous day also Alberto Contador tried to attack, but was caught again. Behind Boasson Hagen Bauke Mollema and Hivert finally reached the summit of the Pra Martino.

On the descent, several drivers came from among them Voeckler, of the road and lost valuable time. Boasson Hagen rode at the head against a ungefährdetem victory, his second in this Tour de France, and the fourth for a Norwegian. From The favorites Contador and Sánchez put in the downhill somewhat, but were captured by the favorites just before the finish again. Voeckler finally came up with 27 seconds behind the Contador group to the finish.

Mountains classification

• Côte de Sainte -Marguerite, Category 3 ( 71.5 km; 1216 m; 2.8 km at 7.4 %)

• La Chaussée ( montée de Briançon ), Category 3 ( 85.5 km; 1333 m, 1.4 km at 8.3%)

• Col de Montgenevre, Category 2 ( 96.5 km; 1860 m, 7.9 km at 6.1 %)

• Sestriere, Category 1 ( 117 km, 2035 m slm; 11.1 km at 6.3 %)

• Colle Pra Martino, Category 2 ( 171 km, 912 m slm, 6.7 km at 6 %)

Scoring

• Intermediate sprint in Villar- Saint- Pancrace ( 81.5 km; 1245 m)

• Target in Pinerolo ( 179 kilometers; 374 m s.l.m. )

Tasks

• 067 - Paolo Tiralongo ( Pro Team Astana ) task during the stage