2012 Tour de France, Stage 11 to Stage 20#Stage 17
(34,1 km / h)
Alejandro Valverde ( MOV)
The 17th stage of the Tour de France 2012 took place on 19 July 2012 and resulted in Bagneres- de -Luchon to Peyragudes. With a length of 143.5 kilometers, there were two climbs of the first category, one of the second category, one of the third category and one of the Hors Category.
Route
The third stage in the Pyrenees almost had the form of a circular course. They changed hands several times between the Haute- Garonne, Hautes -Pyrenees. From Bagneres- de -Luchon (612 m) from the path initially led north to Saint- Béat (508 m). This was followed in an easterly direction, the increase to the Col de Menté ( 1349 m, 1st category ). After Juzet - d'Izaut ( 1349 m ) was reached, it went further west over the Col des Ares ( 797 m, 2nd category ). Then the route went north to the Côte de Burs ( 592 m, 3rd category). After this rise in the foothills of the Pyrenees, it went south back towards the high mountains. On the way there (446 m) was held the intermediate sprint in Loures- Barousse, it was soon followed in Aveux (503 m) the feed zone. The biggest obstacle of the day was the Port de Balès (1755 m, Hors Catégorie ). After the departure was followed by Saint- Aventine Hill (863 m), which lies only a few kilometers from Etappenstartort. There, the slope began to Col de Peyresourde ( 1566 m), which had been defeated the day before from the opposite side, not counting the mountains classification. After a brief descent, the stage ended with the mountain top finish in the winter sports resort Peyragudes ( 1605 m).
Race course
At the start, were still 153 of the original 198 riders; the weather was foggy at the largest part of the stage, with scattered rain showers. In the first few kilometers, there were several breakaways, but all were unsuccessful, so the box is closed reached the first pitch. It formed a 23- man lead group that was caught up in the second half of the climb to Col de Menté. Below the pass, initially attacked Alejandro Valverde and Pierre Rolland, shortly after Thomas Voeckler, who overtook the two and decided the mountain classification before Kessiakoff for themselves. On the descent, a seven -man lead group formed with Voeckler, Kessiakoff, Valverde, Egoi Martínez, Jean -Christophe Peraud, Sandy Casar and Rui Costa. For a short time, the total Vincenzo Nibali third belonged to it, but fell back again.
Between the tip and the main field, another group was formed. Also at the Col des Ares Voeckler prevailed before Kessiakoff. After 68 kilometers the pursuers closed on the top. At the front, were 17 riders with three minutes ahead of the field. Also on the Côte de Burs Voeckler took over the sprint to the mountains classification at Kessiakoff. The intermediate sprint won Blel Kadri, while the driver came empty-handed in the field. After several unsuccessful breakaways, the top group disbanded in the climb to Port de Balès gradually. About three kilometers before the pass was finally able to settle Valverde and took the exit with 50 seconds ahead of his nearest rival Martínez and Costa in attack.
At the start of the climb to the Col de Peyresourde the group was to the top finishers in the overall standings about two and a half minutes behind Valverde, while Voeckler and Kessiakoff fell back far. After an unsuccessful attack by Jelle Vanendert Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome intensified in the meantime the pace, so the group was gradually smaller; Cadel Evans also identified nine kilometers from the finish no longer keep the pace. Five kilometers before the end of the stage had Valverde 1:20 minutes ahead of the group to the yellow jersey, which reduced by an attack by Thibaut Pinot on. In the final climb to Peyragudes Wiggins and Froome be made to the persecution of Valverde, who could but save his lead almost to the finish.