Tour De France Stage 17 tips, predictions, odds, free bets and bonuses (July 22, 2015)

Wednesday, 22 July 2015 09:23
Written by David Bet

Stage 17 is the first of 4 stages through the Alpes. The riders travel 161 kilometres from Digne-les-Bains to the finishing climb of Pra-Loup. This article contains the best Tour De France STAGE 17 betting preview including predictions and odds, betting tips on Stage Winner and Head to Head, exclusive bonuses and no deposit free bets!

Open a new account and claim a €/£5 no deposit free bet through live chat

TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 17 BETTING PREVIEW

The first climb is the Col de Leques, a Category 3 which averages out at 5.3 per cent over six kilometres. Then, the riders will tackle the Col de Toutes de Aures (Cat.3, 5km at 3.0%) and the Category 2 Col de la Colle Saint Michel (5.2% for over 10km). he major difficulty of the day though is the Col d’Allos, which tops out at 2250 metres above sea level. It is 14km in length at 5.5%. It starts out at relatively low gradients, but it stays at 6% or more for the final 6 kilometers. The descent of the Col d’Allos is extremely technical and will be the most decisive point of the stage.

The final climb, which is the Pra Loup, averages out at 6.5 per cent for 6 kilometres.

This Stage will be familiar to many of the Tour's main contenders as they raced it during Stage 5 of the Criterium du Dauphine in June. Romain Bardet was the winner that day, on an identical course. The Frenchman, who is 13 minutes behind the yellow jersey, made the winning break on this Tour De France Stage 14 into Mende and rode with the GC favorites up the Col de Manse at the end of Stage 16. His form is improving, and he knows this stage well.

Anyway, today’s stage could be a breakaway, depending on the composition of the break, and also the way Team Sky control the race after the loss of Peter Kennaugh. We also expect those three teams to set a fast tempo on the Col d’Allos in an attempt to isolate the Yellow Jersey as Roman Kreuziger and Michele Scarponi seem to have found some form.

It certainly presents several opportunities for riders willing to attack, particularly on the descent of the Col d'Allos, so Nibali and Valverde could attack the yellow jersey once again. But it could not count for the stage win even if Chris Froome will decide to taking no risks on that technical descent.

We expect riders such as Majka, Joaquim Rodriguez, Pinot, Uran, Adam and Simon Yates, Rolland, Bakelants, Fuglsang, Dan Martin and Samuel Sanchez to escape.
Garmin are under pressure to deliver and Ryder Hesjedal or even Talansky could get in the move here.

Dark horses of this stage might be Christophe Riblon, Serge Pauwels, Wilco Kelderman, Julian Arredondo, Cyril Gautier, Louis Meintjes, Dani Navarro and Jarlinson Pantano.