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Tour de France Stage 17 Preview
Pau to Castelsarrasin
188.5km
Start Time (baring any protests): 12:45 p.m. (6:45 a.m. U.S. EST)
Estimated Finish Time: 5:17 p.m. (11:17 a.m. U.S. EST)

STAGE 17 MAP


COURSE: The rolling terrain of the Armagnac region is perfect for breakaways, especially when a weary peloton is reluctant to chase. There are six climbs on this medium-length stage, but none of them is particularly steep or long. The final 60km is mainly flat.

HISTORY: No stage has finished in Castelsarrasin, though it has hosted a start. Stage finishes have taken place in the neighboring towns of Montauban (1998) and Valence d’Agen (1978).

Frenchman Jacky Durand headed a six-man break that arrived in Montauban 7:45 ahead of the pack in 1998, while the Valence d’Agen stage in ‘78 was declared void when the pack, protesting logistical problems, stopped 100 meters short of the line and walked to the finish.

FAVORITES: The final podium will have probably been decided by now, so the riders who survived the mountains but have no chance for GC will be seeking some glory. Potential stage winners include Jens Voigt (CSC), Christophe Moreau (AG2R), Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) and George Hincapie (Discovery Channel).