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STAGE 17 July 22 Bourg d'Oisans - Le Grand Bornand (131.737mi/212km)
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COURSE: This is statistically the hardest day of the Tour with 16,827feet of climbing over five mountain passes in 205km. The 25km haul up theGlandon, followed by the 20km of the steeper Madeleine, will soften thingsup before three difficult climbs in the last 70km. There are 13-percentslopes on the narrow Col de la Forclaz above Lake Annecy, while the Croix-Frysummit is just 13km from the line.
FAVORITES: A breakaway by men lower down the standings is likelyin the early kilometers and could gain enough time to stay clear all theway. Perhaps Carlos Sastre or Juan Mercado will win the stage.
HISTORY: A stage has never finished in Le Grand Bornand.
The only time the Tour included the Tamié-Forclaz-Croix-Fry trio, in 1997, Laurent Jalabert was on a solo break in the middle part of a stage.
BOURG D’OISANS:
Starts: 15 (1952-76-79-81-83-84-87-89-91-92-94-95-97-99-2003)
Finishes: 1 (1966)
LE GRAND BORNAND:
Starts: 2 (1995-99)
Finishes: 0
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