In the first week of the Tour de France 2024, things didn't seem to be going well for Alpecin-Deceuninck, but the picture has changed completely. On stage 16, Jasper Philipsen took his third stage win so far in the race, thanks to impeccable teamwork and, in particular, perfect sprint preparation by...

The 16th stage of the Tour de France 2024 brought setbacks for Biniam Girmay. The Eritrean rider, who had so far had an outstanding performance in the race, was involved in a crash in the last kilometers of the day, which prevented him from scoring points at the finish. Despite the blow, the Interma...

The race returns to the Alps with an intriguing stage thats open to many, assuming UAE agrees to them stay away.Denim in Nmes: not much action to write home about, the wind didnt get up and so a brief solo flurry from Thomas Gachignard was enough to get him the days combativity prize, beating the Uno-X driver who almost drove his the other team car in the convoy after a Mario Kart mix-up on a roundabout.The sprint was textbook copy from Alpecin-Deceuninck, lining out the field. Mathieu van der Poel accelerated with 400m to go, seeing the world champ working like this is like spotting a Lamborghini in a building supplies yard with timber being tied to the roof rack. By the time Jasper Philipsen launched he was ahead of the rest and stayed clear. Job done.The days drama came with a crash for Biniam Girmay, he made it to the finish but the improbable Philipsen has to win and Girmay not to score scenario for the points competition became reality. Girmay stays in green but now leads by just 32 points with 20 points available at each of the intermediate sprints. The pair have been inseparable, three stage wins each and the gap in part by Girmays win at the intermediate sprint on Stage 15 after the Peyresourde.The Route: 178km and 2,850m of vertical gain. Its out of Saint-Paul on the road to Nyons and then a long valley road to Verclause. The Col de la Saulce starts here, unmarked but 16km uphill with some 5-6% sections. After Serres another valley road to Gap. The Col Bayard is a big main road but hard going at over 7%.The Finish: dj vu? This combo of climbs is identical to the finish used in the 2016 Critrium du Dauphin. The Col du Noyer (Walnut Tree Pass) is hard with irregular gradients and a series of hairpin bends with stunning views of the valley below. The upper slopes are particularly steep. Theyre followed a fast, technical 6km descent and then its straight to the finish, 4km at 5.9% on a bigger ski station road but the first kilometre is steeper.The Contenders: some hard climbing and a finish that isnt so steep? Tadej Pogaar (UAE) of course fits the bill. Today ought to suit the breakaway though, UAE are ahead and might as well defend although Nils Politt riding down the breakaway and Pogaar taking the stage and time bonus is a form of defence, no?Todays stage comes just before bigger Alpine stages so some pure climbers might prefer to wait but its risky to turn down a stage. The route with the long gradual approach and the flatter finish suits someone with a bit of a punch, think Stephen Williams (IPT) or Romain Grgoire (Groupama-FDJ) but formers form isnt obvious and the latter has to get over the Noyer. Carlos Verona (Lidl-Trek) fits too. Ben Healy (EF) is a pick if he can go solo, team mate Richard Carapaz is better suited to upcoming days but can try too. The real fit is Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X) but to get in the break, to see off the others and get a first big win, a big ask.Pogaar, Healy, TJHGrgoire, Verona, Carapaz, Williams, GauduWeather: 32C and sunshine.TV: KM0 is at 12.45pm CEST and the finish is forecast for 5.10pm CEST. Tune in early for the scenery and the breakaway action. Gap and the Col Bayard are at 3.50pm, the start of the Col du Noyer 4.30pm.Postcard from the Buch valleyIts common to see the Alps and Pyrenees juxtaposed every July. The Pyrenees are retro rural charm, the Alps are concrete ski stations and industry. Caricatures, but viewed via the prism of the Tour theres logic given the race does visit some of the big ski stations in the Alps and takes major valley roads; even if it does visit the Tourmalet and often goes to Andorra too. Still theres selection bias here because the Alpine resorts bid for the race so thats what most people see of the Alps if viewed by the Tour.Todays stage visits some of the quieter parts of the French Alps, although before any geologists leap to the comments, yes the Prealps as well. Gap is a big town and the Col de Bayard a big traffic artery but turn off for the Col du Noyer and on a sunny day the view from the climb is spectacular. The Dvoluy and nearby Champsaur Alps are underrated for cycling and in large part because the Tour visits rarely. In short if you want to visit the French Alps and have some quiet roads to yourself, with nature galore and breathtaking scenery then theres plenty just off todays route. The kind of place you can send your own postcards from or post to Instagram.The post Tour de France Stage 17 Preview first appeared on The Inner Ring.

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