The Pyrenees continued to wreak havoc on the peloton — this time, at Tour de France Stage 17, a 124.5km stage from Saint-Gaudens to Saint-Lary-Soulan on Wednesday. Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo) went on to win solo out of an original breakaway of more than 20 riders after catching an attacking Giovani Visconto (Movistar), and dropping him in the final kilometers of the HC summit finish on Saint-Lary Pla d'Adet (10.2km, 8.3%).
Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) attacked what was left of a select chase group, and caught the leftover breakaway riders on the final climb before finishing 3rd.
Jan Bakelants of OPQS was the top finisher, in 33rd place.
The short, but agonizing stage featured three Category 1 climbs in addition to the HC finish, which shed riders in both the peloton and the breakaway with each passing kilometer. Vasil Kiryienka (Team Sky) made a solo attack earlier in the race, but his former break mates including Majka eventually brought him back.
OPQS looks next to the final stage in the Pyrenees on Thursday. The 145.5km Stage 18 includes HC Col du Tourmalet (17.1km, 7.3%) with a summit at the 95.5km mark, and a finale on HC Hautacam (13.6km, 7.8%).
