Epic Battle on the Queen Stage: Vingegaard Dominates as Pogačar Cracks

Stage 17 of the Tour de France delivered an awe-inspiring battle on the queen stage of the race, with riders facing four challenging climbs, including the colossal Col de la Loze. The 155 remaining riders were prepared for an intense day of cycling, featuring breathtaking scenery and relentless competition.

Right from the start of the 165.7km stage, attacks flew as riders vied for a spot in the breakaway. Giulio Ciccone and Neilson Powless, contenders for the mountain classification, were among the early aggressors. However, Jumbo-Visma, led by Jonas Vingegaard, set a fierce pace on the first climb, the Col de Saisies, making it difficult for breakaway hopefuls to establish a significant gap.

Eventually, Ciccone, Powless, and a few others were joined by the peloton on the climb. They formed a lead group that pressed on together, with Ciccone seizing the opportunity to earn valuable points by claiming the summit. He continued his attack on the descent, accompanied by Julian Alaphilippe and Krists Neilands, solidifying their position in the day’s primary breakaway.

As the stage progressed and riders faced the Cormet de Roselend, a second-category climb, the breakaway group expanded to 34 riders. Among them were prominent names such as Tiesj Benoot, Wilco Kelderman, Vegard Stake Længen, Marc Soler, Thibaut Pinot, and Simon Yates. Their advantage grew to around three minutes during the descent, but the gap remained under control as Jumbo-Visma maintained a determined chase.

Ciccone once again showcased his climbing prowess by securing more mountain points at the Côte de Longefoy. With each climb, he extended his lead in the mountain classification, accumulating a total of 88 points—30 more than Powless and one more than Vingegaard.

The monumental Col de la Loze awaited the riders, featuring steep gradients and breathtaking challenges. Ineos Grenadiers assumed control of the peloton, steadily leading the way as the climb began to take its toll on both the breakaway and the peloton. Even strong climbers like Ciccone, Soler, Alaphilippe, and Neilands were unable to keep up with the demanding pace.

At the forefront, Jayco-AlUla ignited the breakaway with Chris Harper and Simon Yates, while Felix Gall emerged as the first attacker with 13km remaining. Vingegaard and Benoot distanced themselves from the other general classification (GC) contenders, with Pogačar fighting to stay within reach of Soler.

As the climb neared its end, Vingegaard connected with Kelderman, trailing Gall by two minutes. Meanwhile, Pogačar valiantly continued his pursuit, but the gap between him and the leaders grew wider. Despite a slight delay caused by a stalled motorcycle, Vingegaard and Kelderman persisted towards the summit, while Gall maintained his advantage over Yates.

Kelderman eventually faltered, leaving Vingegaard to tackle the final 8km alone. He crossed the summit 1:30 behind Gall, having overtaken all the other breakaway riders except for the Austrian and Simon Yates. Gall demonstrated exceptional skill on the technical descent into Courchevel, skillfully navigating the corners and securing a remarkable victory.

Vingegaard arrived with the rest of the breakaway chasers, trailing Gall by 1:52. Meanwhile, the remaining GC contenders faced a grueling day in the mountains. Vingegaard now boasts a commanding lead of 7:37 over Pogačar, setting the stage for a potentially significant winning margin in Paris, reminiscent of Jan Ullrich’s 1997 victory.

The outcome of Stage 17 has solidified Vingegaard’s status as the Tour de France’s strongest contender. With Pogačar succumbing to the immense challenge, Vingegaard’s path to claiming the coveted yellow jersey appears clearer than ever. The final stage to Paris holds the promise of a triumphant conclusion to this captivating race.