Stage Details

Stage 17 - Thursday, July 25: Aime - Cluses

Distance:	142km
Start Location:	Place de l'Ormente, Aime
Start Time:	Flying Start: 1:02 p.m. on N.90
Description:	Course: By now, three days before the finish in Paris, most of the GC positions should be settled, but this final alpine stage of four Cat. 1 climbs could cause some more changes. The climbs of the Cormet de Roseland, Col des Saisies, Col des Aravis and Col de la Colombière come in quick succession, and there’s a plunging 20km descent preceding the finish in Cluses. History: Only one stage of the Tour has finished at Cluses — that was in 1994. The stage came at a similar time in the race, with Induráin holding the yellow jersey by 7:21 over Virenque. But Virenque was about to lose that position to the Latvian Piotr Ugrumov, who attacked on the second-to-last climb and won the stage into Cluses by 2:39 over Induráin. Favorites: The stage winner will be someone who can climb well, and also go downhill very fast. As in 1994, the overall win might be locked up, but there will still be a battle for the placings. Look out for a battle between Colombian Botero, the Spaniards Beloki and Sevilla, and maybe the Americans Hamilton, Julich and Leipheimer. Botero is the most likely winner.