Stage 17: GRENOBLE>MÉRIBEL COL DE LA LOZE
Just two climbs on today’s stage, but both are beyond classification. It took a few tries, and configurations, but ultimately five riders broke off the front. Julian Alaphilippe, Richard Carapaz, Gorka Izagirre, Lennard Kamna, and Dan Martin took the lead 30km into the stage.
Kamna was dropped from the group as they made their way up the Col de la Madeleine. Carapaz went over first, gaining 20 KOM points. Martin was dropped on the descent, leaving three in the lead.
The breakaway started the final climb to the finishing line with a two minute advantage over the rest of the field. The Col de la Loze is 21.5km long with a maximum gradient of 24% near the top. Alaphillipe lost contact with 12.5km to go and Carapaz was the lone leader with 9km left. His lead increased with 5km to go. 4km, the yellow jersey group started dropping riders. Miguel Angel Lopez and Sepp Kuss caught up with Carapaz a km later. Those three would be the first across the line, with Lopez claiming the stage.
Tadej Pagacar is now the leader in the KOM competition
