Interminable col du Glandon...

During stage 17, Chris Froome's direct adversaries have given a taste of their intentions to attack him from very far out. The yellow jersey holder expects to be put under pressure again. He'll be on the rollers prior to the start in Gap because that's a brutal one with the 6-km long ascent to col Bayard right from the gun. Simon Geschke must have inspired many riders who aren't used to get the honors at the Tour de France. A breakaway is expected to take shape on the Route Napoleon, two hundred years after the French Emperor chose this way to return to power after his first retirement on the Elba island. It's a road for courageous fighters but the worst is to come after exiting it, going to the col du Glandon through the category 2 col de la Morte and its tricky downhill. The ascent to the Glandon is officially 21.7km long. In reality, from Séchilienne, it's 47 kilometres of climbing. It seems like never ending. The summit is almost with 40km to go. After that, there'll be the scenic and unprecedented Lacets de Montvernier: the last chance of the day for Quintana and co to attack Froome.