The profile of stage 17 makes it one of the most unpredictable – and therefore most exciting – stages of the Tour de France 2026. No fewer than four categorised climbs (three category 4 climbs and one category 3 climb) are on the programme. The total elevation gain is no less than 2,200 metres… but the main challenges lie at the start of the stage! The final categorised climb will end 115.2 kilometres from the finish. Numerous hills will continue to punctuate the route thereafter, including a final one three kilometres from the finish in Voiron. Will this be enough to dampen the ambitions of the sprinters’ teams?
They will be working to set up what would likely be the final bunch sprint of this 113th edition. Alpecin-Premier Tech have earmarked this stage for Jasper Philipsen, who is second in the points classification, 31 points behind Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), and who needs a win to close the gap on the green jersey. The Dane will also be protected by his team-mates. Third in the points classification on 56 points, Biniam Girmay (NSN) will, like Philipsen, be seeking his first victory after two podium finishes in this Tour. It remains to be seen what strategies they will adopt with team-mates fully committed to their cause. Will they stay within the peloton or join the fray at the front?
Depending on the intensity of the attacks, Mathieu Van der Poel could well shoulder the burden of Alpecin-Premier Tech’s ambitions, just as he did last week in Ussel. Quinn Simmons could play a similar role for Lidl-Trek. Other attackers are determined to shake things up on the way to Voiron. Winner in Belfort, Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla) has a legitimate claim to a second victory. The usual attack specialists, such as Tobias Johannessen and Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility), will be under the spotlight. So will French riders - they only have five stages left to avoid a winless Tour for the nation.
