Wednesday 23 July

Stage 17

: Embrun–L’Alpe-d’Huez—210km

The queen stage of the 2008 Tour de France is the last real chance for climbers to take command of the race. Starting with a long, gradual climb up to the summit of the 20.9km climb of the Galibier, Stage 17 then plunges down to St.Jean-de-Maurienne to the base of the 29.2km ascent of the Col de la Croix-de-Fer, then down to Bourd d’Oisans and the final ascent to the mythical finish atop the 13.3km ascent of l’Alpe d’Huez and its steep 8.6 percent average gradient. Look for Lampre’s Daminao Cunego to take the win here and put pressure on Maillot Jaune Cadel Evans.