Analytics in Action – Stage 17

Roglic rises, Aru loses time 

Aggressive racing at high altitude earned Primoz Roglic (TLJ) his biggest win to date, while Fabio Aru (AST) lost time to Chris Froome (SKY).

The high altitude inspired aggressive racing, as stage 17 led the riders up some of the mightiest summits in the Alps. Primoz Roglic (TLJ) was the winner of the day, averaging 20.8km/h across the 58.7km of categorised climbing to a solo victory. The Col du Galibier didn't suit Fabio Aru (AST) that well – the Italian climber lost 30” to Chris Froome (SKY) at the end of the day. That might just have dashed his hopes of claiming the overall victory at the end of the week.

👊1️⃣ère victoire slovène sur @letour / 1️⃣st Slovenian victory on @letour 🇸🇮 @rogla pic.twitter.com/PvdsIdm4nj

— Le Tour de France (@LeTour) July 19, 2017

Ten years after his first Tour de France overall win, Alberto Contador (TFS) faced a gruelling race to prove he still has fireworks in his legs. The Spanish climber went on the attack at the bottom of the Col de la Croix de Fer and brutally outpaced everyone. He was 1.4km/h faster than Chris Froome (SKY) in the first 4km of the climb to quickly open a 450m gap. Nairo Quintana (MOV) tried to follow Contador (TFS), but there was no matching the likes of the Spanish veteran, twice an overall winner before.

#ICYMI - Contador was 1.4km/h faster than Froome in the first 4km of Col de la Croix de Fer to quickly open a 450m gap on stage 17 @LeTour. pic.twitter.com/InsxT78O9V

— letourdata (@letourdata) July 19, 2017

 Unfortunately, Contador's legs failed him in the Col du Galibier. Yet, he still had a better day than the sprinters living through a nightmare climb at the back of the race. Marcel Kittel (QST) abandoned the Tour after an early crash at 41.3km/h. Dan McLay (TFO) also had to throw in the towel after struggling 8km behind all the other riders. He decided to exit the race with 70km to go to Serre-Chevalier. 

Key data highlights:

1.) Chris Froome (SKY) still had three teammates with him when the leader's group was down to only 13 riders in the final climb.

2.) The riders passed through the highest point of the 2017 Tour when they summited the Col de Galibier at an altitude of 2,642m.

3.) After Alessandro Petacchi (2003) and Tom Boonen (2005), Marcel Kittel (QST) is only the third sprinter in the history of the Tour to abandon while wearing the Green Jersey.

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