Twice as nice over Galibier, Tour de France 2011.

The new teams are providing new hope in the early stages! 4 down and Garmin-Cervelo and BMC are really meeting their potential – what will happen in the mountains with Cadel Evans, Frank & Andy Schleck,  a host of RadioShack & SKY strongmen so far clear of other GC contenders, is interesting to imagine.

The alps provide the final days in the mountains this year. Stage 17 jumps over Sestriere into Italy. After nearly 50kms of descending, the final climb is the comparitively comfortable Cote de Pramartino:

• Distance
• 4.3 mi

• Avg Grade
• 6.2%

• Lowest Elevation
• 1,613 ft

• Highest Elevation
• 3,043 ft

• Elev Difference
• 1,430 ft

The screaming descent to the stage finish in Pinerolo will be short and sharp.

Stage 17 profile, Tour de France 2011

First time up Galibier is from the south – from Briancon – in stage 18. Is the 70km grind up to the French / Italian border on Col Agnel the longest climb of all time? And this is only the start of the day. This is planned as ‘the stage’. Finishing with 30km climb to the Galibier summit.

Stage 18 profile, Tour de France 2011

Second time up Col du Galibier is from the north, stage 19. Its a sprint stage by comparison with the day before. With a ceremonial finish.

Stage 19 profile, Tour de France 2011

With over a minute and a half back to Contador already, the shakedown out of the top 20 in the pyrenees should pull the climbers to the top.

GC after Stage 4:

1.	HUSHOVD Thor	51	TEAM GARMIN – CERVELO	13h 58′ 25″
2.	EVANS Cadel	141	BMC RACING TEAM	13h 58′ 26″	+ 00′ 01″
3.	SCHLECK Frank	18	TEAM LEOPARD-TREK	13h 58′ 29″	+ 00′ 04″
4.	MILLAR David	56	TEAM GARMIN – CERVELO	13h 58′ 33″	+ 00′ 08″
5.	KLÖDEN Andréas	74	TEAM RADIOSHACK	13h 58′ 35″	+ 00′ 10″
6.	WIGGINS Bradley	111	SKY PROCYCLING	13h 58′ 35″	+ 00′ 10″
7.	THOMAS Geraint	117	SKY PROCYCLING	13h 58′ 37″	+ 00′ 12″
8.	HAGEN Edvald Boasson	114	SKY PROCYCLING	13h 58′ 37″	+ 00′ 12″
9.	SCHLECK Andy	11	TEAM LEOPARD-TREK	13h 58′ 37″	+ 00′ 12″
10.	FUGLSANG Jakob	13	TEAM LEOPARD-TREK	13h 58′ 37″	+ 00′ 12″
11.	MARTIN Tony	175	HTC – HIGHROAD	13h 58′ 38″	+ 00′ 13″
12.	VELITS Peter	179	HTC – HIGHROAD	13h 58′ 38″	+ 00′ 13″
13.	VAN GARDEREN Tejay	178	HTC – HIGHROAD	13h 58′ 38″	+ 00′ 13″
14.	HORNER Christopher	72	TEAM RADIOSHACK	13h 58′ 43″	+ 00′ 18″
15.	LEIPHEIMER Levi	75	TEAM RADIOSHACK	13h 58′ 43″	+ 00′ 18″
16.	BRAJKOVIC Janez	71	TEAM RADIOSHACK	13h 58′ 43″	+ 00′ 18″
17.	GESINK Robert	41	RABOBANK CYCLING TEAM	13h 58′ 45″	+ 00′ 20″