Tour de France: Col du Galibier

July 17, 2017.  Following today's rest day, the 2017 Tour de France enters its final week with a return to the French Alps.  Wednesday's Stage 17 ascends one of the landmark alpine passes, the Col du Galibier, following a challenging ascent of the Col du Telegraphe.  The Col du Galibier is the high point of this year's Tour.

Col du Galibier was first used in the Tour de France in 1911; the first rider over the summit as Emile Georget, who, with Paul Duboc and Gustave Garrigou were the only riders not to walk. It last featured in the Tour in 2011.  Since 1947, the Col du Galibier has been crossed 31 times by the Tour.  This climb and the grueling Stage 17 promises to be decisive in this year's Tour.