Stage 17 Is Another Great Day For Norway

It seems kind of strange to say it (or write it) but the 2011 Tour de France has been a very good one for Norway. The country only has two riders in the race this year, but after stage 17 (a 175 kilometer mountain stage from Gap to Pinerolo) they have four stage victories. Yesterday's winner was Norwegian Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervelo). Today the stage winner was Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky Procycling). Each rider now has two victories.

Edvald Boasson Hagen was in a 14-rider breakaway and bided his time until the final climb of the day. On that climb he cycled away from the others to grab the stage lead, and then he held it on the downhill portion all the way to the finish. Bauke Mollema, Netherlands (Rabobank) finished the stage in second place, and Sandy Casar, France (FDJ) took third place.

The contenders for the overall lead in the race did some attacking on the last climb of the day (a category 2 climb) but no one was able to separate themselves from the others, and the yellow jersey was able to stay with them on the climb. But the owner of the yellow jersey did lose some time today. Although Thomas Voeckler, France (Europcar) did well on the climbs, he missed a couple of curves on the treacherous downhill dash to the finish line. That cost him nearly half a minute's worth of his race lead.

Tomorrow's stage 18 is probably the most difficult stage in this year's Tour. It is a 200.5 kilometer ride from Pinerolo to Galibier Serre-Chevalier, and it has three climbs so difficult that they do not have a category rating. The finish line is at the top of the third climb. This could easily be the day the yellow jersey again changes hand. There are only three more stages after stage 18 -- a mountain stage, an individual time trial, and the traditional ride into Paris. Time is running out, and stage 18 should be a real battle between the contenders.

Here are the current standings:

YELLOW JERSEY (INDIVIDUAL LEADER)
1. Thomas Voeckler, France (Europcar)
2. Cadel Evans, Australia (BMC Racing)..........1' 18"
3. Frank Schleck, Luxembourg (Leopard-Trek)..........1' 22"
4. Andy Schleck, Luxembourg (Leopard-Trek)..........2' 36"
5. Samuel Sanchez, Spain (Euskaltel-Euskadi)..........2' 59"
6. Alberto Contador, Spain (Saxo Bank)..........3' 15"
7. Damiano Cunego, Italy (Lampre)..........3' 34"
8. Ivan Basso, Italy (Liquigas)..........3' 49"
9. Tom Danielson, USA (Garmin-Cervelo)..........6' 04"
10. Rigaberto Uran, Colombia (Sky Procycling)..........7' 36"


GREEN JERSEY (SPRINTERS)
1. Mark Cavendish, Great Britain (HTC-Highroad)....320 pts
2. Jose Joaquin Rojas, Spain (Movistar)....285 pts
3. Philippe Gilbert, Belgium (Omega-Lotto)....250 pts
4. Thor Hushovd, Norway (Garmin-Cervelo)....235 pts
5. Edvald Boasson Hagen, Norway (Sky Procycling)....173 pts


POLKA DOT JERSEY (CLIMBERS)
1. Jelle Vanendert, Belgium (Omega-Lotto)..........74 pts
2. Samuel Sanchez, Spain (Euskaltel-Euskadi)..........72 pts
3. Jeremy Roy, France (FDJ)..........45 pts
4. Sylvain Chavanel, France (Quick Step)..........38 pts
5. Andy Schleck, Luxembourg (Leopard-Trek)..........28 pts


TEAM STANDINGS
1. Garmin-Cervelo (USA)
2. Leopard-Trek (Luxembourg)..........5' 27"
3. AG2R (France)..........8' 04"
4. Europcar (France)..........14' 24"
5. Euskaltel-Euskadi (Spain)..........14' 53"