170KM TO GO: GREEN JERSEY OPPORTUNITIES RUNNING OUT
There are only two more stages that could – but won’t necessarily – end in a sprint: Stage 17 to Voiron and Stage 21 to Paris. There won’t be any points up for grabs in Tuesday’s TT, then the Voiron stage on Wednesday kicks off with four lower-category climbs, while the intermediate sprint doesn’t come till 147.5km into the stage – so that won’t be easy for the sprinters to thrive.
The intermediate sprint on Stage 18 to Orcieres-Merlette comes at 129km, then the sprint to Alpe d’Huez in Stage 19 is after 89km, then on Stage 20 it’s at 66km after the Col du Glandon and Croix de Fer – so no guarantee that any of the fastmen can pick anything up.
A better stomping ground comes on the last day of the race, with the sprint coming on the Champs-Elysees after 71km. Vut then we have those three ascents of the Butte de Montmartre, which could nullify any chances of a sprint on the Champs-Elysees for the stage win.
In short: this sprint coming up right now could be key.