14 DAY TRIAL // The last stage of Le Tour is always a procession towards Paris and then down on Le Champs Elysees and the penultimate stage is a time trial that will determine the final General Classification, so that means we now have just two traditional stages to get through.
The seventeenth one is the final one in the Pyrenees and the final one that deliver an altitude finish, which means it will play a major part in showing us which of the riders can remain in the running for the fabled Yellow Jersey.
The fact that the stage is rather short, under 150 km, does not mean it will be easy because it encourages fast attacks and a high pace.
And after a succession of Category 1, 2, 3 climbs riders will have to get over the Port de Bales and then the pass at Col de Peyresourde before moving to the sky station at Peyraguides, which includes a series of ramps before a flat finish section.
Seeing how much time I lost yesterday, I was interested in trying to recuperate some of it, maybe slipping back into a position on the podium, behind Cadel Evans, who will probably win the entire race, and maybe Contador (who is serving a doping ban in real life and not actually racing).
But Frank Schleck, the leader of Radioshack Nissan Trek, once again hit a bad patch of form and my results were worse than expected.
I kept my powder dry before the final climb, hoping that my rivals have launched their attacks too early, and I managed to get seventh overall.
Unfortunately, Cadel Evans from BMC put in a much better side and managed to stretch his lead before the final time trial.
Take a look at how the 17th stage of Le Tour de France took shape:
