It was a day for breakaways in the 2015 Tour de France as Giant-Alpecin’s Simon Geschke soloed to a win on the final climb to the ski resort of Pra Loup. Geschke distanced the race leaders by more than 8 minutes at the finish.
While the German rider was not a contender for the general classification, he provided plenty of publicity for his team on the way to the biggest win of his career.
Geschke was trailed to the finish by American Andrew Talansky of the Garmin-Cannondale team and Rigoberto Uran of Etixx-Quick Step to complete the day’s podium.
In the general classification fight, race leader Chris Froome finished comfortably with most of the other leaders to hold onto the lead, though a brief attack by Movistar’s Nairo Quintana received a quick response from Froome.
The notable exception was Spaniard Alberto Contador who trailed the yellow jersey group by more than a minute at the finish.
Also missing at the finish was American Tejay Van Garderen of the BMC Racing Team. The former third place rider complained about headaches in the early part of today’s stage before dropping out of the race with 73km remaining.
Stage 17 Brief Results:
- Simon Geschke (Germany / Giant) 4:12:17″
- Andrew Talansky (U.S. / Cannondale) +32″
- Rigoberto Uran (Colombia / Etixx – Quick-Step) +1:01″
- Thibaut Pinot (France / FDJ) +1:36″
- Mathias Frank (Switzerland / IAM Cycling) +1:40″
- Steven Kruijswijk (Netherlands / LottoNL) +2:27″
- Nicolas Roche (Ireland / Team Sky) +3:02″
- Jonathan Castroviejo (Spain / Movistar) +3:04″
- Serge Pauwels (Belgium / Team MTN) +3:05″
- Adam Yates (Britain / Orica) +3:21″
General Classification After Stage 17:
- Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) 69:06:49″
- Nairo Quintana (Colombia / Movistar) +3:10″
- Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) +4:09″
- Geraint Thomas (Britain / Team Sky) +6:34″
- Alberto Contador (Spain / Tinkoff – Saxo) +6:40″
- Robert Gesink (Netherlands / LottoNL) +7:39″
- Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana) +8:04″
- Mathias Frank (Switzerland / IAM Cycling) +8:47″
- Bauke Mollema (Netherlands / Trek) +11:47″
- Warren Barguil (France / Giant) +13:08″
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