Gallery
The First Salvo G17-146
With the gaps so narrow and this the final climb of the race, it was certain that there would be attacks today. The first to go was the defending winner from 2016, Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida). He is no stranger to last minute serges, having won the Maglia Rosa last year on the final stage. I am sure he was hoping to do that this year, or maybe even this stage. Behind him, the Movistar lead peloton felt confident that their man, Nairo Quintana, could bridge across if Nibali didn't just drift back on his own accord. Of course, they were looking to add time to their lead over the Italian and the former holder of the Maglia Rosa, Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb).