Tour De France / Tobias Gourlay / 20 July 2011 /

As Andy Schleck gets another opportunity to descend the GC rankings, Tobias Gourlay goes in search of the breakaway specialists with good reasons to target today's stage

The transition stages between the Pyrenees and the Alps are not usually so exciting. Yesterday Alberto Contador then Cadel Evans attacked Andy Schleck and each took a minute out of him, drastically changing the Winner market. Contador, who we backed at [2.66] after he lost time in the first week, is in to [2.80] after touching [10.0] in the intervening fortnight. Evans has replaced Schleck as favourite, but this column remains on Contador's side and looks forward to seeing him charge at Alpe d'Huez, if it's passable.

Thor Hushovd, the stage winner in Gap, as good as proved yesterday's assertion that he is in the form of his life. He wasn't our top pick, but most of the other names we mentioned were prominent at different times - Chavanel and Millar - or at least offered opportunities to lay off for profit - Gilbert and Goss.

Philippe Gilbert ([15.5]) is the favourite for stage 17 too, which also finishes with a technically demanding descent. Schleck ([120.0]) doesn't fancy this one either and Contador ([19.5]) and Evans ([21.0]) should attack again, but will probably be too late to win the stage.

David Moncoutie ([34.0]) will likely try to save Cofidis' season and sign off his own disappointing Tour career with a flourish.

Damiano Cunego ([32.0]) has a disappointing Tour career of his own to think about. No longer a realistic GC contender, the Italian is on home soil and will want to make good headlines.

Sky seem to nominate a couple of riders a day to go on the attack. This time it might be Geraint Thomas ([50.0]) or Xabier Zandio ([130.0]), but it should be the team's best climber, Rigoberto Uran ([65.0]), although he might be thinking about the GC and, in particular, the Galibier tomorrow.

Jelle Vanendert ([42.0]) is second to Samuel Sanchez in the King of the Mountains competition, but will still be ignored by the big GC names, unlike Sanchez. If he likes polka dots, today is a splendid opportunity for him to claim loads of points going over Sestriere first.

Astana still need something to salvage from the wreckage of Alexandre Vinokourov's crash last week. Roman Kreuziger ([50.0]) should have recovered enough from his own injuries.

Hushovd, by the way, is [65.0].

Best Bet: Back Damiano Cunego @ [32.0] to be Stage 17 Winner
Recommended Bet: Back David Moncoutie @ [34.0] to be Stage 17 Winner

Follow Tobias on Twitter: @tobiasgourlay

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