The steep climbs in the Pyrenees have caused further disruptions in the placement of riders. Three abandons left only 166 riders to come home at the end of Stage 17, ending atop the beyond-category Pla d’Adet and throwing the race back into les Cuspides.

Matthieu Ladagnous of FDJ.fr, who held the general Point d’Appui after Stage 15, and Blel Kadri of AG2R La Mondiale are on the cusp of the fulcrum, finishing 83rd and 84th respectively. Ladagnous also was the stage Point d’Appui on Stage 14.

Kadri was among the eight riders who jumped into the first escape group, which included fulcrum favorites Vasili Kiriyenka, winner of the 2012 Tour de France Point d’Appui; Tom-Jelte Slagter of Garmin-Sharp, who held the general Point d’Appui after Stage 6 this year; Cyril Gautier of Europcar, who held the general Point d’Appui GC on Stage 10 of the 2012 tour; Martin Elmiger of IAM Cycling, who held the median time in the 2013 Paris-Nice spring classic; and Jens Voigt, who perennially has been near the middle in many races.

Adam Hansen of Lotto-Belisol currently holds the time closest to the tour median time of 2 hours, 29 minutes and 15 seconds.

Rafal Majka of Tinkoff-Saxo won the stage after making his own escapes. Vincenzo Nibali still leads, and Cheng Ji still holds the Lanterne Rouge.

Two riders did not start Stage 17: Reto Hollenstein of IAM Cycling and Simon Gerrans of Orica Greenedge. Simon Spilak of Team Katusha did not finish the stage.

In other notes:
• Kiryienka was the first rider over the Col de Peyresourde, the second Category 1 climb of the day.
• Koen de Kort, who had the fulcrum on the previous stage, slid back two spots.