Stage 17 boasts five major climbs on Wednesday — two Category 3s, two Category 2s, and a Category 1.
With Alberto Contador more than 3:30 behind the yellow jersey and still trailing the Schlecks, it's possible he'll choose one of the mountains late in the 179km (111 miles) bike race from Gap to Pinerolo (Italy) to make his move.
The Category 1 Sestrieres is the penultimate climb, cresting about 37 miles (60km) from the finish. The final climb is the Category 2 Cote de Pramartino, followed by a nearly 10km run to the finish line.
Just two Alpine mountain stages remain after Stage 17. Stage 18 ends on the Col du Galibier, and Stage 19 visits Galibier again before finishing atop Alpe d'Huez.
The Tour de France, as well as the Giro d'Italia, visits the Sestrieres every few years. Lance Armstrong won a stage here in 1999 to set up his first of seven championships.
Here's a 3D flyover (you'll need Google Earth) of the Sestrieres presented by Cycling the Alps. You'll notice it's followed by a long descent.
Then the peloton takes on the Cotte de Pramartino. Here's that route as seen in Street View:
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