Cycling betting tips: Tour de France stage 17 predictions, preview and best bets

As the 2025 Tour de France enters its final week, Wednesday’s stage 17 offers a rare pause from the unrelenting climbs of the Alps and Massif Central. Read on to find a detailed preview and the best bet recommendation, and don’t forget to take advantage of the selected betting offers listed below to maximise your betting value.

Cycling betting tips: Tour de France stage 17 predictions

Will the Rhône Winds Carry the Fast Men to Glory in Valence?

• Jonathan Milan is just 11 points ahead of Pogacar in the green jersey classification and desperately needs a strong finish in Valence.
• Stage 17 features only two fourth-category climbs and a flat final 40 kilometres, making it highly favourable for sprinters.
• Milan has a more structured leadout than rival Tim Merlier, who has claimed two sprint wins so far without one.

Our Best Bet

Riders will travel 160.7 kilometres from Bollène to Valence, tracing a path along the Rhône Valley on terrain that leans gently rather than aggressively uphill. With the clock set for a 12:50pm start, it’s a day that could well play into the hands of the sprint specialists – assuming the breakaway artists don’t spoil the party.

The route begins in Bollène, making its debut on the Tour map despite a history with the Paris–Nice race. From there, the peloton will track northward toward Valence, a city known more for its function as a southern gateway than a finishing line. Today, however, Valence steps into the limelight as it hosts what could be the final bunch sprint of this year’s race. With only two minor categorised climbs – the Col du Pertuis and the Col de Tartaiguille – and no significant winds expected, the stage profile looks ideal for a high-speed showdown.

Following the drama of Mont Ventoux where France finally celebrated their first stage winner in Valentin Paret-Peintre, the mood among the peloton remains tense. The overall classification continues to be dictated by Tadej Pogacar, who now leads not only the yellow jersey but also the King of the Mountains on countback. He’s also creeping ever closer to the green jersey, which remains clutched by Jonathan Milan – but only just.

Wednesday’s contest may not shake the GC standings, but its impact on the points classification could be pivotal. The flat finish in Valence, historically a stomping ground for sprint dominance, will likely be the last true chance for Milan to extend his lead in the green jersey race before the road tilts dramatically upward once more.

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Best Bet for Stage 17: Jonathan Milan to Win Stage 17

At BettingTips4You, we take a targeted approach to our recommendations – offering just one, carefully considered tip per event. This ensures our readers receive the most refined and accountable advice. For stage 17, our standout tip is Jonathan Milan to take the win.

With time running out in the fight for the green jersey, Milan enters Wednesday’s stage with a heightened sense of urgency. Despite losing teammate Mattias Skjelmose, Lidl-Trek’s focus is now entirely on Milan’s success, both in the intermediate and final sprints. The Italian is the strongest climber among the elite sprinters remaining in the race, and with the route offering a gentle run-in and minimal wind interference, the conditions are well aligned with his capabilities.

Valence presents a fast, clean finale – tailwind-assisted and tactically uncomplicated. Milan’s leadout remains intact, giving him the ideal setup to launch his sprint with precision. While Tim Merlier may have the edge in raw top-end speed, Milan’s superior strength over the rollers and his team’s singular focus on the green jersey may give him just enough of an advantage when the road flattens in the final kilometre.

Merlier has already taken two wins in this Tour, but with little interest in intermediate points and a less structured leadout, he might find it more difficult to position himself optimally. Milan, by contrast, is likely to be marshalled with intent, aiming to control both the intermediate sprint and the stage finale.

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