Tour of Japan Stage 17: Nagaoka - Nagano, 217km (****)
Climbs: Sekida Pass (13,2km @ 6,1%), Mount Madarao (14,5km @ 4,8%), Togakushi Highland (8km @ 5,7%), Mount Iizuna (9,9km @ 6,9%)
Stage 17 takes us back into central Japan as we enter the final mountain stages of the race.
The first of these is a long one, too. 217km, between Nagaoka and Nagano. With three cat.1 climbs, the last of them just 14km away from the end of the stage, it's a tough one, too.
The first third of the stage is easy, with rolling terrain until the foor of the first climb, Sekida Pass. After its steep descent we reach another ascending flase flat section through Myoko, after which we have a last 100km with little respite, starting off with the climb up Mount Madarao.
After Madarao we get a hilly section, followed by the climb up to Togakushi Highland, as we pass to the north of Mount Iizuna, before taking the descent towards Nagano, including a first pass through the finish line.
Then, we take on the deciding climb of the stage, as we now actually head up the irregular climb to Mount Iizuna from the south.
The hardest section comes at the beginning of the climb, with a steepest km at 13%. Any big move here should be made here, since the rest of the climb is much easier, except for a 700m section around 10%. With the stage's length, the last few climbs might do a lot of damage; however, this being the first out of four medium/high mountain stages in a row (including the race's queen stage), most riders will try to save some strength.


Climbs: Sekida Pass (13,2km @ 6,1%), Mount Madarao (14,5km @ 4,8%), Togakushi Highland (8km @ 5,7%), Mount Iizuna (9,9km @ 6,9%)
Stage 17 takes us back into central Japan as we enter the final mountain stages of the race.
The first of these is a long one, too. 217km, between Nagaoka and Nagano. With three cat.1 climbs, the last of them just 14km away from the end of the stage, it's a tough one, too.
The first third of the stage is easy, with rolling terrain until the foor of the first climb, Sekida Pass. After its steep descent we reach another ascending flase flat section through Myoko, after which we have a last 100km with little respite, starting off with the climb up Mount Madarao.
After Madarao we get a hilly section, followed by the climb up to Togakushi Highland, as we pass to the north of Mount Iizuna, before taking the descent towards Nagano, including a first pass through the finish line.
Then, we take on the deciding climb of the stage, as we now actually head up the irregular climb to Mount Iizuna from the south.

The hardest section comes at the beginning of the climb, with a steepest km at 13%. Any big move here should be made here, since the rest of the climb is much easier, except for a 700m section around 10%. With the stage's length, the last few climbs might do a lot of damage; however, this being the first out of four medium/high mountain stages in a row (including the race's queen stage), most riders will try to save some strength.