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four days.The lesson South Africa gained from the way they took the game forward in Perth is that they are capable of dominating again, even without
PARIS -- With 21 stages, 23 tough climbs in five mountain ranges, three mountain-top finishes and two time trials, the route for the 2017 Tour de France, unveiled Tuesday in Paris, promises an array of challenges for the wide variety of skill sets in the professional cycling peloton.Here is a quick look at what to look forward to at the 104th edition of cyclings greatest race:---OFF WITH A BANG: At just 13 kilometers (8 miles), the opening time trial on Day One in Duesseldorf, Germany, is short enough for a good number of riders to harbor ambitions of winning it and becoming the first wearer of the race leaders iconic yellow jersey -- a guaranteed highlight of any riders career.It also isnt long enough for riders who are strong against the clock, like defending champion Chris Froome, to open up big gaps over weaker time trialers like key rival Nairo Quintana.That is good for fans, because it will mean the race isnt decided early on, but perhaps not so good for riders. With most of them still in contention after the time trial and full of nervous energy, they will race hell for leather over the next three flattish stages, increasing the likelihood of crashes that could take out top contenders.---SPRINTERS SHINE: Sprinters like Mark Cavendish, who can hit speeds of 70 kilometers per hour (40 miles per hour) over short distances, will be looking for victories on the stages between Duesseldorf and Day 5, when the Tour veers sharply uphill in the Vosges -- spiky, hilly terrain where bulkier, muscly sprinters struggle. They will get more opportunities for victories in Burgundy wine country at the end of week one, in week two before the Pyrenees and, of course, on the cobblestones of the Champs-Elysees boulevard at the end of the final stage in Paris on July 23.---OUCH, THIS HURTS: In their perpetual quest to innovate at the 113-year-old race, Tour organizers have slightly cut down on the quantity of climbs in 2017 but ratcheted up their steepness. Six particularly steep ascents stand out, starting with 20-percent gradients up to the Planche des Belles Filles ski station in the Vosges in eastern France. Froome won the stage there in 2012. The Col du Grand Colombier, in the Jura mountains on stage nine, has the sharpest gradients next year -- 22 percent, steep enough to burn out the clutches of reporters who follow the race by car if theyre not careful.Also in the Jura are the 15-percent gradients of the Mont du Chat, last climbed by the Tour in 1974.One of the hardest climbs in France, says Tour director Christian Prudhomme.Other gradients of note are 16-percent slopes to the Peyragudes ski station and 18-percent stretches on the Mur de Peguere, both in the Pyrenees, and a 14-percent section on the Col de Peyra Taillade, on stage 15 in the Massif Central.---QUEEN STAGE: Every Tour has a stage that stands out for its difficulty and the drama that is expected to generate, the so-called Queen stage. Next year that appears to be the unprecedented mountain-top finish at the Col dIzoard in the Alps. The lunar and hostile terrain of sun- and snow-scorched rocks and the thinning mountain air on the long climb to an altitude of 2,360 meters (7,742 feet) could make the Izoard, at the end of stage 18, the last big battleground among surviving contenders for the winners check of 500,000 euros ($550,000).---LAST BUT NOT LEAST: The 23-kilometer (14-mile) time trial in the Mediterranean port city of Marseille on the penultimate stage 20 should settle overall rider placings before the largely ceremonial final ride into Paris the next day. The clock-race will start and finish in the Velodrome Stadium that is home to the citys football team, and will scoot through the Old Port, with a short climb to the white basilica that overlooks Frances second-largest city. Custom Detroit Red Wings Jerseys . 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Red Wings Jerseys China . -- Josh Sterk scored once and set up two more as the Oshawa Generals edged the visiting Belleville Bulls 3-2 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Its been more than two years since South Africa have held a mid-series advantage against anyone but West Indies, so they might be forgiven for not quite knowing what to do with it. With the weather creating the possibility of a shortened Test match, should they let Australia chase the game, and the series, and come after them? Or with the unknown of a day-night Test awaiting in Adelaide, should they go all out and aim to seal the series here in Hobart?The captain, Faf du Plessis, has hinted at the latter and said even though South Africa thrives when they up against it, he hopes they can add a more attacking dimension to their strong defensive game.We rely quite heavily on being a very resilient team, du Plessis said. Were full of resilient players and personalities. If you look back on past performances heres been a lot of occasions when we are really under massive pressure and somehow a few of the guys who are really resilient fight really hard to get back in the game. Thats always been a strong trait of this team.Were also trying to add being a little bit more positive to that. Resilience generally comes from a position of defence, when youre in trouble. So we trying to make sure that we can be a little bit stronger by putting teams in that position first and not be them doing it to us.This South African team has little experience of asserting themselves on the opposition. Since Graeme Smiths retirement in March 2014, they only time theyve done that away from home was immediately afterwards, when they toured Sri Lanka later that year. South Africa won the Galle Test convincingly to lead the two-match series 1-0. The victory proved crucial when they were in early trouble in Colombo after conceding a first-innings deficit of 139 runs, but rain and a stubborn effort from Hashim Amla and the tail helped them hold out for a draw and take the series.Since then, South Africa have also beaten Zimbabwe in a one-off Test and West Indies at home, but lost to India and England. At home against New Zealand this year, the first of two Tests was a wash-out, and South Africa won the second. Now, after their win in Perth, they find themselves ahead mmid-series for the first time since 2014.dddddddddddd At the WACA, they put up one of their strongest fightbacks, but now du Plessis is seeking a slight switching of gears to keep the pressure on Australia.For that to happen, South Africa require players who can adapt and du Plessis thinks theyve already shown they have that because of how they respond when under the pump. Generally guys that can adapt better in themselves are the guys who are better in those situations, he said. You get players that play one certain way and thats the way they play.Resilience is being able to adapt to a position of what the team needs to do rather than what you as a player want to do. I can name a lot of our players who can do that. Its great asset to have.Now South Africa need to show they can go the other way as effectively, like they did in Perth. If you want to win Test matches youre going to get small opportunities in the match the whole time when its 50-50, du Plessis said. Either you as a team take that pressure and get through that moment and play well through that to get on top again, or you dont and then you fall behind the game.Luckily for us in the previous Test match we could do that a little bit more often than Australia did. They had that opportunity and they let it slip and we did really well to keep that momentum for the rest of the four days.The lesson South Africa gained from the way they took the game forward in Perth is that they are capable of dominating again, even without some of their superstars. Hobart is about showing it was not a once-off and that they have taken the leap from transitioning to transitioned and can progress as a unit.It just comes with confidence. Thats something you have to go through a few times to learn how to get out of it. We as a team have been through it a lot of times, du Plessis said. Our team is very well balanced with young and older guys at the moment. But the more we play together as a test team the better well get, because were still quite inexperienced as a Test team. ' ' '