Back to 2013 Tour de France | Photos from Stage 13 (posted below results and maps) |

Friday, July 12:  Stage 13: Tours - St Amand Montrond, 173 km

Rated Ascent:

• Km 77.5: Côte de Crotz, 1.2 km @ 4% gradient, Category 4

Weather: At the finish in St. Amand Montrond at 12:45 local time it is 24C (76F) and forecast to climb to 26C (79F), sunny with the wind from the east-northeast at 7 mph. Humidity is 46%

The Race: 181 riders started. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky) dropped out after breaking his shoulder blade in a crash yesterday. That should bring Sky down to seven riders.

The day's break was up the road almost immediately after the official start: Przemyslaw Niemiec, Cyril Lemoine, Kris Boeckmans, Yohann Gène, Ruben Perez and Luis Angel Mate.

Omega Pharma upped the speed, breaking up the peloton, catching the break and distancing Marcel Kittel and others. The Omega Pharma move was a savvy tactic that caused havoc behind them.

Alejandro Valverde punctured as the pack went through the feed zone. He took a wheel from a teammate, but the slow repair (his team car was well back) put the Spaniard behind the Kittel group. With help from several of his teammates, Valverde caught the Kittel group. With 74 km to go the the Valverde/Kittel group was 65 seconds behind the Yellow Jersey. The two groups raced very hard, largely into the face of a headwind.

Belkin, hoping to move Bauke Mollema to second, worked with fervor in the front group (containing Froome) to help Omega Pharma keep Valverde distanced. Of the Movistar team, only Nairo Quitana was in the front group. The rest were back, laboring to get Valverde back into the race.

The gap grew to more than a minute and a half but with 55 km to go it had been cut back to 70 seconds.

This was a fantastic, aggressive day of racing. The pressure continued with a 20 kph side wind causing more riders who couldn't find shelter in the echelons to get dropped. The Kittel/Valverde group fractured with Kittel and most of Valverde's teammates on the wrong side of the split.

With 45 km to go the Valverde group was 1 minute 30 seconds behind the Froome group. The Valverde and Kittel groups (now joined by KOM Pierre Rolland, who flatted) merged but it looked as if the chasers had given up any hope of closing the gap. The gap was over two minutes with 40 kilomters remaining.

Belkin and Omega Pharma continued to be the principle leaders of the front group, relentlessly hammering away, determined to keep Kittel, Valverde and Rui Costa out the back door.

Ten kilometers later Contador's Saxo-Tinkoff team went to the front and split the Froome group, catching Froome, Rodriguez, Greipel and Evans unaware. Cavendish, Contador, Ten Dam, Mollema and Sagan made the front of the split, containing perhaps 14 riders. Everyone thought Contador's Saxo-Tinkoff team might be the strongest team in the Tour and now he was putting it to excellent use, bludgeoning Froome with power. Sky's ability to dominate the peloton had evaporated.

With 21 km to go the Froome chase began to look ragged and the gap had grown to 23 seconds. The Saxo-Tinkoff team time trial (Contador was contributing to the break) had grown the lead to 40 seconds with 14 km to go. Froome stayed in the pack, not helping his own cause, preferring to save his energy for later in the Tour. Riders in 3rd, 4th 5th and 6th place had managed to distance themselves from the Yellow Jersey. Incredible.

Sky ran out of gas, leaving Ag2r to lead the chase back to Contador. At 5 km to go, the gap was a full minute. Valverde was 8 minutes back.

Sylvain Chavanel led out the sprint with Sagan and then Cavendish on his wheel. Cavendish easily won the sprint. The Froome group, led by André Greipel, followed in at 1min 9sec. Froome remained the Yellow Jersey, but with a much diminished lead.

Results: 181 classified finishers

1. Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) 3hr 40min 8sec. 47.2 km/hr
2. Peter Sagan (Cannondale) s.t.
3. Bauke Mollema (Belkin s.t.
4. Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) s.t.
5. Niki Terpstra (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) s.t.
6. Roman Kreuziger (Saxo-Tinkoff) s.t.
7. Alberto Contador (Saxo-Tinkoff) s.t.
8. Laurens Ten Dam (Belkin) s.t.
9. Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) @ 6sec
10. Michael Rogers (Saxo-Tinkoff) @ 9sec
11. Nicolas Roche (Saxo-Tinkoff) @ 11sec
12. Daniele Bennati (Saxo-Tinkoff) @ 17sec
13. Maciej Bodnar (Cannondale) @ 19sec
14. Matteo Tosatto (Saxo-Tinkoff) @ 53sec
15. André Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) @ 1min 9sec
16. Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) s.t.
17. William Bonnet (FDJ) s.t.
18. Anthony Delaplace (Sojasun) s.t.
19. Daniel Martin (Garmin-Sharp) s.t.
20. John Degenkolb (Argos Shimano) s.t.
21. Cadel Evans (BMC) s.t.
22. Jean-Christophe Péraud (Ag2r) s.t.
23. Andy Schleck (Radio Shack) s.t.
24. Koen de Kort (Argos-Shimano) s.t.
25. Nairo Alexander Quintana (Movistar) s.t.
26. Christopher Froome (Sky) s.t.
27. Matteo Trentin (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) s.t.
28. Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge) s.t.
29. Maxime Monfort (Radio Shack) s.t.
30. Andrew Talansky (Garmin-Sharp) s.t.
31. Daniel Navarro (Cofidis) s.t.
32. Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) s.t.
33. Amaël Moinard (BMC) s.t.
34. Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) s.t.
35. Alan Marangoni (Canondale) s.t.
36. Marcus Burghardt (BMC) s.t.
37. Jack Bauer (Garmin-Sharp) s.t.
38. Peter Velits (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) s.t.
39. Christophe Riblon (Ag2r) s.t.
40. Jérôme Pineau (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) s.t.
41. Manuel Quinziato (BMC) s.t.
42. Alberto Losada (Katusha) s.t.
43. Arnold Jeannesson (FDJ) s.t.
44. Marcel Sieberg (Lotto-Belisol) s.t.
45. Francesco Gavazzi (Astana) s.t.
46. Arthur Vitchot (FDJ) s.t.
47. Jesus Hernandez (Saxo-Tinkoff) s.t.
48. Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) s.t.
49. Steve Morabito (BMC) s.t.
50. Hubert Dupont (Ag2r) s.t.
    

General Classification: 2,134.5 km raced so far at an average speed of 41.85 km/hr

1. Christopher Froome (Sky) 51hr 0min 30sec
2. Bauke Mollema (Belkin) @ 2min 28sec
3. Alberto Contador (Saxo-Tinkoff) @ 2min 45sec
4. Roman Kreuziger (Saxo-Tinkoff) @ 2min 48sec
5. Laurens Ten Dam (Belkin) @ 3min 1sec
6. Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) @ 4min 39sec
7. Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) @ 4min 44sec
8. Nairo Alexander Quintana (Movistar) @ 5min 18sec
9. Jean Christophe Péraud (Ag2r) @ 5min 39sec
10. Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) @ 5min 48sec
11. Daniel Martin (Garmin-Sharp) @ 5min 52sec
12. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 6min 54sec
13. Michael Rogers (Saxo-Tinkoff) @ 7min 28sec
14. Andy Schleck (Radio Shack) @ 8min 32sec
15. Maxime Monfort (Radio Shack) @ 10min 16sec
16. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) @ 12min 10sec
17. Andrew Talansky (Garmin-Sharp) @ 13min 11sec
18. Rui Alberto Costa (Movistar) @ 14min 22sec
19. Daniel Navarro (Cofidis) @ 14min 50sec
20. Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) @ 14min 57sec
21. Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel) @ 16min 49sec
22. Daniel Moreno (Katusha) @ 18min 36sec
23. Igor Anton (Euskaltel) @ 19mn 43sec
24. Steve Morabito (BMC) @ 19min 59sec
25. Romain Bardet (Ag2r) @ 20min 35sec
26. José Serpa (Lampre-Merida) @ 21min 1sec
27. Wouter Poels (Vacansoleil)@ 21min 54sec
28. Pierre Rolland (Eeuropcar) @ 25min 33sec
29. Davide Malacarne (Europcar) @ 26min 42sec
30. Richie Porte (Sky) @ 30min 4sec
31. Robert Gesink (Belkin) @ 30min 17sec
32. Jan Bakelants (Radio Shack) @ 31min 29sec
33. John Gadret (Ag2r) @ 32min 14sec
34. Eduard Vorganov (Katusha) @ 32min 48sec
35. Nicolas Roche (Saxo-Tinkoff) @ 33min 15sec
36. Maxime Mederel (Sojasun) @ 33min 40sec
37. Przemyslaw Niemiec (Lampre-MErida) @ 33min 43sec
38. Andreas Klöden (Radio Shack) @ 34min 13sec
39. Arnold Jeannesson (FDJ) @ 36min 5sec
40. Hubert Dupont (Ag2r) @ 36min 43sec
41. Peter Velits (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) @ 37min 40sec
42. Mikel Astarloza (Euskaltel) @ 37min 48sec
43. Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) @ 38min 8sec
44. Daniano Cunego (Lampre-Merida) @ 38min 36sec
45. Haimar Zubeldia (Radio Shack) @ 38min 42sec
46. Ruben Plaza (Movistar) @ 40min 49sec
47. Bram Tankink (Belkin) @ 41min 24sec
48. Cyril Gautier (Europcar) @ 43min 47sec
49. Arthur Vichot (FDJ) @ 44min 25sec
50. Daryl Impey (Orica-GreenEdge) @ 44min 38sec

Climber:

1. Pierre Rolland (Europcar): 50 points
2. Christopher Froome (Sky): 33
3. Richie Porte (Sky): 28
4. Nairo Alexander Quintana (Movistar): 26
5. Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel): 21

Points:

1. Peter Sagan (Cannondale): 357 points
2. Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quick Step): 273
3. André Greipel (Lotto-Belisol): 217
4. Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano): 177
5. Alexander Kristoff (Katusha): 157

Young Rider:

1. Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) 51hr 5min 14sec
2. Nairo Alexander Quintana (Movistar) @ 34sec
3. Andrew Talansky (Garmin-Sharp) @ 8min 27sec
4. Peter Sagan (Cannondale) @ 48min 14sec
5. John Degenkolb (Argos-Shimano) @ 1hr 19min 20sec

Team Classification:

1. Saxo-Tinkoff: 152hr 22min 21sec
2. Belkin @ 2min 32sec
3. Ag2r @ 10min
4. Radio Shack @ 14mn 47sec
5. Movistar @ 16min 14sec

Stage 13 map

Stage 13 profile

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Photos from Stage 13:

Thomas de Gendt at the start

Bauke Mollema's savvy riding has brought him up to second in the GC.

Philippe Gilbert

Marcel Kittel could not have enjoyed today's racing.

Damiano Cunego

Mark Cavendish rode a flawless race today.

Albverto Contador used his team beautifully today.

Orica-GreenEdge riders Cameron Meyer, Simon Clarke and Simon Gerrans

One again Froome was stripped of support. He can expect the others will try to deliver a caning day after day.

They head into the sprint. Sylvain Chavanel has Peter Sagan on his wheel with Mark Cavendish moving in behind Sagan.

Both Roman Kreuziger and Alberto Contador were right with the sprinters and lost no time.

With Mark Cavendish in the break, the sprint was a formality.

Having buried themselves getting Contador and Kreuziger away from Froome, Michael Rogers and Nicolas Roche trailed across the line a few seconds after the Cavendish group.

A minute back, Froome is without Sky team support and is riding in a Garmin sandwich.

André Greipel led the Yellow Jersey group across the line.

After getting a flat tire when the hammer went down, Alejandro Valverde's hope for a good placing in the Tour are finished.

Lampre rider José Serpa

That makes 25 Tour stage wins for Cavendish

Bernard Hinault helps Chris Froome with his Yellow Jersey.