2013 Tour de France stage 19 results and photos

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2013 Tour de France
100th edition: June 29 - July 21, 2013

Stage 19 results and photos

Back to 2013 Tour de France | Photos from Stage 19 (posted below results and maps) |

Friday, July 19: Stage 19, Bourg d'Oisans - Le Grand Bornand, 204.5 km

Rated Ascents:

Km 33.5: Col du Glandon (1,924m), 21.6 km @ 5.1% gradient, Hors Category
Km 83.5: Col de la Madeleine (2,000m), 19.2 km @ 7.9%, Hors Category
Km 143.0: Col de Tamié (907m), 8.6 km @ 6.2%, Category 2
Km 165.0: Col de l'Épine, 6.1 km @ 7.3%, Category 1
Km 191.5: Col de la Croix Fry (1,477m), 11.3 km @ 7%, Category 1

Stage 19 finish

The Weather: At 11:45 local time: It was raining on the riders ascending the Col du Glandon. At Le Grand Bornand it's 19C (66F) and cloudy with the wind from the west-northwest at 10 km/hr (6mph) . There is an 80% chance of thunderstorms forecast and the temperature should rise to 23C (73F).

The Race: 175 riders started today. Of course the attacks began as soon as the flag dropped. Over the crest of the Col du Glandon Ryder Hesjedal and Jon Izaguirre were 3min 25sec ahead of a 32-man group (with Bakelants, Riblon, Costa, Hoogerland) and 7min 24sec ahead of the Yellow Jersey group.

Hesjedal went clear of Izaguirre on the Madeleine with many riders scattered between Hesjedal and the Froome group, more than 10 minutes back. Close to the Madeleine's summit Pierre Rolland bridged from the original big break up to Hesjedal. The pair went over 12 minutes ahead of the Yellow Jersey group.

As the Col de Tamié reared Hesjedal was unable to stay with Rolland. Rolland went over alone with revived ambitions for the KOM classification. Almost 11 minutes back Saxo-Tinkoff replaced Sky at the lead of the Froome group. Cadel Evans, obviously having trouble this Tour, was riding with the Cavendish group.

Rolland hit the Col de l'Épine alone, almost two minutes ahead of the chasers. Saxo hit the ascent hard and quickly split the Yellow Jersey group, stripping Froome of most of his teammates.

It was 25 km to go at the beginning of the Croix Fry. Rolland had 68 seconds on the first chasers containing Daniel Navarro and Mikel Nieve with the Saxo-led Froome group 8min 45sec back. If Navarro could stay away, he could move into the top ten in the GC. As the race progessed, the clouds looked ever more menacing.

And the heavens opened up. Rain poured on the riders.

Movistar's Rui Costa launched himself out of the break and quickly caught Rolland. A few moments of climbing with the Frenchman and then Costa was gone, looking for the stage win. A few moments later the break caught and dumped Rolland.

Close to the top Costa had 50 seconds on a four-man chase (Bart de Clercq, Jan Bakelants, Andreas Klöden and Daniel Navarro). Despite the Croix Fry's steepness, the moderate pace set by Saxo (surely at this point looking to do no more than preserve Contador's second place) left the Yellow Jersey group about 20 riders strong.

Costa went over the Croix Fry with 75 seconds. Back in the Froome group Valverde escaped with John Gadret. Would Nairo Quintana bridge to Valverde and try for Contador's second place? No, it was Joaquim Rodriquez who went. He was instantly marked by Quintana, Froome and Contador. The acceleration caused Valverde and Gadretto be caught. Six went over the Croix Fry together, Quintana, Froome, Porte, Contador, Valverde and Gadret.

Costa was not to be caught. Another stage win (he won in Gap) for Rui Costa. Andreas Klöden came in second at 48 seconds.

None of the top riders in the Froome group (though Valverde and Gadret escaped for a short while again) mounted a serious attack and for the top standings it was status quo ante bellum. Lower down the GC ranks Navarro and Valverde had entered the top ten.

Results: 170 classified riders finished the stage.