Stage 13 of the Tour de France saw the remaining 176 riders travel the 196 km from Rodez to Revel on one of the coolest days of the Tour so far; many in the field would have been grateful for that. This leg of the competition involved 5 categorised climbs and two intermediate sprints, with a relatively shallow but undulating journey, which was expected to result in a final bunch sprint. However, a category 3 climb 7 km from the end might spoil the day for the sprint specialists.
As in all the other stages, an attack was instigated almost from the off, as 4 km into the race a trio of experienced riders set themselves up to escape the group. Chavanel (QST), Fedrigo (BTL) and Flecha (SKY) grabbed the bull by the horns and built up a lead of 6 minutes by the time they ascended the first climb (category 4). This was their maximum time gap, as soon afterwards, Lampre burst to the front of the peloton to begin the task of pulling the trio back into the fold. Estonian rider Taaramae of Cofidis pulled out of the Tour after the descending the first climb.
The chasing pack worked well together, cooperating to reduce the deficit to under 3 minutes by the time they were 136 km into the stage, led by Lampre, HTC-Columbia and Milram Teams. Through gritted teeth, the three escapees dug deep to try and hold their advantage, but as they got closer to the finish, the sprint teams were already organising themselves, and it was obvious that they would become a single group sooner or later. The coming together happened at 10 km from the line, although the blistering pace of the front men of the peloton had stretched out the main group, which had begun to fragment in the strong sidewinds.
(Photo of Alexander Vinokourov, by Diane Krauss. Reproduced under Creative Commons licence.)
Inside 10 km to go, there was the not so trivial matter of a category 3 climb to ascend before the sprint proper could begin to get underway. It was at this point that Astana rider Vinokourov – the most aggressive rider in Stage 12 yesterday – attacked powerfully. It was Ballan of Team BMC that kicked things off, catapulting himself up the final hill, with “Vino” in pursuit mode, in a group with Roche (ALM), Barredo (QST), Cunego (LAM) and LL. Sanchez (GCE). Ballan got to the summit first and collected some points, but his legs were finished, and he fell back right through the peloton. In contrast, Vinokourov attacked hard, pumping himself through the pain barrier, and ammasing a 20 second with only 1 km to go; an insurmountable lead. So thrilled to win his first stage since 2005, having served a ban for blood doping to enhance his performance in 2007, and also having been pipped to the post yesterday by team mate Contador, he dropped a few seconds celebrating as he approached the line. He crossed 13 seconds ahead of the explosive group sprint.
The sprint went ahead for second place, as the Green Jersey was still to be played for. Cavendish for HTC was in sixth place as they got to wihtin 250 meters of the line, and he glanced Petacchi break left of him, spurring him into a stunning burst of his own, which left the field standing. Cavendish took second place and precious points for the Green Jersey, lifting him into third place in the Points Classification. However Petacchi came in a close third place, with Hushovd trailing back in eighth. This led to yet another swap of Green Jersey, the third swap in as many days, as Petacchi and Hushovd slug it out for the honor.
The Stage 13 Results and GC Standings are now like this:
1. Schleck (SAX)
2. Contador (AST)
3. S.Sanchez (EUS)
4. Menchov (RAB)
5. Van Den Broeck (OLO)
6. Leipheimer (RSH)
7. Gesink (RAB)
8. Rodriguez Oliver (KAT)
9. LL.Sanchez (GCE)
10. Kreuziger (LIQ)
1. Vinokourov
2. Cavendish
3. Petacchi
4. Hagen
5. Rojas
6. Dean
7. Geslin
8. Hushovd
9. Bole
10. Mondory
So the General Classification stands exactly how it stood yesterday, with Andy Schleck keeping his hands on the Yellow Jersey for another day; Petacchi grabs the Green Jersey from Hushovd; no change in the Polka Dot Jersey which rests with Charteau.
Stage 14 tomorrow is not one for the faint hearted, not one for the sprinters, as the Tour moves into the Pyrenees. The sprinters will have to wait for a few more days for their chances.
