Tour de France: Stage 13 preview
Stage 13 map, profile and Chris Boardman video preview
Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux – Le Cap d’Agde
Distance: 217km
Highest point: 238m
Category: Flat
Flat but not straightforward
Prudhomme and his team have not offered the sprinters too many certainties on this year’s route. A quick glance suggests this stage is one but it’s not quite as simple as that. The stage runs close to the Mediterranean and it’s not far from one of France’s prime windsurfing locations. It often blows in hard off the sea and if it’s gusting today, the riders will be heading into it. That could result in the peloton splitting. The climb of Mont-Saint-Clair is almost certain to cause splits. It looms up above the Med and offers a prime launch pad for a late escape. The sprint teams may get it back but don’t count on it.
André Greipel: "Who knows what could happen on a stage like this? We’ll want a small, unthreatening break to go early and then slowly reel them in. But it could go the other way and if it’s hot and windy like it often is down here, it could be a horrible day."
Maps and profiles courtesy of ASO
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Tour de France stage 3 Live - Another big sprint showdown expected in Dunkerque
Jasper Philipsen is chasing a second stage win on flat 178km day which could be hit by the North Sea wind once again -
Giro d'Italia Women: Anna Henderson claims maiden WorldTour victory on stage 2 and takes pink jersey on uphill finish to Aprica
Dilyxine Miermont second as duo sprint it out for victory after breakaway, Soraya Paladin third from GC group -
Why are Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel racing the Tour de France in $300k watches, and aren’t they going to break them?
Are they actually real, working watches or just ornamental props? -
Red Bull or Ineos? Talk of Remco Evenepoel's early exit from Soudal-QuickStep resurfaces at Tour de France
Negotiations said to be 'on hold' during Tour de France but transfer likely according to Cyclingnews sources