Tour de France: stage 13 – Live coverage
All the action from the tough mountain stage in the Massif Central
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of stage 13 of the Tour de France. Today is arguably the hardest of the race with 4,400m of climbing in the Massif Central.
As the CN blimp takes height yet again, the riders are signing on in Chatel-Guyon.
Everyone is nervous about the 119km stage. The GC contenders for the expected battle on the steep final climbs, their teammates who will play a vital support role, and even the sprinters, who will have to ride hard to finish inside the time limit.
Jumbo-Visma is last to sign on, with Primoz Roglic in the leader's yellow jersey.
He leads Egan Bernal (Ineos) by just 21 seconds and has gained all of them via time bonuses. Today's stage is expected to see a fight for the time bonuses but also inspire some major attacks.
Team Sunweb have also signed on. They are on a high after their impressive combined performance and Marc Hirshi's solo victory yesterday.
To read our full stage 12 report and see our huge photo gallery and full results, click below.
Tour de France: Third time a charm for Hirschi in Sarran
This is today's stage. It rolls through the French countryside all day and then heads into the extinct volcanoes of the Massif Central.
🚩 @Chatel_Guyon - Puy Mary Cantal 🏁📏 191,5 km🎬 Discover the 3D route of this long and hard day on the saddle.🎬 Découvrez le parcours 3D de cette étape des volcans !#TDF2020 #TDFunited pic.twitter.com/zPgTPeWOG3September 11, 2020
Remi Cavagna of Deceuninck-QuickStep is the local Enfant du Pays, the local rider.
🎙🇫🇷 @remicav "I live 400m away from here.You've got to be in the front here. It'll be tough for me in the final. I'll have to be in the front and there'll be a battle so I'll do my best"#TDF2020 pic.twitter.com/ZHzYoZGal7September 11, 2020
The riders have rolled out of Chatel-Guyon for the neutralised start. They face 6.9km before the depart fictif.
World champion Mads Pedersen needs some mechanical help to adjust his stem. He grabs the allen key and does it himself.
This is another look at what the riders face. Like the television journalists interviewed, we expect a real battle for the stage win and amongst the GC contenders.
Here we go! The flag drops and the stage is under way.
We are expecting immediate attacks.
190km to go
The attacks are coming thick and fast.
Cavagna is up front, trying to join the break on his home roads.
Allez Allez!!!
🚩 Here they go! Stage 13 is underway!🚩 Et c'est parti, la course est lancée !#TDF2020 #TDFunited pic.twitter.com/T8peFH6yH2September 11, 2020
Five riders have got a gap and Tejay van Garderen is there for EF but other riders are chasing them.
These images show how important today is. Jumbo and other teams warmed-up on rollers before the start, so they were ready for the fast start.
🇫🇷 #TDF2020 Important GC day with lots of climbing. That means rollers before the start. pic.twitter.com/OtOsuW49K0September 11, 2020
Race on! Dan Martin is trying to go across to the attack. Alaphilippe too.
Martin, Alaphilippe and De Marchi and others join the front group but the peloton is chasing. Bora is on the front and want to get into the attack.
Alaphilippe ups the pace in the attack, trying to shake out any weaker riders.
Behind Esteban Chaves is leading the chase and several riders are spat out of the back. This is already painful.