2013 Tour de France, Stage 13: Tours - Saint-Amand-Montrond (173 km)

[zombo10]

The final two kilometers

The Route

Like Thursday’s stage, this is another flat one. There is a small category 4 climb with about 100 km to go but the 1.2 km of 4 % towards the top of Côte de Crotz will barely be noticed in the peloton. The intermediate sprint is located after 112.5 km of the stage and we will see the peloton speed up as usually, which should kill a breakaway’s chances of succeeding.

The route takes the riders southeast and that could make for interesting racing if the wind is strong. As it is now, it won’t be a factor though. With ‘only’ 173 km and a light tailwind, it will be a very fast stage. This is most likely the last stage for the sprinters before Paris and they simply can’t afford to miss out.

The Finish

Looking at the profile, there seems to be a tough climb close to the line. That isn’t the case. The road does kick up a little but only for 2.5 km with an average of 2.6 %. This surely won’t be enough to drop the sprinters. The run-in towards the finishing line isn’t very complicated but again ASO have decided to spice it up with a couple of tricky corners on the last kilometer. First the peloton turns left in a roundabout, then right - onto a smaller road - then right again and finally left in a roundabout with 400 meters to go. These four corners mean it’s very important to have one or two leadout men left before the final stretch.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Looks good for Kittel once again.

 

[Pulpstar]

Cat 4s are barely proper climbs lol - THe tight turns near the finish once again look like an accident waiting to happen.

Question is - Will OPQS and Lotto want Argos to do more of the chase work ? Perhaps not been pulling their weight in that so far.

Will Flecha be in the break - Again ! ?

Expect to see a Europcar man in the break, perhaps Reza again ? (Has a fair sprint)

Edit: Rewatched the stage, Argos now pulling their weight in the chase.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Do we have a complete picture of Lotto's train damage at this point?

 

[zombo10]

What Argos-Shimano and Marcel Kittel did on Stage 12 was simply outstanding. Without Tom Veelers, Koen de Kort delivered Marcel Kittel perfectly on the wheel of Mark Cavendish. Gert Steegmans did a great leadout for the Manxman and even though he seemed sure to take the win, Marcel Kittel managed to come around Cavendish on the final meters. Much like he on Stage 10, when Greipel seemed sure to win. Kittel is right now the fastest sprinter in the world and if Cavendish can’t beat him with a perfect leadout, it will be difficult to deny the strong German his 4th stage win of this year’s Tour de France Friday afternoon. For the first time this Tour, Marcel Kittel is now the man to beat...

The sprint ended early for Lotto-Belisol and Andre Greipel on Stage 12. So far, they have been great at hitting the front at the right time but now it will be more than difficult. Sieberg and Henderson - two of Greipel’s most important leadout riders - both went down hard in the crash and like Veelers, they probably need a few days to get ready again. Furthermore, Jurgen Roelandts hurts his back again after another rider didn’t manage to break in time.

Omega Pharma Quickstep did everything right on Stage 12 but Cavendish simply didn’t have the legs to finish it off. Naturally he - and the team - will be eager to take revenge but against Super Kittel, it won’t be easy.

Peter Sagan seems satisfied with getting third and fourth and we can expect him to do that again in Saint-Amand-Montrond.

 

[Parrulo]

This second week is a serious contender for worst second week ever in a GT. . .

 

[zombo10]

Do we have a complete picture of Lotto's train damage at this point?

After the finish it was licking wounds for riders and staff. Marcel Sieberg has a bruise on his right knee, Greg Henderson an open wound at the left elbow which had to be stitched and another rider bumped into the already tortured back of Jürgen Roelandts. We hope the three riders will be standing at the start of stage 13 tomorrow.

http://www.lottobelisol.be/en/tdf-licking-wounds-after-stage-12-1296.htm

 

[nesocip]

This second week is a serious contender for worst second week ever in a GT. . .

They should move the finish of Sunday's stage to the start of the Ventoux climb.

 

[the sceptic]

Any profile for that last hill?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

After the finish it was licking wounds for riders and staff. Marcel Sieberg has a bruise on his right knee, Greg Henderson an open wound at the left elbow which had to be stitched and another rider bumped into the already tortured back of Jürgen Roelandts. We hope the three riders will be standing at the start of stage 13 tomorrow.

http://www.lottobelisol.be/en/tdf-licking-wounds-after-stage-12-1296.htm

ouch, sounds painful. Thanks.

Kittel again probably.

lol, that little kicker in the end. Why bother.

 

[zombo10]

Any profile for that last hill?

The road does kick up a little but only for 2.5 km with an average of 2.6 %. This surely won’t be enough to drop the sprinters.

 

[EnacheV]

I don't see the C. Froome options

Should be added as he finished 14th today 5-6 meters of the winner. Something is the stove preparing, maybe a last stage win at sprint

Seriously, Cavendish should win it, i hate to see him ashamed like this tour was.

 

[uconnryan]

The finish looks slightly uphill is there anything to that?

 

[Gloin22]

The finish looks slightly uphill is there anything to that?

Not really. All sprinters should make it.

 

[Alpechraxler]

the kicker has a short 5 % part. hmm gilbert

 

[the sceptic]

The road does kick up a little but only for 2.5 km with an average of 2.6 %. This surely won’t be enough to drop the sprinters.

oh crap. It looked steeper on the map. I was hoping for some late attack to win the stage. Guess not

 

[manafana]

kiera knightley with a padded bra this stage really.

 

[jaylew]

Greipel's turn. 6th stage for Germany.

 

[uconnryan]

Not really. All sprinters should make it.

I meant like the last 100 meters it looks slightly uphill.

 

[zombo10]

I meant like the last 100 meters it looks slightly uphill.

 

[Afrank]

I've been saying Cav for the win on most sprinter stages, I think I'm cursing him. So I'll say Kittel to take it. Or maybe Sagan to use his superior handling around those corners to get himself a second win, I'd like that.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

What happened to the old-fashioned wide-road dead-straight 2 km cavalry charge sprint finish up some tree-lined boulevard ? I miss those

 

[Viking]

What happened to the old-fashioned wide-road dead-straight 2 km cavalry charge sprint finish up some tree-lined boulevard ? I miss those

Prudhomme has been watching the Giro, I suspect.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I voted Cav. I think the climb might take it out of Kittel.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Why have there been so many flat stages during this week? Boring. The only upside is that I have been able to catch up on some sleep. The stage to Lyon may be okay, but yes this has been a boring week so far.