Le Tour 2018 stage 13: Bourg d'Oisans > Valence 169,5 km

[Simurgh]

Stage 13 of the Tour de France 2018 departs from Bourg d'Oisans and finishes in Valence.

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Countless times over the years has Bourg d'Oisans been the town of departure in a stage in the Tour de France.

Last km in Valence...

...which is the native town of Charly Mottet, stage winner in all three GTs, 1988 Lombardia champion and thrice Dauphine winner between 1987 and 1992. It is known is the door to Southern France, as the saying goes: "À Valence le Midi commence". It is also known for the Armenian community, it has been home to since World War I.

Last time the Tour visited Valence, in 2015...

...André Greipel took yet another stage win. Repeat the feat he won't, but is this a sure Sagan victory? Perhaps it isn't going to be between the sprinters that are left, but a breakaway?

Abandons
André GREIPEL (Lotto)
Marcel SIEBERG (Lotto)
Dylan GROENEWEGEN (Lotto-NL)
Fernando GAVIRIA (QST)
Rigoberto URAN (EF-ED)
Rick ZABEL (Katusha)
Tony GALLOPIN (AG2R)

General classification after stage 12:
1. Geraint THOMAS (SKY)
2. Chris FROOME (SKY) + 1' 39''
3. Tom DUMOULIN (Sunweb) + 1' 50''
4. Vincenzo NIBALI (B. Merida) + 2' 37''
5. Primoz ROGLIC (Lotto-NL) + 2' 46''
6. Romain BARDET (AG2R) + 3' 07''
7. Mikel LANDA (Movistar) + 3' 13''
8. Steven KRUIJSWIJK (Lotto-NL) + 3' 43''
9. Nairo QUINTANA (Movistar) + 4' 13''
10. Dan MARTIN (UAE) + 5' 11''

Polka-dot jersey competition after stage 12:

1. Julian ALAPHILIPPE (QST) 84
2. Warren BARGUIL (Fortuneo) 70
3. Serge PAUWELS (DDD) 63
3. Warren BARGUIL (Fortuneo) 70
4. Rein TAARAMÄE (Direct Energie) 36
5. Geraint THOMAS (SKY) 30

Points jersey competition after stage 12:

1. Peter SAGAN (Bora) 339
2. Alexander KRISTOFF (UAE) 129
3. Arnaud DEMARE (G. FDJ) 106
4. John DEGENKOLB (Trek) 100
5. Andrea PASQUALON (Wanty) 82

 

[Gigs_98]

With so many sprinters out and the teams surely tired after the alps this could actually go to the break. Still I'd say Sagan is the most likely winner

 

[saganftw]

i doubt its gonna be a break victory,2nd tier sprinters now have a lot better chance to win a stage with basically every tier 1 sprinter out

 

[Lequack]

I guess last year Sagan was booted from the Tour, this year it's all the other sprinters except for Sagan.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Sagan to win and make up for last year.

 

[Keram]

So Kittel, Cav, Gav, Groenewegen, Greipel out. I dont remember such exodus of sprinters from Tour at least this decade when I closely follow cycling. Why is that do you think.

Anyway. Break could have a chance but Bora, Bahrain and Fdj should do it as bunch sprint. But break has real chance here I think.

 

[roundabout]

Bora have a full team left, UAE have a full team left, FDJ have a nearly full team left, so about 15 people with a possible incentive to chase breaks. Not convinced that it makes sense for others to aim for a sprint.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Had hoped that one or two sprinters more had abandoned so the break can fight it out and they add absolutely nothing to a good race. Might still happen tho.

 

[saganftw]

Re:

Bora have a full team left, UAE have a full team left, FDJ have a nearly full team left, so about 15 people with a possible incentive to chase breaks. Not convinced that it makes sense for others to aim for a sprint.

trek still has degenkolb,at least 4 teams have sprinters left in the race so unless they are mighty tired they should work together

 

[SKSemtex]

If I am Sagan I would try to get to break.
Only 3 teams will not bring the break back after such a hard stage.

 

[Frosty]

Re: Re:

Bora have a full team left, UAE have a full team left, FDJ have a nearly full team left, so about 15 people with a possible incentive to chase breaks. Not convinced that it makes sense for others to aim for a sprint.

trek still has degenkolb,at least 4 teams have sprinters left in the race so unless they are mighty tired they should work together

Kristoff for Katusha? Laporte for Cofidis? May represent one of their teams best chances of winning a stage or getting a high placing?

 

[saganftw]

Re: Re:

Bora have a full team left, UAE have a full team left, FDJ have a nearly full team left, so about 15 people with a possible incentive to chase breaks. Not convinced that it makes sense for others to aim for a sprint.

trek still has degenkolb,at least 4 teams have sprinters left in the race so unless they are mighty tired they should work together

Kristoff for Katusha? Laporte for Cofidis? May represent one of their teams best chances of winning a stage or getting a high placing?

considering kristoff is not in katusha,that would be interesting turn of events :lol:

 

[Frosty]

Re: Re:

Bora have a full team left, UAE have a full team left, FDJ have a nearly full team left, so about 15 people with a possible incentive to chase breaks. Not convinced that it makes sense for others to aim for a sprint.

trek still has degenkolb,at least 4 teams have sprinters left in the race so unless they are mighty tired they should work together

Kristoff for Katusha? Laporte for Cofidis? May represent one of their teams best chances of winning a stage or getting a high placing?

considering kristoff is not in katusha,that would be interesting turn of events :lol:

:redface:

Hardly seen any cycling this year so am still on last year's teams sometimes. :redface:

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Let's Pasqualon

 

[Finn84]

Riders remaining:
8: Bora, Cofidis, FDJ, Fortuneo, Mitchelton, Sky, UAE, Wanty
7: Bahrain, BMC, Direct Energie, EF Education, LottoNL, Movistar, Sunweb, Quick Step, Trek
6: Astana, Dimension Data
5: AG2R
4: Katusha, Lotto-Soudal

Edited with news of Nibali DNS.

 

[BigMac]

Full pack sprint.

Geraint Thomas wins.

 

[GraftPunk]

Re:

Riders remaining:
8: Bahrain, Bora, Cofidis, FDJ, Fortuneo, Mitchelton, Sky, UAE, Wanty
7: BMC, Direct Energie, EF Education, LottoNL, Movistar, Sunweb, Quick Step, Trek
6: Astana, Dimension Data
5: AG2R
4: Katusha, Lotto-Soudal

I'm pretty sure Bora had an abandon today.

ETAawel Poljanski

 

[hazaran]

With Nibali out Colbrelli will want a sprint win.

 

[RedheadDane]

Re: Re:

Riders remaining:
8: Bahrain, Bora, Cofidis, FDJ, Fortuneo, Mitchelton, Sky, UAE, Wanty
7: BMC, Direct Energie, EF Education, LottoNL, Movistar, Sunweb, Quick Step, Trek
6: Astana, Dimension Data
5: AG2R
4: Katusha, Lotto-Soudal

I'm pretty sure Bora had an abandon today.

ETAawel Poljanski

They corrected that a while later. He's still in the race.

---

Hmm... I was gonna say "someone whose surname starts with a G", but given the events on today's stage, probably not.

---

With Nibali out Colbrelli will want a sprint win.

What makes you think Nibali is out?

 

[GraftPunk]

Thanks RHD, didn't catch the correction

 

[hazaran]

Re: Re:

With Nibali out Colbrelli will want a sprint win.

What makes you think Nibali is out?

They haven't told you

No worries, tomorrow when the actual stage is this will make perfect sense. We're predicting here.

 

[Mayo from Mayo]

Don't rule out Richeze

 

[Robert5091]

Breakaway wins - Craddock makes remarkable comeback!!

 

[SafeBet]

Nibali has a broken vertebrae and most likely won't start tomorrow.

 

[Red Rick]

Nibali dns confirmed

Colbrelli for the win