Stage 14 is a hilly affair, starting in Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateux, and finishing in the small town of Mende.
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When Mende was visited in 2010, Alexandre Vinokourov looked to be on his way to victory, until Joaquim Rodriguez and Alberto Contador attacked up the last slopes, dropping yellow jersey Andy Schleck with 10 seconds in the process.
Ten seconds was counted for a lot between Andy and Alberto in that years Tour, perhaps the latest and most truely mano-a-mano duel between equals, we have had in the Tour de France, famously exemplified in the track stand up the Ax-3 Domaines.
2015 didn't disappoint either. A breakaway contested victory, with Romain Bardet and Thibaut Pinot initally outclimbing their breakaway companions. Unfortunately for them, they looked at each other to the point, they couldn't see anyone else, and so Steven Cummings saw his chance to catch the two at the flat and outsprinting them to victory.
The big 4 were all together before the climb, where Nairo Quintana and Vincenzo Nibali saw an opportunity to break clear, since Froome was isolated. Nibali couldn't hang on after all, and so Quintana was alone in his offensive against Froome...
...who dropped GC contenders Alejandro Valverde, who was aiming for podium...
...and Alberto Contador in his second (failed) double attempt...
...to get back to the white jersey wearer Nairo Quintana, and sprint by him to gain one second.
As steep as the climb in Mende is, a GC showdown seems likely, but will the GC favorites bother to reel in the breakaway, who will without doubt be of some size (it was a big one in 2015)? Will we see two battles instead, one for the stage win, and another between GC contenders? Or will the top guns make a truce, saving energy for the days ahead?
General classification after stage 13:
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 13:
1. Julian ALAPHILIPPE (QST) 84
2. Warren BARGUIL (Fortuneo) 70
3. Serge PAUWELS (DDD) 63
3. Warren BARGUIL (Fortuneo) 70
4. Geraint THOMAS (SKY) 30
5. David GAUDU (G. FDJ) 25
Points jersey competition after stage 13:
1. Peter SAGAN (Bora) 398
2. Alexander KRISTOFF (UAE) 170
3. Arnaud DEMARE (G. FDJ) 133
4. John DEGENKOLB (Trek) 128
5. Andrea PASQUALON (Wanty) 100
Weather in Mende:
Profile:
Last kilometers:
When Mende was visited in 2010, Alexandre Vinokourov looked to be on his way to victory, until Joaquim Rodriguez and Alberto Contador attacked up the last slopes, dropping yellow jersey Andy Schleck with 10 seconds in the process.
Ten seconds was counted for a lot between Andy and Alberto in that years Tour, perhaps the latest and most truely mano-a-mano duel between equals, we have had in the Tour de France, famously exemplified in the track stand up the Ax-3 Domaines.
2015 didn't disappoint either. A breakaway contested victory, with Romain Bardet and Thibaut Pinot initally outclimbing their breakaway companions. Unfortunately for them, they looked at each other to the point, they couldn't see anyone else, and so Steven Cummings saw his chance to catch the two at the flat and outsprinting them to victory.
The big 4 were all together before the climb, where Nairo Quintana and Vincenzo Nibali saw an opportunity to break clear, since Froome was isolated. Nibali couldn't hang on after all, and so Quintana was alone in his offensive against Froome...
...who dropped GC contenders Alejandro Valverde, who was aiming for podium...
...and Alberto Contador in his second (failed) double attempt...
...to get back to the white jersey wearer Nairo Quintana, and sprint by him to gain one second.
As steep as the climb in Mende is, a GC showdown seems likely, but will the GC favorites bother to reel in the breakaway, who will without doubt be of some size (it was a big one in 2015)? Will we see two battles instead, one for the stage win, and another between GC contenders? Or will the top guns make a truce, saving energy for the days ahead?
General classification after stage 13:
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 13:
1. Julian ALAPHILIPPE (QST) 84
2. Warren BARGUIL (Fortuneo) 70
3. Serge PAUWELS (DDD) 63
3. Warren BARGUIL (Fortuneo) 70
4. Geraint THOMAS (SKY) 30
5. David GAUDU (G. FDJ) 25
Points jersey competition after stage 13:
1. Peter SAGAN (Bora) 398
2. Alexander KRISTOFF (UAE) 170
3. Arnaud DEMARE (G. FDJ) 133
4. John DEGENKOLB (Trek) 128
5. Andrea PASQUALON (Wanty) 100
Weather in Mende:
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