Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team) powered through the streets of Rodez in 40° Celsius (104° Fahrenheit) temperatures to claim victory in an uphill finish at stage 13. Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo), still looking for a stage victory, came in second with the same time as Van Avermaet and Jan Bakelants (AG2R La Mondiale) was third three seconds back.

It was really close. I went really early because in Le Havre (on Stage 6), everyone was waiting. So I tried to go from the bottom. It was really long the last 100 meters and I saw there was somebody in my wheel, so I just kept on sprinting. I was just hoping that he didn’t come over me.
I saw a wheel, but I didn’t know who was there. I just kept on going to the line. I knew it would be hard. Once you are there, you just have to keep on going. It was a good finish for me.
– Greg Van Avermaet, BMC Racing Team

Race leader, Chris Froome (Team Sky), finished sixth on the day easily keeping the yellow jersey safely on his shoulders.

What started out as a relatively easy day turned out to be quite heated in the final. At one point it didn’t look as though we’d bring the breakaway back, so the peloton panicked and everyone was going flat out to catch them.

There are some tired bodies out there. It was really hot, but I much prefer those conditions to how it was yesterday with the rain and cold. I’m happy with how things went. I didn’t lose time to anyone and got through it without any major issues, and we’re another day closer to Paris.”
– Chris Froome, Team Sky

An obviously frustrated Sagan voiced his disappointment in once again missing the stage win:

It was my mistake because I was waiting for too long and when we came near the top I was in the wheel of Van Avermaet but I should have continued to push out of the saddle. I could have won but I should have continued past him when I came to his wheel. I want to thank all my teammates for the effort they put today for me.

It was a very hard finish and I waited too long as I started a bit down but then I came to the wheel of Greg and I stayed there. I should have continued and in the final meters, I didn’t have the power. I took points for the green jersey but I really want to win a stage for the team, my teammates and myself”.
– Peter Sagan, Tinkoff-Saxo

In the continuing battle for the points jersey between Lotto Soudal’s André Greipel & Peter Sagan, Sagan remained in green another day with 285 points to Greipel’s 261.

Tour de France 2015 Stage 13 Top 10

1. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) #68
   BMC RACING TEAM 04h 43′ 42”
2. Peter Sagan (SVK) #47
   TINKOFF-SAXO 04h 43′ 42” same time
3. Jan Bakelants (BEL) #13
   AG2R LA MONDIALE 04h 43′ 45” + :03
4. John Degenkolb (GER) #81
   TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN 04h 43′ 49” + :07
5. Paul Martens (GER) #135
   TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO 04h 43′ 49” + :07
6. Christopher Froome (GBR) # 31
   TEAM SKY 04h 43′ 49” + :07
7. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) #1
   ASTANA PRO TEAM 04h 43′ 49” + :07
8. Alberto Contador (ESP) #41
   TINKOFF-SAXO 04h 43′ 49” + :07
9. Alejandro Valverde (ESP) #59
   MOVISTAR TEAM 04h 43′ 49” + :07
10. Tejay Van Garderen (USA) #61
    BMC RACING TEAM 04h 43′ 49” + :07

I planned to be part of this morning breakaway because it could make it to the end. Unfortunately I missed it which is quite frustrating. When we caught them I tried to play my card. The heat did not bother me today and I could rely on a classy Romain Bardet. He is not only a leader but also reliable teammate. I am quite satisfied of my third place.”
– Jan Bakelants, AG2R La Mondiale

Tour de France 2015 General Classification Top 10 after Stage 13

1. Christopher Froome (GBR) #31
   TEAM SKY 51h 34′ 21”
2. Tejay Van Garderen (USA) #61
   BMC RACING TEAM 51h 37′ 13” + 2:52
3. Nairo Quintana (COL) #51
   MOVISTAR TEAM 51h 37′ 30” +3:09
4. Alejandro Valverde (ESP) #59
   MOVISTAR TEAM 51h 38′ 19” + 3:58
5. Geraint Thomas (GBR) #39
   TEAM SKY 51h 38′ 24” + 4:03
6. Alberto Contador (ESP) #41
   TINKOFF-SAXO 51h 38′ 25” + 4:04
7. Robert Gesink (NED) #131
   TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO 51h 39′ 53” + 5:32
8. Tony Gallopin (FRA) #71
   LOTTO-SOUDAL 51h 41′ 53” + 7:34
9. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) #1
   ASTANA PRO TEAM 51h 42′ 08” + 7:47
10. Bauke Moellema (NED) #141
    TREK FACTORY RACING 51h 42′ 23” +8:02

Tour de France 2015 Jerseys after Stage 13

Yellow (Overall leader): Chris Froome, Team Sky
Green (Points): Peter Sagan, Tinkoff Saxo
Polka-dot (KOM): Chris Froome, Team Sky
Worn by: Joaquim Rodriguez, Team Katusha
White (Best Young Rider): Nairo Quintana, Movistar

Stage 13
Date: 17 July, 2015
Start:  Muret
Finish: Rodez
Distance: 200 km

Tour de France 2015 Stage 13 route

Tour de France 2015 Stage 13 route map

Tour de France 2015 Stage 13 profile

Tour de France 2015 Stage 13 climbs

131km – Côte de Saint-Cirgue3.8 km de montée à 5.8% – category 3
156km – Côte de la Pomparie2.8 km de montée à 5% – category 4
167km – Côte de la Selve3.9 km de montée à 3.7% – category 4

Tour de France 2015 Stage 13 last km

Maps courtesy of Le Tour de France / © A.S.O.

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