Stage 13 – Pau to Lourdes – The World Champion, Thor Hushovd, more known for his sprinting than climbing, astounded everyone including himself by winning a mountain stage in the Tour de France and close the gap on Cavendish in the Green Jersey competition.
Previous Stages
STAGE 1 | STAGE 2 | STAGE 3 | STAGE 4 |Â Â STAGE 5 | STAGE 6 | STAGE 7 | STAGE 8 | STAGE 9 | STAGE 10 |
| STAGE 11 | STAGE 12 |
Stage 13 Report
Thor Hushovd attacked on the Col d’Aubisque before chasing down Frenchman Jeremy Roy to take a memorable solo victory in Lourdes on stage 13 of the Tour de France. Team Sky’s Edvald Boasson Hagen also made the break of the day and claimed sixth place while Thomas Voeckler comfortably maintained the yellow jersey ahead of a pivotal mountain test on Saturday.
Team Sky’s Aussie Simon Gerrans says “Today both myself and Edvald has been told to try and get in the breakaway because this was the first real stage where everyone expected it to survive until the finish. We did everything we could to get in the move and that meant covering as many attacks as possible until it got away. It was a really hard start to the day because every team had the same idea. There were constant attacks during the first 55km. Fortunately though Edvald had the legs just at the right time and was able to get in there.”
“He gave it everything he had on the Col d’Aubisque but just couldn’t stay with Thor Hushovd and Jeremy Roy when they made their move. You have to hand it to Thor today he rode an amazing ride and fully deserved his win. Once the break had gone it was just a matter of conserving my energy for the coming days and finishing inside the time limit. We all appreciated the chance to relax after a hard day yesterday.â€
Sean Yates, Team Sky Sports Director “Thor’s on fire. He’s the last person you would have thought would win the stage today. He was obviously feeing good when he jumped away at the bottom of the Aubisque but I doubt that when he was caught by Moncoutie that he dreamt he would end up winning.”
“We had Edvald in the break. The start went so quick today that the break didn’t end up gong instantly but we’d made our minds up that we wanted either him or Simon in the break and it took a lot of effort. So that took the edge off Edvald I think and compromised his chances. But it’s either you gamble and try later or go. But if you miss the move then you’re nowhere. It’s just one of those things but Edvald did what he could.
“It was great team work by the guys to be across every single move but at the end of the day Thor was stronger. It’s just one of those things. For everyone else it was just about keeping cool and out of trouble. That was always going to be the case for the GC men.â€
Mark Cavendish meanwhile saw his lead in the Green jersey competition cut by a former winner of the classification, Thor Hushovd. Cav did claim four points during the stage but that was a drop in the ocean compare to the 29 that Hushovd picked up on his long break and stage victory. Cavendish was quick to praise his rivals ride as well as saying on Twitter, “I think Thor Hushovd showed today why he wears the rainbow bands of World Champion. Incredible ride.. Nice work by my teammate Lars Bak too!” Ben Swift meanwhile gave an idea of how hard the race had been saying “Well that was a fast and hard start. Going to be some tired body’s tonight and tomorrow myself will be one of them”.
Geraint Thomas who spent so much time leading stage 12, had an easier day saying “First day in this race when I had the chance to ‘take it easy’. Well as easy as you can, on a day like today!! Thor’s the man!!”
RESULTS
Stage 13
1    Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin-Cervelo    3:47:36
2    David Moncoutie, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne    0:00:10
3    Jérémy Roy,    0:00:26
4    Lars Ytting Bak, HTC-Highroad    0:05:00
5    Jérôme Pineau, Quickstep Cycling Team    0:05:02
6    Edvald Boasson Hagen, Sky Procycling    0:05:03
7    Vladimir Gusev, Katusha Team    0:05:08
8 Â Â Â Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre – ISD Â Â Â 0:05:16
9 Â Â Â Maarten Tjallingii, Rabobank Cycling Team
10    Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma-Lotto    0:06:48
Other Key Riders
12    Jose Rojas,Movistar Team    0:07:37
17 Â Â Â Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar
19    Andy Schleck, Leopard Trek
24 Â Â Â Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel-Euskadi
25 Â Â Â Cadel Evans, BMC Racing Team
27 Â Â Â Tony Martin, HTC-Highroad
38 Â Â Â Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard
42    Fränk Schleck, Leopard Trek
44 Â Â Â Nicolas Roche, AG2R La Mondiale
55 Â Â Â Rigoberto Uran, Sky Procycling
72    Richie Porte, Saxo Bank Sungard    0:07:52
96    David Millar, Team Garmin-Cervelo    0:08:03
119    Ben Swift, Sky Procycling         0:18:32
123 Â Â Â Geraint Thomas, Sky Procycling
129    Mark Cavendish, GBr) HTC-Highroad         22:08
OVERALL
1    Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar    55:49:57
2    Fränk Schleck, Leopard Trek    0:01:49
3    Cadel Evans, BMC Racing Team    0:02:06
4    Andy Schleck, Leopard Trek    0:02:17
5    Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale    0:03:16
6 Â Â Â Damiano Cunego, Lampre – ISD Â Â Â 0:03:22
7    Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard    0:04:00
8    Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel-Euskadi    0:04:11
9    Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma-Lotto    0:04:35
10 Â Â Â Thomas Danielson, Team Garmin-Cervelo
Other Key riders
11    Nicolas Roche, AG2R La Mondiale    0:04:57
17    Levi Leipheimer, Team RadioShack    0:07:51
18    Rigoberto Uran, Sky Procycling    0:07:55
39    Geraint Thomas, Sky Procycling    0:21:16
57    Edvald Boasson Hagen, Sky Procycling    0:37:26
59    David Millar, Team Garmin-Cervelo    0:38:13
130    Ben Swift, Sky Procycling    1:30:53
131    Mark Cavendish, HTC-Highroad    1:32:28
Points
1    Mark Cavendish, HTC-Highroad    264     pts
2    Jose Joaquin Rojas, Movistar Team    251
3    Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma-Lotto    240
4    Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin-Cervelo    192
5    André Greipel, Omega Pharma-Lotto    164
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