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After an extremely fascinating and heavy alpine triptych, the scene is now much easier. 169.5 km from Bourg d'Oisans to Valencia, the roads were generally flat, although the riders had to overcome two mountain bonuses: a third and a fourth category. Initially, there were only 152 cyclists – the alpine stages eliminated many important sprinters, but the biggest missing of the 13th stage was Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida). Ranked fourth overall in Italy several kilometers before the finish at Alpe d 'Huez, probably because of one of the fans. He managed to get on the bike and finish the race, catching up with the leaders just before the finish line, but after the phase, the X-ray deprived Nibali of hope: the broken circles meant a return to the house
although it certainly did not give the opportunity to rest, which counted a lot of runners. Forty kilometers after the start, the escape of Thomas de Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) and Tom Scully (EF Education First), later joined by Michael Schär (BMC) and Dimitri Clayes (Cofidis), impose a rather high pace but the peloton he had no intention of allowing him to win too much advantage, staying all the way for 2-3 minutes after the escapees. Thus, among other things, a very high average speed exceeding 45 km / h and not allowing runners to regenerate after mountain crossings.
At 25 kilometers from the finish line, most of the participants returned to the peloton, only Michael Schär remained ahead. The second advantage has long withstood the acceleration of Groupama-FDJ riders. Finally, the peloton caught up to 6 kilometers from the finish line, where the last sprint preparation was started
The Groupama-FDJ team that worked for Arnauda Demare had the greater appetite for victory. The Frenchman was already third in the second leg of this year's Big Loop, but his current performance in the race is well below the team's expectations. In the absence of Gaviria, Groenewegen, Greipel and several other great sprinters, Demare was looking for his chance on the stage today.
Almost successful. Groupama-FDJ brilliantly distributed its sprinter, who bowed towards the finish line. Behind him, Alexander Kristoff (Emirates United Arab Emirates) was trying to win the wheel, but Peter Sagan (BORA-Hansgrohe) was all mixed, attacking from the third position, skirting Kristoff's left side and throwing the bike to the line of arrival, winning the third leg of this race, and eleventh in the history of all their performances in the Tour de France. Kristoff in second place, a centimeter earlier than Demare, who had to settle for third place again. I wonder if there is still someone in the squad who can fight with Sagan? The Slovak is leading the points classification, having already collected 398 points. He is ahead of the second in the fight for the Kristoff green T-shirt of 228 points. Demare is also third in this ranking with 133 points.
The entire group reached the finish line at Valcenka, so there was no change in the overall standings – except, of course, the absence of Nibali. The first three are: Geraint Thomas (Sky Team), Christopher Froome (Team Sky, + 1 "39") and Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb, + 1 "# 50) Primoz Roglić flew for the fourth place (Lotto NL Jumbo, + 2 "46"), and the fifth is represented by hosts: Romain Bardet (AG2R, + 3 "07").
If at the current stage there There was not much chance of rest Saturday, there could be even less.The mountainous stage of Saint-Paul-Trois-Château in Mende will be 188 kilometers long, and four mountain bonuses – a fourth, a third and two second categories – to overcome – especially in the second part of the road.In particular, the last driveway can be particularly demanding: its summit will be located just 1.5 km before the arrival line, and it will travel a 3 km long road with an average slope of 10.2% Here it will be really difficult and certainly very exciting. 3:10.
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