Breakthrough Victory, GC Ascent
Schmid Claims Maiden Tour Stage Win; Pidcock Climbs to Fourth Overall
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Key Points
1
Two riders did not start Stage 13 due to injuries from the crash the day before: Francisco Gaviria of Colombia and Jenno Berckmoes of Belgium.
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Tom Pidcock finished third on Stage 13, crossing just two seconds behind Mauro Schmid and Harold Tejada after being part of a large early break, and he moved up from 10th to 4th in the general classification.
3
Tadej Pogacar extended his lead, with a margin of 3 minutes 36 seconds over Jonas Vingegaard after Stage 13, as the yellow jersey remained with him heading into the mountains.
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Mauro Schmid claimed his maiden Tour de France stage win on Stage 13, sprinting clear in a dramatic finish ahead of Harold Tejada; it was a breakthrough victory for Jayco-AlUla.
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Pidcock’s team manager Doug Ryder credited his performance, saying: 'Tom was brilliant... the whole team rode so well - the commitment to [getting into] the break was so brilliant.'
Swiss rider Mauro Schmid claimed his first-ever Tour de France stage win on Friday, sprinting clear of Colombia's Harold Tejada at the end of the grueling 205.8km Stage 13 from Dole to Belfort, according to Charlotte Observer. The stage — the longest of this year's Tour — took four hours, six minutes and 58 seconds to complete.
Britain's Tom Pidcock put in a bold ride to finish third, just two seconds back, and climbed from 10th to fourth in the overall standings. Race leader Tadej Pogacar stayed in control, now sitting 3 minutes and 36 seconds ahead of defending champion Jonas Vingegaard, per Saratogian.
Schmid and Tejada Break Clear on Ballon d'Alsace
A large group of riders broke away early in the Jura-Doubs region. The key moment came on the Ballon d'Alsace climb. Schmid and Tejada pulled clear on the long descent that followed, per OC Register. The rest of the peloton finished more than seven minutes behind them.
Schmid's win is a major breakthrough for his Jayco-AlUla team. It was his first victory at cycling's most famous race. Tejada crossed the line a hair behind in second. Pidcock arrived just two seconds later to take third.
Pidcock Rockets from 10th to Fourth Overall
Pidcock's day was one of the biggest stories of the stage. He committed to the early break and stayed up front all day. His team manager Doug Ryder praised the effort, saying: 'Tom was brilliant... the whole team rode so well — the commitment to [getting into] the break was so brilliant,' according to Bellingham Herald.
The move cut Pidcock's gap to Pogacar to about four minutes and 15 seconds. Remco Evenepoel and Juan Ayuso also sit close behind in the top five. The Tour now heads into the mountains, where gaps could grow fast.
Pogacar Chases History as Yellow Jersey Holds Firm
Pogacar did not need to attack on Stage 13. He rode safely in the peloton and kept his 3-minute, 36-second lead over Vingegaard intact, per Troy Record. A fifth Tour de France title would tie him with the all-time record holders.
The Slovenian star already won last year's race and is the heavy favorite again. With the mountain stages ahead, his rivals — including Vingegaard, Evenepoel, and Pidcock — will need to find time soon or face a nearly impossible task.
Two Riders Miss Stage 13 After Crash Injuries
Not everyone made it to the start line on Friday. Colombia's Francisco Gaviria and Belgium's Jenno Berckmoes both withdrew from the race. They did not start Stage 13 due to injuries from a crash the day before, according to Saratogian.
Their exits are a reminder of how brutal and unpredictable the Tour can be. Crashes can end a rider's race in seconds. The two withdrawals cast a shadow over an otherwise thrilling stage in the French countryside.
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