cycling: Tour de France stage #13: Warren Barguil can finally celebrate

Cycling: Warren Barguil (Sunweb) had reason to celebrate today at the Tour de France. After the Frenchman on the ninth stage cheered too early, today he was the fastest of the four breakaways. Warren Barguil thus ensured a home win on the French National Day. Mikel Landa (Sky) in particular was able to improve significantly in the overall standings. Fabio Aru (Astana) remains in the yellow jersey.

Lots of attacks right at the start

As in ours Preview of the 13th stage expected, today's only 101-kilometre part of the Tour de France got down to business right from the start. As soon as the 0 kilometer mark was crossed, the first drivers attacked. On the French National Day, the French in particular wanted to sneak into the group of the day from Saint-Girons to Foix. Accordingly, there were numerous attacks, as new drivers wanted to leap forward again and again. In the intermediate sprint, Michael Matthews (Sunweb) secured fourth place ahead of Marcel Kittel (Quick-Step Floors). The pace was kept high throughout. Bad for Jakob Fuglsang (Astana). Because the Dane continues to suffer from his injuries, which he sustained in a fall. Sometimes he tried to cycle up the mountain freehand. No wonder he gave up during today's stage.

Team Sky plays with its opponents - Fabio Aru isolated early on

Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo) and Mikel Landa (Sky) were able to break away after a long fight. The duo rode up the Col d'Agnes ahead of the trio of Michal Kwiatkowski (Sky), Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Warren Barguil (Sunweb). So Chris Froome (Sky) sent a man into both groups. The field of favorites had already been reduced to around 20 men at this point. Fabio Aru (Astana) was isolated. A perfect starting position for Team Sky. On the downhill, Chris Froome (Sky) and Romain Bardet (Ag2r) then tried to break away. But Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale-Drapac) and Fabio Aru (Astana) were able to close the gap again. At the foot of the Mur de Péguère, the leading duo had a lead of a few seconds over the pursuers and just over two minutes over the Aru group. Landa seemed to be bouncing back in the standings - and Aru had no one left in the field for pace.

The Mur de Péguère breaks up the group of favourites

In the steepest section of the Mur de Péguère, Kwiatkowski was no longer able to follow Quintana and Barguil. The two made the connection to Contador and Landa. Meanwhile, different teams in the peloton took over the work that should actually be done by Astana. The teams of Louis Meintjes (UAE), Romain Bardet (Ag2r) and George Bennett (LottoNL-Jumbo) took turns. In the Mur de Péguère, Daniel Martin finally pulled the horn and the group was blown up. The German Emanuel Buchmann (Bora-hansgrohe) also lost touch. Only six riders could follow Martin: Aru, Froome, Bardet, Uran, Meintjes and Yates. A kilometer from the summit, Froome suddenly attacked. He used Kwiatkowski as a relay station. But only Daniel Martin and Simon Yates were the victims, who were able to catch up again on the descent.

Warren Barguil rightly cheers today

Down the Mur de Péguère, the favorites were constantly attacking. After that, the pace slowed down again and again. The leading quartet was able to extend its lead to over two minutes again. The four breakaways should therefore make up the stage win among themselves. Contador started the sprint first, but Barguil was able to take the momentum out of the last corner and sprinted past. French stage win on French National Day! Daniel Martin took advantage of the low pace of the favorites. The Irishman was able to open a gap. Simon Yates jumped forward to him a little later. The two were able to gain nine seconds on their competitors. However, the big winners of the day are undoubtedly Barguil and Landa. Because the Spaniard improved in the overall standings.

Result of the 13th stage of the 2017 Tour de France

Overall ranking of the 2017 Tour de France after 13 of 21 stages